Kadiwa ng Pangulo Expands Direct Market Access for Ilocos Norte Producers and Consumers
LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte (via PIA) — Farmers, food processors, and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Ilocos Norte are gaining another avenue to sell their products directly to consumers through the Kadiwa ng Pangulo, helping strengthen local market linkages while giving households access to locally produced food and other goods.
The Kadiwa selling activity was launched on September 17 at the National Food Authority (NFA) Ilocos Norte Branch Office in Laoag City. It is being led by the Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Marketing Assistance Division (DA-AMAD) in partnership with the NFA and other government agencies.
The initiative forms part of government efforts to improve direct market access for agricultural producers while making food and locally processed products more accessible to consumers.
Kadiwa Connects Producers Directly With Consumers
DA-AMAD Market Specialist III Corazon Valdez said the Kadiwa program gives farmers, processors, and MSMEs an additional channel where they can market their products directly to buyers.
“This is a project where local producers, MSMEs, and processors are directly connected,” Valdez said.
The activity featured a range of locally produced goods, including vegetables, fruits, condiments, meat products, and processed food items.
A total of 15 exhibitors participated in the activity.
Among them was entrepreneur Cynthia Agustin, a registered Kadiwa ng Pangulo participant from Banna, Ilocos Norte. She showcased products including locally produced longganisa, chili and garlic oils, bagnet bagoong, pickled garlic with chili, spicy vinegar, pinakurat, and bagnet chips.
“Having an additional market for our products is a huge help to us,” she said.
Agustin said direct selling opportunities can help small businesses generate additional income while allowing them to reach customers beyond their usual outlets.
Local Food Products Become More Accessible
While producers gain an additional sales channel, consumers also benefit from having another venue where they can purchase agricultural and locally processed products.
NFA Ilocos Norte Branch Manager Engineer Jonathan Corpuz said bringing producers and consumers together in one location can contribute to stronger local food supply chains.
“This is a good program because it brings together our producers and our consumers,” Corpuz said.
He added that the activity provides an opportunity to promote locally produced goods and encourage consumers to support local enterprises.
For consumer Maria Gregoria Inay, the availability of affordable rice alongside other locally produced goods offered an opportunity to manage household expenses.
“It is a huge savings for us because it is cheap, and that ₱20 can buy a lot of other things,” Inay said.
Aside from rice, Inay purchased longganisa, frozen meat, onions, ginger, garlic, and other products available at the Kadiwa activity.
“It is a big help to us because these prices are cheaper than in the market,” she said.
Kadiwa Complements Affordable Rice Program
The Kadiwa activity also complements other government initiatives aimed at improving access to essential food products, including the NFA’s Benteng Bigas Meron Na (BBM) program.
At the NFA Ilocos Norte Food Terminal Inc. (FTI) rice redemption site, Corpuz reported that the branch has more than 24,900 bags of rice available, along with more than 36,200 bags of palay in stock.
Since the BBM program was implemented in August 2025, the branch has sold 23,070 bags of rice, providing consumers with another source of affordable rice.
These initiatives demonstrate how market interventions can address different parts of the food supply chain—creating additional selling opportunities for producers while giving consumers more avenues to access essential food products.
Regular Kadiwa Activities Planned in Ilocos Norte
Corpuz said the Kadiwa activity will be conducted regularly at the NFA Ilocos Norte branch, providing local producers and consumers with a continuing venue for direct transactions.
Sustaining the initiative will depend on continued producer participation, sufficient product availability, consumer demand, and the ability of the activity to generate meaningful market opportunities while keeping products accessible and reasonably priced.
For Ilocos Norte, the Kadiwa ng Pangulo activity demonstrates how government agencies can help strengthen direct producer-to-consumer market connections while supporting local enterprises and improving access to food products.
Its impact can be measured through indicators such as producer participation, sales generated, consumer reach, product availability, and access to affordable food.
(AMB/MTDA, PIA Ilocos Norte) | via Diario De Manila
