Cebu City, Philippines (12 May 2023). A total of P172, 901.00 worth of goods and farm produce were sold during the Kadiwa ng Pangulo Para sa Manggawa at the Lamberto Macias Sports Complex, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental from May 1-3, 2023.

As part of the Labor Day 2023 celebration, 10 associations, 1 cooperative and 7 individuals participated in the 3-day initiative wherein they sold farm produce and products such as fruits and vegetables, eggs, native delicacies, seafood and meat products to name a few.

According to DOLE-7 Regional Director, Lilia A. Estillore, “Since this initiative is a component of the Labor Day celebration with the theme: Pabahay, Bilihing Abot-Presyo, Benepisyo ng Matatag na Trabaho Para sa Manggagawang Pilipino, we hope that this program helped diminish the impact of inflation both to our workers’ purchasing power and the value of microbusinesses’ hard-earned money.”

Of the 18 participating exhibitors, the Kapinyahan Farmers Association of Silab Amlan got the highest sales. It earned a total of P45, 746.00 for selling sweet pineapple-related products for the 3-day initiative.

“Dako kaayo ang tabang sa Kadiwa ng Pangulo para sa mga Mangagawa sa among gropo tungod kay sigurado ang among dakong halin sa among produkto sama sa pinya, marmalade and jam. Kalipay sad namu nga baligya sa ubos nga presyo para sa mgamamalitay (We are grateful for the help of the Kadiwa ng Pangulo Para sa mga Manggawa because were earned huge income in our products such as pineapples, marmalade and jam. It is also our honor to sell those products at a lower price to our consumers),” said Josephine I. Remorca, president of kapinyahan farmers association.

The Southern Negros Agri-Fisheries Multi-purpose Cooperative landed on the second spot with their seafood products. The cooperative earned a total of P44, 725.00 for selling boneless bangus, fresh bangus, lamayo bangus, and shrimps.

The Dauin Vegetable Growers Association from Tunga-tunga, Dauin came in next after earning a total of P14, 530.00 for selling egg products.

“Very helpful sa mga small business owners and associations nga nahatagan sila ug opportunity nga maka baligya sa ilang mga produkto sa ubos nga presyo ug promote ang ilang delicacies and products. Beneficial sad sa mga customers kay barato ang presyo samga produkto sa KADIWA (The initiative is really helpful to small business owners and associations as it provided them the opportunity to sell their products and promote their delicacies at lower price. It is also beneficial to the consumers since products are cheaper),” said Lorem Milliones, one of the consumers.

“We are thankful for a successful conduct of the Kadiwa initiative. Without DTI-7 and DA-7, this would not have been made possible. We also thank our exhibitors/farmers/groups for joining in the said activity and for providing us quality produce at a lower price,” said DOLE-Negros Oriental Field Office (NOFO) Officer-In-Charge, Ma. Teresa Tanqiamco.

To recall, the Kadiwa ng Pangulo was also initiated in Cebu City during the Labor Day celebration at Robinsons Galleria Cebu. 28 exhibitors joined who earned P89, 938.00. Detergent and Laundry products from Wellmade Manufacturing Corporation made the highest sales at P10, 800.00.

The Kadiwa ng Pangulo, loosely translated as “one idea, one thought with the President,” is a program of Department of Agriculture where farm-to-consumer market chain strategy is used. It allows local producers to sell their products directly to the consumers at a lower price and generate higher income in return since there are no middlemen involved.

 

 

End//KAUgalde with reports from Bless Padua of NOFO

 

For more information on this report, you may contact LuchelSenarloTaniza, Regional Labor Information Officer, by sending an email at ro7@dole.gov.ph.