The Department of Agriculture has allocated over P58 million in financial assistance to expand food distribution systems and strengthen agricultural value chains across Western Visayas and Negros Occidental under its KADIWA program.
The funding package supports both local government units and farmers’ organizations, aiming to improve access to affordable food while enhancing post-harvest facilities and market connectivity.
Of the total allocation, P43.5 million was granted to 14 municipalities across Aklan, Antique, Capiz, and Iloilo.
Beneficiaries include agricultural communities in Malay (Aklan); several towns in Antique such as Bugasong, Culasi, and Valderrama; municipalities in Capiz including Pontevedra and Dao; and Iloilo towns such as Alimodian, Leon, Pototan, and Tubungan.
The grants will be used to establish KADIWA outlets, food storage systems, processing centers, and other infrastructure designed to shorten the supply chain between farmers and consumers.
An additional P14.6 million was extended to 12 farmers’ cooperatives and associations in Panay and Negros Occidental to support community-based production and distribution initiatives.
Agriculture officials said the program is intended to stabilize food supply, improve price accessibility, and reduce reliance on traditional market intermediaries that often increase costs for consumers.
The KADIWA initiative is part of the government’s broader strategy to link producers directly to markets, particularly in areas where food affordability remains a concern for low-income households.
By strengthening local supply chains, the program is expected to improve market efficiency while providing farmers with more direct and stable income opportunities.IMT
