DA to roll-out mobile KADIWA community pantry in La Union

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union, May 2 (PIA) - - The Department of Agriculture- Regional Field Office I (DA-RFO I) will be rolling-out a mobile KADIWA community pantry to residents who are greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in this city in the upcoming weeks, according to Regional Director Nestor D. Domenden.

 

The mobile KADIWA community pantry is realized following the successful launching of the KADIWA community pantries at the DA-RFO1’s regional office and its six (6) satellite stations on April 26, 2021.

COVID-affected residents receive free vegetables during the launching of the KADIWA community pantry in front of the office of the DA-RFO1, San Fernando City, La Union on April 26, 2021. (Photo courtesy from the DA-RFO1)

 

Domenden said their mobile community pantry will reach out first to the residents living in the villages under the Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) in San Fernando City and the marginalized villagers identified by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

 

“Our mobile KADIWA community pantry will bring and distribute free vegetables and other agricultural food products, and free seeds and planting materials to mitigate the impact of the pandemic to the most affected residents,” he said.

 

Among the initial vegetables and agriculture food products to be shared in the rolling out of the KADIWA community pantry are eggplant, tomatoes, ampalaya, squash, okra, sitao, upo, kamote tops, saluyot, rice, and vinegar. Some of the planting materials readied for distribution are free vegetable seeds and fruit tree seedlings.

 

“We are also distributing free vegetable seeds and fruit tree seedlings to help the residents engage in backyard gardening to sustain their household vegetable consumption,” he said.

 

Meanwhile, hundreds of families were benefited during the simultaneous opening of the KADIWA Community Pantry at the DA-RFO1’s regional office and its six (6) satellite stations located at the Pangasinan Research and Experiment Center (PREC) in Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan; PREC Sual, Pangasinan; Ilocos Integrated Agricultural Research Center (ILIARC) in Sapilang, Bacnotan, La Union; Ilocos Sur Research Center (ISReC) in San Juan, Ilocos Sur; and the Ilocos Norte Research & Experiment Centers (INREC) in Batac City and in Dingras, both in Ilocos Norte.

 

The DA-RFO1 through the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD), in partnership with Farmers' Cooperatives and Associations (FCAs) in the region initiated the creation of the KADIWA community pantry. (JCR/FGL, PIA 1)

Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)