MOBILE MARKET. Department of Agriculture (DA-7) Executive Regional Director Salvador Diputado (3rd from left) leads the ribbon-cutting ceremony during the opening of the Kadiwa People's Market in Lapu-Lapu City on Tuesday (Aug. 28, 2020). The mobile market that brings fresh farm produce closer to the consumers is operated by the Cebu People's Multi-Purpose Cooperative, in partnership with the DA-Central Visayas. (Photo courtesy of DA-7)
LAPU-LAPU CITY – The Cebu People's Multi-Purpose Cooperative (CPMPC), in partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Central Visayas, on Tuesday rolled out the Kadiwa (Katuwang sa Diwa at Gawa) People's Market in this city to bring fresh produce closer to the consumers.
The DA-7 partnered with various cooperatives and local government units (LGUs) to ensure accessible food during this pandemic, in response to Agriculture Secretary William Dar's thrust to bring affordable and fresh farm produce to the communities.
DA-7 Regional Executive Director Salvador Diputado said Dar wants to ensure food availability, affordability, and accessibility during the community quarantine period.
"We are happy that Cebu City government, CPMPC, and the Lapu-Lapu City government have agreed to conduct this Kadiwa to ensure not only the accessibility of food but also to monitor the prices of these agricultural produce," he said in a statement.
Diputado noted that DA-7 is also strengthening its price monitoring so that the producers and consumers are protected against unreasonable price hikes.
"We at the DA-7 have been working hard to bring the needed services to our farmers and the consumers in order to help stabilize the prices of these commodities," he said.
The Kadiwa in Lapu-Lapu City is located at Kagudoy Road, Barangay Basak here and opens every Tuesday and Wednesday.
Various fresh vegetables and fruits from the mountain barangays of Cebu City are sold in the Kadiwa market.
The CPMPC is also a conduit of the agricultural loans of the DA.
The Kadiwa People's Market is another platform of the DA7's Online Kadiwa and the Mobile Kadiwa spearheaded by cooperatives and various LGUs in Central Visayas.
Diputado is also keen on tapping the possible online transactions of farmers with CPMPC.
He said that the online transactions of CPMPC cover the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, and Lapu-Lapu. He added that more mobile markets are slated to be set up in other areas of the province. (PNA)
