Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian showed his support for the Kadiwa ng Pangulo (KNP) as he, together with other government officials, joined President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr, during the rollout of the KNP program in San Jose del Monte City in Bulacan Wednesday, April 19.

The Kadiwa program, held at the covered court of Barangay Dulong Bayan, was participated in by around 50 sellers from various national government agencies including the DSWD, Department of Agriculture (DA), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), as well as sellers from the local government unit (LGU) of SJDM.

For the DSWD, five Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) associations from Field Office III (Central Luzon) offered various products such as bags, belts, wallets and various food delicacies, among others.

In his message, President Marcos said the KNP program has outlets in different parts of the country to serve its purpose of providing accessible and affordable food and other commodities for Filipinos to cushion and counter the effects of global inflation, while helping local producers earn more through a direct farm-to-market consumer trade.

“Binibigyan natin ng pagkakataon ang mga lokal na maliliit na negosyo, gaya ng sari sari-store, maliit na restaurant… binibigyan natin sila ng pagkakataon, ng isang lugar, isang palengke, isang merkado para naman maibenta nila ang kanilang mga produkto” (We are providing local business owners, as well as the small-scale and medium enterprise, with a platform where they can offer and sell their products), the President pointed out.

After their visit to Kadiwa booths, President Marcos, assisted by Secretary Gatchalian, led the distribution of various government assistance to local beneficiaries at the SJDM Convention Center.

During the ceremonial provision of assistance, the President and Secretary Gatchalian personally handed over the financial assistance and food packs from the DSWD to the recipients identified by the LGU of San Jose del Monte City.

More than 480 beneficiaries received cash aid amounting to Php5,000 each under the DSWD’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program.

The DSWD likewise launched the Food-For-Work-Program, wherein beneficiaries will be engaged in community service in exchange for the provision of food packs.

The DSWD will continue to support the initiatives of President Marcos, such as the Kadiwa Program and government assistance caravan, to ensure that social protection packages will be provided to the vulnerable sectors. #