Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Erwin T. Tulfo led the grand launching of the Kadiwa ng Pasko caravan at the Rincon Covered Court in Valenzuela City on Wednesday, November 16.

The event in Valenzuela was part of the simultaneous grand launching of the Kadiwa ng Pasko caravan in 14 cities in the National Capital Region and other provinces including Tacloban, South Cotabato, and Davao de Oro.

President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. graced the opening ceremony of another Kadiwa ng Pasko caravan at the Molave Covered Court in Addition Hills, Mandaluyong City.

The Kadiwa ng Pasko is an initiative of the Office of the President and organized by the Department of Agriculture in partnership with the DSWD, National Labor Relations Commission, Department of the Interior and Local Government, and  Department of Trade and Industry. The caravan aims to promote and bring local products of  farmers, fisher folks, and small and medium enterprise owners directly to the market, eliminating various marketing layers and, thus, allowing local producers to earn more while offering goods that are affordable and below the suggested retail price to the consumers.

In his message, Secretary Tulfo lauded the administration for establishing the Kadiwa ng Pasko and for helping the local producers as well as the consumers, especially that the prices of basic commodities and services continue to increase.

“Sa Kadiwa po, ito po ay sagot ng LGU. Ibig pong sabihin, wala pong binabayaran na renta, wala po binabayaran na tubig, kuryente, wala pong binabayaran na empleyado, mismo pong mga may ari ang nagbebenta, kaya mura” (Here in Kadiwa, the (expenses) are covered by the LGU. This means that local producers will not have to pay for the rent, water, electricity, and even employees – hence their products are affordable),” Secretary Tulfo said.

Beneficiaries of the DSWD were among the participants.  Various products such as rugs, wallets, cord organizers, bags, pastries, and other arts and crafts items that were made by the beneficiaries of the Sustainable Livelihood Program Associations and residents of the Agency’s centers and residential care facilities  like the Nayon ng Kabataan, Sanctuary Center, and Golden Reception and Action Center for the Elderly and other Special Cases, among others, were on sale at the venue.

Accompanying the Secretary during the launching were Operations Group Undersecretary Jerico Francis Javier; Assistant Secretary for Specialized Programs under Operations Group Florentino Loyola Jr.; and Social Welfare Institutional Development Bureau Assistant Bureau Director Michael Hilario. ###