The Department of Agriculture’s (DA) plan to expand the Kadiwa Stores through possible franchising has earned the nod of a lawmaker in the House of Representatives.
Rep. Tobias Tiangco of Navotas said he fully supports the proposal to open Kadiwa Franchise Stores because of its potential to further encourage MSME development in the country.
“We are optimistic that if the Department of Agriculture opens the initiative to cooperatives or even small- and medium-scale entrepreneurs, we can expand livelihood opportunities and even create jobs across the country,” he said.
Tiangco said expanding the operations of Kadiwa Stores can provide entrepreneurial opportunities, while also underpinning access to affordable basic commodities.
“With the administration’s direction of improving food production in the country, this approach can provide an end-to-end initiative that can improve food production and sustainability and market access for goods of Filipino farmers while offering an effective mechanism to mitigate inflation,” he added.
“I agree with Secretary Tiu Laurel’s statement that when President Bongbong Marcos took on the role of DA Chief at the start of his term, he was able to fully grasp the current situation of agricultural development in the country. This has led to numerous policies and programs which aim to modernize agriculture and improve food sustainability in the country,” he added.
Tiangco said the Kadiwa Program can become another pillar of the administration’s poverty alleviation program if its franchise program can be opened to small- and medium-scale entrepreneurs.
“If this initiative is implemented properly, it can create jobs, boost revenues, and more importantly, improve access to affordable commodities,” he said.
Tiangco believes that under the leadership of Secretary Tiu-Laurel, this initiative can be streamlined in current plans of the administration for MSME development. “ I am certain that DA, under Secretary Tiu-Laurel, will be innovative in its implementation of this initiative to ensure it is inclusive and instrumental to our goal of providing opportunities for Filipinos to progress,” he said.
DA Secretary Francisco Laurel Tiu Jr. had earlier announced the department’s plan to allow cooperatives and private sector operators to franchise Kadiwa stores to increase the number of permanent outlets nationwide.
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