DA, PNP, AFP expand Kadiwa ng Pangulo program

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has partnered with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to expand the Kadiwa ng Pangulo (KNP) program, ensuring wider access to affordable goods.

On Friday, February 21, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel launched KNP stores at the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame and the AFP headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo.

The DA plans to set up more KNP stores in select police and military camps across the country, targeting about 228,000 PNP personnel, 150,000 AFP members, and nearby communities.

Established under the Marcos administration, KNP aims to provide farmers and fishermen with direct access to consumers by eliminating intermediaries or middlemen, allowing them to earn better prices for their products.

The Rice-for-All (RFA) program allows rice to be purchased as low as P38 per kilo, alongside a P29 option available for vulnerable sectors, significantly lower than the regular market price of P43 to P62 per kilo.

AFP Chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. emphasized the military's commitment to supporting government initiatives that promote food security and economic resilience, highlighting KNP's role in empowering local farmers and micro-enterprises.

The program seeks to establish direct distribution channels for affordable rice at P40 per kilo with a 25-kilogram limit per person, ensuring stable food supply and enabling farmers to sell directly to consumers.