The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Philippine Postal Corp. (PHLPost) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Thursday to launch a partnership expanding the KADIWA ng Pangulo program nationwide.
The program, which connects small farmers and fisherfolk directly with Filipino consumers to provide affordable, high-quality food, would now be accessible through post offices across the country.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. and postmaster general and PHLPost chief executive Luis Carlos emphasized the collaborative effort between the two agencies to enhance food security, improve the lives of Filipino consumers, and make essential food products more accessible, especially to financially struggling households.
“This reminds us that when institutions come together with a shared purpose, they can break barriers and create meaningful change,” he said.
With a network of 1,100 post offices nationwide, Carlos said the KADIWA ng Pangulo program would initially cover 67 post offices across Metro Manila, as well as areas in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
He said the six post offices hosting pop-up KADIWA stores already benefitted not only postal workers but also the communities served by PHLPost.
The partnership is expected to accelerate the expansion of the KADIWA ng Pangulo program, which the DA aims to grow to 1,500 stores nationwide by 2028.