ANGELES CITY – To strengthen food security among his constituents, Pampanga 1st District Rep. Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. on Sept. 11 filed House Resolution No. 278 requesting the Department of Agriculture to establish Kadiwa “Benteng Bigas Meron Na” rolling stores in his district.
Officially launched in Batangas last July 10, the Kadiwa (Katuwang sa Diwa at Gawa para sa Masaganang Ani at Mataas na Kita) rolling store is part of the food security programs of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. that seeks to provide rice to Filipinos at an affordable price of P20 per kilo. On July 16, the DA expanded the program to the Cordilleras and La Union.
Currently, there are 162 Kadiwa locations nationwide selling rice at P20 per kilo; however, there are not enough outlets or ‘pop-up’ stores that could regularly cater to vulnerable sectors in Pampanga.
In a letter to Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., dated Sept. 11, Lazatin said that his office will provide any assistance that the DA may require to put up Kadiwa rolling stores in the 1st District.
“The Kadiwa program is significant in addressing food security, especially for marginalized communities, and it will greatly benefit our residents in the First District if we could have rolling stores established here,” Lazatin said.
The issue of food security has always been front and center in Lazatin’s agenda.
As mayor of Angeles City, Lazatin spearheaded the nationally-acclaimed “Walang Plastikan Plastic Palit Bigas” Program where city residents were able to receive one kilo of rice for every one kilo of plastic waste that they turned over to the city government.
The Walang Plastikan program was started in 2022, with P90 million allocated in the city’s annual investment program for its implementation. Another P100 million was allocated in 2023, and P90 million for 2024.
From January to December 2022, the city government was able to distribute 1,693,213 kilos of rice to residents in exchange for an equal amount of plastic waste; 932,863 kilos from January to December 2023; and 299,555 kilos from January to March 2024 – a total of 2,925,631 kilos.
The program has also helped the beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) with 3,356 out of 3,858 (87%) 4Ps beneficiary families availing of the Walang Plastikan Program.
In 2024, the Walang Plastikan Program was included among the 17 national finalists in the Walang Gutom Awards of the Department of Social Welfare and Development and Galing Pook Foundation.
During the final panel presentation for the award, Lazatin emphasized the contribution of the Walang Plastikan Program in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), in particular SDG 2: Zero Hunger and SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production.
“Walang magugutom. Walang kalam ang tiyan. No one goes to bed hungry,” Lazatin said. Press release
