LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – To make affordable food readily available to personnel in the uniformed service, their families, and surrounding communities, the Department of Agriculture Cordillera (DA-CAR) and the Police Regional Office Cordillera (PROCAR) simultaneously launched the KADIWA Sa Kampo at the Regional Headquarters at Camp Bado Dangwa, in La Trinidad, Benguet, and in other provincial police offices in the region.
DA-CAR Regional Executive Director Atty. Jennilyn Dawayan in her message explained that this government initiative is a measure to support the farmers by assisting them to efficiently market their agricultural products, a way of connecting people, bridging the gap between the hard-working farmers and the very consumers they serve.
“By eliminating the unnecessary layers, we ensure that fresh, high-quality produce reaches you at the best possible prices by partnering with the Police Regional Office Cordillera here at Camp Bado Dangwa. We are not only here to strengthen our food supply but we also reinforce the bonds of our community through direct response to our economy’s major pillars, a unified market, production-based, competitive economic region, equitable development, and integration into the global economy. The Department of Agriculture has always prioritized its mandate for food security to assist in food production, it’s an empowering market initiative that benefits the inter-farming community wherein the DA is committed to connecting this farmer to potential buyers, business owners, local government units and other stakeholders to reduce wastes and increase the profitability of local agriculture,” Dawayan said.
The Regional Executive Director shared that the department has developed its farmer’s clusters ready for marketing. Since 2020, the DA has provided significant support to the province of Benguet and other provinces in CAR under the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) having a total of P88 million worth of marketing assistance allocated, illustrating the magnitude of support to the farmers.
For his part, PROCAR Director Police Brigadier General Peredo reiterated the importance of the KADIWA sa Kampo to the uniformed personnel, their families, and the surrounding communities citing the initiative reinforces the collective responsibilities to support agricultural programs, ensuring that the farmers receive the assistance they need to thrive.
“The KADIWA sa Kampo initiative stands as a testament to the strong collaboration between the Department of Agriculture and the Philippine National Police in ensuring food security, fair trade, and economic support for our farmers. Through this partnership, we directly connect local farmers to consumers by allowing them to sell their produce at fair prices while ensuring that communities have access to quality and affordable food,” Peredo stated.
The launching is in support of the earlier Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between the Department of Agriculture (DA), Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) held at Camp Crame and Camp Aguinaldo last February, opening police and military camps and offices nationwide for the KNP.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. in the MOU signing held on February 21, 2025, called the event a step toward achieving inclusive economic development and food security, celebrating unity, hope, and progress, and reminding us that through inter-agency cooperation, the government creates solutions benefiting farmers, fisherfolks, public servants and their families.
The KADIWA initiative also supports local farmers, fisherfolk, and agricultural cooperatives by creating a direct and sustainable market for their produce, reducing unnecessary market layers, and helping stabilize prices.
The KADIWA Sa Kampo at Camp Bado Dangwa will initially operate every last Friday of the month showcasing high-value crops, fruits, processed products, and rice supplied by 10 Farmers Cooperatives and Associations (FCAs) from Benguet and Apayao, and will be managed by Young Farmers Challenge (YFC) awardees. By JTLlanes
