TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA)—With a fitting tweak, KADIWA NG PANGULO opened at the old Tagbilaran City airport for its inaugural three-day fair with 53 agri-producers, 24 One Town-One Product (OTOP) handicraft products and 46 food and refreshment stalls for a total of 123 exhibitors offering the freshest, newest and reasonably affordable goods for Boholanos and tourists.
In other areas where Katuwang sa Diwa at Gawa para sa Masaganang Ani at Mataas na Kita (KADIWA) is a day-long selling and market matching event, Bohol opted for 3 days of active interaction between consumers and producers as well as bulk buyers from Bohol Association of Hotels, Resorts and Restaurants and tow existing Chambers of Commerce and industries here, says Provincial Administrator Aster Caberte.
The tweaked 3-day Kadiwa in Bohol opens on every 15th and 30th of the month, Caberte announced during the opening program’s welcome remarks.
The three days of products direct selling allows farmers from distant agricultural communities and micros small and medium enterprises (MSME) prolonged market for their products, save on transportation and logistics as well as establish producer linkages with government agencies into product enhancement and development.
“At the end of the day, it is our aspiration that farmers get mataas na kita (high sales),” Caberte, who sat as undersecretary for the Department of Trade and Industry explained the Kadiwas primary purpose.
As government enablers, we do not stop to inspire them to continue food production by providing market linkages for our marginal farmers and fisherfolks who have been deprived of a good marketing platform to sell their products, Caberte said.
“OK gyud kaayo, makatabang kaayo namo paghatag og maayong exposure sa amo’ng products, said Cecilia Oroc, a pastry baker and among the last surviving bakers or a Spanish cracker fare during fiestas in old Bohol times.
Oroc sells tinapay, as well as cookies, which caught the DTI product enhancement team offering technical her assistance in her product labels, during the fair’s second day of sales.
Oroc is just one of the 123 exhibitors in this inaugural KADIWA NG PANGULO.
The DTI team also hinted of an electric drier that would allow the baker to continue production even during ill weather.
Tinapay doughs do not fare well when cut when there is no sun, as the edges would tend to be frayed.
She stands as the last baker in her family lineage, and revealed that there is money in baking, especially getting her products into the tourism market, although the younger generations have yet to get to know the tinapay.
Meanwhile, Bohol governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado sees KADIWA as an incredible promise for Bohol and its people.
KADIWA mission is to empower farming communities by establishing a direct and efficient farm-to-consumer supply chain where farmers can directly sell their agricultural produce to consumers, as well as provide the perfect opportunity for local MSMEs to market their products by eliminating unnecessary marketing layers resulting in higher earnings from producers, the governor explained.
While the farmers get better earnings, the consumers on the other hand get the freshest fruits, vegetables, rice, fish, processed food and handicraft products at low prices.
Aumentado calls the KADIWA a smart response to soaring prices and sustainable drive for food sufficiency and agri-development.
KADIWA embodies values of unity, cooperation, empowerment of local producers, and signifies the government’s unwavering commitment to uplift lives of Boholanos in under-served communities.
Using the venue to link the local chambers of Commerce and industries as well as hotels and restaurant operators, PA Caberte said our ambition here is not just spot sales, but negotiated sales and booked orders for our farmers.
She said her reason for inviting Bohol Association of Hotels, Resorts and Restaurants is for their members to meet with the local producers so they can tap fresh local supply helping the producers some more. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)
