LAOAG CITY, Oct. 3 (PNA) –Residents here, who are struggling to make ends meet with their limited budget for groceries and supplies, may now avail of discounted price should they buy at the newly-established Farmers’ Market, a depository of local products and basic commodities sold at cheaper prices compared to commercial establishments.
Manned by some staff of the Ilocos Norte Invest, Small and Medium Entrepreneurs (SMEs), Special Projects Development, Provincial Agriculture, Metro Ilocos Norte and the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, basic commodities such as rice, sugar, oil, fruits and vegetables, eggs and native chickens among others are sold at the Dap-ayan Center from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. every Friday and Saturdays from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Launched on Sept. 26, the program dubbed as Kadiwa ni Manang Imee Farmers’ market, aims to help Ilocanos with the unabated increase of basic commodities.
Inspired by the KADIWA project during the time of former president Ferdinand E. Marcos, the provincial government of Ilocos Norte, led by Governor Imee Marcos, re-launched it in Laoag City just after typhoon Ineng hit the province.
In December 2014, the “Kadiwa ni Manang Imee”, a rolling store selling farmers’ goods and groceries was piloted in various municipalities and cities here during scheduled Capitol Express, gaining positive feedback from end consumers.
With a more accessible and wider space allotted at the Farmers’ Market, local farmers are also encourage to bring their products here and if they have no time to do so, they may ask assigned Kadiwa workers to sell their products instead for consignment.(PNA)