The Local Government of Puerto Princesa City through its City Agriculturist Office (CAO) was already conducting agri-trade fairs to directly sell farmers produce to the consumers and remove the various layers of traders however this stopped due to the pandemic at the onset of the community quarantine. During the community quarantine, the DA was promoting the Kadiwa to bring to the communities farmers produce, and this opportunity paved the way to level up and transform the agri-trade fair into Kadiwa sa Barangay activity with the direction from the DA that farming and fishing activities can be pursued while there is community quarantine as long as health and safety protocols are followed. Farmers Associations immediately responded to the call to provide vegetables and other agri-farm products that will be transported by the CAO from the farm to the organized Kadiwa venue within the City’s urban barangays. The PPC Food Terminal partner organization, Puerto Princesa Agri-Producers and Marketing Association (PPAPROMA) represented the farmers in the KADIWA activities and also started the Online Palengke to enable consumers to buy food especially agri farm products without physically going to the public market since it was delivered to their homes. From April to December 2020, there were 39 Kadiwa activities conducted with total sales generated at P2, 217,390.35 with 1,858 buyers/consumers who participated in the activities. The DA –AMAD provided technical assistance in the implementation of the KADIWA. This was named Puerto Princesa City Kadiwa Producers Market or PPC KADIWA with the aim of directly bringing the farmers and fishers products to the consumers in the urban barangays, informal markets (talipapa) and to small re-sellers in the community which provided income to those affected by the pandemic. Farmers and fishers are able to sell at fair price and not be taken advantage of by the traders which offer low price. Due to the direct marketing from the farmers, the prices offered at the PPC KADIWA was much lower than other selling areas that it was invited to participate in weekend markets organized by the private sector such as the Tarabidan sa Dang Maria’s, La Marche, Mindful Market at La Terrasse, Barakalan ig Tarabiangan sa Banwa and Paskuhan sa Libis . The PPC KADIWA was approached by a social entrepreneur group operating Go Palengke Online Farmers Market utilizing an online marketing platform to sell agri farm products. With this partnership with Go Palengke and the direct selling activities further increased the volume of farm products sold from 2,200 kilograms to 35, 1643.75 kilograms of vegetables and other farm products like eggs (13,133 pieces) directly sold to buyers/consumers at the same time ensuring fair price for the farmers and fishers. The online platform also mobilized riders who previously lost their jobs were able to gain income by P400-800/ day by delivering the agri farm products. PPC Kadiwa and Go Palengke were able to sell in municipalities such as El Nido, Roxas, Coron via El Nido and also introduce in the NCCC Mall lowland and highland vegetables from PPC farmers. The Go Palengke and Online Palengke platforms enabled farmer-producers to start utilizing social media to communicate the available supply direct from the field. There are 138 farmer producers supporting the KADIWA activities from the associations: Sitio Busngol Farmers Association, Luzviminda FA, Inagawan Organic FA, Inagawan Sub FA, Masigasig Farmers Group, Tagburos FA, Samahan ng mga Manggugulay sa Calvary, Samahan ng mga Magsasaka ng Sta. Lourdes, Luzviminda Seagrapes Growers Association, Jacana Fish Processing Association, KKK RIC Tagburos, UBUNTO FA, TAAS-MPC and Puerto Princesa Agri-Producers and Marketing Association (PPAPROMA). Due to the system of pricing and payment, farmers were encouraged to participate in the KADIWA than sell to the traders who offer low price and pay on consignment basis.
The CAO in support of the call for food production by the local government and the Department of Agriculture started the Pilot Production of Highland Vegetables in the City. The highland vegetables produced were Chinese cabbage, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and bell pepper planted in open field which were sold during the KADIWA activities. The Community-based production and marketing of lowland vegetables through barangay clustering was also introduced to ensure sustainability of produce available for the KADIWA at the same time provide stable price for consumers and producers.
There are still other areas that needs to be further explored and enhanced to sustain the unique marketing and production strategies in place such as farm to market roads, farm mechanization and post-harvest facilities among others.
