The first Kadiwa Center in MIMAROPA region will open on Monday (March 10, 2025) in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro, creating a new marketplace where consumers can buy affordable agricultural products directly from local producers.

Kadiwa Centers are government-backed marketplaces designed to eliminate middlemen in the food supply chain, allowing farmers and fishermen to sell directly to consumers at lower prices while receiving fair compensation for their produce.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) MIMAROPA said the center will help address food affordability as it supports Mindoro’s agricultural producers.

“This first Kadiwa Center in MIMAROPA is an important government project, in partnership with CALSEDECO, to help consumers purchase affordable products while ensuring farmers and fisherfolk receive fair prices for their harvest,” said Christopher R. Bañas, DA MIMAROPA Regional Executive Director.

Dennis Gasic, chairperson of CALSEDECO, explained that the marketplace will offer essential food items including fish, meat, and vegetables sourced directly from cooperative members.

“We have cooperative members who are fishermen, and we’ll buy directly from them, making prices truly affordable. It’s the same with meat – we have members who raise chickens and pigs. For vegetables, we have farmers from whom we’ll collect produce directly from their farms. The middleman is eliminated, so consumers can buy at genuinely low prices,” said Gasic.

CALSEDECO plans to expand the market by opening additional Kadiwa Centers in Occidental Mindoro and Marinduque in coming months.

DA’s Kadiwa program is a national government’s approach to address food security and affordability concerns while providing sustainable income opportunities for agricultural producers.