DA-Caraga Holds 2nd Kadiwa Summit and Assessment in Butuan City

The Department of Agriculture – Caraga (DA-Caraga) successfully conducted the 2nd Kadiwa Summit and Assessment on July 24 in Butuan City, bringing together farmers’ groups, Local Government Units (LGUs), and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to evaluate the implementation of the Enhanced Kadiwa Financial Grant and explore strategies for improvement.

Since the program’s inception in 2020 under Bayanihan 1, a total of 88 proponent groups have received ₱195,961,838.00 in funding through DA-Caraga’s Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD). These grants have supported the establishment and expansion of Kadiwa outlets that link farmers directly to consumers—lowering food prices while increasing farmers’ income.

“Kadiwa exists to help our people build sustainable enterprises and empower their communities. The summit provides a valuable opportunity to highlight the success stories of our beneficiaries who have excelled in the program,” said AMAD Chief Lynn A. Pareñas.

Ludivina Rueda, Supervising Agriculturist of the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (AMAS), emphasized the potential for continued support and scalability of the program. “If your grant performance is strong, you may be eligible for additional assistance. The success of one association can inspire many others,” Rueda said, adding that the summit serves as a vital platform for learning and innovation.

She also stressed the value of open dialogue during the event. “It is important to identify our challenges so we can work together in crafting effective solutions,” Rueda added.

Meanwhile, Regional Executive Director Arlan Mangelen reminded participants of the broader mission of the Kadiwa initiative.

“I hope the support you’ve received will make a meaningful impact in your communities, contributing to economic transformation in your areas,” Mangelen said. “Given the high poverty incidence in the Caraga Region, it’s imperative that our interventions truly uplift our people. Let us strengthen the Kadiwa initiative by mainstreaming strategies to fully empower it.”

Key topics discussed during the summit included the establishment of Kadiwa Centers, procurement of vehicles and equipment, submission and processing of liquidation reports, and progress updates from selected beneficiaries. Participants also tackled process bottlenecks and operational concerns to ensure continuous improvement in program delivery. (Kent Warren Fugoso, Information Officer I)