Antique: The two-day Kadiwa ng Pangulo (KNP) event has brought more affordable rice options to the residents of Antique starting Wednesday.

According to Philippines News Agency, the Kamapat Agriculture Cooperative, a key participant in the event, has been offering rice at PHP950 for a 25-kilo bag. This price is notably lower than the commercial market rates, which range from PHP1,000 to PHP1,200 per bag.

On the first day alone, the Kamapat Agriculture Cooperative managed to sell 93 bags of locally produced rice, as confirmed by Betty Baldevia, the Agri-Business and Marketing coordinator from the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, during an interview on Thursday. Baldevia emphasized the cooperative's commitment to selling agricultural, fishery, and other products at reduced prices, aligning with KNP's goal of ensuring food security and affordability for consumers.

In addition to rice, the KNP event has proven beneficial for other vendors. Irele Mahimpit, a seller of bamboo crafts, shared that she successfully sold two bamboo beds and several baskets during the event. The KNP also features a variety of other products, including fresh vegetables, processed agri-fishery goods, squash noodles, fresh bananas, banana chips, salted peanuts, and coffee.

The exhibitors at the KNP, including the Kamapat Agriculture Cooperative and bamboo craft sellers like Mahimpit, are beneficiaries of the Department of Labor and Employment's Tulong Panghanapbuhay Para sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program.