Brgy. San Jose in Caba, La Union is an interior barangay which is seven kilometres away from the town proper. Basically an agricultural area with around 100 existing households, going to and from the town proper is almost impossible especially with the continuing implementation of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

With some restrictions on securing quarantine pass from the barangay council and the high risk that it could give to those who would want to go to the town proper and not to mention the suspension of public transportation, made it even more difficult for every household to access basic necessities from the market.

Thanks to the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office I headed by Director Lucrecio R. Alviar, Jr. through the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division(AMAD) and the Department of Trade and Industry as they helped bring closer the market to consumers in the area through the KADIWA on wheels and the Rolling Store programs.

The KADIWA or Katuwang sa Diwa at Gawa ni Ani at Kita on wheels and the Rolling Store are among the DA and DTI’s efforts to provide the public an accessible, available, fresh and affordable agri-fishery commodities including the basic necessities of every family during the imposed ECQ.

A one-day activity held at the covered court of Brgy. San Jose, in coordination with the Local Government Unit of Caba, these programs of the KADIWA on Wheels and Rolling Store also provided opportunity for small farmers/traders and organizations to sell their produce.

Ms. Betty Ramos, 37 from Pugo, La Union, a consolidator of highland vegetables in the area expressed her gratitude for the existence of this kind of project from DA as more farmers were able to sell their produce at the same time providing her the opportunity to help the consuming public in this time of crisis by making available fresh, safe and affordable highland vegetables at their doorstep.

“Masaya sa feeling na makatulong sa iba. Di bale ng walang kita kasi hindi lang naman yong income ang habol natin dito. Yong makita natin na may ambag tayo sa panahong ganito, mas nakakagaan yon sa pakiramdam,”Ms. Ramos shared.

Mrs. Divina Dulatre, 46 and Mrs. Rowena Tambot, 38 both residents of Brgy. San Jose equally expressed their gratitude to the DA and DTI for bringing these projects in their barangay.

“Nagpapasalamat kami sa mga ganitong programa dahil talagang malaking tulong po ito sa amin. Buti na lang may ganitong programa dahil hindi na kami mahihirapang lumabas para mamalengke ng kailangan namin,” Ms. Tambot said.

Other than DA and DTI, the Philippine Carabao Center, which offerred its dairy products also joined the KADIWA on wheels along with invited sellers of dried fish and fishery products.

Aside from Brgy. San Jose, the Brgy. Council of San Carlos also in Caba joined the simultaneous KADIWA on wheels and Rolling store activity.