The Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 1 (DA-RFO 1) thru its Agribusiness and Marketing assistance Division (AMAD), in partnership with the Department of Trade & Industry (DTI), jointly implement the Kadiwa on Wheels and Rolling Store program to provide the public access to food and other basic supplies closer to their homes given the difficulty of traveling to public markets and main grocery stores in the region after the imposed extended enhanced community quarantine due to COVID-19 pandemic.

This collaborative effort is a first to both agencies with the municipality of Balaoan as its pilot area.

The Kadiwa on Wheels and the Rolling store were brought to barangays Sinapangan Sur, Sinapangan Norte, Tallipugo, Calliat, Baracbac Oeste, and Baracbac Este. Buyers in said barangays were provided only one hour each to buy their goods at a limited number so that everyone who came will be able to bring home goods
that they need.

“We’re very grateful to DA and DTI for bringing these goods to our doorstep through this Kadiwa on Wheels and Rolling store. Its truly a big help because not all of us can go to the market and grocery stores in town for our needs due to the ECQ.”, shared Leticia Barbon, 58, a resident of Brgy. Tallipugo, Balaoan, La Union.

Commodities sold were lowland and highland vegetables, fish, pork, chicken, processed food products, and other essential necessities which were all sold based on suggested retail price.

The Kadiwa on wheels and the rolling store was set up at the Farmers Civic Center of Barangay Sinapangan Sur, Balaoan, La Union on Thursday, April 23, 2020.

To cater more to the needs of the public for available, accessible and affordable food during the imposed ECQ, DA hopes to be able to serve more areas in the coming weeks through the Kadiwa on Wheels program.