The Cebu provincial government on Wednesday rolled out the first fusion of Kadiwa ng Pangulo (KNP) and Serbisyo Caravan in the town of Alcoy where fresh farm produce, cheap rice, fish and locally made goods and delicacies were displayed at the pop-up stores.

Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia led other local officials in launching the KNP for the residents in the southern corridor of the province, rallying regional government agency heads in bringing services straight to the people.

She said the event is in response to the call of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for the local government units to organize this initiative meant to ensure food security at the local level.

“This is a special occasion and the first time in the country the caravan of services and the Kadiwa ng Pangulo go together in one setting. We don’t just sell rice at PHP25 per kilo. We bring other services and distribute goods to our constituents,” Garcia said in her speech.

According to her, the presidential directive was easily implemented in Cebu province because of the caravan of services that have already been systematized since its inception in 2019.

Before the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, the provincial government organized medical, dental and other services in some chosen barangays, especially in geographically-challenged areas.

“The Kadiwa ng Pangulo will always be highlighted during the caravan of services which we are doing once every three months,” Garcia said.

Prices at the Kadiwa stores are cheaper as farmers can sell directly to the buyers without a middleman.

The Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Cebu Chapter provided free legal aid to the residents while the University of the Philippines joined the activity to promote the state scholarship program.

“This is going to be a regular program of the province. We’ll do more of this as many national government agencies committed to supporting the Kadiwa ng Pangulo and the Serbisyo Caravan,” the governor said. (PNA)