DA still negotiating for 2nd cycle of P170/kilo onions to be sold at Kadiwa stores

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is still negotiating with state-owned Food Terminal Inc. (FTI) to obtain fresh onions that will be sold at a discount at Kadiwa stores.

“‘Yung start ng next cycle sa Kadiwa will be dependent on the supplemental MOA (memorandum of agreement) that we have to work on with FTI because sila ‘yung nagpo-procure,” DA Assistant Secretary Kristine Evangelista said during the Saturday News Forum at Dapo Restobar in Quezon City.

Beginning Friday, January 13, Kadiwa stores stopped selling red and white onions at P170 per kilo—way cheaper than the P600 to P700 per kilo price at several Metro Manila markets.

Evangelista said that the DA is waiting for the liquidation and inventory report on the first cycle of onions sold at Kadiwa stores.

“When we get all of that, only then can we decide our ways forward…,” she said.

“As far as the MOA with FTI is concerned, we are discussing this with them together with our legal team,” she added.

For the first cycle, the DA official said the agency released a budget of P140 million to procure onions through FTI.

“The liquidation report from the FTI will be important to see how much of the funds were used and fund management as well. We also asked for a list of farmers and where they bought the onions, as well as the sales inventory, remaining stocks…,” Evangelista said.

As to how much will be allocated for the second cycle, Evangelista said that the DA will still have to wait for the reports from FTI.

“For the second cycle, ito ang kailangan pagusapan with the FTI. The proceeds of the sales ang gagamitin pambili muli ng sibuyas,” she said.

Evangelista said the DA still aims to sell onions at a cheaper price.

“Gusto natin ituloy ang pagkakaroon ng murang sibuyas sa Kadiwa. That is part of our commitment, and that is the Kadiwa program in itself,” she said. —VBL, GMA Integrated News

DA still negotiating for 2nd cycle of P170/kilo onions to be sold at Kadiwa stores
Source: Filipino Viral News PH