LAZATIN WANTS KADIWA TO BRING P20 RICE ROLLING STORES IN PAMPANGA’S FIRST DISTRICT

BY KEVIN GALANG

PAMPANGA 1^st district Rep. Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin Jr. has filed a bill pushing for KADIWA “Benteng Bigas Meron Na” (BBM) rolling stores in his district.

The Pampanga solon filed House Resolution 278 urging the Department of Agriculture (DA) to establish KADIWA BBM rolling stores in his district to ensure affordable rice for  local residents.

The KADIWA rolling store, which was launched in Batangas on July 10, 2025, is part of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s food security program, offering rice at P20 per kilo. 

The initiative has since expanded to the Cordilleras and La Union, with 162 outlets now operating nationwide.

Lazatin, in a letter to Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. on September 11, vowed to support the DA in setting up rolling stores in Pampanga.

“The KADIWA program is significant in addressing food security, especially for marginalized communities. It will greatly benefit our residents in the First District if rolling stores are established here,” Lazatin said.

Food security has long been a key advocacy of Lazatin. 

As former Angeles City mayor, he pioneered the award-winning “Walang Plastikan, Plastic Palit Bigas” Program, which allowed residents to exchange plastic waste for rice.

The city government allocated P90 million in 2022, P100 million in 2023, and P90 million in 2024 for the program, distributing a total of 2,925,631 kilos of rice to residents over three years.

Beneficiaries of the government’s 4Ps program were among the primary participants, with 87% of 4Ps families in Angeles City availing themselves of the initiative.

The “Walang Plastikan” project also gained national recognition, becoming a finalist in the 2024 “Walang Gutom” Awards of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Galing Pook Foundation.

Lazatin underscored that both the KADIWA program and the “Walang Plastikan” initiative share the goal of fighting hunger and promoting sustainable practices.

“With the initiatives, walang magugutom, walang kakalam ang tiyan. No one goes to bed hungry,” the Pampanga solon said.