Manila, April 6 -- Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Monday urged the Department of Agriculture (DA) to expand the deployment of Kadiwa stores to provide affordable food items to vulnerable sectors affected by the Middle East conflict.

In a statement, Gatchalian said the expansion should cover geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs) to ensure that vulnerable groups such as senior citizens, solo parents, persons with disability (PWDs), and beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) have access to essential food items.

"Dapat abot ng murang bilihin ang bawat Pilipino, hindi lang sa Metro Manila kundi hanggang sa pinakamalayong komunidad, dahil lahat tayo ay apektado ng krisis sa Middle East (Affordable comm...