Photo Credit: Tublay Municipal Agriculturist, Jeffrey Sotero
Some ten tons of assorted vegetables have already been delivered as of March 26 at the Distribution Center in Quezon City. Tublay Municipal Agriculturist Jeffrey Sotero said that they also plan to include adjacent municipalities to supply the demand of the NGOs in NCR on a regular basis and to help more farmers not only in their municipality but in the province of Benguet. “Transportation of vegetable products in the market is essential to ensure the quality of products and its availability,” he added.
The Department of Agriculture – Cordillera Administrative region (DA-CAR) has been finding ways to help Cordillera farmers in market their product outside the region amidst the prevailing Enhance Community Quarantine in Luzon. For this matter, DA-CAR facilitated the transport of vegetable products from Tublay, Benguet to Manila by lending two (2) of its truck as transport.
In a letter sent by Tublay Mayor Armando J. Lauro said a Non-Government Organization commits in buying their local vegetable products which will be delivered to consumers staying at the slum areas in Manila. ” Sufficient volume of excess assorted vegetables are available and ready for delivery”, he added. Thus, he requested for possible assistance from DA-CAR on the transport of goods to Manila.
The department responded quickly by committing two trucks that can haul 3-5 tons to deliver said vegetables in Metro Manila. Fuel and Drivers were shouldered by DA. This assistance is part of DA’s services provided to the small farmers. Meanwhile, Sotero said this partnership between the Local Government Unit (LGU) and the DA-CAR is a great help to the farmers in selling their products, especially with the current abnormal situation.
