Bauko mayor: Reports on rotting veggies due to checkpoints wrong

BAUKO, Mountain Province — Mayor Abrahaham Akilit said  there is no truth to reports that vegetables in the municipality are rotting because of strict monitoring of cargo trucks in checkpoints.

In his letter to Department of Agriculture officials dated April 20, 2020, Akilit stated that the truth is except for short disinfection process of vehicles and passengers coming in the municipality at the dedicated control points at the Sinto, Bauko, no delay of cargo trucks bringing vegetables to the market outside the province has been experienced. 

           He added that with the Direct Connect program of DA- Cordillera deliveries of vegetables outside Bauko have significantly improved.

             Under the Kadiwa Direct Connect scheme, DA-CAR connects vegetable farmers in Mountain Province, Benguet and Ifugao to buyers from the different markets, local government units and donors.

            Moreover, Akilit said DA CAR Executive Director Cameron Odsey has allowed its hauling trucks for the delivery of products of small farmers.  

            “These are some of the good efforts of DA-CAR that contributed to the marketing of our Bauko farmers produce to as far as in Region IV a, that is worthy  of recognition,” Akilit stated. 

To ensure efficient flow of food deliveries during the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon, DA – CAR has issued food lane passes for vehicles involved in delivering agriculture and other food products.

Reports on alleged vegetable spoilage in Mountain Province appeared in an article, “Farmers trash spoiled vegetables while poor go hungry” by a certain Ralf Rivas in Rappler.

It stated, “Tons of vegetables in the Mountain Province in the Cordillera Administrative Region are about to be thrown away in the next couple of days, as farmers struggle to sell them due to several lockdowns in Luzon.

 Mounds of decayed broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage have already been disposed of, as flies start to feast on them. Sacks of chayote, carrots, and potatoes are in danger of being chucked out next.”

                The DA has referred this for validation to the provincial government and the LGU of Bauko, which is the foremost vegetable producing municipality of the province.  Such situation was found otherwise. Bauko farmers find ways to sell their produce or they donate it to the needy.(PIA CAR)