Benguet gov: Enough veggies for country’s needs despite Covid-19

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Gov. Melchor Diclas assured enough supply of highland vegetables despite the COVID-19 crisis. 

The Cordillera, particularly Benguet supplies around 75 percent of highland vegetable needs like cabbage, lettuce, potatoes, lettuce, broccoli, pechay among others for the country’s needs.
                During the Laging Handa Public Briefing, Diclas said Benguet continues to provide highland vegetables to the markets nationwide.

He said that even with the enhanced community quarantine, farmers are allowed to continue with their farming activities so the Benguet farmers are able continue to produce vegetables for the   various markets.
                It was a challenge for the vegetable industry sector during the start of the ECQ   but farmers, traders and other stakeholders have already adapted to the situation and the local government units and concerned agencies have addressed concerns especially on quarantine checkpoint, he said.

There is now smooth flow of vegetables from the province   to markets.

“Despite the COVID-19 crisis and the challenges we had, it is now business as usual for our vegetable industry in the province,” Diclas said. He thanked the national government, line agencies and the LGUs that are helping the province during these trying times.

In a separate briefing, the governor said the COVID-19 Provincial Task Force provided measures and guidelines for the vegetable industry during the crisis such as the clustering scheme of municipalities for the delivery of vegetable produce at the La Trinidad Vegetable Trading Post (LTVTP) and Benguet Agri-Pinoy Trading Center (BAPTC) effective April 8.

This is to avoid overcrowding and maintain social or physical distancing in adherence to the ECQ protocol.
                Each of the two cluster groups have a three-day schedule for a week. The nearby municipalities of Tinoc in Ifugao and Bauko in Mountain are also included in the clustering as they also unload their produce in both trading areas.

An order was also given to all stakeholders of the various vegetable trading center in the province to adhere to COVID-19 precautionary measures to ensure safety of everyone.

The provincial government also started buying vegetables of farmers who cannot sell their produce due to low prices. Diclas said that they bought tons of vegetables at minimum prices and added them as relief goods for those who are in need including thousands of students and workers who were stranded in the different parts of Baguio City and La Trinidad.

This was strengthened with the project of Vice Gov. Johnny Waguis dubbed as the “Sampung Piso para sa Farmers project” which provides assistance to several farmers by purchasing their goods at P10 a kilo, instead of letting them go home empty handed with no return of investments.

This was eventually adopted by the city of Baguio with “Sampung piso para sa farmer, Murang Gulay Para sa Pamayanan  sa Baguio” where the city government bought the vegetables from Benguet farmers at only P10 kilo so that people of Baguio can also buy cheap highland vegetables this ECQ.

Diclas acknowledged the resiliency of the Benguet people amidst the COVID crisis as he advised them to continue observing preventive guidelines such as social distancing and use of facemasks. (JDP/RMC -PIA-CAR)