DESPITE being affected by typhoon Maring, the provinces in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley and Bicol were able to deliver at least 180 metric tons of assorted vegetables in a market in Quezon City the other day.

Department of Agriculture Assistant Secretary for Operations Arnel De Mesa said the delivery aims to ensure the availability and affordability of fresh lowland and highland vegetables for Metro Manila consumers despite the damage brought by the typhoon to production areas in Luzon.

“It only shows na wala tayong problema sa pagdating ng supply ng mga highland and lowland vegetables dito sa Metro Manila,” De Mesa said noting that prices should be stable.

Some of the vegetables delivered include carrots, chayote, pechay Baguio, white potato, squash, tomato, cucumber, beans, eggplant, and ampalaya from the Benguet Agri-Pinoy Trading Center (BAPTC), Nueva Vizcaya Agricultural Terminal (NVAT), and the Agripreneur Farmers Producers Association (AFPAI) of Camarines Sur.

De Mesa added that the DA directly coordinates with the concerned local government units, private sector partners, and the farmers’ cooperatives to ensure continued production and delivery of commodities that will also ensure the steady income of farmers.

“Simula noong Maring, regular na nagdadala rito sa Balintawak mga sampung trucks, ngayon ay labing anim, so masasabi natin na stable naman iyong condition ng pagdadala ng gulay mula sa mga lugar na naapektuhan ng bagyo,” he said.

He further said that the DA assists farmers by providing interventions such as production inputs including seeds and fertilizers, financial assistance, trainings, crop insurance, and market linkage among others.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Cory Martinez