LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Officials of the provincial government has assured that the production and transport of vegetables from the farms will continue.
On Tuesday, Gov. Melchor Diclas said farmers are exempt from the strict home quarantine guidelines under the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine order of President Rodrigo Duterte.
However, he encouraged other members of the family of the farmers and the community to stay home. They will only be allowed to go out to shop for necessities.
He said there is no crowding of people on farms, which complies with the order on social distancing.
“Konti lang ang mga tao sa garden,” Diclas said.
Diclas said vegetable is a basic commodity.
Aside from tending to the farms, farmers are also allowed to harvest their products and pack them for transport to the trading post in La Trinidad, where buyers and traders purchase in bulk to bring these to the various markets in the country.
Benguet produces 80 to 85 percent of highland vegetables that are brought to Aparri, Batanes, Palawan, Visayas, and Mindanao.
Diclas said they will implement the social distancing guideline even for truckers.
Trading post liaison officer Joel Cervantes said the management will close other entry points of the facility as a control measure.
He added that the municipal government has ordered the closure of establishments at facilities that are not food-related. – PNA
April 25, 2024
