To prevent over-crowding at the vegetable trading centers in La Trinidad, Benguet, the provincial government of Benguet implemented a window period for the various municipalities to trade.
Benguet Gov. Melchor Diclas has issued a memorandum circular addressed to all mayors about the clustering of municipalities that could trade at the La Trinidad Vegetable Trading Post and Benguet Agri-Pinoy Trading Center.
The memorandum circular took effect April 8.
Scheduled for Monday, Wednesday, and Friday are the towns of Buguias, Atok, Kabayan, Sablan, Itogon and La Trinidad, Benguet, and Bauko, Mountain Province.
Scheduled for Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday are the towns of Mankayan, Kibungan, Bakun, Tuba, Tublay, Bokod, Kapangan, and Tinoc, Ifugao.
The memo covers vegetable traders who are trading their produce locally. He said vegetable traders who would bring their produce directly to Manila or outside of the region are exempt from the window period.
Bauko and Tinoc were added on the list as they are traditionally been trading their produce at La Trinidad’s trading centers.
He said the move is to implement the physical distancing protocol at the trading center – a crucial public health intervention, against the spread of the Covid-19.
The governor said there would be no unloading of vegetables on Sundays.
Earlier, La Trinidad Mayor Romeo Salda issued an executive order for the temporary closure of private trading centers in the municipality as an intervention against the spread of the Covid-19. Only LTVTP and BAPTC are allowed to operate until further notice.
“During our meeting, the mayors agreed to disseminate the information to their constituents for them to know when to harvest their crops,” Diclas said.
The governor also reported that most of the municipalities lifted their curfew set from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.
“Most of them cancelled their curfew to allow unhampered delivery of food items. Those that maintained the 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew are Kabayan and Bokod,” he said.
BAPTC Chief Operating Officer Violeta Salda lauded the move saying the trading center is large enough to accommodate up to 400 vehicles and 1,000 metric tons of vegetables.
“BAPTC is the frontliner for the supply of vegetables in the county, our staff is ready to assist the farmers coming from different towns,” Salda said.
Salda added that proper sanitation protocols are being implemented in the area with the assistance of the Benguet State University’s health services that are implementing the checking of health certificates and thermal scans of those entering the trading center. Wearing of masks and gloves are also a must before anyone could enter the facility.
Vehicles are also being disinfected prior to entering the four-hectare facility. – Ofelia C. Empian
