Baguio adopts Benguet project to help farmers sell produce

April 26, 2020 Metro BLISTT

BAGUIO CITY, Apr. 21 (PIA) – The city government of Baguio adopted a project of the provincial government of Benguet to support the farmers and at the same time to provide cheap vegetables to Baguio residents during the period of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ).

Through the “Sampung Piso Para Sa Farmers, Murang Gulay Para Sa Mamamayan Ng Baguio,” the Baguio local government unit partnered with the Benguet PLGU and the Movement for Farmers Civic Action Group to help Benguet farmers dispose their assorted
vegetable produce by selling these to the people of Baguio at P10 per kilo, Councilor Joel Alangsab said.

“Natutulungan na natin ang mga farmers ng Benguet and ng iba pang probinsya sa Cordillera and at the same time nabibigyan din natin ng murang gulay ang ating mga kababayan dito sa lungsod ng Baguio,” Alangsab said.

The joint project was launched on April 17 at the Slaughter Compound, Santo Niño Barangay and will run every Friday and Saturday until the ECQ period is lifted.

A resident is allowed to buy at least 10 kilos of assorted vegetables at P10 per kilo to ensure that each one will have a chance to buy. Some vegetables donated by the farmers are also given for free to the residents.

During the initial run, there were also squash that were barter traded by the Benguet PLGU with highland vegetables to the municipality of Flora in Apayao.

The councilor thanked the support from Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong for an initial funding for the operation of the project, as well as the Baguio Water District for providing a hand washing station for the use of the public at the area.

He also thanked the officers and staff of the Public Order and Safety Division, Baguio City Police Office, Office of the Market Superintendent and the barangay officials of Santo Nino barangay who are running the operations of the project.

They ensure that the buyers wear face masks and observe social distancing while waiting for their turn. The “Sampung Piso Para Sa Farmers” project was initiated by Benguet Vice Gov. Johnny Waguis with the Movement for Farmers Civic Action Group to provide assistance to farmers whose produce are without buyers at the La Trinidad Trading Post or Benguet Agri-Pinoy Trading Center during the enhanced community quarantine.

They purchase the vegetables at P10 a kilo rather than farmers going home empty handed or letting their produce just get damaged in their farms with no return of their investments.

Some kind- hearted farmers learning that the vegetables are used for relief assistance have donated tons of their vegetable produce to those in need in these trying times.

JDP/RMC- PIA CAR