Benguet Vegetable Trading Post Remains Open

March 29, 2020 Provincial

La Trinidad, Benguet (March 25, 2020) — Today’s (Wednesday) supposed closure of the vegetable trading post was moved to Friday, March 27, after a long dialogue between town officials and vegetables farmers and traders Tuesday late afternoon.
The dialogue was prompted by an executive order by La Trinidad Mayor Romeo Salda Tuesday (March 24) ordering the partial closure of the trading post as part of town’s anti CoVid 19 measures until April 15.
Salda clarified that the trading post cannot be totally closed, but those He who will be displaced will be temporarily transferred to the Benguet AgriPinoy Trading Center here.
Salda said the trading post needs to be disinfected but the flow of vegetable supply should not be hampered.
After the dialogue, trading post stakeholders agreed to totally close the area for disinfection.
Agot Balanoy of the Benguet Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative said they agreed for the closure of backfill trading area only. She said the carrot trading area of the trading post and the Benguet Agri Pinoy Trading Center will remain open.
Mayor Salda assured those who will be displaced at the trading post can transfer to the BAPTC. Balanoy said they are strictly implementing physical distancing for trucks and people and no mask no entry.
She also said that senior citizen and minors are not allowed inside the trading post. Balanoy added that trading post stakeholders agreed to reduce their work force to 50% to lessen crowding.
Town officials accordingly will come up with a schedule for buyers and farmers at the trading post to minimize crowding.
The town government is still finalizing the guidelines.
Artemio A. Dumlao/ABN