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Pangilinan urges LGUs: Buy excess farm produce from northern Luzon
By DONA MAGSINO,GMA NewsSenator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan on Wednesday appealed to local government units to directly buy the agricultural products of farmers in northern Luzon provinces that are now in oversupply amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Hinihimok natin ang mga LGUs sa Nueva Vizcaya, Ifugao, at mga karatig-probinsya na bilhin ang mga sobrang ani ng ating mga magsasaka. Sa ilalim ng Sagip Saka Law, hindi kailangang dumaan sa mabusisi at matagal na proseso ng procurement ang pagbili sa kanilang ani," Pangilinan said in a statement.
"Direktang mabibili ng mga LGU, sa pamamagitan ng negotiated procurement, ang sobra-sobrang ani upang hindi masayang at upang madagdagan ang kita ng ating mga magsasaka," he added.
Pangilinan said fruits and vegetables that will be bought directly by LGUs may be used as part of the relief distribution package to residents who are also economically affected by the pandemic.
Aside from helping the local farmers connect with the market, the senator said they should also be provided with enough storage facilities, and given skills in canning or bottling to prevent dumping tons of unsold agricultural products as in the case of Ifugao and Nueva Vizcaya.
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Prices of tomatoes in the said provinces dramatically dropped to only P2 to P5 per kilo from the previous P15 to P20 due to lack of buyers.
Meanwhile, the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) believes that the temporary closure of several hotels and restaurants due to the strict quarantine protocols to prevent COVID-19 have contributed to the oversupply.
Likewise, the group added that these tons of tomatoes would not have ended up in landfills had there been proper coordination between the Department of Agriculture (DA) and local government units.
On the other hand, DA Assistant Secretary Noel Reyes said the department is constantly in touch with farmers and farmers groups to aid them in marketing their produce.
Pangilinan said his office is also willing to help local farmers who are dealing with the problem of oversupply. He said farmers and cooperatives may contact his staff Allan at 0917 123 2882. —LBG, GMA News