DA eyes transport apps for delivery of vegetable seed packets

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is eyeing transportation service applications to deliver free vegetable seed packets to residents amid the enhanced community quarantine.

"Yun ang ginagawan namin ng paraan sa Bureau of Plant Industry [...] na ipa-daan sa LaLaMove, or Angkas, or Grab," DA spokesperson Noel Reyes said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

"[S]abi nga namin kay Director Glenn Panganiban ng Bureau of Plant Industry, ay baka puwede i-through 7/11, mga groceries, Savemore," he added.

Last week, the DA delivered 14,427 kilograms of vegetable seeds to five offices in CALABARZON amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) threat.

While the DA is working on this, Reyes said residents may call the Bureau of Plant Industry through 09160534831 or 09565245187 for deliveries.

The agency previously encouraged interested individuals to contact their respective agricultural program coordinating offices for details and proper coordination.

"Ia-arrange pa lang, pero ganoon pa ‘man, text lang muna sila at ipapahatid po at gagawan ng paraan [...] at sabihin lang kung anong binhi, address, at number [...] at gaano kalaki tatamnan mo, hektarya ba o baka mga paso lamang," Reyes said.

"Pagkakataon na talaga 'to. Ang sabi nga ni Secretary William Dar, ito na 'yung pagkakatao na 'yung household, food security mismo sa ating bahay-bahay. Puwede na tayong in a few weeks may aanihin ka na," he added.

The spokesperson also clarified that the program has been going on for quite a time.

"Ngayon lang nagkaroon ng emphasis [...] alam mo naman kapag nagkakaroon ng mga ganitong krisis 'tsaka napapansin ang mga programa ng pamahalaan lalo na ang Department of Agriculture," he said.

"Marami na, thousands na seeds packets ang napamigay ng Bureau Plant Industry. Tuloy-tuloy po 'yan. Hindi lang dito sa Metro Manila sa buong bansa po, sa iba't ibang rehiyon," he added.—AOL, GMA News