Dalaguete farmers to get compensated

CEBU, Philippines —  Farmers from Dalaguete, Cebu whose livelihood has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic are expected to get compensation from the Cebu provincial government.

Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said she has already talked to the town's mayor, Jeffrey Belciña, and asked him to deliver the excess supply of vegetables from Mantalongon to the Cebu South Bus Terminal (CSBT), the temporary Bagsakan Center of goods and food products from the towns and cities in the province.

"Naa man tay duha ka storage, cold storage, 20 footer vans ngari sa South Bus. Akong giingnan si mayor akong ipahatod na tanan, pila ilang excess kada adlaw ihatod na kay atong i-storage but take note kung kinsa ni nga mga farmers kay para ato sad ni sila ma compensated," Garcia told The FREEMAN.

A group of young people in Mantalongon created a video and uploaded it online showing the wasted vegetables and the struggle of the farmers in their barangay.

"Certainly, ang province will come in, i-compensate gyud ni nato ang mga farmers but how to dispose of these (vegetables)? I have to work out a plan asa na nako i-distribute," Garcia said.

Department of Agriculture (DA-7) Director Salvador Diputado said it is a natural occurrence in Dalaguete that 15 percent of its total harvest were put into waste.

But after the pandemic, there was a surplus. From the usual 30-truckload delivery a day, it was down to just six truckloads recently.

Diputado said they have already coordinated with the cooperative Dalaguete Agricultural Pinoy Trading Center (DAPTC) as well as to the Provincial Agriculture's Office for the marketing strategies and to "minimize the damage."

Diputado added vegetable farms in Dalaguete are 'rainspread' production.

"Usually mag-abot ni tanan. Pag-uwan, mag prepare sila og tanom, mao nay reason magdungan og harvest. Ang presyo mobarato, mao nang di malikayan nga naa tay surplus," Diputado said.

Known as the Vegetable Basket in the Province, Dalaguete supplies assorted vegetables to the Carbon Public Market in Cebu City from DAPTC.

But after the community quarantine was imposed in Cebu, the deliveries got limited. There was an oversupply of the vegetables and prices dropped.

From the P40 to P65 per kilo of vegetable sold before, now the price is much lower.  At present, cabbage reportedly is now being sold at P8.

Garcia though clarified that the decrease in deliveries is not because of the strict border control but because of the low demand.

"Ninaog gyud ang demand ngari sa Cebu City. Well first of all MECQ (Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine) man gihapon dili pa fully maka-operate ang mga restaurants, dili maka-fully operate ang mga hotels. Ikaduha daghan kaayo ron nananom og utanon," Garcia said.

In Cebu City, lawyer Rey Gealon believes that "it's more of apprehension and hesitation on the part of the vegetable growers to pass through Cebu City" because of the current quarantine status of the city.

Gealon said Mayor Edgardo Labella made it clear that the transport of essential goods shall remain unimpeded.

"Should there be any concern of the transport and delivery of vegetable and other agricultural products from Dalaguete, the mayor has directed the market administrator to ensure compliance of his marching order on this matter," Gealon added.  GAN (FREEMAN)