This story
was taken from Bulatlat, the Philippines's alternative weekly
newsmagazine (www.bulatlat.com, www.bulatlat.net, www.bulatlat.org).
Vol. VII, No. 7, March 18-24, 2007
In
exchange for infra funds
Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap asked Benguet farmers for a year-round supply
of vegetables for outlets in the National Capital Region (NCR) before he
releases funds for road and other infrastructure. “We will support the farmers
but they should first assure the volume of vegetables for the market,” Yap said
in his meeting with Benguet mayors last week. He said Metro Manila markets need
26 million kilos of vegetables annually. BY
KIM QUITASOL LA TRINIDAD, BENGUET –
Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap asked Benguet farmers for a year-round supply
of vegetables for outlets in the National Capital Region (NCR) before he
releases funds for road and other infrastructure. “We will support the
farmers but they should first assure the volume of vegetables for the market,”
Yap said in his meeting with Benguet mayors last week. He said Metro Manila
markets need 26 million kilos of vegetables annually. Yap assured Benguet mayors
of financial and technical support for the Benguet vegetable industry, provided
farmers agree to supply Metro Manila markets first. Yap identified carrot,
cabbage, potato and Chinese petchay as priority crops the farmers should supply
the market. The Benguet mayors lobbied
for the improvement of the Acop-Kapangan-Kibungan-Bakun-Sinipsip Road and
Atok-Kibungan-Mankayan-Buguias road as alternate routes for transporting
vegetables especially during the rainy season when the Halsema highway is prone
to landslides. Yap demanded the exact
volume of vegetables Benguet could supply Metro Manila markets before approving
any funding for the said alternate routes. He promised, however, to realign P2
to P3 million ($40,941.66-61,412.49 based on a $1:P48.85 as of March 16) of his
funds to provide a pay loader to help in road clearing operations during the
rainy season while waiting for the necessary funding for road improvements.
Yap said the Department of
Agriculture (DA) would be funding the construction of post-harvest facilities,
production support and greenhouses in identified areas in the province.
DA-Cordillera earlier
reported that Benguet supplies Metro Manila markets 1,000 kilos of assorted
vegetables weekly. The same reports said Benguet produces a total of 1,500 kilos
of assorted vegetables weekly. The remaining 500 kilos are mostly distributed in
Baguio-Benguet. Northern Dispatch / Posted by Bulatlat © 2007 Bulatlat
■
Alipato Publications Permission is granted to reprint or redistribute this article, provided its author/s and Bulatlat are properly credited and notified.
Agri Sec Asks
Benguet Farmers to Supply NCR with Veggies
Northern Dispatch
Posted by Bulatlat