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Author: DA Communications Group | 30 April 2020<\/p>\nAuthor: DA Communications Group | 30 April 2020<\/p>\n
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Agriculture Secretary William Dar continues to encourage local chief executives (LCEs) to buy from farmers and fishers their products \u2014 vegetables, fruits, chicken, hogs, and fish, among others \u2014 and include these in relief food packs distributed to constituents.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy doing so, we help our farmers and fishers earn and make a decent living amid the challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic,\u201d said Secretary Dar, who previously asked the LCEs to consider the said initiative in mid-March, when President Rodrigo Duterte imposed the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).<\/p>\n
\u201cAs the ECQ initially posed difficulty on the movement of food cargoes and other agri-fishery commodities, we deemed it necessary to encourage our provincial governors, and city and municipal mayors to buy the harvests of farmers to prevent wastage,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
\u201cTheir products should form part of the food packs they distribute to their citizens. Hence, they help not only their farmers, but also supply their constituents with healthy and nutritious food,\u201d the DA chief said.<\/p>\n
He expressed his gratitude and appreciation to several LCEs who heeded and responded to his request.<\/p>\n
\u201cMarami po ang tumugon kaya ramdam ng ating mga magsasaka sa kanayunan ang tulong ng pamahalaan sa panahon ng Covid-19. Nakakatuwa kasi nandyan talaga ang bayanihan<\/em>,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n For instance, the provincial government of Iloilo bought P17.9-million worth of vegetables, eggs, dried seafood, and other basic food items, while Antique purchased a total of P2.3-million worth of vegetables.<\/p>\n \u201cWe sincerely thank Governors Arthur Defensor of Iloilo and Rhoda Cadiao of Antique for supporting not only their farmers but also providing their constituents healthy food items,\u201d Secretary Dar said.<\/p>\n In Laguna, more LGUs are buying farmers\u2019 harvest to include in the relief packs being distributed to residents.<\/p>\n The municipal government of Cabuyao, in particular, bought a substantial amount of vegetables from their farmers.<\/p>\n The city government of Calamba also procured vegetables which they gave to jail inmates, while the Cavinti municipal government distributed vegetables and eggs to their medical frontliners.<\/p>\n In Davao, the city government led by Mayor Sara Duterte also bought various farmers\u2019 products and distributed them to Davaoe\u00f1os affected by the quarantine.<\/p>\n