Landslides hamper delivery of veggies

LANDSLIDES in the different parts of Benguet have affected the transportation of vegetables to the different trading centers in the province.

Kapangan Mayor Manny Fermin reported the Gov. Bado National Road along Gambang Cuba is on a close and open situation due to landslide.

Fermin added personnel from the MuILLEGAL

nicipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC) and the Department of Public Works and Highways are closely monitoring the area with two backhoes conducting clearing operations.

The chief executive appealed to the public for their understanding as they are securing the safety of stakeholders traversing the national road.

Fermin added with the heavy rains and destroyed roads, transportation and delivery of goods pose a challenge.

"Farmers manually transfer their produce in one elf on the other side of the road with men on standby to carry the vegetables," he said.

Classes in all levels were suspended on Thursday in Kapangan, Itogon, and Kabayan in Benguet while pre-school to high school level were suspended in Kibungan, Mankayan. Classes in preschool to elementary level were suspended in Tublay, La Trinidad, Atok and Bokod.

Prices of vegetables at the Benguet Agri-Pinoy Trading Center (BAPTC) on Wednesday, August 14 remain stable.

Potatoes are sold P20 to P82 per kilo, cabbage scorpio from P9-P14, chinese cabbage at P15-P25, chayote at P6-P17, long radish from P10-P30, celery at P25-P30, carrots at P20-P28, and lettuce at P45-P100.

On Thursday, prices of cabbage scorpio at P17-P21, potato granola at P25-P60, broccoli at P50-P85, chayote at P12-P13, carrots at P25-P30, long radish at P20-P32, and celery P10-20.

At the La Trinidad Vegetable Trading Post, price of rareball cabbage range from P15 to 20, potatoes at P40-P50, wombok at P15-P25,and carrots at P20-P35.

The nearby provinces of Mt. Province, Ifugao, Nueva Vizcaya, Pangasinan and La Union trades vegetables in both BAPTC and La Trinidad trading post.

The Department of Public Works and Highways in Cordillera reported Kennon Road is still closed to traffic and advised motorists to take Marcos Highway, Baguio-Bauang Road, or Asin-NangalisanSan Pascual Road.