DA-CAR continues to issue food pass

TO ENSURE unhampered movement of essential food and nonfood products, the Department of Agriculture-Cordillera continues to issue Food Passes to all qualified truckers and suppliers in the region.

Since March 18, 2020, the Department has already issued 1, 211 Food Passes through its two processing stations located at the Regional Field Office and DAAMAD Sub-Office at the Benguet Agri-Pinoy Trading Center (BAPTC) in La Trinidad, Benguet.

Online applications for Food Pass in the provinces are also being facilitated by the designated Agriculture Programs Coordinating Offices.

With the bulk of clients coming in everyday, the Department ensures that its AMAD personnel and clients observe proper health and safety protocols as prescribed within the processing/working stations such as wearing of face mask at all times, social distancing of at least one meter, and usage of own pens.

The Food Pass is issued to suppliers and truckers who carry essential commodities particularly rice, agricultural commodities such as fresh fruits and vegetables, livestock and poultry, frozen meat and processed food products, feeds, fertilizers, and other agricultural inputs and fishery commodities.

As per DA Memorandum Circular No. 09, truckers and suppliers with Food Pass are prioritized in the Cargo Lane. The Cargo Lane is one of the designated lanes by the Philippine National Police (PNP) in quarantine checkpoints to transport agriculture and fisheries inputs and food products through all forms of conveyance across all modes of deliveries.

This is especially important considering that the Food Resiliency Protocol now covers not only Luzon but the entire country after it was placed under a State of Calamity.

No charges apply in Food Pass application.

The DA Memorandum Circulars emphasizing the unhampered movement of all cargoes, agriculture and fishery inputs, food products and agribusiness personnel nationwide were already circulated to various agencies and LGU partners for guidance.