More vegetable outlets, the better

Moreno allowed the vegetable deliveries in some areas temporarily until the feast ends. He said all will get back to normal after

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — Having more ‘bagsakan’ centers in Manila will be a big help for Benguet, according to Benguet Governor Melchor Diclas.

“If there are more “bagsakan” centers of vegetables aside from those in Manila, it will be a big help to the vegetable traders and much more beneficial to the farmers as their crops will have more chance to be disposed,” Diclas explained.

Diclas said that they have talks with the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA) William Dar in the additional “bagsakan” centers. “Hopefully, the

Department of Agriculture will be conducting a study on the establishment of additional facilities outside Metro-Manila like Bulacan and other possible places,” the governor said.

On Wednesday, Diclas, La Trinidad Mayor Romeo Salda, some Benguet officials, and vegetable farmers and traders went to Manila and had a dialogue with Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno to allow the entry of delivery trucks and bring in vegetables during the Feast of Sto. Niño on 17 to 19 January. Earlier, the vegetable farmers and traders fear that around 1,500 kilos of vegetables will rot if they will not be delivered at Divisoria as roads will be closed for the festivities.

Diclas said that Moreno allowed the vegetable deliveries in some areas temporarily until the feast ends. He said all will get back to normal after.

According to Diclas, to ease the burden of the vegetable farmers and traders in thinking of ways and places everyday to dispose of their produce, more trading centers are needed. This he said is to avoid large volumes of vegetables not being purchased.

Meanwhile, Diclas said they are hoping that a vegetable and fruit processing center will soon rise this year. He said that the center will have facilities where fruits are to be processed for juices, preserves while the vegetables will have a longer storage life.