Metro Manila residents will now have access again to fresh vegetables, meat, and poultry products as supplies have started to pour in from production areas in nearby regions.
Yesterday, January 25, a total of 700 kilograms of assorted vegetables and two metric tons (MT) of chicken meat were downloaded at the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) in Quezon City.
The produce which came from various provinces in the CALABARZON region is part of the initial shipments of agricultural products to be delivered in the Metropolis through a collaboration of the national government and farmers’ cooperatives and organizations.
“We hope to sustain these initiatives in partnership with hog and poultry raisers, and farmers’ cooperatives and associations to stabilize food supply and prices in Metro Manila,” according to Agriculture Secretary William Dar.
The agri chief added that aside from securing a stable supply of food products, the initiative which is under the One DA Holistic Approach aims to bring down prices of basic food items.
According to DA-CALABARZON OIC-Regional Director Vilma Dimaculangan, another shipment of vegetables and poultry products may be expected in the coming days. Taytay and Coron in Palawan and the province of Marinduque have also shipped initial deliveries of hogs as part of the holistic efforts.
At 2 AM yesterday, a total of 612 heads of hogs have been delivered to Pasay and Alabang for slaughtering and trading through the initiative of DA-MIMAROPA headed by Dir. Antonio Gerundio.
Later today, at 7 PM, the Juliana market in Balintawak will receive 80 MT of pinakbet veggies courtesy of DA-Region 3 through Dir. Crispulo Bautista.
Secretary Dar is optimistic that the initiative will immediately address the shortage in supply and hiked-up prices believed to be manipulated by unscrupulous traders.
“We are leveling up our efforts to prevent opportunistic traders and sellers from manipulating prices, and in effect help Filipinos affected by the still ongoing pandemic,” Dar said.
The Secretary added that the DA will increase interaction and dialogue with the Philippine Competition Commission to investigate traders and sellers engaging in price manipulation. Unscrupulous traders will be slapped with a P100 million penalty if found guilty. ### (DA-AFID)
