The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Sunday has released an advisory directing the local government units (LGUs) to explore the possibility of procuring agricultural produce through a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with municipal fisherfolk and farmers.
DILG city and provincial director Virgilio Tagle told Palawan Daily News (PDN) Monday that while his office has not yet received a formal copy of the document, they are fully supporting this advisory.
“Wala pa kaming black-and-white pero suportado namin ‘yan. Ang food production talaga ay kailangan, [and na ang mga] farmers tsaka fishermen na unhampered sila. Linawin natin na ‘yong mga fishermen at saka farmers ay kailangan natin sila para ma-sustain natin ‘yong food sustainability,” said Tagle.
“Again ‘yong formality wala pa, pero gusto naming mangyari ‘yan para ‘yong mga fishermen natin, ‘Iyong huli niyo bibilhin namin, sigurado na. ‘Yong [sa] farmers bibilhin namin para sigurado.’ Para ma-promote natin ‘yong mga farmers at saka fishermen,” he added.
Tagle further stated the LGUs may enter into a MOA with their municipal fishermen and farmers considering the local autonomy.
He said LGUs can buy the local produce even without an advisory or memorandum from the DILG.
This advisory dated April 19 is directed to all provincial governors, city mayors, town mayors, BARMM chief minister, DILG regional directors, and to others concerned.
DILG Secretary Eduardo Año in the advisory stated that the procurement of produce must be at appropriate prices, which then shall be included in the distribution of food packs for households.
DILG Año stated as well in the advisory that farmers and fisherfolk find it hard to market their produce due to the affected business operations caused by enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) as a measure to control the spread of COVID-19.
Año also said that LGUs must assist municipal fisherfolk and farmers in bringing their produce to the market.
“Include the products of municipal fisherfolk and farmers in the implementation of prescribed innovative measures in bringing the market/goods closer to the people in light of the move for limited movement to ensure social distancing,” stated Año in the advisory.
Año also said that some examples of limiting the movement upon observing social distancing at the same time are online marketing, community markets, and market on wheels.
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