The local government unit (LGU) of Brooke’s Point has started buying the produce of its farmers to ration to its residents as part of the food relief during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
Mayor Mary Jean Feliciano told Palawan Daily News (PDN) that they want to help their economy in the midst of crisis caused by COVID-19 pandemic as it will encourage local farmers to continue planting.
“Kasi nga naaawa ako sa kanila, kasi ‘yong tabuan (market day) every Friday at saka Monday ay ipinasara talaga ng DILG. Iyon lang naman ang time na nagtitinda talaga ‘yong mga taga-bundok [at] taga-barangay, dinadala sa bayan. Talagang ini-insist ko na ibukas lang, hindi talaga pumayag ang DILG. Wala akong magawa, so sabi ko, ‘Paano iyan magugutom ‘yong mga taga-bayan tapos ‘yong mga taga-barangay rin mabubulukan naman ng mga gulay’, bilihin na lang ng government para iyon ‘yong idi-distribute,” said Feliciano.
Mayor Feliciano said this not only generates income for the local farmers during this economic slowdown, but also provides nutritious and healthy food to the residents.
She further stated it is important for the LGU to help unhamper the trading of their farmers’ yield, most especially in this present crisis. They buy to distribute to the residents root crops, vegetables, and even dried fish.
She said they will continue buying the produce of the farmers and distribute to the villages, except for some barangays that requested not to receive vegetables any longer for they already have plenty.
“Halos lahat ng barangay namin except siyempre dito sa poblacion may mga gulayan. Kaya nga ‘yong tabuan namin talagang dinadayo ‘yan ng mga bayan, dito sila namimili tapos dinadala sa Puerto. Marami kaming pagkain,” she said.
Feliciano added they have included the distribution of free vegetable seedlings in their barangays.
Brooke’s Point vice mayor Georjalyn Joy Quiachon-Abarca said buying the farmers’ produce is also in pursuit of the request of Governor Jose Alvarez.
Vice Mayor Abarca said the governor of the province requested that LGUs buy the products of their farmers during this crisis caused by COVID-19 pandemic when an ECQ is still being implemented.
“Pursuance ‘yan sa request din ni governor na bilihin ‘yong mga products ng ating mga farmers, kasi saan nga naman nila ngayon [ibebenta], ang hirap pa ring bumiyahe kahit sabihin natin na may order na unhampered ang deliveries ng goods, kaya lang siyempre sila medyo natatakot na rin, tsaka aminin na natin na medyo ang hirap talagang mag-benta ngayon,” said Abarca.
Budget to buy the farmers’ produce
Abarca said the fund being used for purchasing the farmers’ yield is from the municipal disaster risk reduction management office (MDRRMO) quick response fund (QRF) for this year as the initial allocated budget they have upon the municipal council’s adoption of President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of nationwide state of public health emergency.
She added the municipal council along with the MDRRMO also granted Feliciano the authority to use the unutilized 2019 QRF for the expenditures needed in this COVID-19 crisis.
“Actually ‘yong atin pong GSO, si Ma’am Rebecca Gadayan, ay talagang personally po na umiikot pa talaga sa mga barangays para hanapin. Hindi lang passive kung hindi proactive po ang ating lokal na pamahalaan,” she said.
Contents of the food relief
Abarca said included in the food relief include 25 kilograms of rice, vegetables, dried fish, canned goods, instant noodles, and the other earlier-purchased food items for the public.
She said the LGU looks forward to distribute food relief to more than 19,000 households within the 18 barangays under their jurisdiction.
Abarca also said they earlier distributed rice in smaller amount per food pack, but later on decided to deliver it in 25 kilos per household, instead of sending the rations many times in smaller chunk.
“Sa pag-obserba po nakita natin na it will be sobrang burden on the part of our barangay frontliners na mag-distribute po ng ilang ulit na small amount siya. Sabi din ng ating MSWDO na preferred po ang food packs that can feed the family nang four to seven days or 15 days pa nga,” she said.
Provincial governor Jose Alvarez also told Palawan Daily News (PDN) Saturday through an online text message that aside from his earlier suggestion to the LGUs in the province to buy the yield of their farmers, he is now looking forward for the establishment of “barangay kitchens” intended for the most vulnerable senior citizens.
Governor Alvarez said the barangay kitchen program will be established through the joint efforts of the municipalities, Palawan Provincial Government (PGP), and the Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI).
He said PGP is going to provide the sack of rice every two days for a barangay kitchen.
Alvarez said this plan to establish “barangay kitchens” will be finalized by next week.
“Next [we] will establish barangay kitchens for the most vulnerable seniors, jointly by municipalities for the vegetables and root crops, plus Shell Foundation [to] reimburse vegetables and fish, and PGP [to] provide sack of rice every two days. [We] will finalize next week,” said Alvarez.