Amid the community quarantine aimed at preventing further spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease) pandemic across the country, the local government unit (LGU) of Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro is taking necessary steps to ensure residents, farmers, and fisher folks in the municipality have access to sufficient, available and affordable food supply.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) earlier called on LGUs to buy products of farmers and fisher folks within their respective jurisdictions to support them during this crisis. “We want to ensure that the farmers and fisher folk will have enough income during this environment of COVID – 19,” said Agriculture Secretary William Dar.
“Kami ay nananawagan sa lahat ng ating LGUs na matulungan ang lahat ng nasa food value chain para sa tuluy-tuloy na pagdaloy ng pagkain at hindi tumaas ang presyo ng mga ito sa metropolis at kanayunan,” added Sec. Dar.
The Agri Chief also called on LGUs to support everybody involved in the food value chain for the continuous supply of food and maintaining the prices of goods in the metropolis and provinces.
DA-MiMaRoPa Executive Director Antonio Gerundio commended some LGUs in his region for their prompt response to DA’s call to buy products of local farmers.
Dir. Gerundio said that the quick action of LGUs is very helpful especially for those impoverished families as well as farmers who sold their produce. “Hindi na nasayang ang pinagpaguran nila sa bukid,” he added. The farmers’ efforts in tilling the land were not wasted.
Dir. Gerundio echoed Sec. Dar’s call and urged other LGUs in MiMaRoPa to follow the example of LGUs who are already helping farmers and also people from faraway areas who are unable to go to work. “Nananawagan din ako sa ibang LGUs para makatulong tayo ngayon sa mga magsasaka at lalo na sa mga hindi makapagtrabaho ngayon pati na rin sa mga malalayong lugar,” he said.
Meanwhile, the local chief executive of Abra de Ilog has heeded DA’s call. Mayor Eric A. Constantino ordered the procurement of P1,530,000 worth of rice, P283,800 worth of palay, and P203,910 worth of dried fish, dilis, and monggo from fisher folks and farmers in his municipality. The mayor said that the LGU’s action is aimed at directly helping farmers and fisher folks by buying their products rather than selling in the market.
The said agricultural commodities are included in the food packs distributed as government assistance to the people during this time of crisis.
Municipal Agriculture Officer (MAO) of Abra de Ilog, Julius Judelito Amodia, said that after the current food packs have been distributed, the LGU prepared a purchase request for more than PhP400,000 worth of vegetables and sweet potatoes for the next round of food pack distribution. “After po nung distribution ng food packs may naka PR na po ulit kami ng mga vegetables at kamote for the next round worth more than P400,000 po,” said Amodia.
The accounting division of Abra de Ilog LGU allowed the emergency purchase as a consequence of the Enhanced Community Quarantine in the country provided reimbursement expenses receipt (RER) and certification from MAO that the products were bought from farmers and fisher folks in the municipality are presented. Photographs of the purchased commodities are also taken. “Icecertify ko lang po na sila ay farmer at fisher folks ng municipality saka meron naman pictures,” Amodia said.
In charge of the house to house distribution of food packs are the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer (MSWDO) together with barangay officials, local teachers in the ALS or Alternative Learning School (those that teach elderly members of Indigenous People communities), Day Care Workers (DCW), Barangay Health Workers (BHW), and employees of the Abra de Ilog LGU.
Funding for the food packs will be charged to the Municipal Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Office (MDRRMO). The Municipal Agriculture Officer (MAO) is in charge of purchasing agricultural products like vegetables and dried fish from farmers and fisher folks.
Amodia said the MSWDO has the household list that identifies all the households that receive food packs. The MSWDO is also in-charge of food packing and distribution, identification of food packs, and estimates done at the municipal gymnasium.
The agricultural commodities are placed in separate sacks for delivery to each barangay on a fixed schedule. Tricycles are used in distributing food packs to households inaccessible by trucks. The last day of distribution for the first batch is on March 27, 2020.
“May naka tabi na din po kami buffer stock ng bigas at good, yung vegetables naman po ay oorderin na lang po sa mga contact grower pag mamimili na for second round,” said Amodia.
Upon the instruction of Mayor Constantino, a buffer stock of rice has been set aside in case the community quarantine will persist for a longer period of time. The LGU also ordered vegetables from contract growers for the second round of food pack distribution. Amodia added that they might purchase cassava or balinghoy for the next batch.
The Abra de Ilog LGU passed an ordinance that is now implemented to ensure prices of goods in the market remain stable and would not increase. It is also implementing price freeze and control, constant monitoring of agricultural products (especially chicken, pork, and beef), and local buying of fresh meat. MAO has teamed up with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and LGU in conducting regular price monitoring.
