Government to compensate Cordillera vegetable farmers - DA Piñol

Photo Courtesy || Manny Piñol

Cordillera - Vegetable farmers in the Cordillera region who threw away truckloads of unsold vegetables will be compensated by the government according to Department of Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol. 

The announcement came after he had received reports from Cordillera Agriculture officials that the reason why farmers weren't able to sell their produced was due to typhoon Usman that hit the Bicol region.

Officials from the DA-CAR reported that 'traders refused to buy the vegetables delivered by the farmers to the Benguet Vegetable Trading Center because the floods in Bicol prevented them from shipping the commodities to Bicol and the Visayas'.

When Tropical Depression Usman hit Bicol region last week of December, it caused flooding to the national highways thus, preventing traders to transport vegetables.

Photo Courtesy || Manny Piñol

Although some farmers were able to sell their produce, they have sold it with a very low price.

To help the Cordillera farmers, DA Piñol said that his department and the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation will conduct a validation process next week to identify those affected farmers so that they will be given appropriate insurance payment. Issuance of payment could take two weeks.

"Tomorrow, the DA and the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) will start the validation process which would involve the identification of farmers who suffered losses and the estimated value of the vegetables they threw away," Piñol said.  

"I would like to assure our farmers that the administration of President Rody Duterte listens to the voices of our farmers and fishermen," he added.