By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — The Department of Agriculture is deploying 40 trucks to Benguet to move tons of surplus vegetables to Metro Manila, a joint action plan defended by DA Spokesperson Asec. Arnel de Mesa at a Manila forum this week and ordered by Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiuo stop farmer losses as farmgate prices fell to as low as P3 per kilo.
At a food security forum in Manila, DA Spokesperson and Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said the 40-truck deployment is the government’s immediate answer to Benguet’s vegetable glut, while cold storage facilities are being rushed to completion.
“The issue was brought to Secretary Tiu Laurel’s attention last week, and we immediately instructed our regional directors and logistics teams to act,” De Mesa told the forum.
“Our goal is to move the vegetables efficiently and prevent waste while supporting our farmers.”
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said the fleet includes DA-owned vehicles, regional units, and trucks assigned to cooperatives, with the department shouldering fuel costs to get produce from farms to the La Trinidad Vegetable Trading Post.
“These are DA trucks at yung trucks na binigay namin sa mga coops na babayaran namin yung fuel para makarating man lang at least yung mga trucks sa mga farms sa Benguet para madala sa La Trinidad,” Tiu Laurel said in a March 30 interview.
From La Trinidad, separate trucks will deliver to Kadiwa ng Pangulo sites and public markets in Metro Manila. “‘Yung La Trinidad naman, ili-link na naman sila sa Kadiwa dito sa Manila,” he added.
P3-Per-Kilo Carrots Trigger Emergency Haul
The move comes after farmers began dumping sacks of carrots, saying transport and storage now cost more than earnings. Buying prices fell to P15-P20/kg, with some deals last week at P3-P5/kg — far below the P30+ production cost. Cabbage is at P4-P7/kg.
Fewer traders are traveling to Benguet amid the oil price surge. A 10-wheeler now burns 250-300 liters of diesel per Manila roundtrip, costing P24,000-P36,000 — nearly double before the Middle East conflict.
De Mesa told the Manila forum that the truck rollout buys time while DA completes a Mega Cold Storage facility with 5,000 pallet positions, equivalent to 4,000-5,000 tons, expected operational next year. Modular storage units are being deployed in the meantime.
“We really need storage system natin para tuwing may overproduction, ma-store natin kahit sandali para ma-absorb natin at hindi masayang,” Tiu Laurel said, a point De Mesa underscored as “critical infrastructure” during the forum.
DA is also expanding distribution by connecting La Trinidad and other hubs to more Kadiwa outlets in urban centers. President Marcos ordered direct buys of 20+ tons for Metro Manila orphanages and jail facilities. DA-Cordillera has already moved 27.89 tons through Kadiwa linkages.
ia/xf
