BERNOS URGES LGUS ‘RESCUE BUY’ SURPLUS CROPS
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A member of the House of Representatives committee on local government urged local government units to explore “rescue buys” of farmers’ crops to prevent produce dumping due to oversupply.
This as reports of dumping of crops once again circulate, with truckloads of carrots and cabbage reportedly being dumped by the roadside in Tublay, Benguet, with farmers blaming an oversupply and lack of buyers.
“Bilang frontliner at pinakamalapit na unit ng pamahalaan sa komunidad, maganda siguro kung tayo na rin ang manguna sa pagsalba sa ating mga magsasaka para hindi masayang ang pinagpaguran nila,” Abra lone district Rep. JB Bernos said.
The lawmaker said that purchased crops could then be distributed to help struggling families meet their food needs.
Bernos said that some LGUs have already done such an initiative, particularly in attempts to save both crops and animal produce during typhoons and other disasters.
“May mga model LGUs na tayo na bumibili ng mga produkto ng ating mga magsasaka’t mangingisda at ipinamimigay ito lalo na sa panahon ng sakuna,” he said.
He also backed Education Secretary Sonny Angara’s proposal to use surplus vegetables in the government’s expanded school feeding program.
Sec. Angara recently said the Department of Education is exploring ways to use surplus fresh vegetables in school feeding programs, which now reaches 4.6 million beneficiaries, including Kindergarten and Grade 1 learners.