More than 2,643 food lane passes and stickers have already been released as of March 29, 2020, by the Department of Agriculture (DA) Region IV-CALABARZON in support of the Food Resiliency Protocol due to enhanced community quarantine caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The protocol was established to ensure that every Filipino will have accessible and affordable foods on their tables. It also allows producers of agricultural products and all agricultural supply chain segments to continue their operations.
The food passes or stickers are given to all accredited farmers, fishers, traders, haulers, and other entrepreneurs who need to deliver their products. This project aims to make sure that the distribution of agri-fishery products will have unhampered access to major demand centers like Metro Manila.
This project is administered in the region by the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) with support from the Agricultural Program Coordinating Offices (APCOs) in all five provinces of CALABARZON. Likewise, various local government units through their agriculture and veterinary offices provide assistance to their constituents.
To be accredited, the applicants need to submit the food lane accreditation application form, food lane reference form, and statement of commitment. Additional documents like business permit, official receipt of registration, certificate of registration as well as handler’s license and accreditation of transport carrier from the Bureau of Animal Industry or accreditation of meat transport vehicle from the National Meat Inspection Service are also needed.
There are two ways in which agri-entrepreneurs can be accredited and received their food pass: personal submission or online. The applicants can submit their documents to DA CALABARZON AMAD office in Diliman, Quezon City or for those in provinces, to the respective official addresses of their APCOs. Meanwhile, for online, applicants only need to submit the scanned copies of the requirements to amad_rfu4a@yahoo.com. The applicants should submit requirements for every delivery vehicle they want to be accredited. Once processed and approved, the applicants will be advised to go to APCO of their province to get the food pass.
“Maraming salamat po [at] lumabas na po [ang] application namin. Sobrang bilis at alwan po ng aming pagbabyahe ngayon. Napakadali na po ng aming pagde-deliver sa Manila. Salamat din po sa pagtulong n’yo sa amin na mga magsasaka. Kayo po ang aming kaagapay at kasama para makamit namin ang tagumpay (We are very thankful that we already received our passes. It helps smoothly deliver our products to Manila. Thank you also for helping us, farmers, as your office support us to achieve success),” Mr. Bob Cuasay of Batangas said.
Ms. Sheryl Mirchandani of Makati City also agreed. She already received her food lane pass. She shared, “I know you’re swamped with concern and I salute your department for your quick response. Let’s just help one another. My company is trying our best as well to serve the Filipinos. Have a nice day.”
The drivers need to present the food pass accreditation, in addition to the general requirements during normal deliveries, to checkpoints. If they were refused to access, they can report it on DA CALABARZON official Facebook page (www.facebook.com/DA4CALABARZON) or answer the food lane pass survey form (www.tiny.cc/DACLBRZN-FOODLANE).
For more information regarding the food pass project, applicants may contact Ms. Editha M. Salvosa, AMAD Chief, through amad_rfu4a@yahoo.com or 0919 849 8163. â—Ź (LAAB, DA-PRDP/RAFIS)
| Photos via APCO-Batangas & APCO-Quezon
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