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The San Jose Consortium of Cooperatives in Batangas province continues to work with its fellow farmers in CALABARZON to bring healthy food closer to the communities and to ensure that their produce reach consumers quickly, especially during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

Through the association’s KADIWA project, which is in partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA) Region IV-CALABARZON, tons of vegetables, as well as fruits and livestock and poultry products, are sourced directly from farmers or agricultural cooperatives. Such goods are then linked to consumers or buyers through community stores or alliances (agri-tech platforms).

Some local government units (LGUs) in the region and in Metro Manila are also doing their part to support this worthwhile activity.

The City Government of Sta. Rosa commissioned the association to prepare 7,000 “pangsabaw” vegetable packs as it chose to deliver healthy food options to its constituents instead of the usual instant and canned goods.

As part of the Parañaque City Government’s efforts to boost its food supply, it ordered 19 tons of “pinakbet” vegetables, such as squash, eggplant, sitaw, okra, and onions, the largest single-day delivery so far by the Batangas Organic and Natural Farming Association Cooperative (BONFAC).

Since the beginning of the ECQ, BONFAC and its partners, Batangas Egg Producers Cooperative and San Jose Workers’ Multi-Purpose Cooperative, have brought about 2 – 3 tons of food every day to the Metro and its surrounding areas.

To date, another 5,000 pineapples, grown by smallholder farmers in Alfonso, Cavite, have also been supplied to Parañaque LGU.

Senior citizens of Brgy. Doña Aurora, Quezon City were also among those who received farm produce as kindhearted individuals sent them the so-called “care packs” of rice and vegetables.

Brgy. San Antonio in Pasig City also made use of vegetable packs for its relief distribution.

Other LGUs, non-government organizations, and good-hearted individuals and organizations are urged to help feed communities. They can avail of “pinakbet” or “pangsabaw” vegetable packs depending on their budget. Prices start at P100 per 1-kilogram bag.

“Any person or group wishing to participate in this project shall ensure that all agricultural products you will purchase from our farmers are at fair prices. You may also help to exclude aggressive traders and compel them to buy reasonably,” DA CALABARZON Regional Director Arnel V. de Mesa guaranteed, as he encourages others to do the same. ● (ARC, DA-RAFIS)

[Photos Courtesy of All Seasons Nature Farms, Agro-digitalph, Ms. Hilda Cleofe, & Ms. Mafe Pastorpide]