Amid the worrisome inflation these days comes an announcement from the Department of Agriculture that a staggering 40 to 60 tons of high-value vegetables from Talakag, Bukidnon such as broccoli, cabbage, carrots and cauliflower will instead be shipped to Metro Manila and sold there.

Forty tons is equivalent to 36,287 kilograms while sixty tons is equivalent to 54,431 kilograms. 

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Pinol, through his social media networking platform, claimed that vegetable farmers of Talakag, Bukidnon “pledged” to ship between 40 to 60 tons of high-value vegetables to Metro Manila weekly starting this month at lower prices than those coming from the North. He said that the Talakag farmers agreed to this after his office pledged Php 20 Million in Easy Access Credit which the farmers allegedly could use in buying the local produce. 

If you’re wondering why this is all happening – Pinol himself said that the vegetables from Bukidnon will be shipped and sold in Manila so that the prices of vegetables in Manila will “drastically” go down. 

He claimed that when he visited Talakag recently, large carrots were priced P55 per kilo, white potato P30 per kilo, cabbage P12 to P20 per kilo and broccoli and cauliflower P50 per kilo.

Pinol added that an arrangement has been established with Talakag Mayor Virgito Factura and a leader of a farmers’ group, a certain Ryan Dano. Dano and his farmers’ group will receive Php 20 Million which will be used to buy the vegetables.

Now, here are a couple of questions:

1. If that much high-value vegetables will be shipped to Manila, what will happen to local commerce/trading?
2. How much high-value vegetables in terms of tons does Talakag, Bukidnon produce? Will there still be tons left for local buyers? What will happen to the local and regional traders who also make a living by buying directly from local farmers?
3. What is the name of the farmers’ group and do they have proper accounting measures? How will the Php 20 Million be proper monitored?
4. How soon will this be implemented? 
5. How will this be sustained? 
   

Before people start criticizing us for having valid questions — please know that we only want the best for the farmersand for them to have a fair chance and for our Bukidnon consumers to still have access to cheap food. Please remember that as a nation, we should ALL learn how to ask questions because in the end, WE are the government and WE should look out for one another. 

Go ahead and share your thoughts in the comments section below.

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