By Minerva BC Newman
DUMAGUETE CITY -- The province of Negros Oriental launched the “Kadiwa on Wheels” mobile market at the provincial capitol grounds that will also roam to various barangays within the city.
(PAO NegOr / MANILA BULLETIN)
Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo underscored that the initiative was a response to the public’s clamor for food security in this crisis. “This is what we need in this time where we have declared a state of calamity and we have placed the province under ECQ.”
He has also encouraged all other towns and cities in the province to set up their respective mobile markets as the COVID-19 crisis continues to hound the country.
Provincial Agriculturist Nestor Villaflores said his office has continued to look for ways to boost food production in anticipation of a prolonged enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
“We have enough supply for now. However, the Provincial Agriculture Office (PVO) is looking for ways to further enhance the production because we cannot predict for how many months this crisis lasts. Our supply can last for three to four months but what happens on the fourth month and afterwards?” Villaflores said.
He added that for now, PAO was focused on addressing the people’s limited access to public markets to buy food because of the imposition of market passes due to the ongoing ECQ, only those who have passes can enter the market and buy farm produce.
PAO with the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) launched the ‘’Kadiwa on Wheels” Mobile Market so that more people can buy agricultural products at a cheaper price without having to go to the market.
He went on that the program would also assure the public that there was no shortage of food supply in the province in view of the COVID-19 pandemic
Farm products sold at the “Kadiwa on Wheels” Mobile Market include various fruits, vegetables, fresh eggs, dried fish, and fresh fish and poultry and the Kadiwa on Wheels roam in various barangays on specific dates and in other cities and towns within the province.