Vice President Sara Duterte called farmers “tunay na bayani (real heroes)” for ensuring that nutritious food is accessible to Filipino families after she spent time with them during a recent mountain hike in Cebu.

Rare Vice President Sara Duterte-farmers encounter in Cebu (Inday Sara Duterte/Facebook)

In a Facebook post on Sunday night, Oct. 16, she wrote about the farmers she met along the way when she hiked to the Osmeña Peak in Cebu province.

They shared with her their daily tasks of ensuring their produce remain fresh and free from pests.

“Ang bawat kuwento at karanasan ay nagpapaalala sa akin ng kahalagahan ng bawat hakbang na ginagawa ng ating mga magsasaka para sa kanilang mga pamilya at sa ating komunidad (Every story and experience remind me of the importance of every step in what our farmers are doing for their families and our communities),” she wrote.

“Patuloy tayong magtulungan at suportahan ang ating mga lokal na magsasaka. Sila ang tunay na bayani sa likod ng bawat masustansyang pagkain na ating natatamasa (Let us continue helping each other and supporting our local farmers. They are the true heroes behind every nutritious food we enjoy),” the official added.

Last week, Duterte hiked through the mountains of Dalaguete, Cebu to highlight the importance of local tourism.

“Sa aking kamakailang pag-akyat sa mga bundok, hindi lamang ang kagandahan ng kalikasan ang aking nasaksihan, kundi ang puso at sipag ng ating mga magsasaka (In my recent hike to the mountains, it’s not only the beauty of the environment that I witnessed, but the heart and hardwork of our farmers),” she said.

The Vice President also included in her post the photos of her interaction with the farmers. She was seen listening to the farmers who took the time to explain the process of farming with her.

“Nakakataba ng puso ang makasama at makilala ang mga masisipag na magsasaka na abala sa pag-aayos ng kanilang mga pananim na pechay at sayote sa gilid ng daan, handang i-empake at ihanda para sa mga susunod na hakbang ng kanilang araw-araw na pamumuhay (It’s heartening to spend time and know the hardworking farmers who were busy fixing their produce like pechay and sayote on the streetside, ready to pack them for the next steps of their everyday living),” Duterte added.

According to the Vice President, she learned about the different types of soil, the importance of using the right fertilizer, and the effective way to control pests.

It was also unforgettable for her seeing the process of bringing the vegetables from the farm to the roads.

The farmers told the official that they need to be careful in handling their produce to ensure the quality.