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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Luzon devider Benguet farmers receive gov't aid

Benguet farmers receive gov't aid

Published Apr 17, 2026 02:05 pm
MARCOS (center). (PCO)
MARCOS (center). (PCO)
LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. visited the Benguet Agri-Pinoy Trading Center (BAPTC) here on Friday to ensure the government's ongoing efforts to address the impact of the crisis on the agricultural sector and outlined some of the measures to help farmers.
Marcos, together with Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., distributed farm equipment and inputs to about 45 cooperatives and associations in Benguet under the high-value crops program of the Department of Agriculture.
He visited the wholesale area of the Spot Trading Building 2 where post-harvest activities are conducted and interacted with farmers and key stakeholders in the vegetable industry in the Cordillera.
“We are now at the trading center and market, because we were surprised by reports that most vegetable products here from mountainous areas are no longer imported due to the high gasoline prices we are experiencing. So, we are looking into it and looking for a way out. First of all, we reduced the price of diesel by P10 and the local government charges were waived, then we also removed the toll for trucks traveling. The ten-wheel was supposed to pay P3,000 and the four-wheel was P1,000, now they will not pay until this oil price increase is over,” Marcos said.
Marcos said that drivers who need assistance were included in the TUPAD or Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
“This is our help, first of all to ensure our food supply, secondly, to ensure that our farmers, our producers, wholesalers do not feel too bad, to ensure that our food supply continues so that we do not have problems with food prices and supply.”
He added that because of the initiatives, there is now a better system that is already in place and the initiatives are ongoing. “That is why we are here to talk to the vendors about what else they think we can do.”
Marcos added that they are monitoring to ensure that people feel government assistance for the ongoing crisis.
Businesswoman Mona Dongkasi thanked Marcos for the assistance and hoped that the situation in the trading area will be resolved. 
"Now our President has seen our situation here where vegetable prices are falling and our buyers are decreasing due to the increase in crude oil prices. We ask our dear President to help him find a solution to this current crisis," Dongkasi said.

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