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Crops must be 'rescued' from possible dumping due to oversupply; solon says how
Philippines
National
Crops must be 'rescued' from possible dumping due to oversupply; solon says how
Crops must be 'rescued' from possible dumping due to oversupply; solon says how
Published Aug 28, 2026 08:02 pm
At A Glance
- Abra Rep. JB Bernos urged the House Committee on Local Government to encourage LGUs to conduct "rescue buys" of farmers' crops to prevent produce from being dumped amid oversupply and a lack of buyers.
- Bernos said LGUs could purchase surplus crops and distribute them to struggling families, citing existing LGU initiatives that helped save agricultural and fishery products during disasters.
- He also backed DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara's proposal to use surplus vegetables in the expanded school feeding program, which now reaches 4.6 million beneficiaries.
Carrots and cabbages (Unsplash)
A congressman from north Luzon is prodding the House Committee on Local Government to tell local government units (LGUs) to explore “rescue buys” of farmers’ crops in a bid to prevent produce dumping.
This, as Abra lone district Rep. JB Bernos cited circulating reports of dumping of crops, with truckloads of carrots and cabbage reportedly being dumped by the roadside in Tublay, Benguet.
The cause according to farmers? An oversupply of the crops, coupled with the lack of buyers.
“Bilang frontliner at pinakamalapit na unit ng pamahalaan sa komunidad, maganda siguro kung tayo na rin ang manguna sa pagsalba sa ating mga magsasaka para hindi masayang ang pinagpaguran nila,” Bernos said.
(As frontliners and the closest unit of government to the community, it would be good if we also take the lead in helping save our farmers so that their hard work does not go to waste.)
According to Bernos, the crops could be purchased and then be distributed to struggling families so they may have food to eat.
Bernos said that some LGUs have already done such an initiative, particularly in attempts to save both crops and animal produce during typhoons and other disasters.
“May mga model LGUs na tayo na bumibili ng mga produkto ng ating mga magsasaka’t mangingisda at ipinamimigay ito lalo na sa panahon ng sakuna,” he said.
(There are already model LGUs that buy the products of our farmers and fisherfolk and distribute them, especially during times of calamity.)
He also backed Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara’s proposal to use surplus vegetables in the government’s expanded school feeding program.
Angara recently said the DepEd was exploring ways to use surplus fresh vegetables in school feeding programs, which now reaches 4.6 million beneficiaries, including Kindergarten and Grade 1 learners.