FOLLOWING community quarantine in Metro Manila and Luzon, trading of highland vegetables from Benguet to key markets outside the Cordillera Administrative Region is still on.
Agot Balanoy of the La Trinidad Vegetable Trading Post Inc. disclosed operations for vegetable trading within key markets in Metro Manila remain normal.
La Trinidad holds two big trading areas - La Trinidad Vegetable Trading Post and Benguet Agri-Pinoy Trading Center.
Balanoy said a total of 1.5 million kilograms of vegetables from trading post goes to different markets in the country where in 600,000 to 700,000 kilograms goes to Divisoria.
On the same day, BAPTC chief of operations Violeta Salda said the trading center have vegetable trucks that goes to Urdaneta, 35 to Divisoria and eight in Balintawak.
However she noted on Monday, March 16, only few trucks transacted in BAPTC with only one truck for Balintawak and six for Divisoria.
“Vegetable trading is on – going pa din but there are few trucks going to Manila,” she added.
She stated BAPTC had also repaired its 12 cold storage and will be up for test to accommodate perishable vegetables.
Balanoy and Salda cited precautionary measures in the corresponding trading centers include proper hand washing, and presence of hygienic materials such as alcohol.
At present, Benguet still holds 80 percent of vegetable market inputs nationwide, with highland produce easily supplying the needs of lowland areas all year round such as cabbage, carrots, potatoes and sayote.