AMID the enhanced community quarantine as measure to manage the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) nationwide, the Department of Agriculture (DA) has released an order on food resiliency protocol for continued farm activities such as movement of essential commodities to ensure that every Filipino household has access to safe, accessible and affordable food in the markets.
DA-Western Visayas Regional Executive Director Remelyn Recoter, in a statement, said that all farmers, fishers and livestock raisers could continue to work at their farmlands to ensure continuity in the food production.
Recoter said agricultural workers are exempted from doing home quarantine provided that they do not exhibit coronavirus disease (Covid-19) symptoms, working at minimum number and observe safety protocols like social distancing.
The recently released DA Memorandum Circular No. 9 Series of 2020 set the guidelines for a smooth transport and working protocols to stabilize prices of all agricultural inputs and food products in the country.
Under such protocol, movement of cargoes, agri-fishery inputs and other food products to and from National Capital Region (NCR) and the rest of country shall be allowed unrestricted in all quarantine checkpoints on conditions that proper documentations are available upon inspection.
Operation of all agricultural supply outlets, animal clinics must also be allowed in order for farmers, fisherfolks and livestock raisers to provide sustenance in the production of agri-fishery products.
Agri-products suppliers and truckers with food pass will also be given priority entry for cargo lanes in checkpoints where agri-fishery products are transported through all forms of conveyance.
Suppliers of agricultural products could avail of food lane passes free of charge at the designated offices of DA-Western Visayas in the six provinces. (PR)