VEGETABLE traders in Benguet will resume shipping their produce today after the City of Manila agreed to provide temporary parking spaces for loading and unloading trucks.
Governor Crescensio Pacalso confirmed to Sun.Star Baguio the office of Mayor Joseph Estrada has established a provisional space for the operation of vegetable vendors starting today.
Pacalso added Manila officials particularly those manning the Divisoria area texted him Monday saying they already have solutions so transport of vegetables will be able to recommence.
While negotiations are still ongoing, Pacalso said the province may issue an advisory to the members of the Benguet Farmer's Marketing Cooperative (BFMC) to get on with their businesses as soon as possible.
"There is no definite information yet since the message was texted just this afternoon. We are still getting the details and the go signal but according to them transport of vegetables will be allowed already, perhaps tomorrow, full trade will already proceed," Pacalso said.
"If all goes well and they confirm the temporary trading post is all set, we will immediately inform the farmers' cooperative," he added.
According to Pacalso, La Trinidad officials asked the assistance of the provincial office to address the problem.
Last Thursday, around 4,000 kilograms of vegetables from Benguet worth P8 million were not sold at the La Trinidad Trading Post.
These include four tons of potatoes and other leafy vegetables, which according to members of the BFMC would rot if left undisposed.
According to earlier reports, the trading stalemate was a result of a clearing operation by Manila affecting more than 60 percent of the Divisoria Cluster buyers.
The streets of Recto which is being used as night market area for various goods, vegetable included, were temporarily closed for cleaning and rearranging.
Since Thursday, only few vegetable traders continued to market their produce.
Pacalso meanwhile said he will personally monitor the situation today and will meet with the concerned persons and offices so matters like this will not happen again in the future.