'Love drive' benefits Zamboanga farmers

SELECTED 20 farmers from a far-flung village in Zamboanga City benefited from the "Amor Para Con El Mga Siembrador" (Love Drive for Farmers).

The Love Drive for Farmers was recently launched by the Police Regional Office (PRO)-Zamboanga Peninsula to help the local farmers find ways to earn a living amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) crisis.

Police Brigadier General Froilan Quidilla, PRO-Zamboanga Peninsula director, said a total of P10,000 worth of vegetables were bought from the farmers in Bungiao village whose livelihood have been affected by the imposed enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) due to Covid-19 crisis.

Quidilla said the essence of the program is to provide an alternative to farmers in disposing their products as it is almost impossible for them to bring their goods to local market because of the ECQ.

Since the ECQ took effect March 16, public transport has been suspended, making it impossible for farmers to bring their farm produce to the market.

Quidilla said a team from the Regional Community Affairs Development Division and Police Station 3 of the Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) facilitated the activity in coordination with the association of local farmers in Bungiao village headed by Rogelio Tolentino.

He said among the products purchased are eggplants, okra, banana, cucumber, squash, and bell peppers.

Leo Resureccion, Bungiao village chief, said the project has been very helpful to the farmers as they "no longer need to go out of their respective place to transport the vegetables to the market."

Quidilla said the vegetables bought in Bungiao will be distributed along with some food packs to beneficiaries of the Philippine National Police Adopt-a-Family program dubbed as "Kapwa Ko, Sagot Ko." (SunStar Zamboanga)