In support of the efforts of the Local Government Units (LGUs) in providing relief goods and services amid the Luzon-wide quarantine, hauling trucks acquired from the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) for various enterprise subprojects are being maximized.
According to Lorna E. Panyo, Business Development Officer, the Proponent Groups (PGs) have voluntarily allowed the use of the vehicles for the relief operations of the LGUs.
“Transport utilities are limited considering the lockdown and quarantine situations in the municipalities and the PGs have initiated the use of their vehicles to help the LGUs in delivering and distributing goods to their constituents,” she said.
The Besao Multipurpose Cooperative (BMPC), the lead PG for the Mountain Province Arabica Coffee Enterprise (MPACE) is currently using their vehicle to transport food and other necessities and to deliver goods to households especially those residing in far-flung areas.
Likewise, the vehicle for the enterprise subproject on Potato Tuber Production in Bauko, Mountain Province is also being used by the LGU in hauling rice from the National Food Authority (NFA) in Bontoc to their municipality.
“The turnover ceremony of the enterprise subproject including the vehicle was cancelled due to the ECQ and in the mean time, we are using it to haul rice from NFA to be distributed to the different barangays of Bauko,” said Clarence Golocan of Bauko LGU.
Likewise, the vehicle was also used recently to transport medical supplies and other goods from Baguio City to Bauko.
With the extended ECQ until April 30, 2020, Panyo said that the LGUs will be maximizing the use of these vehicles for their relief operations.
“Enterprise operations are on hold and this is a way for them to support the LGUs and help their communities,” she added. ** ELVY S. TAQUIO (RPCO-CAR InfoACE Unit)
