January 30, 2008 | 12:00am
MALOLOS CITY – About 100 farmers from San Ildefonso, Bulacan joined Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap in a vegetable caravan delivering at least 20 tons of vegetables to different bagsakan centers or food terminals in Metro Manila and Bulacan last week.
Redentor Gatus, head of Central Luzon regional agriculture office told The STAR that the caravan which was convoyed by more than 70 farmers was part of the 1st Gulay Festival held in San Ildefonso town, the known “vegetable basket of Bulacan.”
He said that the caravan was initiated by Daisy Duran, one of the biggest vegetable growers and suppliers in said town, supported by the local government.
The vegetables were delivered in a bagsakan center at Sta. Maria town and other food terminals and oriental markets in Metro Manila like the ones in Balintawak Cloverleaf and Pritil.
The vegetable caravan started at Barangay Basuit in San Ildefonso town where Yap visited Villarama vegetable production farm, that produces high grade vegetables and the Duran’s seedling nursery.
Gatus said that during the visit, Yap told Bulacan farmers of his high regard for them noting that San Ildefonso town’s vegetable industry is already developed.
He also said that Yap acknowledged the efforts of the Basuit vegetable growers in their support for President Arroyo’s bagsakan center project.
According to Gatus, Yap assured Basuit farmers of the Department of Agriculture’s full support.
Further, Jun Espiritu, the information officer of the DA Central Luzon office said that Yap approved most of Basuit farmers’ requests in response to their need in order to produce more vegetables and cater to Metro Manila’s huge 15-million consumer population.
Among those approved were requests for farm to market roads, motor pump, small water impounding, and other agriculture-related needs for the other parts of San Ildefonso.
Moreover, Yap said he will tap the media in unmasking abusive and unscrupulous traders engaged in overpricing. He warned market traders in the country that he will not hesitate to announce their products. He will also urge the public not to patronize their business.
Yap admitted that despite being a member of the government’s price monitoring council, the DA has no police powers to arrest traders or shut down stalls involved in overpricing.
