Dalaguete officials help local farmers

CEBU, Philippines —  Dalaguete, Cebu officials had carried out initiatives to help their town's vegetable farmers on the excessive supply of cabbage.

Dalaguete, dubbed as “Vegetable Basket” of Cebu, has suffered from the oversupply of cabbage due to reduced demand. Farmers had called out for help, as their main source of income was greatly affected by COVID-19.

Dalaguete Mayor Jeffrey B. Belciña said the oversupply of cabbage happens every year because farmers plant the same vegetable all at the same time.

"Ang among projection, gatoo mig 5 to 10 tons per day ang excess, di diay. Naa sa 10 to 15 tons per day,” said Belciña.

Recently, the municipality has initially rescued the farmers by purchasing over 20 tons of excess cabbage. The estimated worth of the 20 tons of cabbage is P120,000, which will be given to their constituents.

The 20 tons of excess cabbage were bartered with 60 sacks of rice which will be distributed among the farmers.

“Dihay mga excess nga ang munisipyo nalang maoy nisalo sa mga 20 tons, naa run sa munisipyo, ug amo pud na gipanghatag.  Ang munisipyo ang mobayad, pero in terms of bugas among ibaylo,” said Belcina.

He added he is also eyeing on programs that will manage the excess supply of cabbages.  He has urged vegetable farmers to engage in multiple cropping - a practice of growing two or more crops in the same piece of land during one growing season instead of just one crop.

“Naleksyon napud sguro sila, nga nagdungan man gud silag tanom,” said Belciña.

All famers of Dalaguete with over 1,000 families were given food packs with 10 kilos of rice last July 30.

The Municipality has also tapped the help of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to help them find ways to preserve the cabbages for longer shelf lives.

Last Friday, the governor handed a cheque worth P249,000 to Belciña as payment to the capitol's purchase of 35 tons of cabbages.

Capitol's payment will be distributed to the vegetable farmers who supplied the cabbages.

Meanwhile, Belcina has also announced that they will reopen their tourism industry, specifically the famous Osmeña Peak in Barangay Mantalongon by August 16.

As part of their move to help the farmers, they are planning to create a new activity which is the “Pick and Buy” wherein tourists will have to experience picking vegetables of their choice and pay for it after.

He added that they are still outlining their new tourism protocols. — GAN (FREEMAN)