FOOD LANE PASS. A cargo truck owner receives a food lane vehicle pass card from the Department of Agriculture’s regional office in Tacloban City on Wednesday (March 18, 2020). The office has issued the food lane vehicle pass cards to transporters of essential and perishable goods in Eastern Visayas. (Photo courtesy of DA-8)
TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Agriculture (DA) 8 (Eastern Visayas) has issued food lane vehicle pass cards to transporters of essential and perishable goods in the region.
This is in response to the directive from the central office to ensure the smooth delivery of agricultural and fishery products in areas under community quarantine, Francis Rosaroso, DA-8 information officer, said in an interview on Friday.
“There are initial field reports that some truckers are having a hard time in the delivery of goods due to massive traffic build-up at checkpoints set up along highways and other strategic areas throughout the country,” he said.
The DA-8’s agribusiness and marketing assistance division manages the accreditation process to ensure the regular transport of essential goods across the region.
Rosaroso asked food producers, manufacturers, traders, and importers to secure the supporting documents needed – such as valid identification card reflecting the company or enterprise they are affiliated with, and the delivery vehicle’s certificate of registration, including the name of the driver – for the prompt issuance of the food lane conduct pass.
They will be issued a vehicle access pass sticker that will be placed on the upper right portion of the vehicle’s windshield.
The shipper must always carry the food lane accreditation certification.
In Eastern Visayas, all six provinces have declared community quarantine as an urgent response to prevent the spread of the highly contagious Covid-19.
Tacloban City, which is the regional capital, will also enforce a 23-day lockdown starting Saturday.
As of Thursday night, Eastern Visayas had 90 patients under investigation for manifesting symptoms similar to coronavirus.
The Department of Health said the region remains free from the deadly virus. (PNA)
