RELIEF GOODS. The Alaminos City government distributes vegetables along with other relief items to its residents. The vegetables were bought by the city from its farmer-residents. (Photo courtesy of LGU Alaminos City's Facebook page)
ALAMINOS CITY, Pangasinan – The city government bought about 730 kilos of vegetables and 10 tons of fruits from farmers in its upland barangays, and distributed these as relief goods to the residents.
In an interview Tuesday, city agriculturist Arceli Talania said the tomatoes were supposed to be sold to a fast-food company, but the trade was not pushed through due to the crisis brought about by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
“We looked for perishable goods from the farmers so they won’t lose their capital,” she said.
Talania said the city also shouldered the transport of the products.
“We went to their houses so that there will be no need for the farmers to go out,” she added.
Mayor Arth Bryan Celeste said the vegetables and fruits were bought from the farmer-residents at a break-even cost, and the veggies were already distributed along with other relief goods to some 600 families.
“There is just limited supply for the veggies, but with the watermelon we hope more families would be able to avail it,” he said.
Alaminos City is set to distribute relief packs, purchased from the city’s fund, to 25,000 families.
“There are also donations from other non-government organizations but we are reserving that for the second round of relief operation,” he said. (PNA)
