MANILA, Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has ordered local government units (LGUs) to enter into memorandum of agreements with their municipal fisherfolk and farmers for the procurement of their products and their inclusion in the distribution of food packs for families affected by the COVID-19 crisis.
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año made this directive in an advisory Sunday for all provincial governors, city mayors, municipal mayors, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao chief minister, DILG regional directors, and others concerned.
A copy of the document was shared by Cebu Rep. Wilfredo Caminero on Facebook on Monday. DILG Undersecretary and spokesperson Jonathan Malaya confirmed to INQUIRER.net that the document is genuine.
“All local government units are directed to explore the possibility of entering into a memorandum of agreements between their municipal fishers and farmers for the procurement of their produce, at appropriate prices, for inclusion in the distribution of food packs for households,” Año said in the advisory.
In the document, the Interior Secretary noted that the national government wanted to ensure unhampered supply of basic commodities amid the COVID-19 crisis that also triggered the imposition of the enhanced community quarantine in the entire Luzon island and other areas in Visayas and Mindanao.
He said, however, that due to the standstill in business operations, municipal fisherfolks and small farmers are finding it hard to find markets to sell their produce.
“This, coupled with limited transportation, has resulted in food wastage and lost earnings, to the detriment of the fisherfolk, farmers, and their families,” he added.
Aside from the order to enter into agreements with fisherfolk and farmers, Año also directed LGUs to assist the municipal fisherfolks and farmers in bringing their products to the market “as much as practicable.”
Their products should also be included by the LGUs in community markets and markets-on-wheels said Año.