Benguet controls entry to veggie trading hub

VEGETABLE HUB The La Trinidad vegetable trading post in Benguet province was closed for disinfection on Saturday after some of its workers, mostly packers and porters, contracted the new coronavirus disease. The market is the main trading hub for vegetables bound for Metro Manila. —EV ESPIRITU

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet, Philippines — The mayor of this capital town has ordered the enforcement of a “no swab results, no entry” policy among traders, packers, porters and truckers at the vegetable trading post starting at 5 a.m. on Monday.

Mayor Romeo Salda said the policy was implemented after the trading post, Cordillera’s main trading hub for vegetables bound for Metro Manila, was closed for a day last weekend for disinfection after 12 packers and porters tested positive for the coronavirus disease.

“The trading post is a beehive of activity where traders, drivers and helpers converge and where they come and go to or from areas with positive cases,” Salda said.

Wearing of face masks is a must while wearing of slippers, short pants and sleeveless shirts is prohibited, he said.

The trading hub was also briefly closed in April and June after some of its workers contracted the coronavirus.

Growing number

The new cases in La Trinidad were among the growing number of patients in the province, which had already registered 1,599 as of Sunday. At least 900 of these cases were active.

On Nov. 7, 136 new cases were recorded, mostly from the mining town of Itogon, which had been hit by a series of cluster infections since October.

The spike in cases was traced to the villages of Virac, Poblacion and Ampucao where three mine companies operate, according to Itogon Mayor Victorio Palangdan. The villages registered a total of 425 cases, most of which were recorded during an outbreak in October.

On Nov. 6, Palangdan lifted the ban on mining activities after the mining companies assured him that they would comply with all necessary protocols.

Police tapped

In Pampanga province, police authorities have stepped up efforts to help local governments working to control the spread of the coronavirus with the launch of the Barangay COVID Defense (Bacod) in San Simon town on Friday.

Starting on a refurbished container van, Bacod is also used as a safe exchange zone for online purchases or barter, according to Police Brig. Gen. Valeriano de Leon, Central Luzon police director.

He said Bacod helps prevent violations in minimum health protocols, provides security and patrol operations, coordinates contact-tracing efforts, and promotes livelihood programs like urban gardening.

—Kimberlie Quitasol and Tonette Orejas