More tramlines eyed for Cebu’s mountain towns

Tramlines should be built in Cebu’s mountainous towns to transport farmers products to local markets, a former Capitol adviser said yesterday.

Dr. Romulo Davide, uncle of Gov.-elect Hilario Davide III, visited acting Gov. Agnes Magpale to pitch his proposals on how to help the province’s farmers.

The elder Davide said the tramlines will expedite the delivery of farm produce from the towns to the local markets.

The first tramline or cable car system in Cebu was installed in Dalaguete, a southern Cebu town.

The tramline delivers 25,000 to 35,000 kilos of various vegetables like cabbage, carrots, pechay, tomatoes, onions and potatoes at the farmers’ vegetable trading center in barangay Mantalongon everyday.

The tramline facility also prevents spoilage of vegetables due to improper handling and the use of the traditional storage and transport system.

“I’m sure Junjun (Gov-elect Davide) will retain him. The province’s role is to identify the mountain areas where we can set up the tramlines. It is very doable because it already has funding,” Magpale said.

She said the Department of Agriculture in Central Visayas (DA-7) already allocated P3 million for the tramline facility project.

Magpale tapped Dr. Davide last May to revive the Farmer Scientist Training (FSTP) Program in the province.

Magpale said Davide also suggested the revival of the FSTP, a program that will assign agriculturists who will update farmers on the latest agricultural techniques.

Davide was one of the Ramon Magsaysay awardees last year. Correspondent Peter L. Romanillos