FARMERS and other food producers are exempted from the travel restrictions imposed by government during the “enhanced community quarantine” period in Luzon, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said Tuesday.
Farmers, especially those delivering their produce, should be allowed to travel but will be subject to checkpoints as precautionary measure against the spread of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Lopez said.
“Lalo na po pagkain ‘yun, unhampered, tuloy-tuloy po [dapat ang delivery]. Wala pong pipigil dapat. Iche-checkpoint lang po sila,” Lopez said in a press briefing.
Under the enhanced community quarantine, the government mandates strict home confinement in all households, suspension of transportation lines, regulation of provision for food and essential health services, and heightened presence of uniformed personnel to enforce isolation procedures.
Private establishments providing basic necessities such as those related to food and medicine production, however, shall be allowed to operate or remain open.
Lopez assured the public there will be enough supply of basic necessities such as food since movement of cargo within, to and from the entire Luzon shall remain unhampered.
“Hindi dapat mag-alala ang mga kababayan natin dahil ang supply ay stable. The prices are stable at allowed po natin ang movement ng cargoes,” he said. (ABS-CBN News)