ILOILO City – Community pantries in Western Visayas are getting greener. Lots of donors are buying fresh products from their own farmers.
“Kon ginabakal nila sa mangungoma naton, may bentaha gid sa farmers,” said Director Remelyn Recoter of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Region 6 in an interview with Panay News.
Products in community pantries include vegetables, fruits, rice, eggs, and canned goods.
“Kon within the community lang (ang baligya-anay), wala na sang expense ang farmers for logistics and transportation para dal-on pa sa Iloilo City,” she added.
The director commended the efforts of several groups across Western Visayas in putting up their own version of the project. These pantries were inspired by the Maginhawa Community pantry initiated on Maginhawa Street, Quezon City amid the lockdown being imposed there.
“May tinutuyo nga makabulig sa ila isig-katawo kapin pa subong nga tinion nga daw mabudlay gid kay damo nadulaan sang trabaho, nagsara ila nga ulubrahan kag ang negosyo bulu-budlay gid,” Recoter said, adding she is also hopeful that these initiatives be sustained.
Community pantries are sprouting all over Western Visayas with several in Iloilo and Negros Occidental provinces and the cities of Bacolod and Iloilo.
Meanwhile, Recoter said the implementation of DA-6’s KADIWA ni Ani at Kita program – which offers fresh and affordable vegetables, fruits, root crops, rice, and poultry products – is still ongoing.
The agriculture department also partnered with electric cooperatives and other farmer associations for the implementation of its programs./PN
