00:00 Let's talk about the oversupply of vegetables due to the good weather according to the Department of Agriculture.
00:07 We have with us this afternoon, Aya Balanoy,
00:10 the spokesperson of the League of Associations of the La Trinidad Vegetable Trading Area in Benguet.
00:16 Good morning to you.
00:18 Good morning, ma'am and to the listeners.
00:22 Is it confirmed that there is an oversupply of vegetables in Benguet?
00:26 And what vegetables are these?
00:29 Actually, when we assess, it's not actually due to oversupply.
00:35 What happened in December, when supposedly the season of vegetables is peak,
00:41 usually in December, our average daily supply of 1.5 to 1.7 million kilos a day doubles in December.
00:52 Because the demand of vegetables doubles during peak season.
00:57 However, this December, the demand did not double.
01:02 It only increased by 30 to 40 percent.
01:05 That's why there are many that were not harvested,
01:08 that were not bought vegetables.
01:11 So these are the ones that were not bought in December.
01:16 The ones you see that are being sold, like cabbage,
01:21 especially those that are vegetables, those are the ones that are overgrown in the farm.
01:29 That's why they are too big.
01:31 Or the quality is bad.
01:34 The first class can be bought.
01:38 Is it just now that there is a low demand?
01:41 That's why the supply from you is too much?
01:44 Yes.
01:47 The farmers know that the demand for vegetables doubles in December.
01:52 So they anticipated this.
01:54 Alright.
01:57 Ma'am, is it still difficult to travel to Metro Manila?
02:03 Actually, there is no problem in traveling or transportation in itself.
02:09 The problem is the low demand.
02:14 For example, today, the highest price for cabbage is only 10 pesos.
02:20 And for cabbage, it's only 8 pesos.
02:25 For carrots, there are big sizes, 35 to 50.
02:30 But at the same time, the medium size and small size,
02:34 we are being given 4 pesos, 2 pesos, and 3 pesos.
02:38 Okay. But Ms. Balano, what is the reason why we have an oversupply?
02:45 Because you said that the demand is low.
02:47 What is the reason why the supply of vegetables is low this December?
02:53 First of all, especially for carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, onion leaves, celery,
03:00 there are a lot of smuggled goods there that are against our local produce.
03:07 Yes.
03:08 And the other buyers who are willing to buy from us,
03:15 they did not buy from us because they already have their money.
03:20 They already bought imported vegetables instead of coming up here.
03:26 I see. And you put this in the DA so that our problem of oversupply will not happen again.
03:35 Our farmers will earn from that.
03:37 Yes. Actually, it's not oversupply. The production is just right.
03:43 But the demand is low.
03:45 Yes. But because of the problem you saw,
03:48 because of the smuggled goods,
03:51 and the government did not give you a budget for the middlemen to go up there,
03:58 you put this in the DA for your help?
04:01 Yes, ma'am.
04:04 Actually, last year we requested the central office
04:09 that they should request or lead for the formation of the Anti-Smuggling Task Force on the national level
04:17 so that they can check the smuggled goods.
04:22 But up to now, we have not received anything from the top regarding their reaction there.
04:30 But did you not tell them that this will not happen again?
04:37 Of course, everybody does not want this to happen again.
04:44 But our regional office here in the Department of Agriculture,
04:48 they helped with the marketing.
04:50 Okay.
04:52 But that is a ban-aid solution.
04:55 We told them that the long-term solution is to monitor the smuggled goods
05:00 so that the enemies of the local produce that we sell will be reduced.
05:06 I am saying that you should coordinate with some farmers
05:12 because it might be too fast.
05:14 Maybe because of what happened, they will not plant enough and the vegetables will be short.
05:20 For one, there is no choice for the farmers here because that is our main source of income.
05:26 That is where the economy of Benguet or Cordillera is anchored.
05:32 We cannot really stop planting.
05:34 All right.
05:36 Ms. Aya, we will try to get your request to the Department of Agriculture.
05:40 Thank you very much for your time.
05:42 Thank you very much, ma'am.
05:45 This is Ms. Aya Balanoy of the League of Associations of the La Trinidad Vegetable Trading Area.
05:51 [Music]
05:52 [Music]
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