Trucks and suppliers with accreditation from the Department of Agriculture (DA) will be able to use the proposed special lanes for food, agricultural and fishery products that will be established during the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon.
“All vehicles carrying essential food commodities, agri-fishery products and inputs bearing government-issued stickers must be allowed passage at quarantine checkpoints through these food lanes,” Agriculture Secretary William Dar said in a statement on March 17.
Dar said initial field reports indicated some truckers found difficulty in delivering agricultural products into the National Capital Region on March 17, the first day of the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon, because of traffic buildup at checkpoints.
Pursuant to the Memorandum from the Executive Secretary on March 16, the entire Luzon island has been put under enhanced community quarantine from March 17 to April 13 to stop the further spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), but the order also mandates the unhampered movement of cargoes to, from, and within Luzon.
“Delays and confusion among personnel at checkpoints are expected considering that this is the first day of implementation, which also coincide with the exodus of people going to provinces after the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine,” Dar said.
To avoid similar incidents, Dar said they are now closely coordinating with the Philippine National Police, Department of Interior and Local Government, and local government units or (LGUs) on proper implementation of food resiliency protocols—including identifying the food lanes and implementing quarantine measures for the movement of food products and other agricultural commodities.
As such, truckers, logistics, and cargo operators are advised to secure accreditation from their respective DA regional offices to avoid hours-long queues at checkpoints.
For vegetables and root crops, “viajeros” can apply for accreditation at the Bureau of Plant Industry; for poultry and meat products, at the Bureau of Animal Industry; and for fish and processed aquaculture products, at the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.
For processed meat products, traders can apply for accreditation at the National Meat Inspection Service.
“While these so-called food lanes would allow unhampered movement of essential food commodities for residents of Metro Manila and the rest of the island of Luzon, quarantine personnel must still require proper documentation at quarantine checkpoints to ensure that food deliveries are safe from diseases,” Dar said.
“All truckers and food logistics operators will also be required to submit documents, including veterinary health certificate for live animal products and certificate of meat inspection for imported meat,” he added.
In addition, Dar said farm inputs—including seeds, feed ingredients and fertilizers—will be allowed access at quarantine checkpoints to ensure continuous production of staple and essential food items during the enhanced community quarantine period. – Roumina Pablo
