DA to issue ‘Food Lane’ passes to vehicles bringing essential commodities into NCR

The delivery of food and agricultural products to Metro Manila will continue even during the enhanced community quarantine, the Department of Agriculture said Tuesday.

Agriculture Secretary William Dar said that the DA is closely coordinating with the Philippine National Police, the Department of Interior and Local Government, and local government units to set up food lanes for these vehicles, among other food resiliency protocols.

Dar said that only trucks and suppliers with accreditation from the DA could pass through these special lanes.

Dar made the statement after receiving reports that some trucks were caught in traffic at checkpoints.

“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,” he said.

Dar added that truckers and food logistics operators will be required to submit documents, such as veterinary health certificates for live animals and certificates of meat inspection for meats.

“The Department of Agriculture is currently fine-tuning our food resiliency protocol, pursuant to the latest announcement by President Rodrigo Duterte, to ensure every Filipino household in the country, which are dependent from outside sources of food, will have access to safe and affordable food,” Dar said. — BM, GMA News