Farmers dump excess cabbage in Benguet but LGU says there's no oversupply

Residents found hundreds of cabbage by a roadside in Tublay, Benguet after farmers dumped them when traders refused to buy the vegetables. 

The local government unit however said there was no oversupply of vegetables, according to a report by Mark Salazar on Unang Balita on Tuesday.

The farmers dumped the excess cabbage on Kilometer 21, and residents could freely get as much as they want.

Residents were also told they could get free radish from a truck.

Meanwhile, five tons of fresh vegetables from Benguet were rescued by a Marikina resident named Lynnette Bernardo.

"Hindi ko matiis. Ikaw ba naman, hindi pa sila kumain, walang pang-toll gate, umiiyak, walang pang-gas, walang pambayad sa truck," Bernardo said of her farmer friend who risked bringing the produce to Metro Manila.

(I could not stand it. If it were you... they have not yet eaten. They had no money for toll fee. They were crying, had no money for gas and for payment for the rental truck.)

The vegetables were initially rejected by vendors in Balintawak, Divisoria, Taguig, Pasig, Tarlac, and Pangasinan before Bernardo bought them.

She only had three to four days to dispose of the vegetables before they rotted, so she posted about the rescued produce for sale on social media.

Some netizens saw the post and bought vegetables.

La Trinidad, Benguet Mayor Romeo Salda said importation of vegetables may have led to the situation.

"May effect din 'yung importation. Gulay na kasi lalo na 'yung carrots at saka ibang gulay na pumapasok sa bansa natin. Kasi 'di na sila aakyat, 'yung mga buyers, sa Benguet because may supply na sila sa lugar sa Maynila," he said.

(The importation of vegetables has an effect. This is especially true for carrots and other vegetables being brought into our country. Buyers no longer go up to Benguet to buy vegetables because they can get supply in Manila.)

GMA Integrated News contacted the Department of Agriculture for comment as of airing but has yet to receive a reply. —KG, GMA Integrated News