Zambo Sur town buys, sells farm products amid Covid-19 crisis

By Leah Agonoy 

 April 2, 2020

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur -- The municipality of Labangan town has launched a mobile market to help the farmers sell their produce to earn a living amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) crisis.

Labangan Mayor Eduardo Relacion said Wednesday the municipal government buys the farmer’s produce and sells it at farm gate price in other areas of the town.

MOBILE MARKET. The municipal government of Labangan in Zamboanga del Sur has launched a mobile market to provide the farmers the outlet to sell their farm produce and for residents to buy vegetables, meat, and fish at cheaper prices amid the Covid-19 crisis. On Wednesday, the municipal government rolls out the mobile market in Barangay Upper Labangan. (PNA photo by Leah D. Agonoy)

Relacion said the mobile market provides an opportunity for the residents to buy vegetables as well as meat and fish at cheaper prices, aside from providing farmers an outlet to sell their farm produce amid the declaration of enhanced community quarantine.

Relacion said they went on a house-to-house sale Wednesday in Barangay Upper Labangan, which was placed under lockdown as a resident in the area was found positive for Covid-19 infection.

He said all businesses in Barangay Upper Labangan were closed while residents were strictly prohibited from leaving their homes. The lockdown is in effect until April 14.

“This (lockdown) is part of the preventive measures as we would be monitoring all the residents in the area regularly for the possible infection since one of the positive cases in the province came from their barangay (Labangan),” he said.

He said the municipal government and the barangay officials will work together in “assuring the welfare of its constituents most especially in their access to foods and medicines.”

He said the mobile market will operate daily until April 14.

Maj. Gen. Generoso Ponio, the Army’s 1st Infantry Division commander, has also placed Camp Major Cesar Sang-an on lockdown to protect the troops and all its staff members against possible infection from Covid-19.

“This is to ensure that everyone who comes in and out of the camp is not a potential carrier of Covid-19,” said Capt. Clint Antipala, 1st Infantry Division spokesperson.

Meanwhile, Labangan Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office chief Marvin Julius Pagaduan said they are conducting regular disinfection in the different barangays in coordination with the Bureau of Fire Protection. (PNA)