Filipino fruit producers in Mindanao would now be able to ship their harvest directly to Luzon and the Visayas daily amid the Covid-19 pandemic following the signing of a marketing agreement between the government and the private sector.
In a news statement, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said its Field Office in Region 11 has signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Durian Industry Association of Davao City (DIADC) and John Gold Cargo Forwarder for the initiative.
“The effort aims to facilitate the movement of fruits and help local farmers bring their produce to major markets, provide a stable source of income, and reduce losses in the middle of the ongoing pandemic,” it said on Thursday.
Under the MOA, the DA said the three shippers will transport 15 metric tons (MT) of fruits from Davao to Manila at P35 per kilogram daily from September 1 to October 1.
The DA added that there will be no “off-loading provided that the products will reach the airport before the cut-off time.”
The first shipment of fruits under the agreement arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport last September 1, according to the DA.
“We can call this the durian flight,” Agriculture Undersecretary for Regulations and Infrastructure Zamzamin Ampatuan said as he noted that the bulk of the initial fruit shipment contains durian.
Ampatuan explained that the flights are solely dedicated to the cargoes unlike in previous arrangements wherein cargo shipments go with passenger flights.
“That’s why we are excited about this because it is an opportunity that will benefit the farmers, producers and traders. We can serve the market and widen the opportunity for farmers to sell their produce with lower cost for cargo,” he added.
Agriculture Undersecretary for High-Value Crops and Rural Credit Evelyn Laviña said that the unloading of the first shipment of fruits will hopefully encourage the involvement of more producers, consolidators and shippers in using air cargo to transport agricultural commodities.
“There will be more like this not only in domestic flights but eventually our products will reach international markets,” Ampatuan said.
The DA noted that the agreement is a huge step in ensuring smooth flow of goods during the Covid-19 pandemic since the health crisis has restricted movement of farm and fishery commodities.
“The DA also partnered with the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Department of Trade and Industry to ensure smooth and unhampered movement in the food value chain,” it added.
The DA noted that the Department of Transportation also issued an order in June for domestic shipping lines “to allot at least 12 percent of the vessel’s cargo space per trip for agricultural and food products.”
“Based on the department order, the shipping lines are also enjoined to extend at least 40 percent discount for the shipment of the said products,” it added.