The Department of Agriculture, in collaboration with several government agencies, launched on Monday, March 13 its Foodlane Project to ensure efficient distribution of agricultural products from farms and production sites across the country to the major demand centers in Metro Manila.
Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol signed the Memorandum of Agreement launching the Foodlane with the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) represented by Acting MMDA Chair Thomas Orbos, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG represented by Secretary Ismael Sueño, and the Philippine National Police (PNP) represented by PNP Chief Director General Ronald de la Rosa.
Piñol said that government will designate Foodlane routes that could be used by vehicles that are exempt from the ban on access by trucks and large vehicles on major lanes imposed by the MMDA on major streets and highways in the National Capital Region (NCR).
“The project is in line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign against corruption and kotong (mulcting) cops by ensuring the elimination of additional fees and checkpoints which actually add to the cost carried by farmers and fisherfolk,” the DA Secretary stressed during the launching of the Foodlane project.
Piñol said the implementation of the Foodlane routes will reduce post-harvest losses estimated at 22 percent of
retail cost. It will also reduce trading layers by 18 percent and eradicate informal cost by two percent he added.
Under the agreement, the DA will accredit all individuals or companies that deliver farm and fishery goods and products so they could use the Foodlane routes and be exempted from the truck ban.
All applicants for Foodlane accreditation must be duly registered with the DA and has no pending complaint.