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Manila Bulletin devider devider Piñol disappointed on 'veggie-lifters' at the 2-day vegetable festival in Manila

Piñol disappointed on 'veggie-lifters' at the 2-day vegetable festival in Manila

Published Sep 22, 2018 04:30 pm
By Ria Fernandez Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol took to social media to express his disappointment over reports of “veggie-lifters” at the two-day vegetable festival inside the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) in San Andres, Manila. (Photo courtesy of Manny Piñol / MANILA BULLETIN) (Photo courtesy of Manny Piñol / MANILA BULLETIN) “The joy I felt seeing Metro Manila consumers swarm over low-priced vegetables and fruits during today’s TienDA in Manila was marred by reports from farmers that some buyers walked off with vegetables and fruits in plastic bags without paying for the items,” he lamented on his Facebook post last Friday. “I felt so sad and so disappointed that farmers who labored so hard and took pains to offer their produce at very low prices were shortchanged by some heartless people,” he added. The “TienDAGulay Para saMasa” opened on Sept. 21 in Manila. As early as 5 a.m., people started to flock to BPI gymnasium to buy fresh but cheap vegetables and fruits from Mindanao. The items included the very expensive chilli, sold for only P80 per kilo. “Admittedly, we in the Department of Agriculture share the blame for the chaos. We were not able to prepare for the huge number people who came,” Piñol said. Nevertheless, the Agriculture chief said that farmers will now be assisted “in selling their produce in an orderly manner.” “Next week, the direct deliveries will start to those who will order vegetables from the farmers,” Piñol said in a separate online post. TienDA was organized to help Mindanao farmers market their products at the same time address the problem in supply and prices of basic goods in Metro Manila.
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