Abra Rep. JB Bernos on Thursday called on the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) to donate trucks for farm logistics amid the difficulty in procuring hauling trucks to ease logistics concerns of farmers.
Bernos made the call following a recent Senate hearing where Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said that it is providing logistical support to farmers through the mobilization of Department of Agriculture-owned hauling trucks.
Tiu Laurel, however, conceded that the agency’s capacity remains limited.
In a statement Thursday, Bernos raised the possibility of PAGCOR and PCSO, along with other government-owned and -controlled corporations, donating trucks and other forms of logistical and post-harvest support to help ensure the country’s food security.
“We laud the Pagcor and PCSO for their efforts to bridge gaps in healthcare delivery through their donation of patient transport vehicles. But as a further challenge, I would like to call on our GOCCs to also help bridge the gap in agriculture,” he said.
He said that donating hauling trucks to local government units could help solve one of the lingering issues in the country’s agriculture sector.
“It is no big secret that the lack of logistics support for our farmers has led to massive crop spoilage across the country. Makakatulong ang truck donation para maiwasan ito (The truck donation will help prevent this,” he said.” (PNA)
