Highland vegetable farmers and traders of Benguet joined in by La Trinidad Municipal Police Station (LTMPS) and Police Regional Office-Cordillera (PROCor) are sending tons of highland vegetables to the Typhoon Odette-affected villagers in the Visayas and Mindanao.

According to League of Association at the La Trinidad Vegetable Trading Area in La Trinidad, Benguet Spokesperson Agot Balanoy, the vegetables will be delivered Tuesday (December 21, 2021) to Cebu City. She hopes the vegetables will help in easing the burden of the typhoon-affected residents especially hunger. She added that through this, they will also feel the spirit of Christmas inspite of the tragedy that they experienced.

Balanoy said that the vegetables were donated by the vegetable farmers, traders and other stakeholders. Upon learning the situation of their fellow Filipinos, she said they started to call for donations.

She said that the farmers, traders and stakeholders donated two tons of vegetables.

Policemen also purchased another two tons to add to the vegetable donations.

The 4 tons of vegetables are worth P80,000.00 according to Balanoy. They will try to collect for another batch, she said, and hope they can send it early next year as December is a busy month for the vegetable farmers.

The Cordillera highland vegetable farmers were donating vegetables during the start of the pandemic helping the people especially those who lose their livelihood because of the lockdowns. Even before the pandemic, they also send vegetables to the areas affected by the eruption of the Taal Volacano last year.