Cabangan, Camalig, Albay— Agricultural truckers and traders in Albay province can deliver their food products and farm inputs to all parts of Luzon unhampered in quarantine checkpoints through a Food Lane Pass which can be issed at the Albay Breeding Station here from Monday to Wednesday.
This is pursuant to the Memorandum Circular No. 07 issued by the Office of DA Secretary on March 17, 2020 which identified that all food items that “must be allowed unhampered and unimpeded transit in all quarantine checkpoints, provided that proper documentation is presented to assigned authorities” to ensure continuous flow of supply during the implementation of the Enhanced Community Quarantine in Luzon amid the threat of corona virus disease 2019 (Covid19).
Suppliers or truckers are provided a Certificate of Food Lane Accreditation and food pass or sticker that would allow them to pass in checkpoint lanes.
DA-Bicol Regional Executive Director Rodel P. Tornilla has designated the APCO and/or the station superintendents of the DA’s outreach stations in the provinces of the region to be the signatories of the Food Lane pass to facilitate and speed up the process.
According to APCO for Albay and Sorsogon Florentino Ubalde, as of this date, they were able to issue 38 Food Lane Passes.
Requirements for application include scanned copy of official receipt of registration, scanned copy of certificate of registration, scanned copy of business permit, duly accomplished Food Lane Accreditation Application Form, duly accomplished Food lane Reference Form, and duly accomplished Statement of Commitment. The three latter requirements can be accomplished personally at the designated processing areas where application forms are readily available.
Online application is also encouraged where forms may be downloaded at http://agribusiness.da.gov.ph. Filled-out forms with complete copies of attachments can be sent through the email address of DA-Bicol Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD)—foodlane.amad5@gmail.com for processing. Applicants from other provinces and municipalities could visit their respective Municipal Agricultural Office to help them in their application via email.
Other requirements are listed for those carrying poultry and livestock, including meat and meat products as provided under DA Memorandum Circular no. 5, s. 2020.
For transport of live animals, animal products and by-products, a shipping permit must be secured from the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) with accompanying Veterinary Health Certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian. In transporting fresh or frozen meat, secure a shipping permit from BAI with accompanying Meat Inspection Certificate for fresh and locally produced meat or Certificate of Meat Inspection from the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) for processed meat products. Traders of fish and processed aquaculture products can proceed to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.
Moreover, farm inputs like seeds, feed ingredients and fertilizers for production and processing operations will be allowed access at quarantine checkpoints. (jaysonmgonzales)