BY GENE V. BAQUIRAN
TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan (August 19)—While local government units (LGUs) ensures the protection of their constituent’s health against coronavirus disease 2019, the agriculture department reminds LGUs to look after the safety of the agriculture products their constituents are consuming.
Department of Agriculture (DA) Regional Executive Director Narciso Edillo said local government units can buy their rapid test kits to check the pesticide level of fruits and vegetables downloaded to supermarkets, public markets, stalls or talipapa in their area of jurisdiction.
While there is no certainty on the safety of the food one buys in markets, Edillo encouraged the public to patronize agriculture products that are sold and displayed at the different Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita outlets regionwide because these are all pesticide safe.
In Tuguegarao City, Mayor Jefferson Soriano said an ordinance was passed by the city council late last year which provides measures to check the pesticide level of agri-products entering the city.
Stipulated in the ordinance is the activation of checkpoints to be established in all entry points in the city equipped with the rapid test to check all incoming fruits and vegetables from outside the city.
Under the ordinance, fruits and vegetables that will not pass the tolerable pesticide level will not be allowed to enter the city. PIA