The Department of Agriculture (DA) Regional Field Office in Western Visayas makes sure that the flow of food and agricultural inputs is unhampered amid the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) imposed in the region and in other parts of the country to contain the coronavirus disease 2019, or Covid-19.

DA Western Visayas regional executive director Remelyn R. Recoter said yesterday food lane accreditation and vehicles pass is provided to agri-products suppliers and truckers at Western Visayas Integrated Agricultural Research Center (WESVIARC) in Jaro district’s Barangay Hamungaya and DA-designated offices in the provinces in the region.

“It’s a one-time application per vehicle,” she said in a phone interview. It can be used when they travel to other parts of the country when they deliver their goods.

A copy of the list is furnished to the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

All DA regional offices are authorized to issue food passes. While authorized to sign are regional executive directors, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) and Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI). In Western Visayas, the passes are signed by the Recoter.

As of Wednesday evening, since March 18, Recoter said they already issued 2,

608 passes.

The Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division of DA Western Visayas is open from Monday to Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to manage the application and accreditation process of food lane passes.

The requirements include scanned copies of their business permit, official receipt of registration and certificate of registration; duly accomplished Food lane Accreditation Application Form, Food lane Reference Form, and Statement of Commitment; Handler’s license and accreditation of transport and carrier issued by BAI/accreditation of meat transport vehicle issued by NMIS (for livestock, poultry, and by-products, scanned copy). (PNA)