BAGUIO CITY– Amidst the issue of vegetable smuggling that contributes to the low sale of local vegetables and oversupply, vegetable traders and farmers in Benguet gain help from other sectors who are mindful of their plight.

A vegetable seller expressed gratitude to the mayor of Taytay, Rizal, and other private citizens who came to the rescue as tons of cabbages and Chinese pechay or "womboc" flooded the Benguet Agri-Pinoy Trade Center (BAPTC) in La Trinidad, Benguet.

In a post on social media, the trader revealed that as of past 9:00 p.m. on 6 January 2024, they were able to dispose of 56,000 kilos of cabbage and "womboc".

"Our snappiest salute to the Mayor of Taytay Rizal, Hon. Allan Martin De Leon, for the 20,000 kilos purchased to be distributed to his constituents," the trader named Julie stated. Julie also disclosed that the mayor even paid the P40,000 worth of transporting the goods from the trading center in La Trinidad to Taytay, Rizal.

She also mentioned an individual for the purchase of another five tons. A couple who do not want their names to be mentioned also bought 18,600 kilos and even provided fuel for the truck of the farmer who delivered their purchase to them.

"Our so many walk-in buyers from different places. From the bottom of our hearts, we say thank you for supporting our farmers," said the trader.

She further appealed to the people to buy their vegetables, particularly oversupplied cabbages and "womboc", for P5 a kilo just to cover the transportation and food of the farmers going back home Julie told them to pay the said price directly to the farmers.