Manila, Aug. 18 -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) must immediately buy unsold vegetables from Benguet farmers and redirect them to families affected by recent calamities instead of allowing the produce to go to waste.

Senator Lito Lapid made the proposal after reports that farmers discarded cabbage and carrots along Labey-Lacamen Road in Tublay because of weak demand and depressed vegetable prices following inclement weather.

Under his proposal, vegetables purchased from farmers would be distributed to evacuees and other communities affected by successive weather disturbances.

He asked DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. to implement a "rescue-buy" scheme covering agricultural products that can still be harvested and distributed...