KALIBO, Aklan, March 30 (PIA6) -- The province of Aklan has sufficient food supply as the country grapples with the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

This was emphasized by Aklan Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member Emmanuel Soviet Russia Dela Cruz, SP Committee Chair on Agriculture, when interviewed in a local radio station here.

Dela Cruz said that during a recent meeting with the heads of the National Food Authority (NFA) and other concerned agencies here, he was assured that Aklan has enough supply of basic needs while the province is placed under Enhanced Community Quarantine due to the threat of COVID-19.

He said NFA has enough stocks of rice and palay inside its warehouse and at private or leased warehouses.

He added that presently, the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) is also striving to distribute vegetable seeds to farmers to enhance the supply of vegetables in the province should the Enhanced Community Quarantine get extended.

The vegetable seeds, according to Dela Cruz, are varieties that are easy to grow and mature faster.

Meanwhile, Dela Cruz said that per recommendation of the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) has allowed farming and fishing activities to continue as well as to exempt farmers, fishermen, farm workers and agri-business personnel from lockdown or travel ban so that they could plant or fish to ensure enough supply of food.

The province of Aklan is currently under Enhanced Community Quarantine by virtue of Executive No. 20, Series of 2020 issued by Governor Florencio T. Miraflores to protect the people against COVID-19. (JSC/VGV/PIA6 Aklan)