Benguet Province Revives Tramlines to Ease Vegetable Transport Burden

The provincial government of Benguet in the Philippines is exploring the revival of tramlines to facilitate the transportation of vegetables from mountain farms to the nearest roads. This initiative aims to alleviate the manual labor involved in hauling perishable vegetables, which can take up hours. The Department of Agriculture has begun validation in areas where the tramlines will be re-established, with support from Governor Melchor Diclas. The DA has also inspected existing tramline sites to assess their potential value in supporting the agriculture sector.

Key Takeaways:

• The provincial government of Benguet is considering reviving tramlines to ease the burden of transporting vegetables from mountain farms to the nearest roads.
• Tramlines, powered by small engines and similar to cable cars, can address the long-standing challenge of manually hauling vegetable harvests.
• The Department of Agriculture is supporting the initiative, with the Central Office inspecting existing tramline sites to assess their value in supporting the agriculture sector.
• Governor Melchor Diclas has expressed support for the tramline revival, recognizing its role in addressing the hours of manually hauling perishable vegetables.
• Tramlines have the potential to reduce transportation time, especially during road closures due to landslides.
• The provincial government continues to implement measures to support farmers, including rapid disaster response to maintain access to farming areas.
• Delinia Juan, provincial agriculturist, emphasized the tramlines' ability to address time-consuming manual labor involved in hauling vegetables.

Statistics:

• Tramlines can reduce transportation time, particularly in remote mountain farms with limited or nonexistent road access.
• The Department of Agriculture has inspected existing tramline sites to assess their potential value in supporting the agriculture sector.
• The provincial government of Benguet is exploring the revival of tramlines to facilitate the transportation of vegetables from mountain farms to the nearest roads.
• The initiative aims to alleviate labor involved in hauling perishable vegetables, which can take up to hours.
• Governor Melchor Diclas has expressed support for the tramline revival, recognizing its potential in addressing transportation challenges.

Sources:

• Philippines News agency, 11 Jul 2025: "Benguet government eyes revival of tramlines to ease vegetable transport burden"