Bacolod town is seen to benefit from the Central food terminal funded by DA=10 through its Kadiwa Financial Grant Assistance.

 

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – To establish additional markets for farmers and fisherfolk, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) turns over the P3.975-million (M) worth of Central Food Terminal (CFT) to the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Bacolod, Lanao del Norte, on April 18.

On behalf of DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado, Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) Senior Agriculturist Rosell P. Tuba-on handed over the certificate of turnover to LGU Bacolod Mayor Judith V. Miquiabas.

Of the total project cost, P3-M is funded by the DA under the AMAD’s Kadiwa Financial Grant Assistance, while the LGU Bacolod counterparted P975K for the provision of a lot for the CFT.

According to RED Collado, the facility will serve as a trading post for farmers cooperatives, and associations (FCAs) to promote agricultural and fishery production and provide the farmers the capacity to increase their income and sell their agricultural commodities to a wider market.

The agri chief exec also encouraged the FCAs to support the sustainability of the project, which will benefit more agri-stakeholders and provide more access to fresh and nutritious food.

“I am thankful to DA-10 for granting our request, and we assure to sustain the [operations of the] facility to further assist the farmers and fisherfolk to directly showcase their fresh commodities to consumers,” Mayor Miquiabas said.

Meanwhile, Agustino D. Denopol, Kahayag Agrarian Reform Committee Farmers Agriculture Cooperative chair, said that the project is a big help to the farmers.

“Malaking tulong ito sa aming mga magsasaka, magsisilbi na itong bagsakan sa aming produkto at hindi na pupunta pa sa ibang lugar para maglako sa aming mga produkto.”

The CFT serves as a centralized and upgraded hub of the town for the distribution of agricultural commodities from smaller FTs in the different barangays of the locality.

Also present at the event were Bacolod municipal agriculturist Linang S. Sanguila and other personnel from the Municipal Agriculture Office of LGU Bacolod, Lanao del Norte.# (MPMT)