CEBU CITY, Philippines—A food terminal will be established at the South Road Properties (SRP) in Cebu City.
The city government broke ground the P14 million project on Tuesday, February 22, 2022, two days before the Cebu City Charter Day.
In previous statements, Councilor Philip Zafra, the chairperson for agriculture, said the food terminal has been in the pipeline for some time to address the food security of the city.
The project was planned in 2020 after the City Council became concerned of the food security during the start of the pandemic.
Two food terminals will be built in the north and the south.
The food terminal will be used to store goods for farmers from all over the region with priority for Cebu City mountain farmers and coastal fisherfolk.
Engineer Joel Baclayon of the City Agriculture Department said that the SRP is the most suitable area because it has enough space.
“Di-a gyud sa South Road Properties gibutang nato because this is an ideal area wherein our farmers ma-accommodate gyud,” said Baclayon.
Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said that the food terminal will be built for the farmers because it is necessary that they have a hub here to bring in their goods.
It is the long term solution to food security during food disasters such as the pandemic and Typhoon Odette.
“Some thought that by April on that year the whole challenge was over. Some thought by six months it will be over. But I was looking beyond that…seeing beyond. Mao ni siya among giprograma daan, apil gyud ang ‘Bagsakan’…. Kung sa Iningles pa ni siya, as it was written it shall be done. Nalipay na ko nga napahimutang,” said Rama.
Councilor Zafra, for his part, said the since the food terminal will be useable soon, he urged farmers to do organic farming.
Zafra also announced that the council has passed the Food Security Ordinance that provides P100-million budget for the needs of farmers and fishermen.
The budget would provide machinery to farmers and reduce the middlemen between the farms and coasts to the market.
“Patyon nato ang mga middlemen, ang mga ‘commissioner’, nga maoy namungingi sa alahas…pero kamo nagkadusingot mo og tinanom apan wa gihapon moy kita,” said Zafra.
/bmjo
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