GMA opens food depot in Batasan Hills

President Arroyo launched yesterday a food depot in Batasan Hills, Quezon City to make food products, including the "GMA Sakto Meals," available to thousands of residents in the area at low prices.

The President said she wanted to ensure a stable supply of basic commodities at reasonable prices so people would not ask for higher wages due to the rising cost of living.

Called the Barangay Food Terminal (BFT), the Batasan Hills food depot sells a wide assortment of foodstuff such as meat, poultry, fish, vegetables, fruits and rice at prices lower than those charged by commercial outlets for the same products.

The first barangay food terminal in the country, the depot is also intended to boost the food distribution chain in Quezon City and bring producers closer to the consumers.

As a self-help project, the BFT is expected to encourage barangay empowerment, increase productivity and income, create employment opportunities through its livelihood component such as the Tri-sikad, a rolling store concept that sells "GMA (Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo) Sakto (Exact) Meals" and food packages.

The GMA Sakto is a complete nutritious meal, individually packed and ready to cook.

The President, along with Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr., said there would no longer be any middlemen between suppliers and consumers so prices of the food products would be lower.

"We are doing this because if the food costs low, then the workers will no longer ask for salary increase and our factories and other service centers will be more competitive," the President said.

For his part, Presidential Chief of Staff Michael Defensor said hunger among the poor people especially in Metro Manila would be addressed through the program.

Belmonte said the food depot in Quezon City would serve as "model" for other barangays nationwide.

For the farmers and producers, the BFT scheme is intended to offer ready market for their produce. Food items sold at the BFT are fresher than those at other markets since they come directly from the farms and other production areas, officials said.

The GMA Sakto Meals product line includes chopsuey, which is sold at P45 per pack; pinakbet, P45; sinigang buto-buto, P50; nilaga (baka), P45; misua with meatballs, P32 and sopas at P33.

The suppliers of the Barangay Food Terminal come from various parts of the country, including Bacolod City, the source of the "Pork in a Box."

The other BFT suppliers are Tiaong, Quezon for fresh meat products, Montalban and San Mateo, Rizal, vegetables and chicken; Talisay, Batangas, fish; Bolinao, Pangasinan, bangus, and Baguio City, vegetables.

Belmonte said the President would replicate the Batasan Hills food depot in other parts of Metro Manila and the country through the Department of Agriculture.

Metro Manila has one of the highest poverty incidence in the country. The President’s Serbisyo Muna caravan also rolled into Batasan Hills to deliver basic services to thousands of poor residents in the area.

Mrs. Arroyo led the caravan and turned over licenses to operate Botika sa Barangay outlets to 21 barangays in Quezon City.

She also issued certificates to 14 others to operate Tindahan Natin outside Quezon City.

The President handed out 1,000 PhilHealth insurance cards and eyeglasses to residents in the area, while the Quezon City Police District received a patrol car courtesy of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor).

The Serbisyo Muna caravan also delivered medical and dental services to thousands of residents. Booths selling half-priced medicines were set up at the Batasan gym so residents could avail themselves of cheap, but quality medicines for common illnesses.

Belmonte said many of the less fortunate residents of the city have benefited from the President’s pro-poor program.