Cebu City eyes food terminal to complement Carbon market

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City will soon establish food terminals or bagsakan center where fresh and affordable farm products are traded.

The city government is now benchmarking or evaluating the operation and management of the food terminal in Mantalongon, Dalaguete before putting up its own.

“Soon we will have our own here in Cebu City,” said Councilor Philip Zafra, chairman of the committee on agriculture of the City Council.

The office of Zafra is working double time for this together with City Agriculture Department head Joey Baclayon and Market Administrator Raquel Arce and including City Architect Eleazar Lipang.

Zafra, in his post said, these food terminals will complement that of Carbon Market.

“Our food terminal will be made as the ‘bagsakan sa mga abot sa kaumahan’ whereby people can buy fresh but affordable farm produce. The food terminal will complement that of our city’s Carbon market.

Earlier, the City Council also proposed some measures to ensure affordable farm produce, even inviting other producers and farmers not affected by the recent Typhoon Odette to bring products here.

Talisay Agri Support

Meanwhile in Talisay City, Mayor Gerald Anthony “Samsam” Gullas along with the City Agriculture Office turned over a unit of rice thresher to the Mohon Farmers and Livestock Raisers Association.

The said equipment has 12 horsepower with a shaker and blower.

Gullas hopes this can help the local farmers in the area lessen their workload during harvest.

“Hinaut nga makatabang kini sa ilang pag-uma and somehow lessen the work especially during harvest,” said Gullas.

Aside from that, Gullas also met with some rice farmers at the Talisay City Plant Nursery over the weekend to discuss its financial assistance program.

There are 25 farmers identified as qualified beneficiaries. The assistance is expected to boost productivity.

“Kini sila mga mag-uuma sa 2-hectare and below na rice land which is usa sa mga qualifications,” said Gullas. — GMR (FREEMAN)