4 barangay food terminals launched in Ifugao towns

By Marcelo L. Lihgawon

HUNGDUAN, Ifugao -- The Department of Agriculture through the Provincial Agriculture, Environment and Natural Office recently launched four more barangay food terminals here and in Lamut town.

BFT is a barangay-based food depot and distribution center offering safe and quality agri-fishery products at low prices to the consumers.

The BFT projects shall serve as direct marketing of fresh agriculture and fishery food products from producers to the BFT where these will be sold at lower prices than prevailing retail prices in the market.

According to Nazario Tuguinay of the PAENRO, the BFTs are located in barangays of Abatan and Bangbang in Hungduan while in Lamut, the BFTs were established in barangays Hapid and Panopdopan.

Tuguinay said the four BFTs were given P200,000 each as operational expenses that included purchase of equipment and other needs while host municipalities provided lots and buildings  as counterparts.

He said establishment of BFTs in rural areas was in line with President Benigno Aquino III's Accelerated Hunger Mitigation Program to make available and accessible quality food products to marginalized sectors of society.

It is also aimed to develop alternative market for farmers' produce through direct marketing thereby increasing their income, ensure stable prices and supply of food commodities in the market and strengthen partnership of stakeholders in the delivery of basic services at the barangay level.

He said these will also encourage cooperative empowerment by creating employment opportunities through livelihood and establishment of small packaging and food processing center for agri-based products thus increasing productivity and income of the members of the cooperative.