Thursday, August 28, 2008 Councilor urges CAO to back 'bagsakans' By Grace L. Plata
DAVAO City Councilor Diosdado Angelo Mahipus urged the City Agriculturist's Office to actively support the existing food terminals or "bagsakan" and promote the creation of new ones.
"For the food terminals to succeed, the city agriculturist must meet up with probable buyers para ang mga farmers natin hindi na maglalako. They will bring their products to the terminal where there are ready buyers at a published price," Mahipus said in Wednesday's edition of the City Council Media Hour.
Mahipus added that the city also has to invest in storage areas in the food terminals where farmers can stock-up produce at a low rate.
City Council committee on agriculture chair Conrado Baluran, who was also present on Wednesday, said the Bankerohan public market remains as the main 'bagsakan' for agricultural products seconded by Agdao and Toril.
Baluran added that the one in Sandawa and one that was built by a non-government organization in Catalunan Grande have not flourished due to its location.
"Ang ubang bagsakan dili mu-click maski gi-offeran ang mga farmers na nay re-routing scheme to accommodate them kay medyo tuyuonun unya dili sigurado kung naay mamalit (Some 'bagsakans' are not enticing to farmers even if farmers are offered a re-routeing scheme so that vehicles will pass through these areas because these are out of the regular commuter's way and so very few would go there to buy)," Baluran said.
But Mahipus said that though location is an important key to identifying food terminals, technical and marketing support is more essential to encourage farmers to bring their produce to farther areas because of a sure sell.
"Kinahanglan lang gyud ug intervention para pud (There has to be some interventions so that) we can give incentives to our farmers as well as have alternative bagsakan that are nearer to other people," Mahipus added.
