The Provincial Government is set to establish a Food Terminal in Bataraza town in support to rice and corn farmers in Palawan.
In a press release, Dr. Myrna Lacanilao, Program Manager of Livelihood Project Management Unit said that this is among the priority projects of the Provincial Government, to expand their support services to the local farmers.
She explained that the Food Terminal will serve as demo area of the Office of the Provincial Agriculture for the rice and corn production. This will also serve as warehouse for palay that are not delivered to the National Food Authority (NFA).
In this way, rice farmers can still get reasonable price for their products, since the Food Terminal will procure the palay and other products from the farmers.
“Ito ay part ng proposed food terminal sa Brgy. Bono-bono Bataraza, kasi ang plano ni Gov. Alvarez ay matulungan yung mga rice farmers, kasi hindi lahat ay nabibili ng NFA, so tutulungan natin sila at bibigyan ng decent price… Malaki talaga ang maitutulong nito sa ating mga farmers, pero hindi ito free, maniningil tayo ng minimal fee para sa maintenance ng equipment pero hindi naman agad-agad, maari na kapag nakapag-ani na sila… Para may sustainability rin yung proyekto na ito ng gobyerno…,” Dr. Lacanilao said.
The Provincial Government is also expecting the arrival of the farm machineries that they requested from the DA such as farm tractor, mechanical dryer and multi-pass rice mill. These machineries will support the operation of the proposed Food Terminal.
Aside from farming and fishing, main industries of Bataraza includes nickel mining and processing.
Bataraza is located on the southernmost tip of Palawan Island, approximately 225 kilometers from Puerto Princesa City or five to six hours travel by land. The town was named after Datu Sapiodin Narrazid Bataraza, a locally influential Muslim chieftain and was created a town in 1964, separating from its mother town, Brooke’s Point
Discussion about this post