Manila, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte has committed to perfect the food supply chain of the Philippines by the third year
of his administration, he said as he witnessed the launching of TienDA@Abreeza Project of
the Department of Agriculture and the Ayala Abreeza Mall in Davao City.
The said initiative of DA and Ayala Corporation aims to help
farmers and fisherfolk freed from middlemen and provide the market access to
sell their products in areas of Abreeza mall in the country, free of charge.
The launching was also attended by a Zobel de Ayala Scion,
Jaime Agusto, one of the richest in the world, who is also listed in Forbes.
Without the middlemen or cartels, products would be sold in
a cheaper price to the consumers.
“For, after all, it’s the Department of Agriculture who’s
responsible if we go hungry or we have a full stomach,” the President said, noting
that Department of Agriculture Secretary Manny Pinol is the one responsible to
the sustainability of the food supply.
“So ‘yung food chain talaga ng Pilipinas (So the food chain
in the Philippines) must be at least perfected by — on the third year of my
administration,” he said.
In a message during the media interview, President Duterte
mentioned Ayala Corporation’s corporate social responsibility of providing
space free of charge at all Abreeza mall, similar to a food terminal. He added
that Ayala will also buy farmers’ products.
“The less people dipping their fingers in the movement of
the merchandisers — food, the lesser, tapos wala ‘yung taxation ng NPA, mas
mabuti. Medyo mababa. Pag nandyan ‘yung NPA, mas mahal ‘yung gulay kasi akala
nila gobyerno rin sila (then if the taxation from NPA (New People’s Army) is
gone, better. At least its (price) lower. If the NPA is there vegetables are
more expensive because they thought they are also the government),” Duterte
said, pointing out that there will be no more middlemen, who earn more, than
the farmers.
Mr. Duterte also thanked the Ayala for sponsoring the said activity,
which Ayala was grateful for the opportunity.
The president also added that his administration will look
in finding ways to help farmers in terms of transportation since only vehicles
with four-wheels can access farms in the mountain locations.
“So we will look into these things but it will bring down
the prices,” he said, citing that government would ensure there will be supply
at a fair price.
Meanwhile, next week, Ayala Abreeza Mall in Cebu will also
launch the same program, also in Uptown in Quezon City, Alabang Town Center in
Muntinlupa, Pasig City and Solenad in Laguna.
Source: PTV News, Manny Pinol FB
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