Pres. Duterte to 'perfect' food supply chain in 3rd year of his administration, no more middlemen for farmers





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.



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