THE Food Terminal Incorporated (FTI) has laid out a program to achieve food sufficiency for the Marcos Jr. Administration.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. has made achieving food sufficiency in the Philippines a top priority.
One key to achieving this is ensuring proper storage for the harvests of both farmers and fishermen.
To fulfill this goal, the new management of the FTI has devised ways to reach the President’s target.
According to its President and CEO, Atty. Lara Brusola, their goal is to establish regional food terminals throughout the country.
“When it comes to food sufficiency, our first concern is storage because food production is not constant. It depends on the season, and the volume can vary. So, if there’s a surplus of tomatoes from the North, for example, and then the season comes when tomato harvest is limited, at least there is stored produce available for the people,” according to Atty. Lara Brusola President, CEO | Food Terminal Inc.
The plan doesn’t stop at just establishing regional food terminals; it’s about catering to each region’s specific produce.
Some areas are known for their vegetables and fruits, while others excel in seafood and other marine products.
Therefore, the construction of cold storage facilities will depend on each region’s requirements.
“We tailor our approach to what each region needs. For example, in Davao, we are looking at fruits and vegetables. However, in Pangasinan, we are focusing on marine products. So, the requirements are different for each,” Atty. Brusola added.
There are two operational Regional Food Terminals in the country—one in Davao and one in Taguig.
The FTI’s Taguig Cold Storage Facility houses 14 reefer vans that are mobile and can be relocated to different areas using trailer trucks.
The rent for each reefer van is set at ₱5,000 per day, but FTI aims to negotiate lower rates with farmer and fisher cooperatives.
Once all Regional Food Terminals become operational, farmers and fishermen will no longer be at the mercy of traders and middlemen.
The operation is also expected to reduce food prices by 30% to 40%.
FTI: Farmers will no longer fall prey to middlemen through cold storage
“What we’re doing now is research, and then we coordinate with LGUs [Local Government Units] and their cooperatives per locality. FTI then directly negotiates with them. So, we deal directly with the farmers and fisherfolks,” Brusola said.
FTI was established during the time of former President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr., who also oversaw its management at that time, FTI was the largest cold storage facility in Asia.
Although it was slated for privatization in the previous administration, former President Rodrigo Duterte granted FTI another 50 years to operate.
Now, the son of the late President Marcos Sr., President Bongbong Marcos Jr., is managing the facility.
It’s a great opportunity to restore FTI’s former glory for the nation.
“FTI was built by his father, and we are here to help, we are here to serve,” Brusola said.
