by Larry Lopez  

TABUK, Kalinga- The Department of Agriculture (DA) released P1,460,000 for the development of food terminals in the province under its flagship program on Agri-Pinoy.

Program coordinator Teresa Desay of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAG) reported the fund is distributed to four proponents of the project. These are the Camalog Barangay Council which received P500,000; Bulanao Norte Barangay Council – P500,000; Cagaluan Barangay Council – P300,000; and Cawagayan Barangay Council/Rostan Multi-purpose Cooperative – P160,000.

 The fund shall be used for the construction of food terminal buildings, except for Rostan MPC which shall use the money to acquire cooling equipments.

 As counterparts, beneficiaries provide the lot for the building, including labor and other incidental costs, while the DA fund is allotted purely for building construction, Desay noted.

 She said the funds for the project are actually 2010 carry-overs intended for barangay bagsakan centers under the previous program, and released for Agri-Pinoy this 2011.

Part of the fund was used to finance other food terminal projects launched this year in Madopdop-Cahegayan farmers and Agbubukel Farmers Association, both in Barangay Lacnog, Tabuk. Another beneficiary of the project is Pasil municipality.

The food terminal program is awarded as funding assistance to proponents in the construction of trading centers, with the component of providing cooling equipments for use in the operation. (LL-PIA CAR, Kalinga)