The national government is fast-tracking the implementation ofits “Food Highway” Program that will link farmer cooperativesand Metro Manila barangay food terminals (BFTs) to facilitatethe efficient distribution and delivery of fresh and affordablefood items to the masses.

Cabinet Secretary Ricardo Saludo said this vital linkage isexpected to combat hunger, a priority concern of the Arroyoadministration, by eliminating middlemen and their mark-ups,resulting in increased incomes for farmers and reduced foodprices in poor areas of the metropolis.

Other programs included in the Food Highway Program are: 1) theNational Cold Chain Program (NCCP); 2) the National GrainsHighway (NGH); and, 3) the expansion of BFTs to reach morepeople in more places around the country.

The National Cold Chain Program will ensure that only thefreshest food products such as commercial crops, livestock andfisheries, reach the end-consumers.

With a budget of P668.47 million, the NCCP aims to put up 104cold storage facilities nationwide with which traders may use asa step-by-step process of transporting their produce startingJune 2007.

These cold storage facilities will cater to traders dealing infresh fruits and vegetables, fishery, and livestock.The P2-billion National Grains Highway, on the other hand, isbeing set up to directly link rice and corn production areas tomajor consumption centers as well as calamity andisolation-prone sites.

Its main components are: 1) the rationalization of existingNational Food Authority (NFA) post-harvest facilities; and, 2)the modernization of facilities and national link-up viatransport.

The project has an estimated potential savings of P442.35 millionand will benefit more than 500,000 individuals.Another important cog in the government’s Food HighwayProgram — the Barangay Food Terminal — is a market-type storethat offers basic and above basic food commodities at pricesfive to 10 percent lower than those of regular outlets.To date, there are 11 operational BFTs in Metro Manila –four inQuezon City, three in Taguig City, three in Manila and one inPasay City.

Seven more BFTs are scheduled to be put up by the end of May–one in San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan; one in ValenzuelaCity; one in Mandaluyong City; two in Caloocan City; one inNavotas; and another in Quezon City.With the complete implementation of the Food Highway Program, thegovernment hopes to eradicate the incidence of hunger in thecountry, Secretary Saludo said.

Source : Press Office” rppress@verizon.net

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