1st barangay food depot opened in Inayawan

In a move to ensure stable supply of basic commodities at reasonable prices, the Department of Agriculture opened in barangay Inayawan yesterday the first Barangay Food Terminal in the city.

The Inayawan food depot offers a wide assortment of foodstuff such as meat, poultry, fish, vegetables, fruits and rice at prices lower than those displayed in commercial centers.

The depot is also intended to boost food distribution in Cebu City and bring producers closer to the consumers.

For farmers and producers, the BFT scheme is intended to offer ready market for their produce.

Food items sold at the BFT are fresher than those in other markets since these come directly from the farms and other production areas.

As a self-help project, the BFT is expected to encourage barangay empowerment, increase productivity and income, and create employment opportunities through its livelihood component such as the “rolling store concept via trisikad” that sells GMA Sakto Meals food packs.

The GMA Sakto Meal, which also made its market debut today, is a complete nutritious meal individually packed and ready to cook.

The GMA Sakto Meals product line includes chopsuey sold at P45 per pack, pinakbet also at P45, sinigang buto-buto at P50, nilagang baka at P45, misua with meatballs at P32, and sopas at P33.

The Barangay Food Terminal is handled by a barangay cooperative as the DA will not honor applications for BFT if the barangays don’t have cooperatives.

Another outlet will be opened along B. Rodriguez Street on November 26.  – Jasmin R. Uy and Phoebe Jen Indino/MEEV