City links up local farmers with mall

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City farmers would no longer worry about finding buyers of their fresh produce as a mall promised to buy their products starting Monday.

City Councilor Alvin Arcilla, deputy mayor for agriculture, said Gaisano Metro will directly buy their fresh produce.

“Starting Monday, ang Gaisano Metro kutob unsay abot ninyo sa kabukiran, sila na ang mokompra. Sa ato pa, dili namo maglisod asa ninyo ibaligya inyong mga abot,” Arcilla said in his speech during yesterday’s third Farmer’s Day celebration.

He said the development came following the request of Mayor Tomas Osmeña.

The city government will also provide two areas—Plaza Sugbo grounds and Ramos Market—where farmers can sell their goods.

City Agriculturist Apple Tribunalo said this year’s celebration is the “grandest and liveliest.”

Hundreds of farmers participated in the activities, including float parade contest, urban gardening, booth display, and flower arrangement.

The prizes include—P50,000 (first), P40,000 (second), and P30,000 (third) for the float contest; P25,000 (first), P20,000 (second), and P15,000 (third) for the booth display contest; P8,000 (first), P7,000 (second), and P6,000 (first) for the urban gardening contest.

For booth display, Barangay Pamutan got the first spot, followed by barangays Adlaon and Tabunan. Barangay Malubog, on the other hand, placed first in float parade contest. Barangays Guba and Taptap ranked second and third, respectively.

The flower arrangement winner, Barangay Busay, also received P2,000 in cash, while other participants got a consolation prize of P500.

Moreover, Arcilla said the effects of climate change, as well as teaching the youth the value of farm work and breeding of animals and plants are among the challenges of the farmers.

Tribunalo said the city government is helping farmers the know-how of modern farming technology.

Tribunalo said the office is also encouraging the lowland barangays to help in addressing climate change by participating in the urban gardening.

Farm inputs would be distributed to the city residents for the urban gardening, she said. — KBQ (FREEMAN)