MPD cooperative store sells cheap meat, veggies

Beginning today, the Manila Police District (MPD) cooperative store will serve as a “depot” for low-priced meat and vegetables that will be sold exclusively to the city’s police officers and their families.

The MPD “bagsakan,” a project of the Department of Agriculture and the Manila’s Finest Brotherhood Association Inc. (MFBAI), will have a dry run today with DA director Francisco Ramos providing 40 kilos of bangus and tilapia and a freezer.

“We will first have agricultural products for sale on our initial operation. We will assess what our colleagues and their dependents badly need for their daily existence,” MFBAI president Senior Police Officer 2 Antonio Emmanuel said.

The MPD store will sell pork hocks at P130 per kilo; pigue, kasim and pork chops at P165 per kilo; and liempo at P170. Chicken is at P110 per kilo while medium-sized eggs are priced at P110 per tray. Tilapia will be sold at P64 per kilo, while bangus is available at P70 per kilo.

The store will sell Baguio beans at P34 per kilo; potatoes, P25 per kilo; pechay, P18 per kilo; cabbage, P17 per kilo; sayote, P10 per kilo; and carrots, P30 per kilo.

The cooperative store is the brainchild of the MFBAI, with MPD director Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales initiating its construction.

Rosales also forged an agreement with DA Secretary Arthur Yap for the department to provide rice and sugar to the cooperative at discounted prices.

The store will be inaugurated on May 15, with President Arroyo, Yap, Philippine National Police chief Director General Avelino Razon Jr., Metro Manila police chief Director Geary Barias and Vice Mayor Isko Moreno expected to grace the opening. – Nestor Etolle, Sandy Araneta