DA’s Municipal Food Terminal Increases Purchasing Power

Residents in Brgy. San Roque, Bislig City are now enjoying stronger purchasing power in obtaining fresh farm produce and other household items.

This is due to the presence of the former Barangay Food Terminal now Municipal Food Terminal (MFT) serving in the said area.

Joint monitoring with Bislig City Agriculture and DA AMAD on MFT Bislig

MFT San Roque operated by San Roque Farmers and Displaced Workers Multipurpose Cooperative (SRFDWMPC) with its strong 106 members is a great advantage for the community.

Artemio Cuanan, MFT manager said that they offered fresh farm produce and almost complete household items at a lower cost than other contemporary stores.

“Diri sa MFT, ang among mark-up 6-8 percent lang kada item, so makabarato gyud ang mga residente dinhi” (Here in MFT our only mark-up ranges only from 6-8 percent per item, so residents could definitely save), Cuanan said.

Before the existence of the Municipal Food Terminal, residents would have to travel around 13 kilometers from their barangay to Mangagoy Public Terminal which costs them 40 pesos fare and spent half a day in buying their necessities.

However, with the establishment of MFT in San Roque, residents need not to travel to the public market to buy their daily needs because MFT can already cater their necessities thereby saving transport cost.

“Tungod kay dili na nila kinahanglan nga mobyahe pa maka-save sila sa galastuhan ug panahon nga igugol pagpamalit kay nia ra man sa duol and MFT, so mas mukusog ang ilang purchasing power” (Since there’s no need for them to travel, they will be able to save expenses on transportation and shorten the time of shopping since MFT is just near, thereby increasing their purchasing power), Cuanan added.

Based on record, MFT San Roque posted an estimated daily sales of P12,000.00 to P14,000.00 from agricultural products such as rice, spices, fruits, rootcrops, grocery items and other commodities.

Supported by its 106 members, its store operation starts as early as 5:00 am to 6:00 pm Monday to Sunday to ensure optimum services to its customers.

According to Cuanan success of the MFT San Roque is anchored on three factors: training, thriftiness and transparency.

“Trainings and seminars help a lot in our operation; it equipped us with the necessary skills while thriftiness led to savings. Transparency and full disclosure of our day to day operation builds confidence from our cooperative members”, Cuanan said.

One of the direct beneficiaries of the presence of MFT San Roque is a farmer from Sitio San Nicholas of the said barangay. Lydia Alvior said that aside from her farm produce, she consolidated other products from her neighbors to be delivered to the cooperative, thereby ensuring market for the local farmers like her.

“Dako gyud ang gikatabang kay mahalin man ang among mga abot sa uma unya makapalit sab mi ug mga galamiton sa panimalay” (It really helped us a lot since our farm produce will be sold out and in return we can buy our households needs), Lydia said.

The SRFDWMPC is a duly registered cooperative and supported by the City Cooperative Development Office which started in the year 2005.

Majority of the members of the cooperative were former employees of the defunct PICOP Resources Incorporated who are now venturing in various farming endeavors to sustain the daily needs of the family.

In 2008, the cooperative was designated by the Barangay Council of San Roque as the operator of the then Barangay Food Terminal through the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 13 thus BFT San Roque commenced its operation on June 2008.

DA Caraga provided various equipments such as chest freezer, upright chiller, digital weighing machine, cash register, plastic crates and a working capital of P30,000.00 aside from other support from Local Government Units of Bislig and Brgy. San Roque.

In 2013, BFT San Roque was upgraded to Municipal Food Terminal (MFT) and received P1 million grants from the Department of Agriculture intended for rice trading. To expand its operation and cater more customers, a food terminal outlet at San Roque Public Market was also established.

During the General Annual Assembly, all members of the cooperative received equal sharing of dividend based on their capital investment. Patronage refunds were also given to members who patronized its business through purchasing the items being sold in the cooperative.

Currently, MFT San Roque expanded its rice trading operation through the purchase of 6-wheeler truck for bulk delivery of rice to barangays in Bislig City. They are also planning to engage into copra and abaca buying business since the Province of Surigao del Sur is abundant with the said commodities.

With clear vision and active participation of its members, MFT San Roque is not far to becoming a landmark of excellence among cooperatives in Surigao del Sur. (Aurelius P. Arais/DA Caraga)

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