CATIGBIAN, Bohol — A Php 61-million Regional Food Terminal has broken ground in Catigbian, Bohol, in a move expected to improve the marketing, storage and distribution of farm and fishery products in the province.
The groundbreaking ceremony was held on Friday, August 7, in Barangay Poblacion Weste, Catigbian. The project is funded by Food Terminal, Inc. (FTI) and is designed to become a major trading and distribution hub for agricultural and fishery products from Catigbian and nearby areas.
Catigbian Mayor Benjie Oliva said the facility will serve as a central storage and warehouse, as well as a trading center where farmers and fisherfolk can sell their products directly to food processors, institutional buyers, traders and market vendors. The project is also expected to help reduce the dependence on middlemen by giving producers and buyers a more direct way to trade farm and fishery products.
Modern Facilities for Farmers and Consumers
The new food terminal will include modern facilities such as cold storage and a refrigerated van. These facilities are expected to help keep agricultural and fishery products fresh during storage and transport. The project will also give consumers better access to fresh and affordable food products while helping local farmers and fisherfolk improve their income.
Oliva said the food terminal would help provide farmers and fishers with better selling opportunities while allowing consumers to benefit from more reasonable market prices. The facility is expected to strengthen the marketing and distribution of local products while creating new market opportunities for producers in Catigbian and neighboring communities.
Support for Bohol’s Food Security
Bohol Gov. Erico Aristotle Aumentado welcomed the project, saying it would provide important support to Catigbian and help advance the province’s efforts to strengthen food security.
FTI Vice President for Corporate Affairs Oliver Dicdican also said the project would benefit Bohol, which has a large agricultural sector supported by farming and fishing communities. The regional food terminal is expected to provide local producers with a more organized system for bringing their products to different markets.
Catigbian Pushes Smart Farming
The food terminal will complement Catigbian’s wider efforts to develop its agricultural sector. Oliva said the municipal government has been promoting science-based farming, smart farming technologies and livestock development programs to improve food production and support rural economic growth. He described smart farming as an important part of the municipality’s long-term agricultural development strategy.
Catigbian’s agricultural programs cover several areas, including livestock farming, coffee and cacao production, agroforestry, bamboo cultivation, mungbean and peanut farming, and the promotion of adlai as an alternative high-value crop.
The municipal government has also allocated a significant portion of its 20 percent development fund to agriculture. The funding supports livestock development, crop production, farm-to-market roads, irrigation projects and other programs for farmers.
With the construction of the Php 61-million Regional Food Terminal, Catigbian is expected to have a stronger connection between local producers and markets. The project could help farmers and fisherfolk improve their income while supporting a more stable and reliable supply of food for consumers in Bohol.
