The P70 million 20-hectare Davao Food Terminal Complex (DFTC) in Barangay Daliao in Toril District was finally opened yesterday.
The facility had its soft opening in October 2018 and was initially slated to have its grand opening last March 15, but due to the unavailability of some primary guests, the event was postponed.
In her message, Mayor Sara Duterte said the DFTC is aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal.
“With the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal to `End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture (SDG2)’, it is of paramount importance that we provide solid support to our small-scale fruit and vegetable farmers,” she said.
The mayor said despite the environmental challenges that pose threat to achieving zero hunger, DFTC proves that positive measures can still be achieved if there is coordination.
“Amid the changing climate and increasing food demand across the globe, initiatives like the DFTC are proof that the goal of defeating hunger and addressing food security while helping our farmers is achievable when we all work hand in hand,” she said.
The mayor also mentioned how the DFTC will help farmers market their produce and provide fresh goods to customers alike.
“Given how this Davao Food Terminal can ensure that farmers’ products can be directly sold to the consumers without the intervention of middlemen, this project shall be of mutual benefit for the farmers and the customers in Davao City, and hopefully, in neighboring areas as well,” she said.
The mayor also expressed her hopes for linkages that may be built with the opening of the DFTC.
“We are also looking forward to the great partnership that we will be building with our private partners in this endeavor,” she said.
“It is my hope that this will just be one of the many agricultural initiatives that will elevate our local agricultural industry even further, and will empower our agricultural players, especially our small-scale farmers, to be at par with our global counterparts,” Duterte added.
Duterte thanked agencies that are part of the establishment of DFTC including the Department of Agriculture (DA) and its attached agencies, the Department of Trade and Industry-National Development of Corporation (DTI-NDC), the Department of Science and Technology, our farmers and farmers’ groups, and personnel of the city government.
