GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The city government is pushing for the development of a modern integrated food terminal complex through a grant from the Department of Agriculture (DA).
Lawyer Arnel Zapatos, city administrator, said Friday the development planning works are underway for the priority project, which will be built near the Gensan international airport in Barangay Fatima.
He said DA is currently conducting a pre-feasibility study for the proposed facility and has targeted its completion before yearend.
It took off from a feasibility study commissioned by the local government in 2013 as part of its comprehensive economic development plan, he said.
The pre-feasibility study was funded by the Cities Development Initiatives for Asia in response to the request of the local government for a pre-assessment of the economic situation of the city.
Zapatos said the Gensan local government, through the city agriculture, economic management, and cooperative development offices, has been closely coordinating with the DA’s Mindanao project management unit regarding the study.
“We’re hoping that it will push through in 2018,” he said.
In line with the project, the official said local government is set to conduct benchmarking on the food terminals of Valenzuela and Mandaluyong cities in Metro Manila.
The city government currently utilizes the old Alunan passenger terminal in Barangay Bula as “bagsakan” or drop-off point for farm products coming from the neighboring areas.
But the facility, which is located near the city’s main public market, is quite crowded and has limited capacity.
Zapatos said the area is not ideal for the development of an integrated food terminal due to lack of space.
“We need a bigger space so we chose a location somewhere near the city airport," he explained.
The official said building the integrated food terminal complex near the airport is considered viable and would complement with the proposed development of the city’s “aerotropolis.”
The long-term project, which was based on a study conducted three years ago by the Department of Transportation, involves the establishment of an “industrial airport city” in the area. (PNA)
* Stay at Home and START YOUR OWN blog site, business or personal website, or e-commerce store at
www.wirenine.comLinkback:
https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=109632.0
