The Davao City Food Terminal Complex located in Toril will be operational for the whole week from 7 am to 7 pm starting January 8.
This was bared by DFTC In-Charge Josephine Martin in an interview with Madayaw Davao on January 2, 2024. Martin said that this is an improvement from last year’s “Tabuan,” which only opened during Thursdays and Fridays.
“Per assessment medyo ok na ang dagan so in the year 2025 amo ni siyang gihimong daily, seven days a week (Based on assessment, we found that the [Tabuan] was doing well, so [this year] we will make it daily, seven days a week)” Martin said.
She said that they initially considered a 5 pm closure time but they received a clamor from those who are working, who cannot go there during office hours, to make the operating hours longer. The new operating hours are intended to also cater to customers who are available only on weekends.
Martin said that while the DFTC primarily is a wholesale facility, they were given permission that farmers there could engage in retail.
To support the daily operation and produce fresh vegetables directly from farmers, the City Agriculturist Office haul the products of the farmers every Tuesday and Friday. As an improvement, two trucks will now be used.
“Per association ang among approach, per association kadtong mga miyembro sa farmers ang gapuli-puli’. We have 10 associations so far, kada association naay minimum of 15 members (Our approach is per association. Farmers from these associations are the ones availing of the service. So far, we have 10 associations and each of them has a minimum of 15 members),” Martin said.
She added that to ensure a continuous supply, they established cluster farms which they provide with technical assistance. This is also done to address the demands of the market
Martin said that farmers who can transport products on their own are also free to sell at the food terminal.
“Giingnan na namo ang mga farmers na pwede napud sila magbaligya diha nag-assure mi sa ilaha nga daghan na gyud ang mga walk-ins nga naga-adto aside didto sa regular nga carinderia owners nga diha nagakuha kay barato man gud and walay middle man (We already told the farmers that they can sell their products at DFTC. We assured them that there are many walk-ins aside from the regular carinderia owners who buy their products from the terminal because of lower costs, and no middle man),” Martin said.
Martin underscored that it is in DFTC where consumers can find quality products, and where farmers can sell their products profitably.
“Ang mga products kabalo mo asa ang gikan, amo pud nga ginatan-aw ang quality and hopefully maka tie up mi ug ahensya nga pwede magtan-aw sa food safety, especially sa application (As for the products, you know where they are from and we also check for the quality and hopefully, we can tie up with an agency to check the food safety, especially in the applications),” Martin said.
“Rest assured isa sa responsibilidad sa City Agriculturist Office nga tan-awon nga safe sya and sa presyo amo pud nga ginatan-aw mga makaginansya pud ang mga farmer and at the same time makabenepisyo ang atong konsumante nga dili kaayo taas ang presyo, makapalit sila og bulto– wholesale price and price for retail (Rest assured that it is the responsibility of the City Agriculturist Office to check the safety of the products and as for the prices, we also ensure that the farmers can profit and at the same time, consumers can also benefit because of lowered prices and that they can buy on wholesale price and retail price),” Martin said.
She said that the district offices of the City Agriculturist Office are open to farmers who seek to avail of technical assistance and also inquire about the hauling services offered by their office. CIO
