SP backs storage facility project

Authorizes agriculturist to apply for tree cutting permit to give way to project

THE 19th City Council during its regular session Monday presided over by Vice Mayor Raineir Joaquin V. Uy enacted an ordinance authorizing Acting City Agriculturist Paul Douglas S. Calingin to apply for a Tree Cutting Permit from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (DENR-CENRO), Initao, Misamis Oriental.

The permit covers 13 planted trees affected by the implementation of the P20-million Monolithic Dome Cold Storage and Packing Facility Project at the City Engineer’s Compound in Barangay Kauswagan.

In his letter to the City Council, City Mayor Oscar S. Moreno said the project aims to provide COVID-19 response and recovery interventions and mechanisms to accelerate the recovery and bolster the resiliency of the Philippine economy.

The 350-metric ton facility shall be funded under the Agriculture Stimulus Package Bayanihan II of the High- Value Crops Development Program of the national government.

The project shall enable farmers to increase productivity and profitability by extending the shelf life of highly perishable commodities and reduce post-harvest losses of farmers not just in the city but also in Northern Mindanao.

The dome will serve as the region’s storage and packing facility with two loading docks, a pre-cooling room, with areas for washing/rinsing, sorting, palletizing, and an office.

The facility shall have an area of 1,300 square meters which is the counterpart of the city, The Gavel learned.

The legislation was reviewed and endorsed by the committees on agriculture and on laws and rules chaired by Councilors Jay R. Pascual and Ian Mark Q. Nacaya, respectively.

INTERVENTIONS

Reports indicate that the Department of Agriculture (DA-10) also turned over P1,915,315 worth of various agri-interventions that include vegetable seeds, all-purpose shredder, hand tractor, molasses, effective microorganisms, water drums, knapsack sprayer, and fertilizer.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)-10 provided P5,750,000 cash and food subsidy for 1,100 farmers and fisherfolk, and one fisherfolk association in the city.