Presidential aspirant and Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso on Thursday, Oct. 21, vowed to put up more cold storage facilities for agricultural towns if he is elected as the country's next president.
Duting a town hall meeting with farmers in Barangay Banaba in Tarlac, Domagoso said he will build cold storage facilities for the vegetables and fish industries on the National Food Authority's properties.
"Ang NFA ay patungkol sa bigas pero marami silang lupain. Hindi na ako gagastos sa lupa, ang gagastusan ko na lang ay pagtatayo ng cold storage facility para sa dalawang industriya (The NFA is all about rice but they have a lot of lands. I will no longer spend on land, all I will spend on is in builing a cold storage facility for two industries)," he said.
With this, Domagoso said the products will remain fresh and can still be sold at a good price and will help farmers earn more.
"Na magkaroon ng malalagakan para maibenta ng tama yung mga gulay na maiipproduce o sobrang naiproduce o minsan pinipilit nalang gawing cash kahit na binabarat ng byahero o kung taga saan mang palengke (To have storage space to sell the vegetables at the right price that will be produced or over-produced or sometimes some were just forced to make cash even if the traveler or someone from any market bargains)," he added.
The Manila mayor, meanwhile, said the procurement of the rice from other countries will be strict under his administration as rice importation cannot be stopped due to the Rice Tariffication Law (RTA).
"Kung wala tayong kakayanan pigilan 'yung quantity na ipapadala sa atin, pahihirapan ko sila sa quality (If we don't have the ability to stop the quantity that will be sent to us, I will get them a hard time when it comes to the quality)," Domagoso said.
"Binigyan ng karapatan ang estado na siguraduhin na yung papasok na bigas ay malinis, mabango, ligtas. Doon natin dadalihin (The state is given the right to ensure that the incoming rice is clean, fragrant, safe. That's where we'll hit them)."
Domagoso also assured that his government will keep a 30-days rice buffer in case of calamities or any emergencies, adding that he will also run after rice smugglers.