Reviving Barter System! Talaba Kapalit Prutas, Gulay: Linking Farmers-Fishermen

Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay – Talaba, isda at alimango galing ng Zamboanga Sibugay ay tatapatan ng gulay at mga prutas mula Cotabato.

This was the agreement I forged with the Kapunongan sa Gagmay nga Mangingisda sa Concepcion (KGMC) led by 2021 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee Roberto “Ka Dodoy” Ballon on Friday.

The traditional barter system will be revived starting February between the fisherfolk of Kabasalan and the farmers of my home province Cotabato.

Fruits and vegetables, including premium local rice, will be brought to Kabasalan by my old Isuzu Elf where these will be sold by KGMC members in roadside stalls which they will establish.

Nagkasundo kami ni Dodoy Ballon at nga municipal agriculturist ng Kabasalan na si Miladel Capitania na mag-advance ako ng P200,000 para makapag-expand sila ng kanilang Oyster propagation area sa ilog ng Kabasalan.

Babayaran nila Ito ng paunti-unti at sa palagay ko kaya naman nilang bayaran kasi bibilhin ko ng P40 ang kilo na Talaba na dati ay binebenta lang nila ng P30.

Every Thursday, darating ang Isuzu Elf ko sa Kabasalan na may kargang mga Pomelo, Durian, Pinya at iba pang mga prutas at mga sariwang gulay, pati na ang magandang klaseng bigas tulad ng RC 160.

On the way back to Central Mindanao, my truck will be loaded with at least two tons of Oysters or Talaba, fresh fish, crabs and other marine products.

Barter is an old system embraced by our forebears which is still being practiced today especially among Filipinos in the Southseas who had been trading with their relatives in Sabah.

This system actually creates a ready market for commodities produced in excess in one community and needed by other areas.

This is the microcosm of the reform in the market system which I will introduce should I win a Senate seat where commodities produced in excess in one region would be repositioned in other areas where these are needed.

This market system reform would involve the establishment of Regional Food Consolidation Centers to be placed under the Food Terminal Inc. were farmers and fishermen will deliver their produce.

The Regional Centers, on the other hand, will facilitate the movement of these goods to the big cities where Farmers’ and Fishermen’s Outlets will offer fresh farm and marine products coming directly from the production areas.

Ang resulta nito ay gaganda ang kita ng mga magsasaka at mangingisda samantalang ang mga consumers naman ay magkakaroon ng access sa mga preskong pagkain na abot-kaya ang presyo.

#GovernanceIsCommonSense!

#KungGustoMaramingParaan!

#foodfoundationofnation!