KORONADAL, South Cotabato July 9 (PIA) -- In only three months, a food hub established exclusively for underprivileged small farmers, indigenous peoples, former rebels, and other marginalized sectors in Alabel, Sarangani has already earned  close to P500,000, an official of the local government unit said. 

Alabel Mayor Vic Paul Salarda  reported during the 19th meeting of the Joint Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (JRTF-ELCAC) XII on July 1 that the food hub in Barangay Alegria, which opens only every Thursday, has already earned P450,863 from April until last week of June. 

The aggregate income is estimated to have already exceeded P500,000 as of press time with two more food hub Thursdays not covered in the local chief executive's report. 

The food hub is a component of the JRTF-ELCAC XII banner Project IPEACE (Indigenous Peoples Empowered as Agripreneurs towards a Collective End) which aims "to end local insurgency by increasing agricultural productivity in IP communities and transforming these communities into integrated food production sites."

IPEACE is spearheaded by TESDA under the Poverty Reduction Livelihood and Employment Cluster of the JRTF-ELCAC XII.

Under the project, TESDA, in partnership with other government agencies, train the beneficiaries on organic  crops and livestock production courses.  

Part of the project is the establishment of a food hub, locally referred to as "bagsakan," where the beneficiaries will bring their produce for direct marketing, thereby, cutting off middlemen in the business process and consequently securing better prices for their commodities. 

TESDA Secretary Isidro Lapeña, who is also the Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security (CORDS) for Region 12 led the launching of Project IPEACE in Alegria; San Jose, General Santos City; Datalblao, Columbio in Sultan Kudarat; and Barangay Manobo, Magpet in North Cotabato on June 23 and 24, 2020. 

The IPEACE food hub in Alegria started selling products of its member beneficiaries onApril 22, this year. 

Alabel's  Sangguniang Bayan has formalized the food hub operations in the area by passing Resolution No. 13-2021-620  on June 16 16 "expressing full support to the implementation of Food Hub Day every Thursday in the Municipality of Alabel. 

The LGU is also crafting an ordinance that will set policies for the operations of the food hub, Mayor Salarda said. 

Salarda also reported that so far the  food hub has already assisted 197 individuals from 8 farmer associations, 2 overseas Filipino worker associations, and 1 Rural Improvement Club. 

"Our Philippine Army has helped us by organizing  farmer associations, especially among former rebels, and guided them in establishing communal gardens, Yield from these communal gardens are delivered to our food hub," Salarda said. 

Two such community gardens are located  in extrenely remote areas, namely,  Barangay Datal Anggas and Sitio Pait, Barangay Alegria.

As additional support, LGU Alabel has  provided P33,350 in transportation support for farmers. The LGU has also supervised the  enrolment of farmer beneficiaries in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) and the Philippine Crops Insurance Corporation (PCIC). 

OFWs organizations, on the other hand, were  provided capitalization for food processing projects with support from the Department of Trade and Industry. 

During food hub days, farmers and other participants are regiistered and their products are weighed upon entering the food hub  area "to ensure that no commercial traders will be allowed to sell their products" in the area.  

Families with excess production from their backyard gardens are also allowed  to display their produce at the food hub.  

At the end of each market day, LGU Alabel, through the Office of the Municipal Agriculturist and Masaganang Alabel Office, would gather all unsold commodities from farmers to be delivered or sold to buyers at Gensan Bagsakan, Alabel Public Market, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology,  provincial hospital, and other partner institutions. 

Excess rootcrops such as taro, cassava, and gabi are handed to OFW organizations for processing into chips, jams, and other products, 

Soon, a food hub building will be constructed at the site with about P500,000 funding from the Department of Agriculture, Salarda said.