Antique: Antique's provincial government is planning to establish two cold storage facilities and two rice processing plants in the northern and southern regions of the province to enhance the income of farmers and fisherfolk.
According to Philippines News Agency, Provincial Planning and Development Officer Bienvenido Nallos Jr. mentioned in an interview that these facilities could help preserve produce and secure better prices.
Currently, fisherfolk in the province face challenges in preserving their catch due to insufficient ice production facilities. Nallos highlighted that there are only two private ice plants in San Jose de Buenavista, forcing other fisherfolk to source ice blocks from Iloilo City to prevent spoilage. The proposed cold storage facilities are planned for the San Jose de Buenavista Fish Port in the southern part and the coastal municipality of Tibiao in the north.
In addition, Governor Paolo Everardo Javier has instructed a feasibility study to explore how the provincial government can assist farmers through an economic enterprise. This initiative aims to provide farmers with affordable access to drying and milling facilities. Nallos noted that the rice processing facilities would work in conjunction with the National Food Authority to support more farmers, particularly during the peak harvest season.
Farmers in the province often report low buying prices from middlemen, ranging from PHP10 to PHP14 per kilogram, especially during the peak harvest period in September for the wet season. Nallos indicated that the provincial government-owned land is being considered for the rice processing plants, and they plan to seek funding from the Department of Agriculture. If necessary, they may also utilize Antique's share of the national wealth for the projects.
The feasibility study, expected to be completed within three weeks, will determine the required budget for the projects. Nallos expressed optimism that the proposed interventions will bolster the growth of the agriculture, forestry, and fishing industry in the province, which is projected to grow by 16.4 percent in 2024.
