THE government has broken ground for the construction of the P300-million agri-business industrial corridor (Abic) in Taguig City, a 10-year project that seeks to provide Metro Manila consumers with “reasonably-priced food” through modern infrastructure and facilities.
The corridor, which will host a freshwater aquaculture park and an urban farming project, is the second of its kind to be established by the government spearheaded by the Department of Agriculture (DA). Government tapped the Bayanihan 2 fund to finance the construction of the project.
The corridor will be built in partnership with the local government of Taguig and the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA).
Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar said during the project’s groundbreaking ceremony last July 20 his agency is “privileged” to partner with the LLDA and City of Taguig for the project. Dar said the “adequate and reasonably-priced food” would include bangus, tilapia, mushrooms and vegetables.”
The Taguig corridor follows the first in New Clark City where the National Seed Technology Park will rise in partnership with the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), according to Dar.
The agriculture chief said the Abic and Food Terminal Inc. in Taguig are envisioned to be part of the agri-industrial and food market hub that will serve the southeast quadrant of Metro Manila.
Under the joint project, the LLDA will provide two hectares of land along C-6, where several facilities will be constructed, and an adjacent 15-hectare lakeshore area, where the aquaculture park will be developed and opened to cooperatives and private enterprises, according to the DA.
According to the DA, four attached agencies will be engaged in the Taguig corridor: the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR); the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA); the Bureau of Plant Industry; and, the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM).
The DA said the BFAR will provide the technical assistance and inputs, including bangus, tilapia, shrimp and ayungin fingerlings for the floating fish cages that would be installed at the 15-hectare aquaculture park.
The cages will be maintained by the city fishermen and members of the City Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (CFARMC), according to the DA.
The farm regulatory agency added the PFDA will construct a fish landing wharf or jetty, a warehouse and a cold-storage facility.
For its part, the BPI will spearhead the mushroom button production facility and an integrated commercial bamboo project while the BSWM will establish a water hyacinth composting facility to support urban farming and a bamboo oxygen park to promote sustainable production and outdoor recreation.
“The DA-BFAR will also establish a satellite office in the project site to provide technical assistance, conduct training, and help organize and cluster existing fisherfolk organizations,” the DA said in a statement on Wednesday.
“The agency is also tasked to monitor and evaluate the project, provide technical support in the zoning delineation and demarcation of the aquaculture park, and conduct a regular water quality assessment,” the DA added.
Once all the facilities are constructed, the Taguig City government will be the one managing and maintaining the Abic, including funding its operation for the whole duration of the project, according to the DA.
“It will also provide necessary funding, equipment and manpower for the development of the access road from the highway to the site,” it said.
“It will also construct three facilities in the area, particularly the agriculture, lake and river management, and environment and natural resources offices,” it added.
According to the DA, Taguig City Mayor Lino Edgardo S. Cayetano “gave his full support and commitment” for the project’s completion “as the Abic complements” the first-class highly urbanized city’s long-term goals of “sustainability and improved quality of life for their constituents, particularly farmers and fishers.”