Tabo sa City Hall for city’s farmers

CEBU, Philippines - Two Cebu City legislators have proposed that the farmers in the cities mountain barangays will be allowed to hold a so-called “Tabo sa City Hall” right at the Plaza Sugbo for twice a month.

Councilors Alvin Arcilla and Alvin Dizon have observed that some of the farmers in the hinterland barangays will just sell their crops and other farm products to middlemen because they do not have space to sell their products.

Dizon and Arcilla proposed for the farmers to be allowed to display and sell their products in front of City Hall building every second and last Friday of the month.

Aside from allowing the farmers to hold a Tabo sa City Hall, the City Agriculture Department (CAD) personnel will be tasked to help them transport their products from a designated pick-up point, one for the north district and one for the south, and bring them to City Hall grounds free of charge.

City Agriculturist Joelito Baclayon, however, asked the concerned farmers not to take advantage of the situation once the proposal of the two councilors will be approved.

It was observed that the prices of the goods that are sold by the farmers are just the same with those sold in Carbon market.

“Kinahanglan nga baratohon unta nila ang presyo kay tabangan pa gud sila paghakut sa ilang produkto paingon dinhi sa City Hall,” a city employee said. (Prices should be lower if this pushes through.)

The proposed ordinance of the two councilors was referred to the Committee on Laws for further study and review, but many of the councilors said they will support the move.  (FREEMAN)