Bernadette E. Tamayo
Journal Online
January 17, 2011
PROCEEDS from the planned sale of the Food Terminal Inc., a 120-hectare agro-industrial complex in Taguig must be used to address the needs of the agricultural sector, according to Sen. Francis Pangilinan.
He added that the financial gain from the proposed privatization of FTI should be used to increase public investments in irrigation, farm-to-market roads and construction of post harvest facilities.
“If we are to privatize what was originally meant to revolutionize the agricultural sector of the country, then it is but fitting that this sector benefit from this planned sale,” he said.
The FTI used to house a slaughterhouse, a chicken dressing plant and a multi-purpose warehouse for dry storage, food-processing facilities for grading, handling and packaging for foreign market.
“Let’s look at the objectives of selling the property. If it is for the benefit of the agricultural sector, then it should be used to strengthen the capability of FTI in its role of providing access to markets,” Pangilinan said.
He said the government’s plan to sell FTI must be above board, saying the process should start with public bidding. “Playing by the rules is the only way to go. Legal shortcuts must be avoided to steer clear of legal disputes and controversies such as the case of PIATCO Terminal 3, or ZTE-NBN deal. On the other hand, we have the sale of MWSS or Camp John Hay from where we can pick out good lessons in handling the sale of government assets,” he said.
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