Councilor Bonz Andre A. Militar is pushing for an ordinance creating a Digital Farm-to-Market platform, which aims to strengthen the city’s food security while increasing income for local farmers and fisherfolk.
In his privilege speech on Tuesday, Militar, who chairs the Committee on Information Technology, emphasized that true urban progress cannot exist without a stable and secure food system.
He stressed that while the city moves toward modernization, it must remain grounded in agriculture and fisheries, which continue to sustain its people.
“Our farmers and fisherfolk take all the risks from calamities to pests to volatile market prices yet they earn the least,” Militar said.
He pointed out that limited market access forces producers to sell their harvest at very low prices, while middlemen reap most of the profits.
The proposed ordinance, which was approved on first reading, highlights the Farm-to-Market Digital Platform, a mobile and web-based application that will allow farmers and fisherfolk to sell their produce directly to consumers, bulk buyers, and establishments.
Militar stated that by eliminating intermediaries, the platform aims to ensure fair pricing for producers while offering fresher and more affordable food to consumers.
The app will feature real-time market pricing, direct ordering, and advance purchasing options, helping reduce post-harvest losses and ensuring farmers secure buyers before or during harvest.
Militar assured that the platform will not charge any additional fees to farmers and fisherfolk.
He added that to ensure accessibility and sustainability, the Barangay Council for Agricultural Development (BCAD) will serve as the program’s primary grassroots partner.
The BCAD will handle farmer and fisherfolk validation, data gathering, local coordination, and community-based support.
Militar stressed that the project will not place additional financial strain on the city government.
Militar added that the City Government of Butuan, which pioneered the AgriBOOST initiative, has expressed willingness to share its application’s source code, subject to formal coordination and agreement.
The councilor further revealed that he personally presented the proposal to Mayor Sebastian Duterte last week, who has since expressed strong support and a desire to fast-track the program.
“This ordinance is about ensuring that our city can stand on its own when it comes to food security,” Militar said.
“By empowering our farmers and fisherfolk, we build a stronger, more sustainable food system for everyone,” he added.
