In a move aimed at accelerating the shift toward agricultural self-reliance, proponents of the proposed Farm-to-Market Digital Logistics Backbone have formally extended an invitation to Department of Agriculture (DA) officials to visit Taiwan—a country expected to play a pivotal role in funding and supporting the project.
The delegation, led by a key project advocate and accompanied by lawyer Willie Cristal, paid a courtesy call to DA undersecretary Roger Navarro, who oversees overall operations and hails from Cagayan de Oro. During the meeting, the group reaffirmed its commitment to liberate farmers and fisherfolk from what they described as “seven layers of middlemen,” by implementing a technology-driven, streamlined logistics infrastructure.
The logistics backbone is being developed in strategic partnership with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), with a long-term goal of making the agriculture sector more efficient and self-sustaining.
The proposed visit to Taiwan—extended to Navarro, DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, and six other agency heads—underscores the critical role Taiwan is expected to play. According to project proponents, Taiwan will not only serve as a technological model but also as a “steady and reliable source of funds” for the logistics initiative.
More details on the Taiwan partnership and funding arrangements are expected to be disclosed in July, the proponents said.
