Food Terminal Inc.
Food Terminal Incorporated is a government-owned and controlled corporation focused on food processing and distribution in the Philippines. Headquartered in Western Bicutan, Taguig, it also operates a industrial estate that leases lots to small and medium-sized enterprises engaged in agricultural development, electronic raw materials, and other business endeavors. Of this, were sold to Ayala Land and are now part of Arca South. FTI is a major subsidiary agency of the National Food Authority.
History
It was a priority project of then Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos to revolutionize the agricultural sector of the country, and establish a food consolidation centre. By the power a Presidential decree issued in, it took about more than a year to establish what was called the Greater Manila Terminal Food Market on. However, the estate was renamed to Food Terminal Incorporated on.The company’s major activities include warehousing, food processing, research and quality control, marketing services, and trading.
In April 1979, the Human Settlements Development Corporation took over the ownership and management of the company. FTI became a major subsidiary agency of the National Food Authority.
Decline
On 1989, food trading and food processing operations, including live animal slaughtering, were suspended. Cold storage services were also suspended in 2004 due to technical problems and viability concerns.There have been several attempts over multiple Philippines presidential administrations to sell off part of the property, including a public auction in 2009, but they all failed. In November 2012, the Philippine government announced the sale of the of the property to Ayala Land, Inc. for. Ayala plans to turn the property into a mixed-use development, now known as Arca South. Proceeds from the sale are pledged to the programmes of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Agrarian Reform. The remaining remains in FTI.
Revival
FTI will be revived by the Department of Agriculture, with its reopening in Taguig. FTI still has a area available, with occupied by informal settlers. The new FTI will feature food processing and cold storage facilities for produce to be sold to various consumer and vendor associations.According to Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, FTI will own logistics equipment to transfer goods from regional food terminals to markets, with a total of six food terminals to be built during President Rodrigo Duterte's term.
FTI aims to be the leading food processing and distribution hub in the Philippines by 2030.
Current developments
Arca South
is a mixed-use development owned by Ayala Land, Inc. occupying or out of the of FTI.FTI Special Economic Zone
The FTI Special Economic Zone is a special economic zone located in Taguig. It houses industrial and retail enterprises as well as government offices such as:- Air Liquide
- Continental
- Dizon Farm
- Hi-Las Corporation
- Keba
- Land Transportation Office
- PSi Technologies Inc.
- Team Pacific Corporation
- Puregold FTI
- SM Hypermarket FTI
- Temic
- Vishay Philippines Inc.
- Sunshine Mall