PUERTO PRINCESA CITY. Department of Agriculture (DA) MiMaRoPa thru Agribusiness and Marketing Division (AMAD) hosted the Assessment and Planning Workshop on the Implementation of the Agri Pinoy Trading Center (APTC)/ Agricultural Trading Center (ATC) Projects on January 29- February 1, 2018.
The purpose of the trading center is to make a one-stop-shop that will cater the needs of the consumer. This will also help the farmers by not worrying on the marketing of their produce. And to meet the consumer- seller and seller-consumer in one place.
This activity were attended by different AMAD staff from different Regional Field Offices nationwide.
DA MiMaRoPa was represented by Regional Executive Director (RED) Antonio G. Gerundio and AMAD Chief Mrs. Nida M. San Juan, with her staff.
The whole activity was attended also by DA Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Director Christopher V. Morales, DA Field Operations Head and Assistant Secretary for Agribusiness Andrew B. Villacorta, and Chief Administrative Officer Mr. Junibert de Sagun.
On the opening program, RED Gerundio gave remarks on the importance of marketing in agriculture. In his speech, he stated that Marketing is the way to inspire farmers to produce more for food security.
During the activity, Director Morales discussed the profile of APTCs together with its issues and concerns to the Barangay Food Terminal (BFT) and Municipal Food Terminal (MFT).
Dir. Morales and ASec Villacorta also facilitated the open forum regarding the issues and concerns on the profiling of the APTCs. There, they answered all the questions from different RFOs on the implementation of the said program.
Each RFO coordinator were given time to present their reports regarding the said topic. Each rep discussed their strategies on the success of their food terminals. Likewise, the issues and concerns of each operating ATCs in their respective region.
On the following day, the attendees were given time to have raise their suggestions on how they are going to improve their APTCs.
Mrs. Editha M.Salvosa, Chief of Marketing Assistance Division od DA- CaLaBaRZon, shared the success story of the Sariaya Bagsakan Center Located at Sariaya, Quezon. she told the participants on the strategy they made to improve the service of the Bagsakan Center. She also told that the success of the trading center will not be possible without the help of former Congressman and DA Secretary Proceso Alcala.
According to her, at the start of the Bagsakan Center, the office of the congressman paid its operational costs. Now, the Trading Center acquires funds by charging farmers a participation fee of P2 per kilo of vegetables.
To its end, the participants, together with ASec Villacorta and Director Morales agreed that the latter will make other ways on how to improve the operation of those existing facilities.
This activity is a stepping stone for the department to address certain issues regarding the implementation of the existing Trading Centers and give swift response to those queries.
