LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Department of Agriculture (DA) Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban, together with the members of the Benguet Agri-Pinoy Trading Center (BAPTC) has unanimously approved the appointment of Dr. Norma Banania as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the biggest trading center in the country.
As COO, Banania is expected to oversee and manage the daily operations of BAPTC, with an emphasis on assisting Benguet farmers to give focus on being trade-oriented aside from production-oriented through the introduction of various parts of the value chain.
Panganiban has also advised the BAPTC Board to determine the cost needed in the repair of its six current cold storage facilities, which will be submitted to the Undersecretary for the necessary approval to better serve BAPTC’s constituents.
Meanwhile, the Board has approved the increase in the current parking fees being collected for farmers bringing their produce to the trading center giving consideration to the present management cost in maintaining the facility, aside from the approval of the repair of the existing weigh bridge of BAPTC to be suitable to the requirement of the facility with the fund to be derived from the reserve fund of the trading center. Gratuity pays for BAPTC employees has also been approved for 2022.
Amendments in the current operations manual of BAPTC will undergo a review to make it appropriate for new guidelines. The Internal Operating Budget of BAPTC has also been recommended for re-computation based on proposed income.
The Undersecretary also insured the Federation of Benguet Farmers to be the direct supplier of the Kadiwa centers in Metro Manila as an outlet for their agricultural products.
