LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The Benguet Agri-Pinoy Trading Center (BAPTC) will soon be operating a washing shed for root crops in its premises for the benefit of highland farmers. This was confirmed during the Project Steering Board meeting on February 8, 2017, at the BAPTC, La Trinidad, Benguet.
The construction of the facility is 75 to 80 percent complete. It is expected to be operational by the end of February to the fifteenth of March.
Also, a total of 64 stalls is being constructed for the use of traders and farmers.
The BAPTC and its services are open to everyone where farmers should not be discriminated and also the rights of the disposer should be the same with the farmer according to Department of Agriculture Assistant Secretary for Agribusiness, Leandro H. Gazmin.
On the other hand, Juancho Cariño Cruz, Managing Director for Assets and Amenities Management Department assures that BAPTC can now fully operate.
“Washing sheds will draw in farmers as they can come here to sell their carrots and other root crops because the buyers are here. Traders will also come here. The washers, traders, and buyers themselves will be making BAPTC a socio economic enterprise,” Cruz said.
Cruz explained that the facility will also help in lessening the traffic congestion from Km 5, La Trinidad, all the way to Baguio City because the BAPTC has wide parking spaces to accommodate vegetable delivery trucks that cause congestion along the road.
Around16 resolutions concerning issues and concerns on BAPTC were discussed during the session and at least 9 were approved by the board.
By Rebecca P. Dibdiben
