LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Department of Agriculture (DA) Assistant Secretary and concurrent Chief of Staff Rex C. Estoperez, together with DA-Cordillera Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulations Atty. Jennilyn M. Dawayan visited the Benguet Agri-Pinoy Trading Center (BAPTC) to look into its operations in order to find ways to bring back the original purpose of the vegetable hub.
The BAPTC is governed by a Project Steering Board (PSB) Chaired by the DA Secretary Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos, Jr., represented by Senior Undersecretary Domingo F. Panganiban. Vice-Chair is Benguet State University President Felipe Salaing Comila, with its members District Representative Eric Yap, Governor Melchor Diclas, La Trinidad Municipal Mayor Romeo Salda, DA-CAR Regional Executive Director Cameron Odsey, and Farmer Leader Representative Joaquin Geronimo Depalog.
ASec Estoperez reiterated the need to review the marketing systems of the vegetable trading in the center that need to be improved.
He also pointed out the importance of harmonized actions among all the stakeholders involved, including the media partners. “We need to identify the systems that we have to improve and let us harmonize our actions so there would be no competitions from the other trading centers,” he stated.
Further, he challenged the media partners to visit the center more often so they could be updated with the everyday activities of the center and at the same time to be one of the driving forces in the realization of BAPTC’s original goal.
Meanwhile, Dawayan explained that the agency, together with the BAPTC management, is looking for a better operation that would encourage farmers to trade at BAPTC in partnership with the MLGU. “It is our collective responsibility to be able to ensure that BAPTC will work in accordance with its original purpose. It does not need a force to push the farmers to trade in BAPTC. If they see that the operation is more efficient and that they can have a better price, then that is the major driver for them to trade here,” she stressed.
Moreover, Chief Operating Officer (COO) Dr. Norma Banania guaranteed that in the coming months, BAPTC will give a better service to all the stakeholders. “We would like to show you the true service that the government has given us, especially to the farmers and the business people.
“We are sincere in this endeavor, we are trying to dress up BAPTC to be included in the tourism circuit of La Trinidad so we can also attend to our local tourist including international if there are, to come to BAPTC and appreciate what the farmers of Benguet and nearby provinces can offer,” Banania shared.
With all the observations, ASec Estoperez assured that by the time the Benguet Farmers’ Federation is ready to manage BAPTC, they may now take part in its operation. By LDMendoza
