LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Several officers and members of the different traders occupying the LA Trinidad vegetable Trading Post said that they are disqualified from entering the Benguet Agri-Pinoy Trading Center due to strict policies, thus, they want the sustained operation of the old facility to cater to their source of livelihood that will improve the living condition of their families.
They stressed that the system specifically the policies governing the facility are very difficult to comply compared to the present policies of the LTVTP so they choose to stay despite of the earlier order of Mayor Edna Tabanda to vacate the area.
Traders initially criticize the strict policies of BAPTC like the stalls that will be provided to any accredited association.
According to Jonathan Tersero the president of the Bagsakan Traders Association, they tried to apply at the BAPTC for accreditation but they were only given 15 square meter stall for the whole association which is very small for them.
Another problem is the minimum volume of vegetable that an individual must dispose. According to BAPTC, each of the accredited traders shall produce a total of 1000 kilos of vegetables per day.
Concerned traders revealed that it would be difficult on their part to achiev such projected target because they cannot assure the production of such volume comparing it to the current tonnage produce only reaching 400-500 kilos per day. Further, the BAPTC also does not allow sorting, packing and trimming of vegetables ones the crops enter the facility. Also, vegetable traders opposed the 25 centavo charged of every kilo of crops.
Tersero also claimed that they have been requesting the BAPTC if they could first solve the problems before the transfer but until the present there is no action from the heads of BAPTC. According to them, they only want assurance by the time they will be accommodated such as if they could benefit more compared to the present operation of the trading post.
Moreover, the traders specifically the disposers refuted the misconception that they are the ones becoming richer leaving the farmers poorer. They said all the traders having business at trading post are also considered farmers.
By JORTON B. CAMPANA
