The agriculture department in MIMAROPA is eyeing to introduce the auction market in Puerto Princesa City in the third quarter of the year by establishing a trading facility in Barangay Irawan that would sell agricultural goods wholesale.
Dr. Celso Olido, chief of the DA MIMAROPA Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD), said they will partner with local enterprises like Project Zacchaeus Marketing Cooperative (PZMC) to operate the trading center and sell the products from farmer-to-market.
“May bubuksan tayo, i-inaugurate na trading center sa Irawan, sila (PZMC) ‘yong ina-eye natin na mag-o-operate diyan, ‘yong grupo na iti-train namin na i-operate ang trading center. Actually, by October to December. Kasi gusto namin na i-introduce ‘yong parang ginagawa sa Japan na auction market, titingnan natin kung maisasagawa natin sa pakikipag-partner natin sa Project Zacchaeus,” Olido said.
“Kapag nag-operate na ‘yon, doon sila mag-station ngayon, ‘yong mga produce ay magpo-program tayo ng production diyan sa Puerto Princesa at sa kalapit-bayan kung gusto mag-participate ng ibang bayan. Ang mga produkto nila ay diyan dadalhin sa trading center kasi wholesale ang approach natin diyan. Yong may mga pwesto sa parang talipapa ay diyan sila bibili, ang institutional market natin,” he added.
Olido said DA MIMAROPA will allot a fund for the PZMC so it can buy products from farmers that will be sold wholesale.
Zacchaeus coop head John Vincent Gastanes said they are one of the recommended partners of the DA and will buy the products from the local farmers at the right price based on actual supply and demand in the city.
“We’re one of the recommended partners, ibig sabihin, we are just one. Iyong malaking terminal na ‘yan, definitely, we are one the main players kasi ang pinagkaiba namin ay kami ang isa sa recognized consolidators, ang coop namin ang magko-consolidate at bibili sa farmers,” he said.
The PZMC also recently signed an agreement with DA MIMAROPA to serve as an online Kadiwa in the region.
“Open kami sa kahit anong client, any platform that would like to market our gulay will be entertained. Because like what I said, we want to create a bigger ecosystem and impact sa labas na may nakukuhang murang gulay,” he said.
