Staff reporter
LAOAG CITY—A pasalubong center dedicated for the best-selling products in Ilocos Norte will soon be available anytime at the Juliana market in Balintawak, Quezon City.
Through a public and private partnership agreement between the Ilocos Norte government and the Juliana market, fresh produce of Ilocos farmers and entrepreneurs here will be delivered directly to consumers in Quezon City.
As of the moment, Edison Natividad, head of the Small and Medium Enterprise Office of the provincial government said a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between two parties is now ready for signing.
But even without the MOA, tons of orders ranging from fresh fruits and vegetables, processed food products and other goods from the province are being delivered to Quezon City while other businesspeople are coming to Ilocos Norte to haul their orders.
According to Mr. Natividad, this is a good development for local producers as they have readily available market for their products.
A mango farmer like Imelda Tumaneng of Barangay 2 in Vintar, Ilocos Norte said she is grateful for the “Producers to Consumers” program of the provincial government where local farmers and entrepreneurs are given the chance to earn more from their produce by providing them a direct link with customers outside the province.
“I have been harvesting and selling mangoes for a long time in the province but it is only now that I was able to save some extra profit,” Ms. Tumaneng said citing her sweet mangoes are among the best-sellers at the Juliana market.
Aside from mangoes, watermelon and other fruits and vegetables from the Ilocos region are in demand in the metro.
For a better chance to earn more and sell faster, Ms. Tumaneng said it is best for farmers here to join an association so they could negotiate a better price for their products with big time businessmen.
Since last year, the Ilocos Norte government through governor Ma. Imelda Josefa “Imee” R. Marcos initiated an exploratory market matching with the local government of Quezon City, allowing farm producers and SMEs from the province to sell their products at the Quezon City Hall at least twice a month or every payday.
Due to consistent demand, a MOA was inked then it was renewed again for another year effective 2018.
According to Mr. Natividad, they are also planning to conduct market matching in other areas such as in Tuguegarao City to expand market of Ilocos products.