LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- The trading post project in the province is yet to be approved by the local council and cannot be executed coupled with lack of update from the agency when the second tranche of money will arrive for its development.
Mayor Romeo Salda admitted there is no word yet from the Department of Agriculture (DA) on the status of the improvement of the trading post.
Former DA Secretary Proceso Alcala planned to reinvent the former trading post to become a center of trading flowers as well as a display complex for local products.
Alcala allotted P30 million initial fund for the project despite opposition from the local council as well as stakeholders.
At present, Salda said the municipality has liquidated the initial P5 million funds released and submitted the report on the trading post.
Salda said if the DA responds by sending the bulk of the grant, the rehabilitation of the trading post will have to be discussed and approved by the local council.
The mayor added the plans to convert the trading post into a business enterprise will have to pass through the procedure of the local council to avoid the confusion and opposition, which marred plans of Tabanda previously. (Maria Elena Catajan)