THE City of Victorias inaugurated Monday, October 3, its P5-million Organic Market and Pasalubong Center positioned to further boost the city’s organic agriculture industry.
Mayor Frederick Francis Palanca, who led the opening of the facility located at the city proper, said the project is aimed at empowering small farmers and fisherfolk in showcasing their products.
Palanca said that by gathering and providing them a more viable area to sell, they will have higher market opportunities, resulting to bigger income.
“We continue to support local organic farmers and producers especially in terms of marketing their products,” the mayor said, adding that the project is in support to the thrust of the government in making the region an organic island.
Of the P5-million total project cost, P3 million came from the incentive granted by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to Victorias for being the recipient of the Seal of Good Housekeeping award. The remaining P2 million was the counterpart of the City Government.
The two-storey facility mainly houses food and product stalls for the occupant-farmers and producers, a coffee shop, and a training center.
“We hope for more vigorous support from the provincial government and other agencies as we would like to transform our organic farmers into future millionaires,” Palanca said.
For her part, Joyce Wendam, regional director of the Department of Agriculture-Negros Island Region (NIR), said the facility is the first government-run organic trading post opened in the province.
“The effort of Victorias City to establish an organic trading post is very commendable,” Wendam said.
This will also further strengthen small organic farmers who need further assistance from the government to scale up, she added.
Also present during the inauguration rites were Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, DILG-NIR Director Margie Biligan, and Tourism Area Development Head for Negros Occidental Artemio Ticar.
