At least 22 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) from Ilocos Norte on Wednesday got the opportunity anew to showcase and sell their uniquely Ilocano products at a bazaar in Quezon City as part of the provincial government’s Producer to Consumer (P2C) program.

In partnership with the Quezon City government, the annual P2C program allows selected producers from Ilocos Norte province to sell their agricultural and processed food and non-food products directly to consumers at the Quezon City Hall for three days every month. This month’s bazaar runs until Friday (Oct. 21).

On the first day of the P2C program’s resumption, Suerte Mia Soriano, owner of Lucky Theo’s food products, said in an interview Wednesday that she and her fellow exhibitors were excited to return to Metro Manila to promote their products.

“Thank you so much to the Ilocos Norte government for giving us this platform to sell our products in Metro Manila,” Soriano told the Philippine News Agency.

Among the products being sold at the bazaar are Ilocos empanada, bagnet chicharon, longganisa, camote and banana chips, garlic, vinegar, sugarcane juice, Inabel (hand-woven cloth) products, and other assorted fruits and vegetables, among others.

Last Sept. 9, both the Ilocos Norte and Quezon City governments formally signed a memorandum of agreement for the P2C program.

The P2C program started in 2017 during the term of then-governor and now Senator Ma. Imelda Josefa “Imee” Marcos but was halted in 2020 due to the pandemic. Over the years, the regular P2C bazaars in Quezon City have gained a huge following, with around 7,000 Quezon City Hall employees and even outsiders flocking the event.

Elma Gabriel, head of the MSME Office under the Ilocos Norte government, said the provincial government provides free transportation service to the local producers and entrepreneurs.

The Ilocos Norte government is also considering replicating the P2C bazaar in other cities and provinces. (PNA)