The province of Ilocos Norte’s first and largest agricultural trading center in Barangay Bil-loca, Batac City, is set for a dry run in March following its 100 percent completion, officials announced Wednesday.
In an interview, Governor Cecilia Araneta-Marcos said final coordination with the Batac City government is underway to operate the “Bagsakan Center,” located on a 1,312.5-square-meter lot near the Batac City public market.
The PHP30-million project, funded by the Department of Agriculture, includes PHP26 million for the building, PHP3.5 million for a hauling truck, and PHP500,000 for marketing equipment such as weighing scales, plastic crates, and pallets.
The center will provide dedicated space for accredited farmers’ associations and cooperatives, aiming to reduce transport costs, promote local products, and connect farmers directly with institutional buyers.
“The completed structure has installed water supply and comfort rooms. I hope this will help a lot in stirring our local economy, particularly among farmers who will be able to widen their market with institutional buyers,” Batac City Mayor Mark Christian Chua said.
Additional funding from the city government and the DA will be allocated this year for road networks, a warehouse, and a cold storage facility.
John Lei Ganiron, a farmer-engineer from Barangay Ben-agan, expressed optimism about the project.
“Farmers will directly benefit if the trading center will operate well. We hope that through the project, middlemen will be eliminated,” Ganiron said. (PNA)
