The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) will lead a caravan of trucks and vehicles bringing various products from Mindanao, including the Bangsamoro Region, to be displayed and marketed in the “MinDA Tienda sa Manila” slated on Oct. 23 to 25.

Supported by Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, the marketing caravan will include leaders of farmers and fishermen, handicrafts makers, and indigenous textile weavers who are expected to engage with institutional buyers in Metro Manila.

In a statement Monday, MinDA Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said Mindanao products such as fruits, sea products, organic rice, and handicrafts produced by the indigenous tribes of Mindanao will be on display at the Kartilya Ng Katipunan Park in Manila for three days.

“Cultural presentations reflecting the rich culture and traditions of the people of Mindanao will also be featured nightly during the activity. A business matching booth will also be established in the display area to facilitate the engagement between prospective institutional buyers and the farmers and fishermen’s groups,” Piñol said.

A send-off ceremony is set to be held at the Port of Lipata in Surigao del Norte on Oct. 19, where the caravan will cross the Surigao Strait and travel through Leyte, Samar, Bicol, and straight into Manila.

“The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has pledged all-out participation in the program along with several provinces and local government units.

In a classic display of self-reliance in promoting Mindanao, each agency and even the farmers and fishermen’s groups will shoulder their own expense with MinDA only acting as a coordinating agency,” Piñol said.

On the other hand, Moreno said the program is expected to provide Manila residents access to fresh products sold at very low prices.

Moreno has earlier placed an advance order of 600 tons of Mindanao’s organic black and red rice for the senior citizens of the city. (PNA)

Photo Credit: www.pia.gov.ph