Agri products trading center to rise in northeast Leyte

JAVIER, Leyte, Nov. 29 (PNA) – A PhP32.48-million trading center will soon rise in this town to reduce the prices of farm products and improve the income of farmers in northeast Leyte.

Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Proceso Alcala led the groundbreaking on Friday of the facility located at a one-hectare property in Picas Norte village along the national road in this town.

Alcala said the Northeastern Leyte Agri-Pinoy Trading Center (NELAPTC) is a wholesale trading facility where farmers across northeastern Leyte can consolidate their marketable quantities of vegetable, rootcrops and fruits.

“The national government partners with the local government and private sector to build and operate this facility. This is to eliminate middle men and boost the income of producers,” Alcala told hundreds of farmers who witnessed the ceremonial groundbreaking.

Of the PhP32.48 million required to build the center, PhP24.80 million will be provided by DA and the remaining PhP7.67 million is the counterpart of the local government unit.

Mayor Leonardo Javier said that during the first five years, the facility will be managed by the local government and the five succeeding years to be handed over to farmers’ group.

“In this center, products are traded at wholesale to legitimate traders, including institutional buyers such as hotels, restaurants and canteens,” Javier said.

The facility has an area for receiving, sorting, packing, display, trading; toilet, canteen and a bunkhouse. It shall be equipped with four units of reefer van and two trucks for pick up and delivery of products.

The facility is expected to benefit 957 vegetable farmers in Leyte with a production area of 1,532 hectares in the towns of La Paz, Julita, Burauen, Mayorga, Macarthur, Abuyog, Mahaplag, Dulag, Tolosa, Tanauan, Dagami, Tabontabon and Javier.

Javier town is about 68 kilometers south of Tacloban City, considered as strategic area for supply consolidation and distribution for northeastern towns of the province. (PNA)
SCS/SARWELL Q. MENIANO