TRADING CENTER. 3rd District BM Atty. Anañias ‘Jun’ Canlas discusses the ‘Bagsakan Center’ with officials of the AFP-Nolcom and representatives from different farm cooperatives. Photo courtesy of Jun Jaso/Pampanga PIO
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO –– To help the agricultural sector start recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic, a Bagsakan Center is being put up where farmers and agripreneurs in Pampanga can sell their crops and products at wholesale and retail prices starting in September here.
The trading post is a partnership of the provincial and city governments. It will use the former CSF transportterminal and Salilungan Center along the Jose Abad Santos Avenue in Barangay San Juan.
Gov. Dennis “Delta” Pineda pushed the projectbecause the quarantine against Covid-19 restricted the mobility of farmers and their crops, causing prices to fall to low levels. Agricultural production either stopped or got delayed due to high cost of inputs.
“Apektado po ang mga magsasaka, magkakarne, pati mangingisda at magpi-fishponds. Kailangan po natin silang tulungan sa production hanggang sa marketing,” the governor said.
The Bagsakan Center will also “become the delivery point of fresh vegetables and fruits, fish and meatproducts coming from other provinces,” said 3rdDistrict provincial board member Atty. Anañias “Jun”Canlas, provincial committee chair on agriculture.
San Fernando councilor Celestino Dizon said he would ask the city council to make the facility rent-free at the start of the project.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom), private sector and agencies would assist in the project. — Luisse Rutao/Pampanga PIO
