By Christine Cudis
Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) head Emmanuel “Manny” Piñol is looking to implement barter trading for fruits and other agricultural products between Mindanao and Luzon to boost economic growth.
The MinDA is spearheading the fruit festival in Baguio City this weekend, August 24-25, featuring products of Mindanaoan farmers.
“Baguio lacks on fruits and in Mindanao it is harvest season so the fruits there are sold cheap or not everything gets sold at all due to oversupply so it would be wise to sell it somewhere else,” he said during the Usapang Pangkapayapaan, Usapang Pangkaunlaran (UP, UP) Pilipinas of the Philippine Air Force Virtual TV on Friday, August 22.
The former Agriculture chief noted they can bring Baguio vegetables to various areas in Mindanao.
“On the way back, titingnan din namin kung ano pwedeng dalhin mula sa Pangasinan or Nueva Ecija, sa Catbalogan magkakarga ng tuyo papuntang Mindanao (we will also look into what products we can bring from Pangasinan or Nueva Ecija, in Catbalogan, going to Mindanao),” he said.
Piñol considered the barter trade system a whole-of-nation approach in supporting the farmers in Mindanao, and among the solutions that will help address the chronic poverty in the island region.
“It’s also the best way to get rid of middlemen who ups the price yet leaves no profit for the farmers,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Baguio fruit festival will feature at least 15 tons of durian, marang, lanzones, and rambutan, among others. (First published by PNA, Aug. 23, 2019)
