Through the initiative of Undersecretary for High Value Crops, Usec. Cheryl Marie Caballero, a site visit was conducted in the Province of Benguet within the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) to observe the actual achievements of the Market-Driven Enhancement of Vegetable Value Chain (MV2C) project. This project, which is a technical cooperation effort by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), aims to enhance the Philippine vegetable value chain by improving production processes. The goal is to encourage higher yields and income for farmers while achieving food security, availability, accessibility, and affordability for every Filipino.

During the visit, Usec. Caballero, Engr. Shein Gomez, Engr. Nehemiah Bulatao and other personnel from the High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP), Mr. Atsushi Koyama, Project Technical Consultant from DA-JICA MV2C technical Cooperation Project assessed various aspects of the agricultural infrastructure in Benguet, including the Benguet Agri-Pinoy Trading Center (BAPTC).

This government-managed facility serves as a central hub for the trading of agricultural products, particularly vegetables and crops sourced from Benguet and Mountain Province. The visit focused on monitoring key facilities such as the trading centers, cold storage units, and the processing facilities. This was done to ensure that they are properly maintained and operated while also addressing any issues that might be hindering their efficiency.

As a way forward, DA-CAR (Department of Agriculture – Cordillera Administrative Region) will lead a meeting with various stakeholders, including BAPTC, HVCDP (Regional/NPMO), Benguet State University, PhilMech, FDC, FDA, and BAFE. The goal of the meeting is to discuss the improvements needed for the Processing and Packaging Facility. Additionally, DA-CAR’s AMAD (Agricultural Marketing Assistance Division) will provide comprehensive reports for price monitoring. Finally, BAPTC will be required to submit a list of accredited stakeholders, along with reports on machinery usage and produce testing to help streamline operations and ensure transparency.

This collaborative effort is set to improve the vegetable value chain in the region, benefiting farmers and strengthening the agricultural sector as a whole.