Vegetable trading post built La Trinidad economy

2 MIN READ

By KIMBERLIE NGABIT-QUITASOL
www.nordis.net

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — The vegetable trading post is a catalyst for La Trinidad’s economic growth.

This was how Benguet Governor Nestor Fongwan described the role of the vegetable trading post in the capital town of Benguet.

“I was the mayor of La Trinidad for nine years and I saw how the trading post boosted the town’s economy,” he stressed.

He pointed out that the clients of the commercial banks, gasoline stations, hardware shops, farm input stores, groceries and restaurants are mostly farmers and other players in the vegetable trade. He said that despite of being a small town, La Trinidad has 25 private commercial banks and most of their clients are farmers and vegetable traders.

“Notice, if the prices of vegetables are good the town is bustling, the restaurants and groceries are full, the shops are busy,” he added.

The governor also pointed out that the traffic jam is an indication of the town’s improved commerce.

Fongwan said the present trading post area is not enough, adding that it can only accommodate 30% of the total vegetable produce of the province. He said that during his time as mayor local officials saw the need to expand the trading post area.

“What we did was demolish the old public market building to make way for the parking areas now and built a three storey building at the side (new public market),” he explained. He added that the parking area was supposed to be for market goers. He said the farmers were allowed to use the area in recognition that the trading post was not enough to accommodate all of them.

“We do not need a mall. What we need is a wider open area for parking,” he stressed. He added that during his time the plan was really to build a wider parking area saying that there is already enough market stalls. He further said that if there is a need for more market stalls the market building at the side along Pico road can be improved into a three to four storey building.

Ismael Danglipen, a farmer-disposer from Buguias said after selling all their harvest the first thing they do is to buy the farm supplies for the next cropping and then house hold supplies. “Amin nga naglakuan mi igulpi mi ti kasapulan mi nu ada mabati ipan mi pay iti bangko,” he said.

Danglipen added that everything they need they buy in La Trinidad from farm inputs, to food supply to construction needs. “We need to buy everything before we return to our town because it would take us months before we could return to sell our next harvest,” he said.

Farmers.net, a non-government organization that assists Benguet farmers, data shows that an average of 120 vehicles with a maximum capacity of 1.5 tons of vegetables come to deliver vegetables to La Trinidad everyday. # nordis.net