Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr., together with the key officials of the Department of Agriculture (DA), visited the Benguet Agri-Pinoy Trading Center (BAPTC) on January 26, 2024 to learn the actual situation at one of the country’s major agricultural trading hub.

Along with Chief of Staff Alvin John Balagbag, Assistant Secretary for Consumer Affairs Genevieve Guevarra, Assistant Secretary for Logistics Daniel Atayde, and DA-Cordillera Regional Field Office (RFO) Director Jennilyn Dawayan, the Secretary inspected the BAPTC trading areas, processing and packaging facility, and cold storage facility. 

They were also oriented on the facilities’ operations and services offered before they sat down for a dialogue with trading post representatives, truckers, local government unit (LGU) officials, market facilitators, agricultural extension workers, and members of farmers cooperatives and associations. 

Secretary Tiu Laurel said that it is very important for him and the DA to better understand the BAPTC stakeholders’ concerns, needs, and recommendations and consider them in the development and implementation of DA plans, policies, and projects. 

After the consultation with the highland vegetable stakeholders, the agri chief also led the First Quarter Meeting of the BAPTC-Project Steering Board (PSB) at the DA-Agricultural Training Institute Compound in La Trinidad, Benguet. 

The BAPTC-PSB, which is the policy-making body of BAPTC, is chaired by the DA Secretary and vice chaired by the Benguet State University (BSU) President. The PSB members include the provincial LGU of Benguet, the municipal LGU of La Trinidad, the Benguet Congressional District Office, BSU, BAPTC Farmer Leaders Council, and the DA-RFO CAR. ### (photos by Alan Jay Jacalan, DA-AFID)