LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Farmers are scrambling to sell their produce as Holy Week approaches, with many worried about the impact of the upcoming holidays on market activity. This comes amidst Proclamation No. 368, s. 2024 signed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., declaring March 28 and 29 as regular holidays and March 30 as an additional special (non-working) day.
While the Benguet Agri-Pinoy Trading Center (BAPTC) Management assures continued operation to cater to stakeholders’ needs, they warn of potential disruptions due to the holidays. Many disposers and buyers are expected to be on leave, raising concerns about the presence of people to purchase goods during this peak season.
According to Mildred Licangan, BAPTC Human Resource Officer, the center prioritized catering to the needs of both farmers and other stakeholders during this period. Unlike other businesses that can put operations on hold during holidays, Licangan emphasizes the urgency of vegetable trading: “The perishable nature of our products means that trading cannot be delayed, even on holidays.”
| Quiet for now– the normally bustling BAPTC parking lot sits empty, reflecting the absence of many vendors and traders who have opted to take a break during this Holy Week. |
“We catered to 130 traders last Monday (March 26) because we were expecting a larger volume of truckers and traders than usual as Holy Week begins. If they fail to sell their goods before the last trading day, farmers will have to wait until the holidays are over,” adds Marjoe Salavaria, BAPTC Trading Operations I.
The busy season for selling vegetables in Benguet province might be disrupted this Holy Week. This is because the people who usually connect farmers with buyers in the lowlands like Urdaneta and Manila might be taking a break for the holidays. Farmers worry that their vegetables won’t reach these markets and they won’t be able to sell them all. Valentino Terceno, a purchaser, explained the urgency behind a truckload of vegetables shipment today. “Due to the upcoming holiday, the vegetable supply is a bit thinner than usual, with fewer farmers catered today. This particular truckload of vegetables is time-sensitive and destined for Daet, Camarines Norte. To ensure freshness upon arrival, it absolutely needs to be shipped by land no later than three pm today. We’re working diligently to beat the clock and get these goods delivered well before Sabado de Gloria.”
While the Benguet Agri-Pinoy Trading Center (BAPTC) is working to ensure continued operations, the absence of disposers and buyers during the peak season raises concerns about potential spoilage. The race against time for Valentino Terceno, highlighted earlier, exemplifies the urgency for farmers to get their produce to buyers before the holidays disrupt the usual flow of commerce. This situation underscores the need for innovative solutions to bridge the gap between farmers and consumers during holiday breaks, minimizing product loss and ensuring income security for Benguet’s agricultural sector.//Isabel Trisha Patangan Payangdo