In a virtual interview on Wednesday, 28 April 2021, on the Department of Trade and Industry’s regular program Trabaho, Negosyo, Konsyumer (TNK) or TNK Perfect Morning with Cheryl Cosim, DTI-Region 2 Regional Director (RD) Leah Pulido-Ocampo shared about the region’s Grand Bagsakan, one of the agency’s initiatives in helping farmers and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the region.

RD Ocampo promoted the Grand Bagsakan which is an initiative of DTI-Region 2 that recently concluded its second run on 21 April 2021 with total accumulated sales amounting to P1.1M, benefitting 835 farmers and MSMEs, and generating 179 jobs in the region. RD Ocampo said that DTI Bagsakan is a marketing activity of the Department which is somewhat similar to the concept of Trading Centers which works by bringing in the products of MSMEs and farmers to the consumers in Metro Manila due to travel restrictions still in place because of the pandemic.

She said that DTI-Region 2’s Grand Bagsakan is an enhanced version of the typical bagsakan activity as it uses the Mayani PH e-commerce platform in taking orders, the GCash e-payment system in checking-out, and it also offers a free delivery option for the convenience of the buyers.

“The activity is conducted monthly through a pre-order scheme wherein interested buyers may book their orders through the Mayani PH Online Platform and the Bureau of Domestic Trade Promotions (BDTP)’s social media page (Facebook). Confirmed orders are available either for delivery or for pick up at the DTI-BDTP Office, Ground Floor, Trade & Industry Building, 361 Sen. Gil J. Puyat Avenue, Makati City,” she added.

Mr. Jose San Juan, Co-Founder and Chief Farmer of Mayani PH, also shared that with the strong collaboration and partnership with DTI-Region 2, about 50 tons of fresh fruits and vegetables were already transported in Manila.

Mayani PH, a DTI-Region 2’s active partner for this project is a social-impact-driven agri-tech company that connects farmers and buyers (consumers, resellers, restaurant chains, and multi-national brands) on a unified digital technology platform.  It has a 5,000 strong community and over 600 farmers across Luzon island.

Meanwhile, two participating MSMEs in the Grand Bagsakan were also invited, namely: Ms. Leonida Balasuit of the Greeners Multi-Purpose Cooperative (MPC) and Ms. Yvonnie Gutierrez of Aurora Citrus Farmers Marketing Cooperative (ACFMC).

The Greeners MPC is linked and connected to Forturo Foods Manufacturing, a food manufacturing company engaged in spray drying. The Cooperative already delivered almost two tons of tomatoes in Bulacan for their tomato powder. Moreover, they are also linked to Waltermart Supermarket, a Filipino chain of community shopping malls located in Metro Manila, Central, and South Luzon. Sharing the same vision of helping the local farmers and MSMEs, the supermarket chain through their Palengke Fresh established a network with the cooperation as their regular supplier of fresh produce until now.

Meanwhile, the Aurora Citrus Farmers Marketing Cooperative (ACFMC), with the assistance of the Bureau of Investment (BOI), was linked to Soyuz Food International which is an exporter concentrating on servicing the demands for 100% natural calamansi extract through its Philippine fruit purees. With the success of this collaborative undertaking, DTI-Region 2 and Mayani PH have capitalized on their partnership in exploring more marketing platforms such as the BDTP’s Bagsakan Project which has similar objectives to that of DTI-Region 2’s Walang Sayang Project.

Hosts for the regular program were Ms. Cheryl Cosim and the Office of the Secretary Chief of Staff and Management Service Group Undersecretary Irineo “Boy” V. Vizmonte. ♦

Date of Release: 18 May 2021