Salda for BAPTC into corp, fights own trading post for LT’s eco. growth

July 25, 2021 Provincial

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet- Mayor Romeo Salda is sold to the idea of transforming Benguet Agri-Pinoy Trading Post (BAPTC) into a corporation as long as it will not affect the operation of their own trading post.
In an exclusive interview on July 21, Mayor Salda, said he support the move of transforming BAPTC into a corporation even as some quarters are toying the idea to transfer the operation of La Trinidad Trading Post to BAPTC- the country’s biggest vegetable trading facility.
He stressed that La Trinidad trading post generate revenues for the municipality and its being utilized for the welfare of his constituents.
The local trading center generates an annual average income of P30 million, according to the municipal public information office.
Salda, however, said delay in the improvement of the facility has affected in the generation of local revenues.
“The municipal government has allocated an amount for its further development, and partly from the agriculture department -in the amount of P12 million,” Salda said.
“It’s true that the first and second tranche have been released but the third tranche has not yet been released, its been six years,” Salda said in Ilocano dialect.
The mayor said some of the factors in the delay of release are — so many requirements needed by DA, changes in the leadership of some of its offices (DA), and documents submitted by the municipality were alleged to have been lost.
As to BAPTC’s transformation, Salda recalled that the government had envisioned farmers to be in-charge of the management , but until now they are not organized, which had led BSU to first manage the facility.
“The problem now is about BSU’s management— its auditing, accounting rules and procedures, that’s why BAPTC’s Chief Operating Officer (COO) is having a problem in implementing all the programs and activities of the agriculture department, “ Salda lamented.
Earlier, Agriculture Secretary William Dar admitted “current set-up constrained by bureaucratic government system hindering its growth, sustainability and profitability.”
Salda shared that PBC has decided to make it into corporation so that the incorporators will be the one to decide and implement all programs following the “true concept” of BAPTC which should be similar to that of Nueva Viscaya Trading Post.
The mayor further shared that Agriculture Dar has created a Technical Working Group (TWG), represented by all the PSB members to come up with their proposal for the facility’s eventual transformation.
Salda has designated their municipal legal officer to be part of the TWG and study the effect of their local trading post.
It was learned that January this year was supposed to be the target for the incorporation. In an earlier reports, Secretary Dar said the transformation of BAPTC aims to –optimize the potentials and profitability, more cost-efficient services and modern facilities to farmers and stakeholders; improve marketability of highland vegetables; provide farmers, buyers, traders reasonable profit for the produce.
As per data showed, BAPTC has generated P16.653 billion worth of traded crops in span of four years since (2017) and benefitted 187,750 farmers.
The government had already invested a total of P767.5 million in the facility.
Primo Agatep/ABN