Balligi Barangay Bagsakan: Cagayan town benefits from food depot

MANILA, Philippines - The rustic town of Sta. Ana which lies at the northernmost part of Cagayan is not only known as a tourists’ paradise and a haven for adventurers. Situated 632 kilometers north of Manila , this simple town is also home to the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority which continues to draw fresh investments and international tourists.

And through the years, it is considered as one of the major crop and fishery producing towns of Cagayan as it is blessed with fertile soils, vast marine resources and hardworking farmers and fishers.

Thus, with an abundant supply of crops such as corn, vegetables and fruits, legumes, rootcrops, and other high value commodities, Sta. Ana Mayor Norberto Victor Rodriguez was compelled to look for a central drop-off point where producers and consumers can meet and trade.

“We needed a place where we can showcase and sell our products,” he said.

As luck would have it, the Department of Agriculture (DA) through its Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (AMAS) has been implementing a market linkage program popularly known as Barangay Bagsakan (BB) to link the farmers and fishers to the consumers. Now on its two-year running, the barangay-based food depot which sells basic food products at low costs continues to ensure that every family can afford to buy and eat quality and nutritious food.

Having signified his intention with the support of the municipal council, Rodriguez applied for a BB unit in their town.

Under the implementing guidelines for the establishment of a BB, the local executives select a recipient association and a strategic site for the BB to be validated. In Sta. Ana’s case, the Rural Improvement Club of Balligi was chosen to manage the center to be established in Barangay Centro, in an area approximate to the municipal hall.

“We believe that the location is strategic for any business operation,” Rodriguez explained.

According to Leni Pecson of AMAS, “the validation part of the process is crucial in the establishment of the food depot to make sure that the community passes the criteria set. It also ascertains that the area is suitable for a retail food distribution system.”

From there on, a series of training was undertaken by the management team with the assistance of the national and regional BB team until the bagsakan commenced its operation in September of 2008.

Starting with a P100,000 grant from DA and P140,000 fund from the local government, the Balligi BB was launched.

“When we started, many came to see our low-priced commodities and I believe that we have created a pool of satisfied consumers,” Rodriguez said.

True enough, many buyers were encouraged to visit the Balligi BB as it remained true to its vision of providing quality and affordable foodstuff to local residents.

Almost all commodities traded at the BB are P5-P10 cheaper compared to those being sold in regular markets, the main reason why a number of consumers have remained loyal to the food depot.

“Mas mura kasi dito, kaya dito kami,” exclaimed a regular buyer. (We go here because it’s cheaper.) “Malaki ang natitipid namin,” he added. (We save a lot.)

The bagsakan’s regular patrons locally known as suki enjoy P5-P10 savings on meat products and an average of P6 from a kilo of lowland veggies such as ampalaya, squash, eggplant and okra, among others. Cabbage, habitchuelas, and other highland vegetables can be bought at P12 less than the ones being sold in regular markets.

The Balligi BB takes pride on their fresh produce since delivery from farming communities within the town arrive on a weekly or bi-weekly basis.

“This is to assure consumers that they can always buy high grade produce here,” said Rodriguez.

For its rice supply, the BB acquires at least 30 cavans of rice per week from the Gonzaga warehouse of the National Food Authority. Another 20-30 cavans of commercial rice come from rice-producing communities.

RIC members from different barangays supply the pork and chicken products in monthly and weekly basis respectively, while lowland veggies such as squash, ampalaya, tomato, eggplant, okra, daludal, alugbati, upo and green pepper are delivered weekly. Fish and its by-products provided by local fisherfolk are delivered twice a week and twice a month respectively.

Carrots, onion, ginger, garlic and legumes from Tuguegarao City arrive twice a month, while cabbage, habitchuelas, and chayote arrive weekly. Native mangoes, bananas, apples, ponkans and other fruits from Sta. Ana, Gonzaga, Tuguegarao and Ilocos farms are delivered weekly.

As the bagsakan continues to cater to a variety of consumers, it has prompted the management team to increase the assortment of goods being offered. From staple farm products, the Balligi BB now has frozen products available for the consumers.

As a blooming enterprise, the Sta. Ana BB has ventured into projects not confined with the trading of agri-produce alone. From time to time, it has embarked on other business opportunities to augment its income.

And so, with barely a year of operation, the bagsakan maintains a regular monthly income close to P19,000 even as it faces inevitable adversities such as the varying capability of consumers to buy from time to time.

Serving 4,783 households and generating employment for local residents, the bagsakan is committed to its vision of providing quality and safe agricultural products at lower prices. Accordingly, it assumes capability of being both a destination and source of superior agri and fishery commodities. It’s no wonder why it was recently awarded first prize at the regional search for outstanding BB’s.

Now, more than ever, distant Sta. Ana has a bigger reason to be discovered.