SPFTC seeks support for fair trade

CEBU, Philippines - People should support fair trade for in its every product has a story to tell.

Serving as a pioneer of fair trade for Central Visayas, the Southern Partners and Fair Trade Center aims to have an avenue for partner artisans, small producers and farmer communities to have a direct link between producers and consumers while promoting sustainable development of the environment.

With only five fair trade shops all over the country, SPFTC Managing Director Geraldine Labradores said that fair trade in the Philippines is not a very popular philosophy.

She added that there are only a small segment of people who understands fair trade even if the latter is doing its part in empowering the community and addressing poverty.

She said that it is also good to see that there are a number of sectors in the society such as the government, Japanese community, church, academe, health and wellness enthusiasts who are appreciative of its work and are willing to support fair trade movement in the Philippines.

Still geared up to strengthen its advocacy and promotion, she noted that the 2% growth of the acceptance within the Cebu population is evident as there is a 60-70% increase in its sales in year 2011 from the past years when they had started.

“We may have grown as a network and are building more networks but that 2% is still very small. We still have a very long way to go,” she told The Freeman.

Labradores then encouraged the public to support fair trade program as they showcase products portraying a story behind it such as the life situation of the producers and the benefit they can get form such products. 

She further said that fair trade products are quality and environment-friendly products that are handcrafted carefully and naturally produced.

More than a company’s corporate social responsibility program, she added that fair trade does it’s share to address poverty as it goes into the whole value chain, contributing to the common good of the Philippine society. 

“We want to spread the message of fair trade. It is not just based on profit but on the benefits of the producers and the environment. SPFTC is concretizing fair trade programs and reaching out to community organizations to promote locally-produced products and alleviate poverty,” Labradores stated.

Dedicated to deliver quality products to consumers at just and fair prices, SPFTC strives to minimize the multi-layered middlemen and traders, empowering marginalized manufacturers and alleviating poverty.

Through every purchase in its fair trade programs, SPFTC provides assistance to its partner community organizations for the development of a producer’s manufacturing capacity or the improvement of the company’s technical facilities.

Considering quality and freshness as its top priorities, SPFTC takes pride of its health-products such as dried fruits, jams, puree, fruit juice concentrate, virgin coconut oil, desiccated coconut, powdered turmeric, moringga and ready-to-drink fruit drinks which are all natural, low-sugar and chemical-free.