MOA SIGNING. Ilocos Norte Gov. Matthew Joseph Manotoc and Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte sign a memorandum of agreement (MOA) on the Producers to Consumers program at the Quezon City Hall Friday (Sept. 9, 2022). Witnessing the MOA signing were members of the Quezon City Council. (Contributed)
LAOAG CITY – The local government units of Ilocos Norte and Quezon City have revived their Producers to Consumers (P2C) program to provide better economic opportunities among micro, small, and medium entrepreneurs (MSMEs) and consumers.
To formalize the undertaking, a formal signing of a memorandum of agreement between Governor Matthew Joseph Manotoc and Mayor Joy Belmonte was held at the Quezon City Hall compound on Friday, where various agricultural products from the province were showcased.
The P2C program is under the Kadiwa Program of the provincial government which aims to provide marketing assistance to MSMEs and farmers in the province to directly sell their local products to consumers in other cities and provinces and help them increase their profit.
From 2017 to 2019, Ilocos Norte has been participating in the regular P2C bazaars in Quezon City, which generated a huge following from around 7,000 Quezon City Hall employees as regular customers, as well as outsiders who have discovered the regular trade fair at the Quezon City Hall.
Elma Gabriel, MSME Office of the Provincial Capitol head, said in an interview Friday "a hauling truck of the Ilocos Norte government will be transporting food and agricultural products of farmers and local entrepreneurs here to Quezon City on a monthly basis.”
On the part of the Quezon City government, Belmonte vowed to facilitate the putting up of organized market stalls and exhibits at least once a month.
Through the P2C program, organizers hope to protect consumers from unscrupulous traders and price manipulators by providing them direct access to farm commodities.
In an earlier interview, Manotoc expressed hopes to extend the P2C arrangement with neighboring cities and provinces.
Agricultural produce, processed foods, and native accessories were among the Ilocano products marketed at the fair which usually lasts for two days. (PNA)
