By Raymund Antonio
Farmers in Metro Naga and nearby towns in Camarines Sur have started to reap the fruits of Vice President Leni Robredo’s “Omasenso sa Kabuhayan” program.
Vice President Leni Robredo (OVP / MANILA BULLETIN)
This, after Robredo disclosed the local farmers, who were assisted by her office through the program, will supply vegetables to a big mall in her home province of Bicol.
“Nakipag-meeting ako sa may-ari ng isang malaking mall sa amin—mayroon siyang 80 branches all over Bicol—at nagkaroon ng isang kasunduan na magsu-supply na iyong ating mga farmers sa kanila,” she said.
(I met with the owner of a big mall in our place—he has 80 branches all over Bicol—and we entered into an agreement, wherein our farmers will supply to them.)
“Nalulula iyong ating mga—kasi ito iyong ating maliliit na magsasaka. Ang ino-order nila tone-tonelada na mga gulay na hindi na nila kayang ma-supply,” Robredo added.
(They were overwhelmed because tons of vegetables were ordered from them. They were only small farmers.)
Omasenso sa Kabuhayan capacitates local farmers and links them to a particular establishment, where they can sell their agricultural products. It is part of Robredo’s flagship Angat Buhay program that seeks to improve the lives of those in the marginalized sector.
Apart from profit, farmers can also increase their harvest and become agri-entrepreneurs.
Robredo said the farmers were also among the participants at the Bishop Francisco Gainza Trade Fair recently held in Naga City.
The trade fair aimed to help budding entrepreneurs by giving them a platform to promote and sell their products. It was organized by the Caritas Caceres and the Department of Trade and Industry-Camarines Sur.
“Layunin namin na tulungan sila maging agri-entrepreneurs at nakakatuwang makita silang humaharap sa mga mamimili—isang karanasan na paniguradong dadagdag sa mga aral na nakukuha nila mula sa programa,’ she said.
(Our objective is to help them to become agri-entrepreneurs and we are happy to see them facing the consumers—an experience that will add lessons they learned from the program.)