Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna and Ilocos Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc signed a Producer-To-Consumer agreement to make authentic Ilocos Norte products available to the consumers in the capital at prices without the markup of third-party traders.
Mayor Lacuna-Pangan said the P2C agreement is the third of Manila.
The first was with Mindanao and the second was with Nueva Vizcaya.
The P2C deal with Manila is Ilocos Norte’s third as well.
The first was with Quezon City, and the second was with San Juan City.
“Mas malaki ang maitutulong namin sa inyo…dahil tinatanggal natin 'yung third party na nagpapamamahal sa mga produkto (We can help you more... because we are removing the third party that makes the products more expensive)," Mayor Lacuna-Pangan said to Governor Manotoc in her remarks at the Kartilya ng Katipunan beside Manila City Hall.
Governor Manotoc said the marketing linkage pact is designed to free Ilocos Norte farmers and manufacturers from abusive deals with middlemen.
“Ilocanos are old school or traditional. We do not cut corners. We stand by our product,” the governor said.
He thanked Mayor Lacuna-Pangan for accepting the opportunity to help his province market traditionally made Ilocos Norte products. He invited Manila officials and residents to visit Ilocos Norte where they will be welcomed with warm hospitality as “very special guests.”.
“We are far, but we are worth it,” the governor added.
According to the Ilocos Norte MSME Office, the City of Manila “is a great place to showcase, promote and advertise Ilocos Norte’s products such as Inabel hand-made products and authentic Ilocano delicacies such as bagnet, longganisa, Miki noodles, Ilocos empanada, and other farm produce.”