- Article by: By JEAtienza & MRamos
- Calapan City, San Teodoro, Pinamalayan, Roxas
The Provincial Government of Oriental Mindoro, through the Provincial Agriculturist’s Office (PAgO), is intensifying preparations for the operationalization of the Oriental Mindoro Consolidation and Trading Facility (OMCTF), with a series of market surveys, coordination, and buyer and supplier consultations.
To ensure a demand-driven and crop production approach, PAgO rolled out three market surveys between April and June 2025. The first survey took place on April 11 at the Calapan City Public Market, followed by visits to Puerto Galera markets including stalls near White Beach and Brgy. Sabang on April 14, Pinamalayan Public Market on April 15, and a follow-up survey in Calapan on April 16. On April 22, PAgO also interviewed truckers who deliver vegetables to the Calapan City Public Market.
As part of the market linkaging strategy, Provincial Agriculturist Christine M. Pine, OIC-TSSD Division Chief Engr. Jefte DC. Bay-ongan, and ATRM Division Chief Engr. Christian M. Generato visited major supermarket chains such as Robinson’s Supermarket, Citimart, and Puregold on April 23. A meeting with them was conducted on April 24 to discuss potential partnership.
On April 25, PAgO brought together farmer associations and cooperatives in an orientation meeting to explain the functions and benefits of the OMCTF. This was followed by a supply tallying activity on April 29, in which PAgO coordinated directly with farmers to assess the quantity and types of produce available for consolidation. These efforts are part of a comprehensive strategy to build a reliable database of agricultural goods, which will be essential once the OMCTF is fully operational.
The second round of surveys took place in May and involved two teams for more efficient coverage. On May 28, Team 1 reviewed the prices and market demand of commodities in the Calapan City Public Market, while Team 2 visited Roxas Public Market. The following day, Team 1 conducted market checks in Puerto Galera, White Beach, and Sabang, while Team 2 gathered data in Pinamalayan.
The final round of surveys occurred in June, with teams visiting the Calapan City Public Market and vegetable trucking hubs on June 25, the Puerto Galera cluster on June 26, and the Pinamalayan and Roxas Public Markets on June 27. These surveys serve as critical inputs for finalizing operational mechanisms, pricing systems, logistics coordination, and demand-supply matching within the OMCTF framework.
Oriental Mindoro has long been recognized as one of the most agriculturally productive provinces in the MIMAROPA Region. It holds several titles including the “Rice Granary” and “Banana King” of MIMAROPA, and is known nationwide as the “Calamansi King of the Philippines.” The province is also home to a diverse range of high-value tropical fruits such as lansones, rambutan, mango, mangosteen, durian, and marang, among others. This bounty, however, has not always translated into prosperity for local farmers.
Despite their productivity, many farmers face significant challenges in bringing their products to market. The absence of a centralized trading facility has made them susceptible to price manipulation, post-harvest losses, and high transportation expenses. As a result, most are compelled to sell at low farmgate prices dictated by middlemen, limiting their profitability and discouraging greater production.
To address these systemic issues, the Provincial Government of Oriental Mindoro established the OMCTF, also referred to as the Bagsakan Center. This major project, with a total investment of Php 33,904,442.10 funded under the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP), was constructed from 2023 and completed in 2024.
Now in its final preparatory phase, the OMCTF is poised to revolutionize agricultural trading in the province. The Oriental Mindoro Consolidation and Trading Facility stands as a beacon of hope for local farmers. By streamlining market access and reducing exploitation, the OMCTF promises to transform the province’s agricultural sector while empowering producers, enhancing income, and securing a more equitable and resilient food system for the people of Oriental Mindoro.●