By PIA-CAR
LA TRINIDAD, Benguet, Philippines (PIA) — Farmers, local leaders and agricultural stakeholders across the region celebrated the 10th founding anniversary of the Benguet Agri-Pinoy Trading Center (BAPTC) in La Trinidad on May 15, 2026.
Guided by the theme “Better, Together,” the gathering spurred discussions on the development of the BAPTC as a major hub for the trade of highland vegetables, and on the Cordillera agricultural industry.
Department of Agriculture Undersecretary Roger Navarro, representing Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., noted how BAPTC has become one of the prime agricultural trading centers in the region. He shared that BAPTC was originally conceptualized to serve only the province of Benguet but has significantly expanded over the last ten years, and is now serving farming communities in Mountain Province and Ifugao.
He emphasized how progress is achieved with continuing unity and partnership among all stakeholders, particularly the farmers, porters, packers, and government units.
Situated in a four-hectare lot at the Strawberry Fields in Barangay Betag owned by the Benguet State University, BAPTC maintains cold and dry storage components as well as packaging and processing facilities. The bulk of the vegetables traded in BAPTC are sold in Metro Manila markets.
Benguet Governor Melchor Diclas acknowledged the annual cycle of challenges hitting the agricultural sector, particularly unstable pricing for major crops like cabbage.
Despite these hurdles, he praised the hard work and resilience of the local community.
“We always experience this. Adda met dytoy nga mang mangyari but the resilience of the people, the people of our region, mabibyag tayo latta ta nagaget tayo nga ag trabaho” Diclas said.
The official also urged stakeholders to formulate sustainable solutions to this persisting unstable pricing.
“Magkaisa ulit tayo, pag-isipan natin ulit kung anong gagawin natin para hindi dumating ‘yung panahon na matagal ‘yung bagsak no’ng repolyo o kaya mga vegetable natin,” he said.
Mankayan Mayor Cesar Pasiwen shared a market vision for Cordillera. He strongly advocated for halting vegetable importations from other countries, aiming instead for the region to become a major global exporter, particularly to the Middle East.
“Nakita naman natin na ‘yung Middle East na pinanggagalingan ng oil natin ay desert, awan met pag mulaan da iti nateng. Ang dream sana natin, ‘yung repolyo natin, ‘yung umbok natin makarating sa Middle East,” the mayor said.
Pasiwen also challenged the community to collaborate, “Agtintinulong tayo iti pagsyaatan ti vegetable industry tayo.”
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. visited the BAPTC on April 17, 2026, to personally see the situation in the trading center amid the drop in prices of vegetables and the slowed-down transport of vegetable produce to the market due to the effects of the conflict in the Middle East. The Office of the President also bought around 20 tons of vegetables from the farmers. (JDP/CVBT-PIA CAR w/ UC intern Lyka Shane Corpuz)
