NOW, with the city is gearing up for economic recovery, chair of the City Council's committee on Trade and Commerce Councilor George Goking graced one of the lined up projects of the Cagayan de Oro City Local Price Coordinating Council (CDO-CPCC), the “Bagsakan” center project.

The CPCC event discussed the updates and proposed the possible “Bagsakan” Centers areas in the city.

"So far, the CPCC proposes to install it (Bagsakan) center at Barangay Lumbia," said Goking.

He said the project will further boost the market presence and income potential of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

“The event is part of its mandate to promote and expand the market presence of Filipino MSMEs,” said Goking.

From all over the country, the Department of Trade and Industry – Bureau of Domestic Trade Promotion (DTI-BDTP) has been introducing innovations to sustain the business activities of entrepreneurs, according to Goking.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, SM malls in the city authored partnership with the Department of Agriculture and Resto PH, a conglomerate of restaurant owners, for a joint project called the “Farmers’ Produce” market and “Kadiwa,” which aims to provide livelihood assistance to local farmers and food businesses.

He said the DTI, and CDO-CPCC will be assisting MSMEs, local farmers, fruit growers, and cooperatives to sell their fresh produce and food products through the Bagsakan Special Project.

“As a crisis response, the Bagsakan will introduce innovations such as direct selling of MSMEs to buyers and consumers, who were able to enjoy lower prices,” said Goking.

It will generate instant revenues for the MSMEs, who received direct payments for their goods, he added.

Meanwhile, on Monday, Goking, who also the chair of the committee on Ways and Means, attended the special meeting conducted by the CDO-CPCC.
“The Bagsakan Center is a big help to farmers in marketing their products, like the Kadiwa Project in malls which are free from rental,” said Goking.

While Goking lauded the Bagsakan Centers and Kadiwa in helping farmers, he emphasized the need to match their prices so that public market vendors will not be affected because they are paying their taxes and licenses.

The meeting was also attended by CPCC Co-chair lawyer Jose Edgardo Uy, DTI and other government inter-agency offices. (Ben Balce)