TUGUEGARAO CITY — The Departments of Agriculture Regional Field Office 02 (DA RFO 02),  Trade and Industry 02 (DTI 02), and Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) joined together to boost agribusiness support and promotion for local farmers and fisherfolk in the Cagayan Valley region on May 9, 2018 at Brickstone Mall, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan.

ASPIRE or Agribusiness Support for Promotion and Investment in Regional Expositions is aimed at integrating marketing development support services to farmers, fisherfolk, micro-small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and other stakeholders.

DA Assistant Secretary-Designate for Agribusiness and Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Director for Field Operations Service Dr. Andrew B. Villacorta, said that the current administration has vowed to produce affordable and safe food for the nation.

“Cagayan Valley Region is the 5th region to launch ASPIRE in the country, through the signed Memorandum of Agreement on June 2017”, he added.

DA, DTI, and PCCI have provided lectures, mentoring and ways on how to link farmers to consumers during the three (3) day event.

PCCI Regional Governor Cloyd Velasco, also gave his message to entrepreneurs that they fully support the project as this will help the journey in leading a better Cagayan Valley.

“These hurdles that have been happening will start to disappear because of the ASPIRE project which aims production support, enterprise development and industry support, investment promotion and marketing promotion and development as its four driving components,” he added.

Mr. Fraclem A. Peña, trade facilitator of DTI-Export Marketing Bureau (EMB), also discussed the basics of exporting agricultural products and assured to manage the development and promotion of Philippines agricultural exports to make them globally competitive.

Meanwhile, sought after motivational speaker on money, mindset and success Chinkee Tan, aka “Mr. Chink Positive!” talked about Developing EntrePreneurial Mindsetting to farmer entrepreneurs.

“The only thing you can do consistently and with excellence is something you really love to do,” Tan emphasized during the afternoon session.

The three (3) day event highlighted activities such as Agripreneurship Seminar, Investment Promotion and Trade Fair.

With the convergence of line agencies, DA and DTI believe that ASPIRE  will lead the region towards development. (With reports from Barby Lagajet)