A seven-figure sales were recorded at the 2nd year of Agribusiness Support for Promotion and Investment in Regional Expositions (ASPIRE) featuring products micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), local farmers and fisherfolk at the Robinsons Place Tuguegarao last July 4-7, 2019.

In her report to the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office No. 02 (DA RFO 02) officials and employees Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) Chief Ma. Rosario Paccarangan said today that from the total 45 ASPIRE exhibitors a whopping Php 1, 036, 794 were earned during the four (4) days regional trade fair.

In his speech, Regional Executive Director Narciso A. Edillo said the event was an avenue to link local producers to different markets and stakeholders by converging with different private and public partners from all over the Cagayan Valley Region.

He urged the participants to continue what has been started and that a vast majority of farmers should also process their products which will result in higher incomes.

He acknowledged that agribusiness is a major support to our country today

The DA has piloted five (5) regions in the country to participate in the ASPIRE in the year 2017. Cagayan Valley region has been chosen as a beneficiary of the said program which boosted on promotion and advocacy of investment to encourage agribusiness investments and build strong partnership and convergence with other government and private sectors and industry group.

Daphnie Alviar, president of Abulug Dragon Fruit Producers Association thanked the DA for the support saying that this kind of exposure at the malls resulted in a wider and bigger network that her group has gotten.

“I was happy that I have been able to display our products both in Manila and Tuguegarao City because our products have been widely known in the Philippines,” said Alviar.

Her group topped the sales and earned about 82,000 pesos.

The second year of ASPIRE brought a wider and bigger reach to markets in collaboration with the Departments of Trade and Industry 02 (DTI 02), Science and Technology 02 (DOST 02), Tourism 02 (DOT 02),  Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) and Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI).