Yap invites Bohol businessmen to “be suppliers” for his ‘bagsakan'

By JUNE S. BLANCO

“I CAN bulk buy your products at a good price and still sell at reasonable rates at the bagsakan and barangay food terminals in Manila .” Thus Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap the other day urged Boholano businessmen to “be suppliers” of products and goods. Yap was the keynote speaker during the general membership assembly of the Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) headed by Norris Oculam held at the Le Eng Hall of the Bohol Tropics Resort in Tagbilaran City. Gov. Erico Aumentado welcomed Yap 's challenge, saying that he himself is also tasked by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to energize and improve agriculture in the country.

“In moving Bohol forward, the BCCI is a vital component for progress. I have always given premium to the goals and foresights of BCCI. For the last five years as governor, I have the support of the chamber. Our latest joint projects are the Food Safety and Processing Center and our advocacy for barangay livelihood centers in tandem with the Department of Trade and Industry and Secretary Yap,” he said. Yap , he explained, heads the President's livelihood generation point man. He said the secretary is also willing to allocate from DA funds some amount for these livelihood projects. Among the Cabinet members closest to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Yap said the country is two years ahead of target when it balances the budget next year. “Some people say this is not true. But we have actual accomplishments to back up what President Arroyo has done for the economy,” Yap told the chamber that packed the hall. “The government interest rate is now low; the treasury bill rate is at 3%. Because the interest rate is low, all interest rates in the banks are also very low,” he said.

This is the third year of the bull run, he quoted analysts as saying. With the interest rates low, the property sector is at an advantage. With the stock exchange up, property value is also high. These indicators have attracted thrice the usual foreign direct investments. Exports are up while the official dollar remittance is over $15 billion, he said. “We are now in the 25th quarter under this President. Of these, the past 24 quarters is the longest period of economic growth after World War II. We are now approximating that period in the ‘60s when were the second strongest economy in Asia next only to Japan ,” he explained. Yap painted a pretty picture of the country's deficit: Last year's projection was P125 billion, but the actual figure was down to P100 billion. This year's projection is P65 billion “but I think we will overshoot that,” hence the balancing of the budget next year instead of 2010 yet, he observed.

“The trend is irreversible. We have money for projects. What we need to do now is clamp down on too much political noise,” he said, adding that the Filipinos need to support the President in this bull run and vote 12-0 in favor of Team Unity. Top in his priority project list are airports, seaports, major road networks, the Panglao Airport , irrigation, agriculture, tourism and services. “Your best bets are crops and livestock – after all Bohol is foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) free. Your edge is in aquaculture. Push your tiger prawns, bangus, tilapia, abalone and grouper!” he challenged the businessmen. With better far-to-market roads, the Strong Republic Nautical Highway, better airports and seaports, you can easily bring your products to the 13 bagsakan centers and four barangay food terminals across the National Capital Region (NCR) where two million of the country's poorest reside, he explained.

“Without the layers [of middlemen], Bohol's farmers and fishermen stand to earn P10-P15 more per kilo while buyers at the bagsakan and food terminals can still buy these farm and fish products at P10-P15 lower than at the regular market,” he said. While Yap delivered his keynote address, the BCCI election committee was tallying the results. The newly elected members of the Board of Trustees are Oculam, Wilfilda Collins, Argeo Melisimo, John Yap, Reginald Ong, Dinah Ramiro, Loreto Palapos, Albert Uy, Marietta Gasatan, Helena Antonieta Veloso, Restituto Tan, Warren Yap, Virginia Lao, Ed Escalona, Carlito Responte, Fortunato Lim and Obdulio Caturza Jr.

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