Regional Search for Huwarang Palengke 2007 is on
The Department of Agriculture, Regional Field Unit 6 launched the search for huwarang palengke 2007 during the agri-Food Fair and Food Exhibit 2006 at the Gaisano City activity center recently.
According to RTD Larry P. Nacionales of DA 6, the project was conceived by the DA to enhance agribusiness activities by promoting and encouraging the development of private and public wet markets in the regional centers or urban cities.
"The Huwarang Palengke is one of the economic drivers DA employed to encourage the retailers to maintain the cost of basic agricultural and fishery commodities to its affordable level as well as to ensure its safety and quality," he said.
The project is in coordination with the local government units and other concerned agencies.
Mr. Arnell A. Fabella, OIC-Chief, Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) 6 said that the search intends to challenge all private and local government units wet market operators to showcase their markets with assurance of food quality and food safety per compliance of AFMA mandates and in consonance with consumer related laws.
"A huwarang palengke must observe cleanliness and sanitation, ensure sustainable food supply, maintain affordable price level and establish direct market linkage (producer-buyer) in the market place," he explained.
For the regional level, the search shall cover the public and private markets located in Western Visayas center/city. The contending market shall be endorse by the office of the City or municipal mayors to the regional selection committee.
An ocular inspection will be conducted to all regional wet market nominees for validation in order to come up with a short list of finalist to be presented to the Board of Judges (BOJ). The BOJ may at their option may conduct field validation of the short-listed finalist or conduct only desk validation. They shall recommend regional winners -- one from the public and one private markets to the national selection committee.
The criteria for selection are: physical requirements and hygiene and sanitation -- fifty percent (50%), adherence to consumer protection laws - twenty five percent (25%) and prices (lowest average composite price of selected commodities -- twenty five percent (25%).
Mr. Fabella added that prices will be monitored every Monday, Wednesday and Friday while for the other two criteria the market will be evaluated twice as month.
It must be noted that the Iloilo Terminal market was chosen as one of the top seven in this years' huwarang palengke all over the country.
For more information interested local government units and private market operators may contact the office of the provincial agriculture in heir respective provinces or the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division, DA RFU 6, Iloilo City at Tel No. 337-1227.
(JEEO/RAFID 6)