BBM’s 2024 ASPIRE kicks off

NAGA CITY - The Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office V ( DA-RFO5), the Department of Trade and Industry 05 (DTI 05) and the Metro Naga Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MNCCI), in cooperation with the Naga City Local Government Office joined together to boost agribusiness support and promotion for local farmers and fisherfolks in the Bikol region on August 9-11, 2024 at the Robinsons Place Mall, Almeda Highway, Triangulo, Naga City. Agricultural farmers and local fisherfolks alike have been seeking opportunities for higher income through the ASPIRE project piloted by the Department of Agriculture in the Bicol region since 2017.

ASPIRE, which stands for Agribusiness Support for Promotion and Investment in Regional Expositions, is now a multi-agency partnership project of the Department of Agriculture, Department of Trade and Industry and the Metro Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MNCCI) aimed at converging key players in agriculture, business and industry. Originally, the program was designed by the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (AMAS) of the Department of Agriculture Field Office-Region 5 with the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division now managed and orchestrated by Division Chief Adelina A. Losa. Being the focal person of Organic Agriculture and Market-Oriented Programs in her division, she (Losa) aspires for a vibrant industry where local farmers feel rewarded for whatever bounty they produce. In addition, the Department also looks forward to a greater number of our farmers, processors, suppliers and consumers to be happy in a rewarding industry. Losa explains: “Our target is aimed at positioning the best of Bicol products to reach wider markets and diversify its value-added components to become more attractive and competitive with other leading brands.” The formal opening of this year’s 3-day ASPIRE extravaganza is on August 9, 2024 at 4:00 o’ clock in the afternoon at the Robinsons’ Place Mall - Event Center with the Regional Executive Director Ronel P. Tornilla as the guest of honor.

Coincidentally, the 8th Annual ASPIRE project also marks the 20th (Bicol Business Month) BBM event of MNCCI showcasing series of business promotion and advocacy activities: allowing business suppliers to meet up directly with farmers who are involved in some Agribusiness ventures or income generating activities; finding new opportunities where value-addition could be made possible; meeting up with the business community; networking with entrepreneurs or business practitioners’ alike; holding conferences on most recent market innovations in technology and digital transformation; leading product expositions; conducting business for a; and setting up trade fairs.

MNCCI President Mario C. Villanueva embraced the concept of the ASPIRE project aligned with the Chamber’s rallying banner of “Serbisyo ng Bayan” style of leadership together with his band of indefatigable Board of Directors and actively participating members. Through his direction, the MNCCI was able to forge partnership with the City Government of Naga and the Provincial Office of the Department of Trade and Industry, strengthening the implementation of these Agri-based promotion and investment expositions as collaborative endeavors. MNCCI President Villanueva expressed: “The chamber is a steadfast partner in championing agribusiness, driving support, promotion, and investment through dynamic expositions that cultivate growth and innovation.”

Chairperson for ASPIRE 2024 and Vice President for programs and projects of MNCCI Emerson M. Guazon explains that unlike any other agri-trade fairs held before, this time the design is to literally model the farm panorama by re-creating a mini-farm environment of lush-green surroundings within the mall setting. VP Guazon further states: “We have wanted to show live carabaos inside the mall, free-range chickens and dawdling goats, farming tools such as plough, threshers and hoes – things which are rarely seen by people in the urban areas, but are in the regular environment of the farmers.” Thus, the mini-farm will be recreated as a faithful representation of the real farm environment as far as the venue would allow.

The 3-day ASPIRE extravaganza on August 9-11, 2024 at the ground floor of Robinsons’ Place Mall Event Center will be packed with carefully selected participating agri-based exhibitors from different parts of the region. Each of them occupies a booth to display and merchandise their products. Exhibits open at 10:00 o’clock in the morning and close at 9:00 o’clock in the evening. So, get your market bags now and enjoy buying the freshest and highly delectable farm products!