Young entrepreneur Marvin Xavier Nicolas Vea from the rural farming village of Bagbago in Solsona, Ilocos Norte dreamed of having a shop in the city to make his products more accessible to a bigger market.
He never thought it would come sooner than expected as the Vea Eco Farm’s pakbet (mixed vegetables) crackers, lettuce chips, and tilapia gourmet, among others, are now on display at the newly inaugurated one-stop-shop located at the compound of the Ilocos Norte Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Center Building here.
Funded by the provincial government, the one-stop shop is a place of convergence for the training, processing, and marketing of local products.
It also features a shared service facility for rural-based organizations, such as the 4-H Federated Club and Rural Improvement Club (RIC) of Ilocos Norte.
As the government’s active partners in promoting and accelerating rural development, the 4-H Federated Club and RIC lead the operation of the center.
“We can’t express how thankful we are for this project. The one-stop-shop provides more opportunity to the 4-H Federated Club to market our products,” said Vea, who is also the president of the 4-H Federated Club of Ilocos Norte.
He added the shop will further motivate them “to make the best better” and to inspire more youth to join the 4-H in support of the government’s effort to promote inclusive growth.
“We need more innovations, kaya naman ang aming partnership sa 4H ay napakahalaga and we thank you for your partnership (We need more innovations that is why our partnership with 4H is very important and we thank you for that),” said Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph Manotoc during the launch of the one-stop-shop this week.
“Sa mga RIC naman, we know na ang ating [mga] Ilokana ay napaka reliable, that’s why we want to provide more opportunities for our women in Ilocos Norte kase kayo po talaga ang symbolic representation of Ilokano diligence and steadiness (For the RIC, we know that Ilokano women are reliable that is why we want to provide more opportunities for our women in Ilocos Norte because you are a symbol of diligence and steadiness),” he said.
Aside from participating in the government’s organized trade fairs and exhibits, Crisner Lagazo, also a young farmer from Sulbec, Pasuquin town told the Philippine News Agency on Friday that they feel lucky and blessed for having ready access to various government programs and services.
To sustain the daily operation of the center, Lagazo said members will take turns as “duty for the day.”
“We are just waiting for the aircon installation and we shall be operating the center in full blast,” said Lagazo, adviser and former president of the 4-H Federated Club. (PNA)
