Sariayahins have housing, livelihood training, fishermen's dock, jobs and a new market all from Ramon Ang's San Miguel. What more can they ask?
SARIAYA, Quezon -- The country's biggest food conglomerate plans to expand its newly-opened “San Miguel Market” in Barangay Castañas here and convert it into a “bagsakan center” or wholesale market of fresh agricultural products to uplift the lives of the town's fisherfolk and farmers and to supply the food needs of nearby provinces and Metro Manila.
San Miguel Corp. (SMC) has recently opened the 3,000 square meters new marketplace with 56 vendors many of them coming from the 350 families that SMC has helped relocate from high-risk coastal areas.
SMC president Ramon Ang said thru the email that the San Miguel Market is just in its initial phase and they envision to make it even bigger to accommodate more farmers and fisherfolk who want to sell their products in the market.
“Our goal is to expand this to up to 10,000 square meters or one hectare, from its present 3,000 square meters total area. With that size, it can become a major wholesale market or ‘bagsakan’ of fresh goods from all over Sariaya and the rest of Quezon province,” Ang said adding that it can be a source of fresh produce for neighboring provinces and even Metro Manila so that many farmers and fishermen from all over South Luzon can benefit.
The marketplace is the latest addition to SMC’s sustainable community project in Sariaya, which includes the 5.4-hectare San Miguel-Christian Gayeta village that features disaster-resilient houses and a 3.5-hectare fishermen’s dock with fishermen’s hall, that can secure up to 100 boats and store 70 boat engines and other fishing equipment.
Sariaya Mayor Marcelo Gayeta and SMC Special Projects Manager Micaela Rosales graced the soft opening of the San Miguel Market over the weekend.
The products sold at the market include fresh fruits, vegetables, rice, seafoods and meats. It also has a health and wellness stall, cellphone repair shop, pharmacy, bakery, shoe store, and a San Miguel Foods store. It is jointly managed and operated by residents and tenants from San Miguel-Christian Gayeta Homes.
Ang said that in the future, as a wholesale marketplace, the San Miguel Market will be able to bring more bulk sellers and buyers together and assemble quality produce from all over Sariaya and Quezon province thus creating more jobs and livelihood.
“Initially, our goal was just to provide a venue where our relocatees can sell their produce. But given that many Filipinos are in need of jobs and livelihood during these difficult times, expanding this facility makes a lot of sense. By doing so, we will be giving more Filipinos the opportunity to start their own businesses, and a chance at a better life,” Ang explained.
Some 555 Sariayahins' households have been relocated by SMC from high-risk coastal areas and a total of 141 families have moved to the San Miguel-Christian Gayeta Village, while others who received financial assistance from SMC have either bought or built new houses in other areas.
The San Miguel Market is seen to complement SMC’s integrated food and beverage complex development in the area and the food conglomerate is investing to build a ready-to-eat food manufacturing facility, a grains terminal, feed mill, poultry dressing plant, a brewery, and international port facilities in Sariaya, which is expected to generate a significant number of jobs and boost the economy of Quezon province.
“We will start the market’s expansion as soon as possible, even as we continue assisting the current tenants and residents of the village in ensuring the present market conforms to the most stringent food safety, hygiene, and health and safety standards,” Ang said stressing that the San Miguel Market is part of an overall plan to uplift the lives of the residents who have been relocated.
He said it includes providing them financial assistance to buy or build their own homes, or avail of free house-and-lots at their sustainable housing community; livelihood training in partnership with TESDA (Technical Education Skills and Development Authority), and building this market for them to sell their produce.
Through an SMC-TESDA partnership, some 99 residents have graduated from community- based training on various skills, particularly meat and fish processing, organic farming, dressmaking, and table setting.
Last year, the SMC opened the Sariaya fishermen’s dock and Sariaya Fishermen’s Hall which further enhanced their income generation by affording them to reduce costs while getting better prices for their fresh catch.
SMC’s upcoming agri-related investments in Sariaya are part of the company’s nationwide efforts to support the agriculture sector and local businesses, and to boost food security in the country.
Sariaya is known as the agricultural food basket in the province’ 2nd district and also boasts of the Sentrong Pamilihan ng Produktong Agrikultura in Bgy. Sampaloc 2 built during the time of former 2nd District Cong. Proceso Alcala.
#