Dinagat Islands opens
agri-fishery trading hub in Siargao Island
By
Renelle Escuadro
BUTUAN
CITY – The provincial government of Dinagat Islands recently opened its
“Bagsakan Center,” an agri-fishery trading hub in Del Carmen, Siargao Island in
Surigao del Norte.
The
opening took place after the notable maiden voyage of the sea route Cagdianao,
Dinagat Islands to Del Carmen and vice versa on April 22.
The
Bagsakan Center will serve as another budding linkage and market for farmers
and fisherfolk in Dinagat Islands who will bring and sell their surplus or
excess products to Siargao Island through the new sea route.
 |
| The Bagsakan Center of the Province of Dinagat Islands located in Del Carmen town, Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte was inaugurated on April 23, 2024, a day after the launching of the sea route Cagdianao, Dinagat Islands to Del Carmen and vice versa. Serving as an agri-fishery trading hub of the farmers and fisherfolk in the province, locals in Siargao Island may buy the surplus agricultural and marine products at the Bagsakan Center for their consumption. Photo courtesy of OPAg-PDI. |
According
to Dinagat Islands Gov. Nilo P. Demerey Jr. of the Province of Dinagat Islands,
“Ang mga produktong gidala og gibaligya sa naasoy nga Bagsakan Center mao ang
mga surplus o sobra na nga produkto gikan sa probinsya nga dili na kaya
e-konsumo sa mga lokal nga merkado nan Dinagat Islands.”
[The
products that will be sold in the newly-opened Bagsakan Center are surplus or
excess products of our farmers and fisherfolk in the province that cannot be
sold anymore in the local market in the province.]
“Tumong
niini nga mas pakusgan pa ang market linkages sa mga lokal nga produkto ngadto
sa kasilinganang dapit sa probinsya sama sa Siargao Island. Kini aron dili na
magkalisod ang mga lokal nga mangisdaay og mag-uuma sa pagpamaligya sa sobra
nila nga mga produkto,” the governor explained.
[The
primary purpose is to strengthen and extend market linkages of our farmers and
fisherfolk to nearby areas such as Siargao Island as a way of helping dispose
of their products faster and avoid income loss.]
“With the
new sea route, Del Carmen will bring their tourists to the province. Dinagat
Islands, on the other hand, will bring the abundance of our agri-fishery
to Siargao Island,” Demerey said.
With this
promising symbiotic relationship between two areas, Demerey gave instructions
to the Provincial Agriculture Office, saying, “Kay wala man tay daghan turista
madala sa Del Carmen, nag-ingon nako sa OPAg nga magtanom og daghan nga gulay,
prutas og root crops kay mao ni atong i-karga sa lantsya isip atong
kontribusyon sa partnership sa LGU Del Carmen.”
[Since we
do have many tourists to bring to Del Carmen, I ordered OPAg to plant more
vegetables, fruits, and root crops, and we will transport them via the fast
craft as our contribution and share in partnership with the local government of
Del Carmen.]
 |
| The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist in Dinagat Islands assisted the farmers in transporting their surplus products via the direct sea route from Cagdianao, Dinagat Islands to Del Carmen, Siargao Island with a travel time of an hour. Photo courtesy of OPAg-PDI. |
For Del
Carmen Mayor Alfredo M. Coro II, Siargao Island as the tourism capital of the
country, the demand for food in the place, such as fish, vegetables, fruits,
and root crops, is very high.
“We need
input from Dinagat Islands. Your produce will greatly help Siargao Island
address the demand for food. We are glad that the province opened a trading
post in Del Carmen so that all products made in Dinagat Islands will be
accessible and within our reach,” Mayor Coro said.
“This is
another reason why it is important that we need to realize the sea route that
connects both islands closer and benefits directly from each other,” Coro
added.
Accompanying
the governor during the ceremonial ribbon-cutting and opening of the Bagsakan
Center were Vice Gov. Benglen B. Ecleo, Sangguniang Panlalawigan members,
Provincial Agriculturist Rico Galinato, department heads, and personnel of the
provincial government of Dinagat Islands. (RLE/PIA-Dinagat Islands)
