TACLOBAN CITY — The municipality of Javier, Leyte is moving closer to becoming a major agricultural trading hub in Eastern Visayas following the final inspection of the Northeastern Leyte Agri-Pinoy Trading Center (NELAPTC) on March 27.
Officials from the Department of Agriculture (DA), led by Assistant Secretary Genevieve Velicaria-Guevarra, joined local leaders in assessing the facility’s readiness for full operations, which is expected to enhance market access for farmers and improve food distribution across the region.
Mayor Michael Dragon Javier said the local government has already laid the groundwork to ensure the center’s sustainability, including allocating funds for maintenance and organizing a management body to coordinate with farmers’ groups.
He added that while the municipality already feels a sense of ownership over the project, the formal turnover will mark a key milestone in fully operationalizing the facility.
Launched in 2014 with a total project cost of P38.43 million jointly funded by the local government and the DA, the NELAPTC is designed as a wholesale trading facility where agricultural products can be consolidated, graded, and auctioned to accredited traders and institutional buyers—reducing reliance on multiple intermediaries.
Officials said this system is expected to help increase farmers’ incomes while lowering food costs for consumers.
Since 2022, the facility has been partially utilized for market days, agri-related services, and venue rentals, based on reports from the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division and the NELAPTC management team.
Guevarra highlighted the center’s strategic location, noting its potential to serve as a key link between major food production and distribution corridors in Luzon and Mindanao.
Regional Executive Director Rodel Macapanas also committed to fast-tracking the remaining documentation needed for the official turnover of the facility to the local government.
Once fully operational, the NELAPTC is expected to position Javier as a vital agri-trading and food distribution hub in Eastern Visayas, supporting both farmers and consumers in the region.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
