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)
