AROUND nine tons or 9,000 kilograms of mangoes and bananas from Davao region will be shipped to Bicol region this month.
After the partnership of the Department of Agriculture (DA)-Davao with Liberty Commercial Center (LCC), one of the pioneer retailers in Albay province and in Bicol, they will be back to Davao region on July 16 to process transaction of their initial shipment.
“We are actually eyeing a minimum of six tons per shipment for logistics purposes, hindi kasi kami pwede mag ship ng lower than that because matatalo tayo sa logistics cost,” LCC merchandising manager Haydee Guillermo said in a phone interview with SunStar Davao Monday, July 1.
Guillermo said the accumulated nine tons will be a combination of mangoes and various types of bananas such as latundan, saba, and lakatan.
Bicol region has been experiencing shortage on mango and banana supply. The shipment from Davao region will be the local retailer’s alternative source.
LCC group is eyeing a weekly shipment from Davao Region.
“Ang minimum is once a month but kami dito sa Bicol, weekly ang buying namin so possible na weekly din from Davao. However, this is the first shipment, kumbaga it is a trial and error stage. We need to see pa kung profitable ba ‘yung transaction
Guillermo said that have to make sure that the shipped agricultural products will still be in good condition.
“Kasi even for the people of Davao, ‘di din nila ma-guess ano ang magiging outcome ng shipment so parang first natin to or trial pa talaga,” she said.
Meanwhile, DA 11 director Ricardo Oñate also said the first shipment will serve as a trial stage but they are hoping the outcome will be good as this would mean more transactions to happen soon with LCC and will in turn help the agriculture industry of the region. (LHC)