ASSESSING THE MANAGEMENT

OPERATIONS, AND THE ROLE OF

THE TRADING POST (Taboan) AT
MANTALONGON, DALAGUETE, CEBU
AS A COMPONENT IN AN
AGRICULTURAL SYSTEM

Farm Practice
Jim Leandro P. Cano
Introduction
Agriculture has been the backbone and one of the major determinants in
societies development.

Increase in global and domestic population has increased demand for food and
at the same time, agricultural lands in the Philippines are continually being
transformed into residential lands.

Introduction
Supply chain of agricultural goods in the Philippines is complex and composed
of various players:
1. Input suppliers

2. Producers (farmers)

3. Traders (agents, assemblers, financier-wholesalers, wholesale-
retailers/retailers/supermarkets)

4. Transporters / Shippers

5. Consumers
Introduction
In 2009, Agricultural Fisheries Market Information System (AFMIS) reported in
an article that there were newly opened Barangay Bagsakan (BB) projects in
the Central Visayas region.

The purpose of BBs was to ensure farmers and consumers that there is a
permanent avenue where there is a steady supply of safe and affordable
quality farm products would be available.

The BBs were established to cut the many layers of middlemen in the supply
chain which contributed to the high cost of goods for end-consumers at the
end of the chain.
Introduction
The aims and goals of the Barangay Bagsakan projects is very much needed in
the rural areas of the country and so it is therefore important to look into the
established Bagsakan Centers (Taboan in Cebuano), to see whether they are
meeting the goals and objectives for which they were established.
Statement of the Problem
The supply chain of agricultural goods is complex and there are many layers
of middlemen in the chain. The establishment of Barangay Bagsakan centers
is supposed to cut the long chain between the producers and consumers. It is
thus imperative to see whether the trading posts are meeting the goals and
objectives of the project. Its operations must be checked for the purpose of
validating if their presence is really increasing the income of farmers and
making the goods cheaper for the consumers.
Significance of the Study
There are many Barangay Bagsakan centers around the country and with their
growing number, it is important for us to assess whether the established
systems of these posts are efficient enough to increase farmers income,
lessen cost of goods, and lessen the layers of middlemen along the supply
chain.
Objectives
The general objective of the practicum is for the student to be exposed on
the marketing of farm produce by documenting and analyzing the
Mantalongon Trading Post (Taboan) of Dalaguete, Cebu (for 224 hours).

At the end of the practicum, the student should be able to:

1. Understand the supply chain of vegetables in Cebu Province;

2. Identify the factors that influence the supply chain of vegetables in Cebu
Province;

3. Observe and document how the Mantalongon Trading Post operates and is
managed;

Objectives
4. Understand the marketing concepts of the Trading Post in bridging the producers,
traders, and consumers;

5. Analyse the effectiveness and efficiency of the Trading Post as a marketing
strategy;

6. Recommend measures for improving the operation of the Trading Post;

Methodology
The intern was made to report to the Municipal Agriculture and Natural Resources Office (MANRO) of the
Municipal Government of Dalaguete, Cebu.

Man-hours were then also fulfilled at the mountain where the main Vegetable Trading Center was. The
time spent at the Trading Post was usually from 3AM to 10PM. The student was there to observe the
arrival and the actual trading of the goods.

Input vendors were interviewed; checking what input companies were present at the stores

Farmers, kargadors, packers, commissioners, and LGU staff were also interviewed.

Secondary data from MANRO was also acquired to help understand the market situation of Dalaguete.
Outline of Study
I. Supply Chain (Analysis)
A. Definition of Supply Chain
B. Significance of Analysing Supply Chain in the Trade of Agricultural
Goods
C. Factors Affecting Supply Chains
D. Infrastructure in the Philippines that Support Supply Chain of
Agricultural Goods
a. Existing machineries, technologies, etc.
b. Future of Infrastructure in the Philippines

Outline of the Study
II. Supply Chain and Marketing of Vegetables in the Mantalongon, Dalaguete
Trading Post (Taboan)
A. Mantalongon Trading Post
a. Location
b. Facilities (buildings, office, etc.)
c. Goods traded
B. Stakeholders of the Trading Post
a. Department of Agriculture
b. Local Government Unit
c. Cooperative
d. Producers
e. Retailers
f. Traders
g. Consumers
C. Post-harvest technologies utilized

Outline of the Study
III. The Marketing Channel
A. Supply Chain Analysis of the Trading Post
B. Marketing concepts involved
C. Market / End-consumers of Vegetables Sold at Trading Post

Location and Time of the Practicum

The student will be dispatched to the Mantalongon Trading Post, Dalaguete,
Cebu to observe, document, and analyse the marketing scheme of vegetables
in the area. This trading post was constructed through a joint undertaking of
the Department of Agriculture and the Municipal Government of Dalaguete. It
is under the management of the local government unit (LGU) of the Dalaguete
Municipality in partnership with a Farmers Cooperative.

Activities to be Undertaken

Courtesy call with the LGU of Dalaguete.
Collection and review available secondary data on supply chain and about the
Mantalongon Trading Post.
Identification and coordination and interaction with key players in the vegetable
supply chain of Cebu to include the Department of Agriculture (DA), the
Agribusiness Division of the Dain Cebu, the LGU of Dalaguete, Farmers
Cooperative and farmers.
Data collection on the supply chain and the Mantalongon Trading Post.
Analysis and assessment of observations and data collected.

Scope and Limitations of Activities

The student is tasked to observe and assess the supply chain of vegetables
that go through the Mantalongon Trading Post.

The study includes observation and assessment of the interaction between
the different factors behind the production and sale of goods, and also of the
operations and management of the trading post.

The study will not cover marketing of vegetables outside of Dalaguete
Municipality or those that do not go through the Mantalongon Trading Post.