NAGA CITY – Amidst the covid-19 pandemic, the Department of Agriculture through the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) in partnership with the Metro Naga Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MNCCI) have successfully opened the Agribusiness Support for Promotion and Investment in Regional Expositions or ASPIRE at Robinson’s Place here.

ASPIRE kicked off this year’s Bicol Business Month initiated by the MNCCI aimed to showcase Bicol products, ingenuities and opportunities for business.

33 local producers/women entrepreneurs being supported by the DA participated in the ASPIRE for this year. They are: M.A. Haya Dried Fish and Flavored Tinapa, Yulaik Food Products, FABCARR Food Products, Mhina’s Processed Foods, Hayahay Food Products, J Farm Spicy Taro Chips, Lucky Pan’s Food Products, Multi Agri Forest and Community Development Cooperative, Siligaya Food Products, DWS Food Products, MCF Agro-Ventures, Koy’s Crab Paste, Omnaturals Food Producers, Sergio’s Chili Products, Marchilino Food Products, AR-AM Food House (La Comida Goa), Orange Country Enterprise, Maria E Food Products, MYA Food Industry, Manoy Andy’s Ihawan, Benitta and Flora’s Food Products, Aping’s Food Products, Spize, Sare’sPilinut Candy, Kuya B’s Mushroom House, HGQ Handicrafts, Golden Paraoma, Planza High Value Crops Planters Association, Umagrisenso, Kopi CamSur, May Ogob Agrarian Reform Coop, Binanuaanan Farmers Community Development Association, Inc., Camarines Garden.

In its 5th year of implementation, ASPIRE continues to support many Bicolano entrepreneurs through marketing assistance and investment promotions of our regional commodities such as pili, abaca, gabi and queen pineapple.

ASPIRE is a program of the Department of Agriculture that aims to bridge the gap between the farmers, producers and processors, buyers, investors and consumers. Writer: Lovella P. Guarin (Photo credit: Jun Collantes and Raymond Adversario – RAFIS 5)