San Miguel Corp. is eyeing to transform its community market in the province of Quezon into a wholesale food market for fresh goods from farmers and fishers from South Luzon.
In a statement, SMC said it is targeting to expand its newly-opened San Miguel Market in Sariaya, Quezon into a major wholesale market envisioned to eventually become a provider of food supplies to nearby provinces and Metro Manila.
SMC said the market soft-opened recently with 56 vendors,m from the 350 families that SMC has helped relocate from high-risk coastal areas.
“This market is just in its initial phase. While it’s already operational and benefitting residents from our model community and nearby barangays, our vision is to make this even bigger, to accommodate more farmers and fisherfolk who want to sell their goods here,” SMC president Ramon Ang said.
Ang said the company targets to expand the market to around 10,000 square meters (sqm) from the current 3,000 sqm total area.
“With that size, it can become a major wholesale market or ‘bagsakan’ of fresh goods from all over Sariaya and the rest of Quezon province. It can be a source of fresh produce for neighboring provinces and even Metro Manila–so many farmers and fishermen from all over South Luzon can benefit,” Ang said.
At present, products sold at the market include fresh fruits, vegetables, rice, seafoods and meats. It also has a health and wellness stall, cellphone repair shop, pharmacy, bakery, shoe store, and a San Miguel Foods store.
SMC said the marketplace is the latest addition to its sustainable community project in Sariaya, which includes the 5.4-hectare San Miguel-Christian Gayeta village, featuring disaster-resilient houses.
The community also features a 3.5-hectare fishermen’s dock with fishermen’s hall, that can secure up to 100 boats and store 70 boat engines and other fishing equipment.
“Creating more jobs and livelihood will help us rise above this pandemic. In the future, as a wholesale marketplace, the San Miguel Market will be able to bring more bulk sellers and buyers together, and assemble quality produce from all over Sariaya and Quezon province,” Ang said.
He explained that initially, the company’s goal was to provide a venue where our relocatees can sell their produce.
“But given that many Filipinos are in need of jobs and livelihood during these difficult times, expanding this facility makes a lot of sense.By doing so, we will be giving more Filipinos the opportunity to start their own businesses, and a chance at a better life,” Ang added,”Ang said.
“We will start the market’s expansion as soon as possible, even as we continue assisting the current tenants and residents of the village in ensuring the present market conforms to the most stringent food safety, hygiene, and health, and safety standards,” Ang added.
Last month, SMC announced that it is also set to open a community market in Cabuyao, Laguna, in line with its efforts to sustain the livelihood of farmers and small businesses.
The market called the Circolo weekend community market will be located at the company’s 4,000-square meter property in Cabuyao, Laguna, right in the middle of a high-traffic and bustling residential and industrial area that also covers the cities of Sta. Rosa and Calamba.