I think the event showed us what can be accomplished when public and private sector come together for MSMEs. This is one of the core advocacies we push at Go Negosyo, and what we bring to life every time a successful businessman volunteers to mentor an MSME. At the DTI National Food Fair, one can see how the other essential M in entrepreneurship – access to markets (the other two being mentorship and money, or capital) – can be possible through the concerted efforts of the government and private sector. This was brought home with the launch of the Bagong Pilipinas B2B Marketplace during the event, which promises to bring MSMEs closer to potential bulk customers from various industries, effectively narrowing the gap between them and their markets.

Food seemed to be the topic of the week. Not a few days before I received the invitation to the opening of the National Food Fair, I was at a meeting with the Kapatid Angat Lahat sa Agri Program big-brother agri companies and the National Irrigation Administration (NIA)’s Eddie Guillen.

We had earlier started talks for a MOA for land lease agreements that will put to productive use the NIA landholdings. I am told these lands are more than a million hectares and hold much potential in agriculture. Engr. Guillen also shared that NIA has a very impressive weather forecasting system (98 percent accurate, I’m told) that can also be used to inform planting schedules for these lands.

Following that MOA meeting, we invited the KALAP big brothers to personally hear from Engr. Guillen that such collaborations with NIA are possible; Yovel East’s James Amparo attested to that when he shared his experience working with NIA. This was also in light of our coming hosting of the ASEAN in 2026 as we want to prepare possible partnerships with other big-brother agri companies in the region as part of our planned legacy project, the ASEAN Food Security Alliance. It will be an opportune time for the Philippines to present partnerships with companies around the region, but we should be ready with our own collaborative projects within the country.

I view this meeting with the NIA and the KALAP big brothers in the context of the DTI’s National Food Fair in the sense that we as Filipinos have little idea of the vast potential of our agriculture sector. One can get a peek by just browsing the breadth and variety of agricultural products on display at the food fair, coupled with the examples of dishes and condiments that can be created with these products. It’s really a wonder that the Philippines has not yet become the food basket of Asia, but you can see that there is so much potential.

That potential is not only in food production but also in tourism. The presence of Tourism Secretary Frasco during the food fair drives home the fact that food tourism can be a secret weapon in our bid to attract more international (and domestic) tourists. I think one could spend an entire day just sampling the coffee, vinegar and fruits on offer at the food fair.

And may I remind that these are the products of MSMEs. It was a treat to have all these products from 250 MSMEs from Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao all in one place. It’s like traveling the archipelago without spending too much time or money. Now imagine how much it would take for these MSMEs to do this on their own. It’s not something they can afford to do regularly. Put into perspective the fact this event was also an opportunity for bulk buyers like grocery chains, hotels and restaurants to directly sample items and talk to the producers, and you can see how much impact these organized efforts can have in connecting MSMEs and their markets.

I recall someone during the meeting with NIA saying that the country doesn’t lack for food production; what it lacks is efficiencies in infrastructure, and one of these is cold storage. Our wet and dry seasons, expansive coastlines and vast arable lands ensure we will have enough to eat, and yet we see shortages here and surpluses there. This is indeed something we need to think about.

On another note, just before the week ended, we received sad news about the passing of one of our valued allies in the private sector, Vivian Que Azcona. She was the driving force behind Mercury Drug and a friend of my wife, Marissa. She was also a recipient of Go Negosyo’s Woman of Legacy award. We fondly remember her active role in Go Negosyo’s “A Dose of Hope” program during the pandemic and how, through their MQ Diagnostic Center, she provided vital protection for employees and their families through the vaccination initiative in partnership with the government. It was through the cooperation of the private sector, and leaders like Vivian, that the Philippines was able to weather one of the most economically disruptive events in our lifetime. Rest well, Vivian.

Originally Published in Philippine Star