SMC opens community market in Sariaya, Quezon

MANILA, Philippines — Diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC) officially opened its community market in Sariaya, Quezon, which aims to help farmers and fisherfolk in the areas sustain their livelihood amid the pandemic.

In a statement, SMC said the market is envisioned to be part of a larger food supply hub in the province, where both fishermen and farmers can sell their produce to bulk buyers from all over Quezon, neighboring provinces, as well as from Metro Manila.

“Sariaya, Quezon is an important growth area for San Miguel. In particular, through our planned agro-industrial zone here, food production and agribusiness will be among our major activities. Helping to capacitate and enable local fishermen and farmers, and strengthening local agriculture, is a priority for us,” SMC president Ramon Ang said.

“With the San Miguel Market, farmers and fisherfolk who reside at our sustainable housing community, those in neighboring areas and barangays, now have their very own marketplace nearby, where they can sell their goods without spending much to transport these to other markets. This means more income in their pockets for their families and, for customers, more affordable food choices,” he said.

SMC earlier said it was targeting to expand its San Miguel Market into a major wholesale market envisioned to eventually become a provider of food supplies to nearby provinces and Metro Manila.

The market is complemented by an earlier completed Fishermen’s Dock built by SMC, which Sariaya fishermen now use as a base of operations – serving as a place where they store their boats, engines, and fishing implements and supplies.