By Cpugad Technology Business Incubator (TBI)

CPU administrators and members of collaborating units with Ms. Raisa S. Treñas-Chu and Mr. Iñigo D. Garingalao during the Ribbon Cutting and Opening of Merkado Lokal @ Central on May 14, 2024.

On May 14, 2024, Central Philippine University, in partnership with the Iloilo City Government and the City Agriculturist Office, opened Merkado Lokal @ Central. With the theme, “Strengthening Academe-Industry-Government Partnership towards Food Security and Sustainability”, Merkado Lokal @ Central gathered over 20 exhibitors to showcase and sell their products at the Alumni Promenade Concert Park from May 14 to 15, 2024.

During the Opening Ceremony, in her keynote message, Ms. Raisa Treñas-Chu, Executive Assistant to the City Mayor, Iloilo City, reiterated the importance of partnership among members of the academe, industry, and government especially in the area of sustainability. She further emphasized the role that farmers and fisher folk play in ensuring food security, and that these sectors must be provided with appropriate training and skill-building activities to further improve their production practices.

On the other hand, Mr. Iñigo Garingalao, City Agriculturist, thanked the efforts of farmers and fisher folk for their contribution to Iloilo City attaining the title as UNESCO’s City of Gastronomy. Meanwhile, in her message, Dr. Florence Bogacia, CPU Vice President for Finance and Enterprises and Officer-in-Charge of the Office of the President, assured the Iloilo City Government of CPU’s support to the local government’s sustainability efforts as evidenced by the university’s activities through the Campus Sustainability Committee and Cpugad, the newly-launched university-based technology business incubator (TBI).

Besides the Campus Sustainability Committee and Cpugad, other collaborating units that made Merkado Lokal @ Central possible are the Community Engagement and Service Learning (CESL) Center and the CPU Rank and File Labor Union (RAFLU).

Merkado Lokal @ Central is the first merkado lokal activity of the Iloilo City Government held at a university.