Rationale
Commodities are what generate values in the market place. They are the objects of development. As such, they are the logical fulcrum of development effort. Hence, the strategic commodities of Region 1, as a subset of which are the so-called commodities of convergence were identified by an inter-agency group.
The strategic commodities were in the 2005-2010 Medium Term Regional Development Plan. These commodities are expected to significantly contribute to economic development goals of the Region along income and job generation, food security, agribusiness development and promotion of agri-based industries, and ultimately, poverty reduction.
The commodities include the following: bangus, mango, chichacorn, sericulture, apiculture, cotton, tiger grass, bamboo, seaweeds, basi, ube, red shallot, furniture, loom weaving, meat processing, jathropa and sweet sorghum.
The strategic commodities were identified according to the following criteria: a) availability of existing and potential local and export market in terms of effective demand, b) adequacy of suitable areas to promote agribusiness/enterprise development, c) production inputs availability (manpower, area, technology), d) potential for income enhancement and job generation, and e) high level of support from government and private sector (infrastructure, technology, investment promotion, financing, market development).
In order to optimize the economic comparative advantage, value added and export potentials of these commodities, commodity champions were identified to coordinate and spearhead the various promotion and development of these commodities.
In addition, the Regional Development Council Chairperson, Dr. Salvador T. Duque enjoined all concerned national agencies to support and develop he identified strategic commodities to spur economic development in Region I.
In support of this, the Strategic Commodity Plan contains the economic and market potential of these strategic commodities, specifies the priority production areas, identifies the issues and constraints that need to be addressed as well as the opportunities to promote the production and marketing of the commodities, and lays the action plans to be undertaken by the concerned agencies/institution in order to develop, sustain and optimize the economic potential of the identified commodities.
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