SAN MANUEL, Tarlac (Nov. 28, 2025) – In a significant push to enhance the region’s agricultural value chain, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 3, in partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA), successfully hosted the first-ever Central Luzon Farmers and Agri-Based MSMEs Summit.
Held in San Manuel, Tarlac, the event brought together hundreds of farmers, agrarian reform beneficiaries, cooperatives, and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) for a day focused on collaboration, learning, and business development.
With participants ranging from over 200 to more than 500 across reports, the summit featured key learning sessions on topics including the state of agriculture and fisheries in Central Luzon, building competitive value chains, smart farming, market linkages, and access to finance. Experts from the DA, DTI, PCCI-Tarlac, Central Luzon State University (CLSU), and financial institutions such as Land Bank and SBCorp led the discussions.
A major focus of the event was addressing what DTI Regional Director Edna Dizon described as the “missing link” – the weak connection between local farmers and agri-based MSMEs.
“Compounding these issues is the weak linkage — the link of our farmers to our MSMEs. That is our missing link,” Dizon emphasized. She explained that strengthening this connection would allow enterprises to efficiently source raw materials locally, reducing the need to import.
Tarlac 1st District Representative Jaime Cojuangco highlighted the shift needed from subsistence farming to market-driven production. “What I really want to happen is an environment where an MSME can literally tell the farmers, ‘This is what I need,’ and the farmers can feel secure that they can grow that crop knowing there’s already a guaranteed buyer,” he said.
The summit also featured a vibrant mini trade fair with 34 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) showcasing food and non-food products, offering a platform for product testing, buyer meetings, and logistics partnerships.
High-level support was evident with the attendance of DA Assistant Secretary Joycel Panlilio, DTI-3 Regional Director Edna Dizon, and local officials, including San Manuel Mayor Doña Cresencia Tesoro, who delivered a virtual welcome message.
The event concluded with a Farmer-MSME Commitment Signing, symbolizing a collective pledge to advance and uplift Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Organizations across Central Luzon. The DTI has pledged ongoing support for these partnerships, aiming to build a more resilient, efficient, and interconnected agricultural economy in the region.
