BAPTC seen to enhance center’s operations

MEMBERS of the Benguet Agri-Pinoy Trading Center Project Steering Committee recently approved two resolutions critical for the improvement of the center’s operations.

The resolutions are the proposed organizational structure and the selection and hiring process for the center.

Assistant Secretary Andrew Villacorta who represented Department of Agriculure Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, chaired the meeting which approved these resolutions.

PSC members are Benguet Governor Crescencio Pacalso, La Trinidad Mayor Romeo Salda, DA-CAR regional executive director Narciso Edillo, Benguet State University president Dr. Feliciano Calora Jr., farmers’ representative and chairman of the farmer leaders council Joaquin Geronimo Depalog and BAPTC chief of operations officer Dr. Violeta Salda.

The proposed organizational structure of the BAPTC stemmed from a strategy building and planning workshop conducted by the center. The resolution approving the structure formalized the organized interim Project Management Office as overseer of the center’s day to day operations. Additional units and personnel were identified based on the terms, necessity, and reference of each of the BPTC departments.

The other resolution constituted the Benguet State University Personnel Selection Board to facilitate the hiring process for positions with salary grades 18 and above of the BAPTC.

Salary Grades 18 and above, according to the board are the key positions crucial to the sustainability of the center’s daily operations. The BSU-PeSB members who will facilitate the selection of BAPTC personnel shall commit to undertake the selection process based on existing personnel management schemes, hiring and replacement processes which includes publication of notices of vacancies, conduct interviews, setting the minimum qualification standards, and ensuring personnel related legal compliance.

The hiring of positions with Salary Grades 17 and below will be directly under the care of the BAPTC Project Management Office.

“Out of 22 pilot trading centers in the Philippines, where only 10 are operational, we look at BATC as our role model,” declared ASec Villacorta, as he looks forward to the maximization of the center’s facilities and more improvements in its operations for the benefit of highland farmers. DACAR Release