Fil-Am groups welcome Mindanao products in US market

MINDANAO products will now have the opportunity to penetrate the US market, particularly the Filipino-American communities in Los Angeles, California.

This developed after Mindanao Development Authority (Minda) Secretary Emmanuel Piñol met with officials and representatives of the Davao Association USA (DAUSA) and Filipino-American Communities in Los Angeles (FACLA) on Thursday ( January 16).

It is a follow through of the Mindanao Business Mission to California, USA last December 2019 where initial talks on marketing Mindanao’s products happened between Minda, DAUSA, and FACLA.

“We have to take advantage of this huge market in LA to promote and sell our Mindanao products,” said Pinol.

DAUSA and FACLA President Fernandico Gonong Jr. told the Secretary that the Filipino community in Los Angeles is composed of about 500 Fil-Am associations.

“We have the largest concentration of Filipinos in US and this “bayanihan” or networking for Mindanao products is really promising,”

Gonong added.

He further added, “for a better linkage of market products such as frozen bangus and coconut-based commodities, we need to establish a strong e-business platform in addition to the house-to-house delivery.”

As a response, Piñol said they will also explore frozen bangus, durian, and tablea to be shipped in bulk containers.

He then instructed his International Relations and Investment Promotions team to begin doing necessary preparations for this initiative.

“We have to identify potential MinDA Coordinating Officers based in LA who are willing to represent the interest of Mindanao, as well as to promote our products in various trade and business activities there,” Piñol emphasized.

MinDA International Relations Chief Jonathan Miral said they will coordinate the partnership to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) as soon as possible.

On the other hand, MinDA initially identified Ben Lao of Bansalan who is known for his USDA-accredited products to be the pilot provider of products to be marketed in LA.