Village Connect
In the heart of Nueva Vizcaya—a province famed as the “Citrus Capital of Luzon” and the “Ginger Capital of the Philippines”—a quiet revolution is unfolding. Farmers and small business owners here have long grappled with a stubborn challenge: how to bring their abundant harvests and local products to the wider market without being weighed down by logistics barriers. Now, FAST Logistics Group, the country’s leading end-to-end logistics provider, is stepping in to change that narrative.
On a promising Friday in Aritao, FAST CEO for Logistics, Manuel L. Onrejas Jr., joined hands with Aritao Municipal Mayor Remelina Peros-Galam and DTI Nueva Vizcaya Provincial Director Ramil D. Garcia, signing a Memorandum of Partnership Agreement (MOPA). This agreement marks the launch of the province’s very first Logistics Support Kiosk, strategically located at the OTOP Store Aritao.
The kiosk is more than just a drop-off point. It’s a bridge connecting rural producers and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to major urban centers like Metro Manila. Farmers and MSMEs from Aritao and neighboring towns can now consolidate their goods here, which FAST will then transport to bigger markets, making the journey from the province’s lush farms to consumers’ tables shorter, more efficient, and far less costly.
For Nueva Vizcaya, where rice paddies share space with rolling citrus orchards and ginger fields, this initiative couldn’t come at a better time. Despite being a major food source for Metro Manila and Calabarzon, many local producers see their incomes shrink due to spoilage, transport delays, and high distribution costs.
“Logistics should be an enabler, not a barrier,” Onrejas emphasized. “We’re committed to making sure farmers and MSMEs can get their products to larger markets quickly and in the best condition possible.”
But FAST’s vision doesn’t stop at transportation. The company is looking into supporting the Aritao Cold Storage Facility and the Aritao Agricultural Trading Post to enhance post-harvest handling. By reducing spoilage and keeping produce fresh longer, farmers can command better prices and waste less of what they grow.
Onrejas also shared plans to offer logistics training and create employment opportunities for locals—a holistic approach aimed at empowering the community from within. “When farmers succeed, the economy thrives, and families eat better,” he said. “That’s a mission we’re deeply committed to.”
The initiative is equally transformative for the province’s roughly 3,000 MSMEs, who craft everything from local delicacies to artisanal handicrafts. Mayor Peros-Galam described the partnership as a critical step toward boosting local enterprises, while DTI Provincial Director Garcia underscored that strategic collaborations like this are vital for helping MSMEs reach markets far beyond Nueva Vizcaya.
The signing event drew a diverse crowd—from local government and the Department of Agriculture to farmers’ cooperatives and small business owners—all united by a shared vision: a stronger, more resilient food supply chain and a brighter economic future.
Through FAST Logistics’ support, Nueva Vizcaya’s story is shifting—from fields that struggled to reach distant tables, to a province that stands ready to share its rich harvest with the nation and beyond.
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