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Agreement signed between DLNR, farmers’ co-op
Co-op pro-tem president Crispin Deleon Guerrero and acting DLNR Secretary Marianne Concepcion-Teregeyo sign the agreement with regards to the co-op’s use of the Garapan Public Market facility. (Frauleine Villanueva-Dizon)
Co-op board members and acting DLNR Secretary Marianne Concepcion-Teregeyo attended the signing at the Garapan Public Market.
Pro-tem president Crispin Deleon Guerrero and Teregeyo signed the document on behalf of the co-op board and DLNR.
In just two weeks since calling the attention of the co-op, a year-long overdue agreement is now in place after both parties sat down with acting governor Ralph DLG Torres and their legal counsels last week.
With the agreement signed, the co-op can again operate the Garapan Public Market building.
“Public Market now can operate because the only main issue in the very beginning was that when they operated a year ago, there was no agreement. The department just want to do things right,” Teregeyo said.
The signed agreement now includes $300,000 liability insurance, an increase from the co-op’s negotiation last week of $200,000. The co-op also noted that the insurance will cover food poisoning.
The agreement states that the co-op will sell not only local produce but also seafood, poultry, and meat, and that the market will be a central place for farmers, fishermen and ranchers to sell their goods.
The co-op is now in the process of coming up with an opening date as well as their inventory.
With regards to Marianas Meat Harvesting, which is still operating at the market after two cease-and-desist letters from DLNR, Teregeyo said it is a separate issue.
“The meat market is a separate issue. The AG’s Office has already guided us on two cease-and-desist letters and the meat market has responded to that and we’re working with the AG,” Teregeyo said.
She added that they will be meeting with the AG with regards to the response of the meat company.
