Cres Ian Lorenzo
BULACAN’S food and agribusiness products could soon be featured in an international trade fair, paving the way for their entry into regional and global markets.
This, as the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (Citem) is targeting to showcase “Tatak Bulakenyo” products at the International Food Expo (IFEX) 2027, leveraging the Bulacan Food Fair and Exposition (Buffex) as a qualifying platform.
Citem Deputy Executive Director Ma. Lourdes Mediran said during the 14th Buffex 2026 that products regularly qualified to join Buffex are already positioned to meet IFEX standards.
Buffex, established in 2012 through the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Development Council, is organized by the Bulacan Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Provincial Government of Bulacan.
IFEX is a flagship program of Citem, an attached agency of the Department of Trade and Industry mandated to help MSMEs enter international trade fairs and become regular exporters.
Mediran said the two fairs share common compliance requirements, including Food and Drug Administration (FDA) certification and halal certification, which are key to export readiness.
Bulacan’s agribusiness edge remains anchored in food, she said. The province’s product lineup includes freshwater prawn, milkfish, mud crab, blue swimming crab, pork belly, high-value commercial vegetables, organic rice, processed foods and juices, and sweets made from glutinous rice and carabao’s milk.
These products reflect the province’s combination of aquaculture, livestock and crop production, and their potential for value-adding — a priority in agribusiness development.
Mediran proposed a dedicated Bulacan Pavilion at IFEX, which is regularly held at the SMX Convention Center and World Trade Center in Pasay City, and draws trade representatives and trading partners from the Philippines.
The push aligns with the country’s move to expand its food exports and free trade access.
According to DTI records, the Philippines now has 23 free trade agreements. The largest is the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which opened wider export opportunities to Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) markets and its dialogue partners — China, South Korea, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.
For Bulacan MSMEs, RCEP provides a pathway to scale from domestic fairs to regional supply chains, particularly for processed food and high-value crops that require certification and consistent quality.
Gov. Daniel Fernando welcomed the Citem plan and said the provincial government is increasing financial support to sustain production and quality standards.
Fernando said cooperatives supporting MSMEs can now borrow up to P500,000 from the provincial government, an increase meant to help producers maintain standards and volume needed for larger markets.
The financing is intended to support postharvest handling, processing and packaging — critical steps for meeting export requirements and reducing losses.
If realized, the Bulacan-to-IFEX link would create a progression for agribusiness MSMEs: product development and market testing at Buffex, compliance with FDA and halal standards, cooperative-led financing for quality improvement and exposure to international buyers at IFEX through Citem’s trade mission network.
For a province known for aquaculture and carabao-based products, the move positions Tatak Bulakenyo not only as a local brand but as a potential export brand within Asean and beyond.
