With around 70% of its land dedicated to agriculture, the economy of Guinayangan is powered by farmers and fisherfolk. Guinayangan, one of 39 municipalities that comprise Quezon Province, is led by Mayor Cesar Isaac. In recognition of the key role of agriculture in countryside development, the mayor partnered with Jollibee Group Foundation to expand opportunities for farmer constituents.

As part of JGF’s Farmer Entrepreneurship Program, the local government of Guinayangan under Mayor Isaac sent agricultural technicians to learn how farmers can earn more from their harvest. They shared their lessons with the farmers from the Samahan ng Magugulay ng Guinayangan, and trained them on how to sell to institutional buyers like Jollibee.

Before FEP, oversupply was a problem. Farmers sometimes overproduced crops without sure buyers, leaving their harvest to rot, while others planted on a trial-and-error basis. If the market was not responsive, they would look for another crop and try again.

Using lessons from FEP, Mayor Isaac’s team encouraged farmers to approach the production process like a business. After going through the FEP training and process, the farmers could plant hot peppers in large quantities that were scheduled to be delivered to Jollibee at an agreed-upon price.

Mayor Isaac noted how the LGU played an important role in bringing FEP to the local farmers.

“Kami ang nag-roroll out [ng FEP] sa mga farmer (We roll out FEP to farmers),” Mayor Isaac said. “Yan ang malaking role namin, and then sinusuportahan namin sa iba nilang pangangailangan during the training sa FEP (That is our major role, then we support them in their other needs during the FEP training).”

Part of the roll out included providing orientations, materials, and other government support that the farmers need.

Mayor Isaac also established a consolidation center to gather excess produce. The mayor’s office took charge of transporting the produce and finding willing buyers instead of allowing the farmers to sell at disadvantageous prices or worse, let the products go to waste.

In the future, Mayor Isaac hopes that the partnership with Jollibee can be expanded to include other crops, like ube and ginger. The mayor remains optimistic that hot pepper is only the beginning of a fruitful partnership with Jollibee Group.