Mantalongon: Vegetable basket of Central Visayas

Barangay Mantalongon, one of 33 barangays of Dalaguete, is considered the vegetable basket of Central Visayas and the hinterlands. It produces an average of 60 tons per day which is transported to neighboring cities and islands. Dalaguete is composed of Mantalongon, Private, Lahug, Mag-alambak, Grantsina, Lapa, Sampig, Cang-ibang, Katambisan and Suwa.

Aside from being the vegetable basket, it is also known as the "Little Baguio and Summer Capital of Cebu." The scenic mountain range is so popular with its cool climate even during summer. In fact, it is the most popular of all barangays in Dalaguete. Mantalongon means high value crops especially vegetables and flowers.

To escape the sweltering heat in the lowlands, many city dwellers and other out-of-towners come in droves during summer.

To combat non-competitive prices, the farmers conceptualized and erected a modern "bagsakan" in Dalaguete. This way, wholesale buyers are forced to bid for agri-products. This is aimed to gradually eliminate middlemen in agri-trading, ultimately providing an ideally better outlet for vegetables and other farm products in the upland communities.

The P2-million "bagsakan" is now serving the vegetable producers of the town. It serves 15 mountain barangays in Dalaguete producing 20,000 tons of vegetables a day marketed to Cebu City and various parts in Central Visayas.

Aside from the "bagsakan" there are Poblacion-Mantalongon Road; vegetable highway from Mantalongon across the municipality of Argao, Sibonga, Dumanhug, Barili and Carcar. Other important structures and installations: new public market; Paling-paling Diversion Road; Barangay Hall; cold storage; Rural Health Unit; Vegetable Technology Farm; Elementary and High School Buildings; San Isidro Labrador Church; Dalaguete PNP Sub-Station.