BONTOC, Mountain Province – Produced and processed products of the 16 barangays of this capital town are now being displayed and sold at the Agri-Crafts Trade Fair at the Circle Rotunda starting September 10 up to September 17, 2018.
The Agri-Trade Fair, part of the yearly celebration of the Bontoc Foundation Day and Am-among Festival, promotes and offers various products from the Riverside Cluster Booth (Barangays Bayyo, Talubin, Can-eo and Tocucan); ALBAGO Booth (Barangays Alab Oriente, Alab Proper, Balili and Gonogon); Central Booth (Barangays Bontoc Ili, Caluttit, Poblacion and Samoki); and Upland Booth (Barangays Dalican, Guina-ang, Mainit and Maligcong).
Products include crops, fruits, vegetables, livestock, processed food and beverage, medicinal herbs, and weaved garments or apparels.
In his message, Mayor Franklin Odsey said that with the increasing prices of goods and costs of living at present, it is good that sustainable farming is one of the sources of livelihood of the community as this greatly helps augment the financial needs at home because instead of buying some of these, they produce their own staple food, at the same time sell their produce at the market.
Provincial Director Juliet Lucas who grace the formal opening of the fair shared that sustainability is one of the very challenging objectives of businesses today when inflation is on rise, and to sustain livelihood endeavours, there is a need for business resiliency and continuity plan that understands market behaviors.
She highlighted the use of digital media which is very much within reach, saying that with the use of communication technology, everything is possible including the use of social media such the Facebook which one can be used to products effectively and cost-efficiently.
Meanwhile, the blessing of the booths was administered by Rev. Michael Toyoken, the Parish Priest of Cathedral of Sta. Rita.
Also present were the Department of Science and Technology Provincial Director Alfonso Berto, Department of Labor and Employment Provincial Director Apollo Luspian, members of the Sangguniang Bayan, barangay officials, employees of the municipal government, representatives from other national government agencies, farmers, and exhibitors. The activity was spearheaded by the Office of the Municipal Agriculturist.
By Alpine L. Killa