BAYAMBANG, Pngasinan – “Kailangang kapit-bisig tayo para sa mga tinatawag nating essential crops upang makakain ang mga Pilipino. We need to work together so that prices are stabilized, and all the farmers get their equitable share,” urged Ilocos Norte Governor Imee R. Marcos on her visit here recently where she attended the town’s Malangsi Fish Festival.
She pointed out that the smuggling of crops like onion and garlic causes seasonal surges in prices. “Ang presyo ay nagbabagsakan. Ang sibuyas (onion), pa iba-iba ng presyo; kabilang din ang bawang (garlic) at lasona (shallot) na galing sa amin. May smuggling at kung ano-ano pa,” she said.
With 2,000 hectares of farmland, Bayambang is the Ilocos Region’s top producer of red and white onions, while Ilocos Norte is the top garlic producer.
“Bayambang and Ilocos Norte have something in common. Sabi nila, sahog daw tayo sa pagkain. Sapagkat sa inyo dito sa Bayambang, puro sibuyas, sa amin naman sa Ilocos Norte, puro bawang. Kaya’t eto nga, magtulungan tayo at makipag-ugnayan sa mga magsasaka para sa presyo upang maayos ang pagbenta at upang sabay-sabay tayong umunlad.”
Governor Marcos stressed that by helping farmers get better income from their produce, self-sufficiency and progress could be attained.
The Malangsi Fish Festival features the “Kalutan ed Dalan,” a celebration of the 404th founding year of Bayambang and fourth anniversary of the town being awarded by the Guinness World Records for the “longest barbecue grill in the world.”
She thanked the citizens of Bayambang for their support for the Marcos family since the administration of Former President Ferdinand E. Marcos (FEM) up to the vice presidential bid of Former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr, saying, “…Ang ading ko na si Bongbong ang Vice President ng Bayambang.”
Recalling her father’s legacy during her visit, Governor Marcos shared in a speech, “Gustong-gusto kong pumunta dito sa Bayambang dahil yung Central Luzon Teachers College dito ay ang naging core ng Pangasinan State University ng tatay ko. Ang bawat estudyante na masipag, marunong at magaling ay kailangang mabigyan ng pagkakataon upang makapag-aral.”
FEM signed Presidential Decree No. 1497 in 1978, mandating the creation of a higher-level learning institution in the province of Pangasinan. This institution is now known as the Pangasinan State University.
“Yun ang pangarap ng tatay ko, na magkaroon ng abot-kayang edukasyon at dito sa Pangasinan kaya mong gawin iyon,” she concluded.
By Dexter A. See
