Bontoc products highlighted in trade fare
BONTOC, Mountain Province – Locally produced and processed products from the 16 barangays of this were recently highlighted during the town’s Agri-Crafts Trade Fair from September 10 up to September 17, 2018.
The Agri- Trade Fair is a part of the yearly celebration of the Bontoc Foundation Day and Am-among Festival which 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).
Their products include crops, fruits, vegetables, livestock, processed food and beverage, medicinal herbs, and weaved garments or apparels.
Bontoc Mayor Franklin Odsey said with the increasing prices of goods and costs of living at present, it is good that sustainable farming is one of the sources of living of the community.
Odsey added 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 produced at the market.
Department of Trade and Industry provincial director Juliet Lucas who graced the formal opening of the trade fair voiced that sustainability is one of the very challenging objectives of businesses today when inflation is on rise.
To sustain, she said there is a need for business resiliency and continuity plan that understands market behaviors.
Lucas highlighted the use of digital technology which is very much within reach. With the use of communication technology, she said that everything is possible. This includes the use of social media such the Facebook which one can market her/his product that is considered an effective and cost-efficient technique.
Meanwhile, the blessing of the booths was administered by Rev. Michael Toyoken, the Parish Priest of Cathedral of Sta. Rita.
Also present are Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Provincial Director Alfonso Berto, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) 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 (OMAg).