Alegria showcases organic products, holds pageant to promote tourism
ALEGRIA Mayor Verna Magallon launched last Wednesday the town’s first Organic Congress to promote organic farming.
The activity, which was held at the Alegria Heritage Park, came more than a month after the Department of Agriculture 7 named Alegria as the region’s Most Outstanding Organic Municipality, said Wilfredo Lestones, the congress’ focal person and municipal administrator.
Dr. Gilbert Magallon, the town’s organic farming expert, welcomed the holding of the congress, saying that the Organic Agriculture Act of 2010 mandates every local government unit to promote, develop and implement organic agriculture.
“Alegria is the first municipality that went into organic farming that produces clean, safe and zero- chemical food,” he said.
The congress was participated in by nine farmers’ groups and fisherfolk associations.
The two-day activity tackled organic farming practices. A demonstration was also held on how to make organic concoctions like animal feed supplements, fertilizers and pesticides.
The congress also served as an agricultural fair, where farmers showcased their locally made handicrafts and organic fruits and vegetables.
They also displayed their processed and packaged organic wellness products like moringga or malunggay powder, turmeric powder and ginger powder as well as the “Happy Pig, Alegria Pork,” which is a brand of organic meat sold in the markets of Dumanjug and Moalboal.
Lestones said the organic pork was supplied by the farmers, through their livestock dispersal program and organic demo farm.
The town’s organic demo farm was established eight years ago and sits on a 6,000-squaremeter lot in Barangay Poblacion.
Magallon said the facility has vegetables, fruits and livestock like pigs, chickens and goats, and is managed by an organic farm specialist.
Aside from the organic congress, Magallon launched the Miss Alegria Tourism 2016, which has 12 ladies promoting the town’s popular tourist destinations.
These are canyoneering, Libo Hills, Alegria Marine Sanctuary, Tañon Strait, Salay Caves in Barangay Valencia, Heritage Park, Cambais Falls, Mount Lanaya, Wonder Falls or the Compostela cascades, Montpeller Falls, Bato Malunhao Resort and the organic demo farm.