TUBOD, Lanao del Norte (PIA) — The Inter-Municipality Booth Contest at the Agri-Aqua Fair, held as part of the weeklong celebration of Lanao del Norte’s 65th Araw ng Lanao del Norte, showcased the cultural richness and agricultural abundance of 19 municipalities across the province.
“Ang purpose ani, of course, kini nga atong i-showcase ang mga farmers nga nag-display sa ilang mga produkto sa matag munisipyo, ilang mga major product gikan sa matag munisipalidad,” Jalandoni Buale Pitiilan, acting provincial agriculturist, said.
(The purpose here, of course, is to showcase the farmers displaying their products from each municipality, their major products from each municipality.)
Moreover, Gov. Imelda “Angging” Quibranza Dimaporo emphasized agriculture as a top priority alongside the health sector.
“Nasayod ko nga ang agrikultura ang backbone sa atong ekonomiya, ug mao kini ang magdala kanato sa kalamboan nga atong gipangandoy. Kami sa probinsya, nagpadayon sa pagpangita og paagi aron ang mga mag-uuma makasulay sa paggamit og mga upgraded nga teknolohiya sa pagsaka,” she said.
(I understand that agriculture is the backbone of our economy, and it will lead us to the progress we aspire for. In our province, we continue to search for ways so that farmers can experience using upgraded agricultural technologies.)
During the booth contest, each municipality showcased their local produce.
The town of Salvador, whose booth featured a traditional Torogan (an ancestral house of the Maranao people), won first place and a prize of P200,000. Salvador’s exhibit, adorned with intricate okir (traditional Maranao motifs) designs made of colorful seeds, also emphasized their agricultural prowess with displays of corn, bananas, and coconuts, which showcased their rich agricultural heritage.
“Thank you kaayo for giving us a chance kay mu-shine pud ang among municipality, and of course, matagaan pud og chance ang mga talents nga naa sa Salvador,” Joel Ebardo of Salvador town said.
(Thank you very much for giving us a chance, because our municipality will also shine, and of course, the talents in Salvador will also be given a chance.)
Meanwhile, Nunungan secured second place and won P150,000 for their innovative display of 25 small kubos (huts), each representing a barangay. In their booth, they showcased rare fruits like strawberries, wild berries, and dragon fruits.
Bran Darius Vadehueza, the municipal tourism office designate for Nunungan, shared that despite time constraints, they managed to construct the booth in just 10 days with a team of carpenters and decorators to expedite the process.
“I believe it’s the collaborative effort of everyone, especially the LGU, because we worked hand in hand to actually come up with this strong and amazing design. The 25 barangays are really behind our idea to come up with this amazing facade of our agri-aqua booth,” he said.
Meanwhile, Tubod town secured 3rd place and received P100,000 for their vibrant display of bananas at the fair. Lala town followed in 4th place with their calamansi products and won P80,000. Kapatagan took 5th place and won P70,000 as they showcased their abundant rice, while Bacolod claimed 6th place with a prize of P50,000.
In addition to the booth contest, a “pinaka” (most) contest was held, showcasing superior local products like giant coconuts, jackfruit, tilapia, and more, with the aim of enhancing agricultural productivity in the province. (LELA/PIA-10/Lanao del Norte)
