SANTA MARIA, Laguna (PIA) – As the rice granary of Laguna, the town of Sta. Maria proudly showcases its abundant harvest of rice production and other agricultural products every April during its Marilag Festival.

The Marilag festival derives its name from the combination of the words “Maria” and “Laguna,” which not only embodies the town’s identity but also pays homage to farming, which remains the vital source of income for the people of Sta. Maria.

Marilag also means “beautiful” or “noble”, which is evident in the town's rich farmland and the welcoming attitude of its residents towards guests and tourists.

One of the distinctive programs during the celebration is their emphasis on the distribution of agricultural initiatives aimed at increasing farmers’ income, ensuring food supply, and fostering a sustainable agricultural sector.

According to Mayor Cindy Carolino, they coincide the celebration of Marilag with their harvest season to pay tribute to the contribution of farmers to the town.

“During the festival, we want to showcase everything that is beautiful about Santa Maria: its people, the talents of our people, our sites, and of course our bountiful harvest because it is really connected to our main product, which is rice,” Carolino said.

On the 11th year of Marilag, several agricultural projects were inaugurated and launched. Among these is the rice dryer, which is vital for farmers, especially during the rainy season.

For Vergilio Ilagan Porto, the president of the Nagkakaisang Magsasaka ng Barangay Cambuja (NMBC), the recirculating grain dryer they received from the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the local government will greatly help them increase their income.

“This is a big help to farmers, especially in Barangay Cambuja, since it has become a tradition for rice buyers in Sta. Maria to decrease a one-peso purchase price when it rains. With the operation of this recirculating dryer, farmers will not be forced to sell their harvest at a lower price. Instead, there could be an increase of up to two pesos or even more in the price of rice they harvested,” Porto said.

While there are existing grain dryers in their municipality, most of them are privately owned and profit-driven.

To bridge this gap, the local government ensures that it will provide support and create programs that will help the farming industry thrive. Despite the declining interest in farming among the youth, the local government is introducing mechanization to better assist farmers.

Carolino added: “Santa Maria is truly an agricultural community, and our number one product here is rice. Therefore, my continued focus is really to provide more support to our farmers’ organizations, and we really want to introduce them to mechanization.”

The DA and the local government also awarded a piggery to better aid hog raisers in the town as part of the Integrated National Swine Production Initiatives for Recovery and Expansion (INSPIRE) program, aligning with the government’s food security agenda. (CO/PIA-4A)

The DA and the local government also awarded a piggery to better aid hog raisers in the town as part of the Integrated National Swine Production Initiatives for Recovery and Expansion (INSPIRE) program, aligning with the government’s food security agenda. (CO/PIA-4A)