Capitol urges farmers anew to plant more Ubi Kinampay

The Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh) through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) urged anew the Boholano farmers to plant more Ubi Kinampay to address the huge demand or big market of such variety.
The call was aired by Assistant Provincial Agriculturist Larry M. Pamugas in front of the Municipal Agricultural Officers, Municipal Agricultural Technicians, Officers of the Bohol Ubi Growers Association (BUGA), Bohol and City Schools Divisions, Private Schools, Philippine National Police Officials and other Ubi Stakeholders during the 17th Ubi Festival Assessment last Tuesday held at the Panda Tea and Garden, Purok IV, Dao this city.
Pamugas said the market of Ubi Kinampay is not a problem because it is salable. However, the problem lies on the production or supply.
In fact, of all the varieties displayed and sold at the Plaza Rizal during the 17th Ubi Festival on January 20-23, 2017, Kinampay got the highest sale that reached P222, 747 and even at the first day of the festival its supply was already sold out.
Pamugas clarified that the purpose of the assessment was to see if there were lapses and to fill up the rooms for improvement so that the next Ubi Fest come on the 3rd week of January 2018 would be more festive and lively.
It may be recalled that during the opening program of the 17th Ubi Fest on January 20, 2017 at the Bohol Cultural Center, the Department of Tourism (DOT) Region-7 Director Catalino Chan III in his keynote speech said the next Ubi Festival in Bohol will be a big bang.
DOT 7 Dir. Chan disclosed that the DOT will help in planning to make the event more festive like the Sinulog and Lanzones Festivals in Cebu and Camiguin respectively.
Eleno L. Evangelista, Ubi Festival Focal person said that it is expected that there will be more meetings to be conducted in coordination with the tourism officials.
Evangelista bared that it has been proposed that the next venue of the 18th Ubi Festival will be at the space in between the Island City Mall (ICM) and Dampas Public Market to ensure the influx of the buying public.
Leon Parac, Jr. suggested that the provincial law makers will pass an ordinance encouraging the Boholanos to plant Ubi more specifically the Ubi Kinampay.
Arlene Cabusao, MAO of Carmen also suggested that the prizes be increased especially in the booth category competition because it incurs big amount for the construction.
Cabusao added that it is more welcome if the prize is in a form of project with certain amount to be given to the winning Local Government Units (LGUs).
To savor the celebration she also suggested that instead of having a motorcade in the first day of the Festival it will be a float parade to be decorated with the different parts of Ubi and other materials.
It was also suggested by the attendees of the assessment that the Ubi Festival should be conducted during the working days.
They said that they experienced meager sale on their products during Saturday and Sunday of which they primarily depend on the buying forces of the government employees.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) Tagbilaran City had been lauded on their services rendered in manning the traffic during the motorcade.
Other suggestions raised that there will be student category in rondalla contest and has a contest piece both the students and farmers categories, and to include again the Pinaka Contest but specific only for Ubi Kinampay. (Atoy Cosap)