Gov. Aris: develops highland areas for vegetables

Governor Erico Aristotle C. Aumentado sees the need to fully develop the highland areas in the 3 rd  District of
Bohol for vegetables as the demand is high for the 1.4 million Boholanos and 1.3 tourists annually.

During the press conference last Tuesday in his residence in Dauis, Bohol, and during the Agri-Fishery
Consultative Meeting at the Ceremonial Hall, 4 th  Floor, New Capitol building last Thursday, Gov. Aumentado said
that the possibility is not remote that the province will experience the shortages of vegetables supply from Mindanao
if the calamity would hit the region like what had happened in other provinces in Mindanao that experienced
floodings.

Aumentado said that we should not be always dependent on sources from other provinces, but instead we have to
produce our owned vegetables from the highland areas in Bohol especially in the 3 rd  District.

The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) has already identified known vegetables areas in the 3 rd  District
such as in barangays Mayana, Calabasita, Boctol, Canjulao and Buyog in Jagna; Taytay in Duero and some
barangays in the towns of Guindulman, Sierra-Bullones and Pilar.

Rufa Ugay, High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) coordinator in the province disclosed that there
are vegetables grower associations in the identified municipalities have been assisted by the Office of the Provincial
Agriculturist (OPA). 

These places are suitable for planting vegetables because of its cold weather condition considering some of these
areas have the elevation of 819 meters above sea level and considered as some of the highest peak in Bohol.
The governor said that the Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh) has been coordinating with the DA for the
establishments of markets which are important to encourage the farmers to produce more agricultural products.
Aumentado has cited two Bagsakan Centers to be established in Tawala and Libaong, Panglao and in Tagbilaran
City.

The centers serve as the direct displaying areas for agricultural products from the Boholano farmers whose prices
are cheaper than those of the public markets.

The PGBh through the OPA has no letting up in giving of some interventions to the agri-fishery sector.
Just recently, during the Suhid sa Malampusong Mag-uumang Bol-anon 2023 tilt, some vegetable growers
received power sprayers, garden cultivators, and water pumps as prizes.

The OPA also has been distributed vegetable seeds during week days for those  who have come to the office for
backyard gardening. By Atoy Cosap