Gov. Chatto commendsUbi growers

Governor Edgar M. Chatto has commended the Ubi growers in the province and described them as the unsung heroes for sustaining and strengthening the Ubi industry in Bohol.

This developed after the just concluded Ubi Festival 2019 showed that the volume of Ubi products displayed reached 600,000 kilograms (kgs.) much higher compared to last year that at 400,000 kgs.

The Ubifest was slated last Tuesday to Thursday at the Bohol-Agricultural Promotion Center (B-APC), Dao, Tagbilaran City.

Gov. Chatto in his message during the opening program of the festival said the Ubi industry must continue and be strengthened as this would help drop the poverty index in Bohol. He further revealed that poverty index is 52.3% in 2010 to 21.7% in 2018.

Chatto said that Bohol’s economy is stepping up with province growth rate last year at 9.1%, much higher compared to the 6.7% national growth.

The governor cited the three pillars of growth: agro-industrial development, eco-cultural tourism and information communication and technology (ICT).

He expressed thanks and gratitude to Rene Somodobila, Dr. Carolyn May O. Daquio and Jane DarundayMaturgo who organized sometime in 1999 the Bohol Ubi Center Foundation, Inc. (BUCFI) an active partner with the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA). It was aimed at strengthening the Ubi industry of the known Ubi municipalities such as Albur, Baclayon, Cortes, Corella, Dauis,Panglao,Sikatuna and Tagbilaran (ALBACOCODAPASITA), leading the conduct of the first Ubi Festival in 2000 at Poblacion, Dauis, Bohol.

Gov. Chatto urged the Boholanos especially the youth to regain their interest in farming.

The governor also thanked the Korean government for bringing in their farming technology.

Dr. Woongo Ha, Country Director, KOPIA Philippines in his message said that the Korean government is carrying on its support to agriculture in the Philippines.

Board Member Abeleon R. Damalerio in behalf of Congressman Arthur C. Yap, IsabelitoTongco in lieu of Congressman Rene L. Relampagos and Alvin Alcuzar who represented City Mayor John Geesnell“Baba” Yap underlined the importance of Ubi industry in the province for food sufficiency and the pride of Bohol especially the UbiKinampay.

Bearing the theme “Ubi, Dungogsa Bohol PadayongAmomahonugPalamboonsamga Mag-uumangBol-anon” the three-day activities were culminated last Thursday afternoon through a closing and awarding program at the Island City Mall Activity Center.

Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office (DA-RFO7) Director Salvador Diputado thanked the provincial government for spearheading the activities and strengthening the Ubi industry in Bohol.

Diputado urged the Boholano farmers to brace the challenges that the agriculture is facing such as: aging farmers, land conversion from agricultural to industrial, climate change and the lack of interest among youth to engage in farming.

The winners by category:

BugnosaRondalya:  1^st prize – Sikatuna, Bohol – P10,000; 2^nd Prize – San Isidro, Bohol – P7,000; 3^rd Prize – Talibon, Bohol – (P5,000); Highest Volume of Ubi Tubers Displayed: 1^st Prize – Carmen, Bohol – P10,000; 2^nd Prize – Ubay, Bohol – P7,0000; 3^rd Prize – Corella, Bohol – P5,000; UbiKuradang Contest (Youth Category): 1^st Prize – Baclayon, Bohol – P5,000; 2^nd Prize – Dauis, Bohol – P4,000; 3^rd Prize – Carmen, Bohol – P3,000; Best Ubi Booth/ Ubi Exhibit Contest: 1^st Prize – Carmen, Bohol –P10,000; 2^nd Prize – Dauis, Bohol – P8,000; 3^rd Prize – Talibon, Bohol – P6,000; 4^th prize-Panglao, Bohol- P4,000; 5^th prize- Sikatuna, Bohol- P2,000;

Pinaka (The Best Quality Ubi Harvest) Kinampay: 1^st Prize – Carmen, Bohol – P3,000; Baligonhon: 1^st Prize – Carmen, Bohol – P3,000; Iniling: 1^st Prize – Baclayon, Bohol – P3,000; Tam-isan: 1^st Prize – Valencia, Bohol – P3,000; Ubi Jingle Contest: 1^st Prize – Corella, Bohol – P3,000; 2^nd Prize – Carmen, Bohol – P2,000; 3^rd Prize – Baclayon, Bohol – P1,000; UbiBalak Contest (Farmer Category) – 1^st Prize – Sikatuna, Bohol – P3,000; 2^nd Prize – Dauis, Bohol – P2,000; 3^rd Prize – Loboc, Bohol – P1,000; UbiBalak Contest (Youth Category): 1^st Prize – Sikatuna, Bohol – P5,000; 2^nd Prize – Panglao, Bohol – P4,000; 3^rd Prize – Corella, Bohol – P3,000; UbiKuradang Contest (Farmers Category): 1^st Prize – Panglao, Bohol – P5,000; 2^nd Prize – Carmen, Bohol – P4,000; 3^rd Prize – Talibon, Bohol – P3,000;

Eddie Peregrina Voice Alike: 1^st Prize – Panglao, Bohol – P3,000; 2^nd Prize – Loboc, Bohol – P2,000; 3^rd Prize – Sikatuna, Bohol –P1,000; Ubi Challenge Eating Contest – 1^st Prize – Baclayon, Bohol – P2,500; 2^nd Prize – Carmen, Bohol – P2,000; 3^rd Prize – Lila, Bohol – P1,5000; Motorcade Contest: 1^st Prize – Carmen, Bohol – P5,000; 2^nd Prize – Corella, Bohol – P3,000; 3^rd Prize – Sikatuna, Bohol – P2,000.

The LGUs and the different organizations participated and displayed Ubi tubers were: Carmen, Dauis, Talibon, Panglao, Sikatuna, Corella, Loboc, Valencia, San Isidro, Maribojoc, Jagna, Baclayon, Pilar, Antequera, Balilihan, Ubay, KapunungansaBol-anongOrganikong Mag-uuma (KBoOM), Bohol Ubi Growers Association (BUGA), Loon, Lila, Bohol Mushroom Farmers Association, Association of Individuals Moving (A.I.M) for Progress, Bohol MADe.

They were acknowledged by Dr. Larry M. Pamugas, Officer in Charge, OPA who also expressed his thanks and gratitude to the growers whoparticipated the three-day activities.(AtoyCosap )