TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines — The three-day 12th annual Bohol Ubi Festival was unveiled last January 18 with an array of activities, including brisk sales, held at Plaza Rizal, infront of the provincial Capitol despite decreasing productivity every year.
Regional Executive Director Leo P. Caneda of the Department of Agriculture and Gov. Edgar Chatto led the opening program by cutting the ceremonial ribbon. They were assisted by board members Atty. Abeleon Damalerio, Atty. Venzencio Arcamo and Dr. Cesar Tomas Lopez and Chatto’s wife, Pureza and heads of offices provincial and national agencies, including Larry Pamugas, officer-in-charge of Office of the Provincial Agriculturist and Engr. Eugene Cahiles, head of the Bohol Agricultural Promotion Center.
Bohol is considered the “epicenter” of the rootcrop industry in the Visayas but ubi production drops every year, Caneda disclosed in his speech as the guest of honor. Citing data, the director said the drop of production is “not encouraging” when in fact the demand of the high value crop is very high both in local and world market.
The ubi industry used to be producing some 18 tons per harvest but now it plunged to only six tons. Because of this, “we need to create demand” according to Caneda, even as he encourages the growers to plant more. The demand is very high in the U. S., in Europe and in Asia, especially in Singapore and Hongkong, he said.
In Bohol, ubi growing is ideal because of favorable climate, “most suitable” for the rootcrop to thrive, said Caneda.
The rootcrop’s low production is also reflected on the data that indicated only 91.45 hectares of farmlands, with some 1,660 farmers involved. Pamugas cited from reports of the municipal agricultural officers.
Chatto, for his part, said the festival is the showcasing of the rootcrop’s “special attachment” to Boholanos because they consider it as “makagaba’” and a “recognition” of ubi growers. The governor bared that his administration appropriated an amount of Php1 million as approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Bohol chaired by Vice-Gov. Concepcion Lim.
This year’s festival with the theme: “Ubi: Gasa sa Kinaiyahan, sa Katawhang Bol-anon Paga-ampingan.”