Capitol opens Christmas Agri-Trade Fair

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu provincial government has opened its weeklong Agri-Trade Fair as part of the activities lined up this Christmas.

The activity dubbed as “Pasko sa Kapitolyo’s Agri-Trade Fair” will run from December 15 to 19. It will open at 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the back of the Capitol Building.

Private exhibitors and local government units have joined the activity to showcase their products and invite prospective buyers, Provincial Information Officer Ethel Natera said.

The FREEMAN visited the area yesterday and found some exhibitors started mounting their stalls and booths.

The Provincial Agriculturist’s Office and Provincial Veterinarian’s Office take charge of the activity.

Natera said the Capitol was not able to stage such activity last year because of the devastation brought by super typhoon Yolanda.

An Agri-Trade Fair was also held in August as part of the month-long celebration for the province’s 445th founding anniversary.

Over 70 private exhibitors and local government units in the province participated in the activity, including some typhoon-hit areas in northern Cebu.

Natera said the province is expecting lesser participants in the “Pasko sa Kapitolyo’s Agri-Trade Fair” following the two calamities that affected Cebu this year, the tropical depression Queenie and typhoon Ruby.

Meanwhile, the “Belen sa Kapitolyo”, showing the nativity scene, was lighted and unveiled last night at the Capitol.

Along with the lighting ceremony was the launching of the Belen-making contest participated by various departments of the provincial government clustered into seven.

Prizes await the winners: P20,000 for the first place; P16,000 for the second; and P10,000 for the third. Non-winning participants will get P5,000 as consolation prize. Winners will be announced on Friday, Natera said. (FREEMAN)