23 barangays take part in Farmers Day

CEBU, Philippines - At least 23 barangays are taking part in this year's Farmers Day in Cebu City, displaying fresh produce at a fair at the Plaza Sugbo right outside the Cebu City Hall.

The fair will close today.

The event is being initiated by the Cebu City government through the City's Agriculture Department. Its main purpose is to let the public realize that 85 percent of the city is made up of agricultural barangays.

Deputy Mayor on agriculture, Councilor Alvin Arcilla told reporters that the event is also a way of recognizing the efforts of farmers in promoting agriculture in the city.

"Paghatag ni... pag-recognize sa atong mga farmers. Gitagaan sila og time pag-display sa ilang mga produkto diri gyud mismo atubangan sa Cebu City Hall og inyong makita karun," he said.

Apple Tribunalo, officer in charge of the City Agriculture Department, said at least 19 booths have been put up at the Plaza Sugbo occupied by farmers from 19 barangays, including Toong, Adlaon, Pamutan, Budlaan, Tagba-o, Tabunan, Sapang Dako, Buhisan, Binaliw, Lusaran, Mabini, Bon-bon, Buo-taup, Malobog, Babao, Sirao, Tap-Tap, Sudlon II, and Sudlon I.

The best booth will get P20,000 while the consolation prize winners will get P8,000.

Meanwhile, 11 barangays participated in the float contest during the parade that opened the event. The 11 are Adlaon, Pamutan, Budlaan, Sapang Dako, Buhisan, Binaliw, Buo-taup, Malobog, Babag, Sirao, and Tap-Tap.

The first place winner will get P50,000; the second place winner will get P40,000; and the third place winner will get P30,000. Non-winning floats will get P15,000.

Arcilla hopes that the floats will be adopted in the upcoming Sinulog Festival.

"Kaning sa flower festival... actually, usa sa among aim is maapil ni siya sa sinulog kay kung imong tanawn, kung imong i-held og December, mostly, ang makakita, mga local tourists lang. Ang ato tang gitanaw nga madiskubrihan ni siya sa tibuok kalibutan usa man gud ana... basin nalang og makamatngon ka, naay mga produkto gikan sa laing nasud nga kani ganing mga buwak nga gipang preserve? Basin nalang madiskubrihan unsang klase nga buwak diri nato sa Cebu City, unya pwede na ni nato ma-export. At the same time, maka add ni og income sa atong mga farmers," he said.

The appropriation for the event, P524,000, will be from the budget of the city agriculture department, Tribunalo said.

The Farmers' Day is a yearly event that started in 2009.  (FREEMAN)