Homegrown products showcased in Bodong Agro-Trade Fair 2024

Tabuk City, Kalinga – This year’s Bodong Agro-Trade Fair, which features homegrown products, officially opens today, February 12, at Capitol Park, Bulanao, Tabuk City, as part of the celebration of Kalinga’s 29th Founding Anniversary and 5th Bodong Festival.

Seven municipalities of the province and its sole city participated in the agricultural fair led by their local agriculture offices.

Said offices collected products from its merchants and farmers to sell at the trade fair.

These include vegetables, fruits, handicrafts, seedlings, coffee, 'unoy rice', small home furniture, squash and banana chips, ube jam, chili paste, woven products, clay jars, soft brooms, and vinegar, among others.

Gracing the opening program is National Commission on Indigenous Peoples Chairman Jennifer Sibuglas, an adopted daughter of Kalinga, named as “Chinayaw”.

In her speech, she highlighted the contribution of Kalinga farmers in providing food not just for the province but for the country as a whole.

She also narrated how she involved herself in farming during her reign as NCIP legal officer in an effort to immerse herself in how indigenous peoples live.

“Ako rin po ay naging farmer. Sa inyong lahat, nagpapasalamat po ako at nabigyan ako ng pagkakataon para makiisa, makisama, at makipagtulungan dito po sa Kalinga bilang isang adopted daughter. Itatayo ko po ang inyong pangalan dito sa Kalinga, with much honor, integrity and credibility,” she added.

Governor James Edduba expressed gratitude to the eight local executives of the province, the office of the congressman, and other provincial officials for their support in the fair and other agricultural initiatives of the provincial local government unit.

The Agro-Fair, to recall, is staged annually, except during the COVID-19 pandemic, to showcase the diverse products of farmers and merchants in the province, helping them promote their products and generate income.