Farm goods take centerstage as anniv opens

An agricultural fair showcasing well-loved delicacies and local farm produce of the province’s towns and cities marked the start of Cebu’s 444th founding anniversary celebration yesterday.

The 444th anniversary of the provincehood of Cebu opened with the traditional flag-raising ceremony.

Also in attendance were the province’s mayors, vice-mayors and members of the Provincial Board (PB).

Around 500 people flocked to the agri-fair that featured more than 70 booths by 46 local government units (LGUs) and 31 local businessmen at the Capitol grounds, said Provincial Agriculturist Roldan Saragena.

The agri-fair, he said, is an opportunity for farmers to display their produce without the presence of middlemen who gets more than the farmers themselves.

Aside from that, farmers could possibly get wholesale deals and form new market linkages with potential buyers in the fair.

“Our farmers for a week can evade the middlemen who abuse them. This is also an opportunity for them to meet big-time buyers,” he told Cebu Daily News.

The province also shouldered the expenses incurred for the transportation of the farm produce and delicacies from the mountains and far-flung towns.

However, the local business, he said, were charged P1,000 for the use of the booths for the whole duration of the fair.

The agri-fair, which will last from August 1 to 7, will open the booths at 7 in the morning and will close by 9 p.m. It will also be opened on Saturday and Sunday.

Saltwater eel or “bakasi” and brined anchovies locally known as “ginamos bolinao” are few of the products on sale at the fair’s opening day, yesterday.

Meanwhile, the city of Talisay sold their famous lechon while Naga City displayed wooden accessories.

Organic vegetables and fruits were also sold in the fair together with potted plants and flowers.

breakfast meet

After the flag ceremony, the officials then proceeded to the Capitol social hall for breakfast.

In the following days, various activities such as a bloodletting drive, free medical checkups, song and dance competition and raffle draws for Capitol employees will be held.

On August 7, the last day of the celebrations, the Gabii sa Sugbo will be held at the Capitol Social Hall where all the province’s mayors and Provincial Board members are expected to be in attendance.

The anniversary of the provincehood of Cebu is traced to the appointment by Spain’s King Philip II of Miguel Lopez de Legaspi as governor of Cebu on August 6, 1569.

Republic Act 8952 declares August 6 as a special non-working holiday for Cebu province, including the highly urbanized cities of Cebu and Lapu-Lapu.