LAGAWE, IFUGAO – It was a resounding success for farm tourism advocates, as farmers of Alfonso Lista town finally made a headway in pushing for a flagship program of the national government and the Tourism Office and Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) held recently an all-important Farm Tourism Stakeholders meeting at the Liga Hall.
“Despite time constraints and limited resources, the response of farmers to our invitation to find time for this activity has been very good,” said Lorena Dulnuan, the town’s tourism officer.
Nearly 30 farmers, farmers’ organizations leaders and barangay council officials were in attendance in the three-hour gathering.
Indeed, a big leap forward! Seeking stakeholders to see for themselves, real unfolding and realization of the farm tourism program, is one of the best ways to demonstrate the government’s commitment to increase the country’s competitiveness in the tourism industry and to upgrade production in agriculture.
For several years, the response of the agriculture sector to jumpstart farm tourism in this part of Ifugao was largely negative. A key farm tourism adherent here described the mood as “lukewarm.”
Farm tourism or agritourism has remained a crucial issue which both the private and public sectors should address with firm resolve. The passage of a law on farm tourism further strengthened the government’s mandate for a more systematic and accessible service delivery for all stakeholders. It was authored by Sen. Cynthia Villar, chair of the committee on agriculture and food.
Farm tourism has gained considerable footholds in many towns of the Philippines. Admittedly, though, this is not the case in Alfonso Lista, in particular, and throughout the province, in general, for one must consider the level of understanding and appreciation of Ifugao farmers on this fast-emerging field of tourism and their attitude on mechanized agriculture vis-à-vis the global order.
Greater opportunities in Ifugao through farm tourism could accelerate economic growth to a significant level in the near term.
“From these developments, we can now look to advance the cause of farm tourism in Ifugao toward invigorating the tourism industry as well,” Jesus Domingo told the ZigZag Weekly.
Domingo is the owner of the famed Rancho Domingo at Barangay Namillangan and is also a regional Gawad Saka awardee of the Department of Agriculture.
After many years of inaction, moving forward the task of promoting farm tourism that embodies the spirit of improving the conditions of soil tillers is critical to elevating the farming sector to a more comfortable level. Most of the town’s farmers are poor.
Farm tourism now offers a lot of benefits to farmers. Farm tourism is a major component of the Department of Tourism’s program even before Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat took over the post of Wanda Teo who was fired by President Duterte.
“By striving to create farm tourism sites at Alfonso Lista, we strive to continue building on our growth momentum in the countryside,” said municipal agriculturist Eugene Culimay Jr.
Culimay, also an engineer, is one of the most popular head municipal agriculturists of the province.
The government is aggressively targeting to set up farm tourism sites in the country’s 81 provinces.
The continued participation of knowledgeable, dedicated and hardworking individuals in the private sector like Mr. Domingo will be vital in sustaining the vibrancy and competitiveness in this field and to the goal of raising the income of impoverished farmers.
As such, Domingo fittingly described the undertaking as “a re-launching program of farm tourism at Alfonso Lista.”
“I do hope that our farmers on the occasion of this milestone will be more committed to grabbing the rare opportunity to be forerunners of farm tourism not just in Ifugao, but throughout the Cordillera Administrative Region as well,” he added in an exclusive interview with the ZigZag Weekly.
While Ifugao has a large potential for tourism development, the current yield of farm lands is low and only creates a bottleneck for further development. The conversion of these lands into farm tourism sites, which will result in more jobs and higher earnings, is expected to unlock the overall socioeconomic potential.
“We’re closely looking at making Alfonso Lista the ‘farm tourism hub’ of Ifugao and northern Luzon in the next three years,” Domingo said during the stakeholders meeting’s open forum.
If realized, by 2022 sprawling and even small-sized farms in this fast-rising farming town are envisioned to become tourist attractions.
Alfonso Lista’s major crops include corn, rice and vegetables. It is also known for its dragon fruit produce. Dragon fruit production is unique to the town so dragon fruit plantations have been part of Alfonso Lista’s tourism product development.
The dragon fruit plantations are always tied up or associated with the promotion of farm tourism which should not be limited to corn farms. Over the years, Alfonso Lista has gained the distinction as the “corn granary of the CAR.”
For its effort, the town was adjudged recently national awardee in the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) in 2019 of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
Mayor Edralin Alipio has vowed increasing support for farm tourism advocates and practitioners.
“The municipal government looks at farmers as contributors to the town’s development,” Alipio said, noting the men and women in the agriculture sector are vital to the town’s economy being workers in Alfonso Lista’s main industry.
It helps a lot to count on the full and unconditional support of the town’s highest official, all other officials in the executive branch and key leaders in the private sector.
During the open forum, participants could feel good vibrations in their hearts and minds.
“The size of a farm lot really doesn’t matter,” quipped Domingo in response to a query of Fr. Constancio Abbugao on the ideal farm lot size for farm tourism. The participants stared at each other, mouths agape. After a few seconds, they smiled.
Facing these obstacles face-to-face with tried and tested speakers like Domingo and Culimay is a powerful engaging experience. Thus, the query arises: Where do the stakeholders go from here? It couldn’t have been all that hard. If it had, a bottle of dragon fruit wine (complements of Edith Paculor of Barangay Busilac, who owns a dragon fruit farm there) wouldn’t be sparking their interest for another meeting.
It’s possible that because of other circumstances, the waiting time for this to take place is not too long after all Domingo cited the importance of a “roadmap” for the farm tourism agenda as well as the proposed “Kapihan sa Loop” project. One may not see a blueprint, but it’s very much a reality. A growing number of educated Alfonso Lista folks are listening to sound ideas. This is a good thing.
Chairmanship of the influential Tourism Council has been entrusted to Domingo. This position would be of big help in that effort.
It is located about four kilometers from Barangay Sto. Domingo or where the so-called main Poblacion area is situated, Barangay Pinto is an ideal destination for visitors who like to take a short vacation to enjoy the natural setting of trees, verdant hills and organically-raised vegetables. It is a superb place to local and foreign tourists who would like to learn more and get a deeper understanding about the wonders of organic farming.
Nestled in the province’s second geographical district, Alfonso List has 19 other barangays (villages). These villages also provide visitors a rare opportunity to enjoy the magnificent natural beauty and distinctive cultural heritage marked by simple way of life and unique traditions.
Soak in the captivating natural setting of Alfonso Lista’s farm landscape; travelers bring home the most memorable memories of engagement with farmers.
Domingo, who along with others embarked on a program to broaden the availability of farm tourism program through an innovative assessment scheme of farmers’ needs and infrastructure requirements such as road network connectivity and comfort rooms, also led in enlightening participants on the “success stories” of farm tourism in China, Taiwan, Malaysia and Thailand.
Other speakers include Anthony Araos, Councilor Virginia Dinagtuan and MAO organic focal person Peter Adawe. Mr. Araos stressed the fact that farmers have the power to change their own future by actively seeking the support and assistance of the national government, correlating increased budgetary allocation from Congress as essential in augmenting production of corn and high-value crops like vegetables and rice. He batted for the provision of subsidies for farmers and fisher folks.
“What all of farmers want is for their families to have better living standards and the nation to thrive or prosper,” he stressed.
For her part, Councilor Dinagtuan underscored the need for organic backyard farming. She is the chair of the committee on tourism.
The practice of genuinely and amply supporting farmers’ needs at all times, offers one of the greatest opportunities for hope among those in this sector. This action will constitute the much-need push that said sector sorely needs today. Indeed, the current state of day-to-day living conditions of sunbaked farmers is just as dismal and uncertain. The despicable bottom-dweller position of Ifugao in the CAR’s agriculture production ladder is a stumbling block in pushing the ante for farm tourism. It is so nice to talk of mangoes, bananas and taking lunch with bare hands in a rice paddy in the course of a farm tourism trip, but the health and quality of life of a farmer should be the first and foremost concern of the government.
Data from the Department of Tourism (DOT) showed that in 2014 alone, the Philippines breached the five-million mark in foreign arrivals and generated PhP228 billion. Yet, the officialdom is mum on its responsibility to take care of roads and comfort rooms. It is only fitting that the national government provide the necessary stimulus in the rural areas for the farm tourism to seriously spinoff.
Understanding of the vitality of farm tourism in the nation’s economy has been muddled even by the high cost of obtaining operational certificates and putting up infrastructure network.
The difficulty of securing the certificate itself has resulted in waning interest among farmers, which, in turn, has caused the stock of farm tourism sites in the neighboring provinces of Isabela, Cagayan, Quirino and Nueva Vizcaya, all in the Cagayan Valley Region, to rise in drawing tourists.
Compounding this problem is the scarce resources allocated to the Tourism Office.
Alfonso Lista is prized for its rich soil to raise corn, dragon fruit and pesticides-free veggies. It is also gifted with caring leaders in the public and private sectors. Even as the town grapples with problems on poverty and underdevelopment, its leaders, it appears, would take head-on the challenge of promoting farm tourism in order to enhance the impact of sustainable development, with ideas for discussion and action.
Farm tourism will continue to flourish and serve as a major contributor to Alfonso Lista’s coffers in the future, if and only if the national government infuses funds for the construction of roads and comfort rooms at these farm tourism sites. It should persist in its mission of creating relative and people-friendly services that enable farmers to do more at the present time without having to fear much about tomorrow.** By Anthony A. Araos
