By Anthony A. Araos
Organic farming is not just a sure-fire engine of growth in Ifugao because it is beneficial to agriculture but, also is helpful to the tourism industry.
Ifugao is another province where organic farming is prevalent.
So why not hold the Ifugao Organic Farmers Festival within this year. Where else but in Mayoyao? I am forwarding a proposal to Governor Pedro Mayam-o for its conduct.
Possible activities include an exhibition, display and sale of organic products. Cooking demonstrations of organic food recipes should be highlighted. There should also be lectures on various organic best practices and innovations to be participated in by farmers.
Through the festival, it is not a far-fetched idea to even transform Ifugao into the “Organic Food Bowl of the Cordillera Administrative Region.”
This year, for instance, local and foreign tourists should visit the organic farms in Mayoyao, Aguinaldo and Alfono Lista towns. Winding up such memorable trips, ask for a toast of baya (rice wine), which for sure visitors will remember for a very long time.
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Savemore Cabangan opened its doors recently. It is located in Cabangan, Isabela. The town is the birthplace of former Vice President Jejomar Binay. It is also known for its pancit Cabangan. Other than these facts, Cabangan is just like any other town in rural Philippines.
But, there’s a bustling activity here. On the other hand, the capital town of Lagawe (in Ifugao) has yet to see the entry of a Jolibee, Mc Donald, Chowking or KFC fast food outlet.
Lagawe Trading, the town’s largest and most popular grocery closes at 6:30 in the evening. Most business establishments are closed on Saturdays and Sundays. Problems on water supply and electricity are discouraging investors.
Are residents contented with Lagawe’s longstanding status as a fourth-class municipality?
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To boost its claim on the disputed Spratly Islands, Philippine government officials advance the notion of naming the water portion of the contested area as “West Philippine Sea.”
But where is the North Philippine Sea or South Philippine Sea? None, if you check the map.
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With the CARAA Meet in Baguio City just around the corner, somebody please finally explain why the signage at the Highway in Lamut town is saying “Lamut Sports Complex” is simply a signage. Fact: there is no sports complex in the area. Am I seeing some elephants? Rather, is this another white elephant project?
It’s time for the cash-strapped Ifugao provincial government to tap the private sector in order to realize its dream of finally having an honest-to-goodness (not a cockpit arena, please) sports complex.
Ifugao is in dire need of a sports complex facility to host major competitions and serve as a training hub of its athletes.
As it is, Baguio City and Benguet province are not going to stop for a while on their quest for supremacy in the CARAA, just to wait for Ifugao to catch up by constructing a sports complex in five or ten years-time. To entertain such an idea is plain silly, ridiculous, crazy and stupid!
Wake up! Many other provinces have built their sports complexes. What’s taking the province that long to have one? It only takes three intelligent individuals from the private sector to design a practical and doable blueprint for it.
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The case filed against Ifugao Governor Mayam-o, Vice Governor Jose Jordan Gullitiw and a number of incumbent and former Board Members is drawing wide attention. It was filed at the Ombudsman by former Governor Denis Habawel and the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC).
Well, it is such an interesting case. At a close scrutiny, the case may go either way. Within legal bounds, parties involved are likely to give their best for obvious reasons. A lawsuit as this one is tedious and costly. I don’t expect its resolution soon. A battery of top-notch lawyers (mostly from Metro Manila) are needed by the complainants and respondents.
Outside of the legal forum, the attention shifts to the battle for public opinion. Honestly, the case is indicative of the tenor of the 2019 midterm elections. Thus, whoever has the upper-hand in the bar of public opinion seemingly has the premium in the next polls.
Several factors are likely to influence the case it may or may not even be decided on its merits. I discussed this matter at length with former governor Eugene Balitang, also a lawyer and who faced both Mayam-o and Habawel (themselves are lawyers) in the May 2016 polls. Talks of preventive suspension are also swirling around.
By the way, the period for filing of counter-affidavits (to be used as basis for interposing their arguments) of the respondents was reportedly extended by the Ombudsman.
Now, it’s up to the Ombudsman to rule if there’s a probable cause to prosecute the respondents for violating the law.
This early, I am expecting fireworks on this celebrated legal tussle. Who has the edge? Your guess is as good as mine.
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Think about it, young farmers in Ifugao have been abandoning their clans’ rice terraces.
This is related to the mounting poverty incidence in the province. Small wonder, rural poverty continues to be very high at nearly 41 percent of the population.
What is the solution? One is to invite donor companies to adopt a terrace and provide subsidy funds so that farmers would just continue planting rice without raising capital.
It’s high time for the provincial government to recognize the fact that these farmers are too cash-starved to augment their capital. It is my hope and prayer that Governor Mayam-o will do his outmost through dramatically reduced poverty in Ifugao by pursuing innovative plans as this one and providing them effective extension services.
Do these suggestions touch the heart of the father of the province? If so, please take the time to listen more on the merits of a proposal at hand to be forwarded to your office at the soonest. For it gives the farmers a genuine hope for a better tomorrow.
Truth to tell, Governor Mayam-o has done good for the poor farmers and should continue his good deeds.
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I had a friend who went to the market and bought items at the 20-20 sidewalk cart two weeks ago worth a hundred pesos. She left the items for a while but forgot to return and get them back. Since then, she kept returning at the site where the cart was parked every market day (Tuesday and Saturday) for two weeks now. To date, the cart never came back. Beware folks you might be next!
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Life’s oddities: Only in the Philippines! On my way to Manila recently, I saw the following signage of a non-government organization (NGO) in Talavera, Nueva Ecija: “Association of Significant Senior Citizens.”
Say what? You mean there are insignificant senior citizens. Well, to my mind, all of them have invaluable contributions to the society. It’s simply unthinkable to suggest that there is such a classification of significant senior citizens.
So, how about putting up an Association of Significant Farmers, Association of Significant Tricycle Drivers, Association of Significant Teachers or Association of Significant Nurses and so forth?
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Finally, some thoughts for our readers: “I never wanted to be a warrior. I wanted to be a scholar. I consider every act of evil a personal challenge.” Quoted from the late Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago**
