ALFONSO LISTA, IFUGAO – – Key figures in the public and private sectors gave their utmost assistance to the just-concluded ALista Mini Food Fair and One Town, One Product (OTOP) Exhibit. Town folks rejoiced with them because of its resounding success.
Led by Alfonso Lista Mayor Edralin Alipio, residents, municipal government employees and visitors were in attendance during the kick-off program of the three-day ALista Mini Food Fair and OTOP Exhibit. Verily, it served as a timely event to spin-off the weeklong National Tourism Week program celebration of this bustling town in the province’s second geographical district.
“With the firm guidance of the Office of the Mayor and support of all sectors, the stakeholders of the tourism industry would have a good basis for finding ways and means to boost the economy of Alfonso Lista through initiatives as this one,” Mayor Alipio told the ZigZag Weekly.
Mayor Alipio has consistently supported ventures geared to propel the town’s economic growth and development.
Alipio, in huddles with exhibitors, entrepreneurs and guests, had said he would “provide all-out assistance to small-to-medium sized enterprises (SMEs) at all times.”
Booths displayed the town’s proudly-made products. The booths officially operated shortly after a short ribbon-cutting ceremony. Almost immediately participants sampled native cuisines, delicacies and buko (coconut) juices.
All told, a clear-cut message reverberated for several hours. Eat a nutritious diet. As much as possible, go organic at all times even if the vegetables are quite costly. Decrease the consumption of processed food.
For her part, Councilor Virginia Dinagtuan said she hopes to conduct more food fairs in the near future because such move is essential in improving the conditions of the people. The great news for town folks is that the municipal government is in a position to back up noteworthy undertakings to elevate into greater heights the town’s tourism industry and the agriculture sector.
Dinagtuan is the chairperson of the Committee on Tourism. She is a retired public school mentor.
The ALista Mini Food Fair and OTOP Exhibit should score well not just in aiding the tourism industry here, but also be viewed as a strong measure for local revenue generation.
Alfonso Lista is mainly agricultural, as the town’s land is viable for planting rice, corn, vegetables and fruits. Analysts say the town is the “corn granary” of Ifugao. The town is also rich in freshwater resources, making fishery a promising economic activity.
Vice Governor Glenn Prudenciano hails from this town and he is the predecessor of Mayor Alipio.
“Along with Mayor Alipio and Vice Mayor Agapito Dominguez Jr., our members at the Sangguniang Bayan have always responded to our call for attending to the needs of the men and women who are engaged in the tourism industry,” Councilor Dinagtuan said in an exclusive interview.
Others at the municipal council can be expected to support Councilor Dinagtuan’s initiatives in the remaining months of 2019 and beyond. This will be a most welcome measure for the thousands who live below the poverty line. Alfonso Lista is a third-class municipality and poverty still persists in the town’s 20 barangays (villages).
The municipal government has high hopes that through the mini-food fair the people’s lives are improved and the other activities during the tourism week program contribute as well to the goal of upgrading Alfonso Lista’s overall socio-economic standing.
“We hope that with the support and cooperation of everyone, the municipal government will succeed in its thrust to reduce poverty incidence for it is so important in ensuring the betterment of our people,” Councilor Dinagtuan stressed.
Meanwhile, Tourism Officer Lorena Dulnuan presented a state-of-the art video of the town’s most promising destinations such as the 1,000 steps site and migratory birds sanctuary.
The tourism week program was also highlighted by the Tourism Forum, local kulinarya (culinary) cooking demonstrations and beautification, clean up and tree-planting activities. These interactive activities were conducted at the municipal hall covered court, senior citizens building as well as Comelec premises, 1K steps site area, along the Magat Reservoir, municipal eco-park, sitio Erosion island and fish cages area, ABC Hall, at a certain picnic area not too far from the eco-park, road at ALWASA treatment plant, portion of the national road and a number of barangay roads.
Business owners, municipal government employees, Ifugao State University (IFSU) representatives, eco-park personnel, officers and members of Sto. Domingo Fisher folks Association and Namanama Fisher folks Association, barangay chieftains and kagawads (councilmen), PAMBC-CENRO and Jess Domingo made possible the conduct of these activities.
Mayor Alipio congratulated and thanked all those who took part in the activity, most especially the tourism office for motivating and inspiring the participants.
Alipio specially lauded municipal agriculturist Peter Adawe, who stood out for recognition in the field of organic agriculture.
Alipio challenged the tourism office to do some more through similar programs, projects and activities.
He also hailed Roslyn Montoya, a distinguished organic farming advocate and practitioner of the town. Montoya is the president of an organic vegetables farmer’s organization at Barangay Pinto. At her booth, Jeannylyn Galapo displayed affordable high-quality peanut butter products.
Exhibitors include Aira’s Eatery, Norva’s Eatery and Panciteria, MCM Goddang Attire, Ethnic Bags and Accessories, NAFWA Food Products, PWD’s Food Products. Mabawa Products, Emgwaga Food Products, Jenny’s Food Products, A & GB Food Products and Ruby’s Papaya Pickles.
The exhibitors are proud that their products are now becoming a viable trade tool in the market. Thus, a good marketing strategy is crucial.
But just as saddening and frustrating is the fact that while the town’s Dragon Fruit Wine is a standout its existence is only known within the villages of Alfonso Lista. Thus, there was no need to produce the wine in a larger volume, according to a proprietress. She believes there will be no significant demand for the wine.
It is heartwarming to note that dragon fruit is abundant here by this time and up until December- in all its varieties and sizes. Small-sized dragon fruits are selling at PhP60 a kilo and medium-sized dragon fruits at PhP80. Large-sized ones are priced at PhP100. Also, the ALista Mini Food Fair has a dragon fruit wine for sale at PhP120 a bottle. No doubt whatsoever, it is a good pasalubong (gift) for a special one here or abroad.
The market-lacked catalyst- whether corn, a tourist attraction like the picturesque sanctuary for birds from China and other countries or the Dragon Fruit Wine, to propel Alfonso Lista’s progress is quite perplexing.
It is this bigger issue of turning around the town’s economy that the municipal government should now be focusing on.
Undeniably, the pursuit of the improvement of the quality of the lives of Alfonso Lista folks will be a major test for the Alipio administration. This mini-food fair, in particular, will benefit all town folks upon implementation of many other related programs and projects.
Alfonso Lista is truly a treasure trove of culinary and foodie aficionados. The ALista Mini Food Fair should be transformed into a full-blown food fair. It should then highlight more culinary specialities. It should celebrate life itself and aims to showcase the best-of-the-best Alfonso Lista food items, providing livelihood opportunities, as well as a platform for cultural exchange.
Through the ALista Mini Food Fair, many are hoping that the municipal government shall be able to lay down a clear roadmap that will invigorate the town’s tourism industry and invariably raise much-needed revenues.
Mayor Alipio, a hardworking public servant who is always keen to promote public welfare, and all of the aforementioned key figures in the private and public sectors surely helped in creating tourism awareness in Alfonso Lista and make everybody actively contribute to its development as a “preferred” and a “new” destination in Ifugao and northern Luzon that can generate economic benefits for all. Enjoying a rare experience at Barangay Namillangan or Barangay Sta. Maria in the midst of nature’s untouched glory awaits a tourist from Elmhurst City in Chicago, Illinois (in the United States) and this is what traveling and adventure are all about.
For the first-ever ALista Mini Food Fair, Councilor Dinagtuan said the Alipio administration has already “made a lot of progress” since the neophyte mayor assumed office in June of this year.** By Anthony A. Araos
