THE Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) in Guimaras and Guimaras Small Coconut Farmers Federation conducted the 19th Kalubihan Festival.
The activity is in support to the National Coconut Week Celebration mandated by the Presidential Proclamation No. 142 which was issued by President Corazon C. Aquino declaring Aug 24-30 of every year as “National Coconut Week”.
The Provincial Government of Guimaras through Executive Order No. 012 series of 2002 issued by then Governor Hon. JC Rahman Nava declared every 4th week of August as “Kalubihan Festival”.
The festival was held Aug 22, 2019 at the Provincial Covered Gym in San Miguel, Jordan.
In his message, PCA-6 Regional Manager III Jeffrey A. de los Reyes encouraged coconut farmers to build their own coconut-related business.
“Guimaras group is a very potent group, amu ni ang ginahikot namon, because ako nagapati nga ang human capital is a very potent capital. Siyempre ang kinahanglanon ta sa capital kwarta, tawo, kag duta. Pero ang pinaka-importante sa tanan tawo and that is you. Tani ining pwersa naton should result in something more potent, tani ining pwersa naton ma-convert naton into something bala nga naga-kita kamo. Mas malipay kami kon kamo maka-singgit sa Guimaras nga may ara kamo sang negosyo about coconut or coconut related nga negosyo,” de los Reyes said.
The one-day festival started with a thanksgiving mass and with activities including the Hataw sa Kalubihan games, cultural presentation and food festival.
The festival aims to give due recognition to the coconut stakeholders for their continuous support in the development and sustainability of the coconut farmers and of the coconut industry in the province.
Moreover, the festivals are held and are aimed to sustain awareness on the importance of the industry to the local economy.
Coconut farmer attendees were proud to present their coconut products ready for tasting as their support to the Kalubihan festival with the theme: “Niyog Arugain, Produkto Tangkilikin“, with over 600 coconut farmer participants all over the province.
