March 28, 2024

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet– The month-long celebration of the Strawberry Festival 2023 has started with the opening of the Strawberry Lane and Agro-Fair at the municipal grounds on March 6.

Mayor Romeo Salda and Benguet State University President Felipe Comila led the ribbon cutting along with Vice Mayor Roderick Awingan, councilors, Department of Trade and Industry Baguio-Benguet Provincial Director Samuel Gallardo, Department of Science and Technology-Benguet Director Sheila Marie Singa-Claver, and representatives from other government agencies and offices.

Anchored on the theme “A Festival for Recovery: Building a Brighter Future from Adversities,” the fair features products of 22 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and four bakers in the municipality to help them recover from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. Products include fresh strawberries, jams, wines, and cakes.

“We congratulate all the MSMEs who have produced their strawberry byproducts. We also thank the different agencies, the DTI and DOLE, who have trained a lot of our MSMEs to produce by products of strawberry,” Salda said.

He also thanked concerned committees and stakeholders who contributed in the successful opening of the festivity.

Entrepreneur Anie Lyn Tiongan expressed her gratitude to the municipal government for giving them the opportunity to display and sell their products in the Strawberry Lane as it serves as an avenue for them to recover from the effects of the pandemic and tropical cyclones in the past two years.

Agyamyaman kami iti LGU ti La Trinidad ta adda manen daytoy nga pribilehiyo kadakami nga MSME nga aglako kadagitoy nga strawberry,” Tiongan said.

Salda invited the public to join and participate in the various activities lined up for the festival.

The fair will run until March 31.

Highlights of the festival are on March 17 with the civic parade and multi-cultural celebrations, and on March 18 where featured activities include the drum and lyre, street dancing and small floats parade.

The twin strawberry cake will also take center stage on March 18. – Debbie E. Gasingan