MORE NEWS, IFUGAO

Hungduan wins Ifugao float tilt
By: Juan B. Dait, Jr.

LAGAWE, Ifugao -- Creatively depicting a giant replica of a Japanese mini-eel called “yuyu” in the local vernacular representing its successful “One Town, One Product (OTOP) program, the once poverty – stricken mountain town of Hungduan won the grand prize in the provincial float parade on June 18 which kicked off the week long celebration of this highland province’s 42nd Foundation Day.

The 10-foot long Yuyu replica was mounted atop a big cylindrical fish trap called “Gubu” which is used traditionally to catch the mini eel in the rice terraces. With the active support of the Hungduan LGU most farmers in the town are now actively involved in the production of Yuyu, according to Hungduan Mayor Pablo Cuyahon, “We give the farmers incentives and adequate technical support,” Cuyahon said.

The market potential for Yuyu is promising according to the mayor. He explained that Yuyu thrives only in cool areas like Hungduan and Banaue and parts of Kiangan. The fish does not thrive in warm places the Mayor explained. He also said that the fish tastes good and in great demand not only in the lowlands but also in foreign countries like Japan.

An attractive cash prize of P1- million will be awarded by the Ifugao Provincial Government to the Hungduan LGU for winning the Grand Float Prize. According to Cuyahon, a good portion of the prize will be used to further promote the OTP program of his town, once the hotbed of dissidents in past years spawned by the grinding poverty of the people.

Another remote mountain town, Tinoc, won the second place in the float content. Its runner-up float depicted its OTOP the production of vegetables such as carrots, cabbage and potatoes. With its newly opened roads, Tinoc was recently opened and is now sending its products to vegetable markets in Baguio City, Nueva Vizcaya and Isabela. Third prize winner in the float contest was the entry of the capital town of Lagawe with its depiction of its growing Arabica Coffee industry.