Bontoc ‘Best Booth’ winners get cash prizes

By Alpine L. Killa-Malwagay and Nicole Shayne Fidchao

BONTOC, Mountain Province - The Riverside Zone represented by Barangay Tocucan emerged undisputed champion and won P27, 000 for having the Best Booth during the recent Agri-Craft Trade Fair in this capital town.
    The Fair was part of activities in celebration of the 115th Bontoc Foundation Day and 19th Am-among Festival September.
    The trade fair offered agricultural products grown, produced and processed by the local farmers, fisherfolks and micro small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) from the 16 barangays of Bontoc.
    Crafts made by the locals such as woven garments and bags were displayed and sold at affordable prices during the weeklong duration of the trade fair. 
    Upland Zone came in 2nd place and with a cash prize of P 24,000.
    Third place with a cash prize of P22, 000 and the fourth place with a cash prize of P15, 000 went to ALBAGO Zone and Central Zone, respectively.

Municipal government assistant department head Catherine Agcon of the Office of the Municipal Agriculturist (OMAg) said the contest aimed to promote products of Bontoc's diligent farmers and showcase local goods directly from the source, eliminating middlemen and ensuring finest quality reaches consumers.

The criteria for judging included originality (30%), product display (35%), sustainability (20%), and sales (15%), totalling to 100%. 

Bontoc Mayor Jerome “Chagsen” Tudlong, Jr., cited the participating barangays saying the four zones were well-represented.

He commended barangays for ensuring availability of their local products throughout the Agri-Craft Trade Fair. 

Panel of judges were: Provincial Agriculturist Dominga Cabatu, Dept. of Trade and Industry’s Jones Malwagay and Paul Pinos-an who represented Provincial Head Minerva Songaben from the Dept. of Science and Technology (DOST) Mountain Province.