BANGUED, Abra (PIA) -- Various Abrenian local products and native delicacies are showcased at the Asenso Abreño Trade Fair at Abra Sports Complex as one of the highlights of the 9-day celebration of the 2023 Kawayan Festival.
 
The trade and food fair was officially opened om March 1 by Governor Dominic Valera with the provincial officials, and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) led by DTI-Cordillera Assistant Regional Director Atty. Samuel Gallardo.

The event which will run until March 9   is participated by the 27 municipalities with their respective “one-town, one-product” (OTOP) displayed in their own booths, as well as different Abrenian micro, small and medium, enterprises.

Popular   local products exhibited in the food fair include soft brooms, freshly harvested honey, sugarcane, muscovado, ballatinaw rice, waray.  cascaron, the abel clothe and many more.
 
The Governor expressed his delight that the provincial government is able to celebrate the Kawayan festival again despite the COVID-19 pandemic and recent earthquakes.
 
“I’m glad that we are together again this Kawayan Festival after the pandemic and the earthquake last year. We hope that this trade fair will sustain our recovery,” Valera stressed.
 
Gallardo, meanwhile, implied the essence of this year’s Kawayan festival celebration with the theme “Rambak ti Ballaigi ni Abreño.”
 
“The Abreños are like our bamboos, may sway, may move, may be blown by the wind but they will never be broken. I see that our festival now has become a better version of what we used to have three years ago,” said Gallardo who once served as Provincial Director of DTI-Abra.

The provincial government in partnership with DTI also sponsored a series of entrepreneurial development seminars at the trade fair venue to give business owners more insights to expand and boost their businesses. (JDP/CAGT – PIA CAR, Abra)