LA TRINIDAD, Benguet(PIA) -- The local government of Sablan kicked off the celebration of its  9th Sablan Fruit Festival on Monday, August 7, 2023.
  
Mayor Alfredo Dacumos Jr. said that despite the recent typhoons and the rainy weather being experienced in the municipality, the LGU pushed through with the festival which  is also a thanksgiving for the blessings to the municipality especially for the continued bountiful harvest of fruits, vegetables and other produce.

He thanked the farmers, the  residents and the other stakeholders for their continued support to the municipality particularly to  its the fruit industry which  is celebrated thru the annual fruit festival.
 
 Different kinds of fruits  such  as  banana, pineapple, rambutan, santol, durian, mangosteen and marang  are produced  in Sablan  that is why it is tagged as the  “fruit basket of Benguet.”

 Municipal Agriculturist Ramon Anacioco said  the town’s   fruit industry  continues  to grow thru the support of the local government. He  earlier reported that the fruit trees  this year have  more production compared to the previous year but the recent Super Typhoon Egay and the  incessant  heavy rains brought by the “habagat” affected the expected produce.
 
Governor Melchor Diclas, in a message read by  his Executive Assistant David Cabuten, congratulated LGU  Sablan, the people  especially the  farmers and  fruit producers  for sustaining the fruit festival of the municipality amidst the  many challenges.  

 
Despite the recent typhoons that hit Northern Luzon including the province of Benguet, the governor said that they still  have a very good reason to celebrate  the 9th Sablan Fruit Festival.  He said that the fruits of Sablan make the province of Benguet proud and these should be sustained and should continue to grow as the “fruit basket of Benguet” through the support and unity of the people,  the  provincial government and other agencies.  
 
For his part, Baguio City Councilor and Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative Maximo Edwin Jr. congratulated his mother’s hometown of Sablan for sustaining the annual Fruit Festival.
 
He  shared his experiences and his fond memories while growing up in Sablan where he also had the chance  not only to eat  but to  bring  the fruits to the market.  
 
Councilor Edwin was joined by representatives from the city government of Baguio and the City Tourism Office.
 
The celebration kicked off with a parade along the national highway, followed by the eucharistic celebration and the opening program at the municipal gymnasium. The officials also led the ribbon cutting  of  the agri-trade fair.
  
This year, the  festival is a month-long event packed with various activities and programs. It culminates on  September 4, 2023. (JDP/RMC- PIA CAR)