LA TRINIDAD, Benguet, Philippines — The provincial government of Benguet disclosed that the formation of a strong marketing cooperative is the only way to save the fragile local vegetable industry from collapse and make locally-grown agricultural crops competitive in the world market.

Benguet Gov. Nestor B. Fongwan pointed out the only way for the thousands of vegetable farmers to contend with the global market is to establish a solid marketing cooperative that will be able to sustain stiffer competitions in the advancement of locally produced vegetables that are able to directly compete with the produce of other developed countries like China.

By next year, agriculture stakeholders have programmed to organize their marketing cooperative which will take charge of promoting local crops in the global market so that it will be able to gain a bigger advantage compared to other crops produced by other developing countries in the Asia Pacific region.

Fongwan admitted that highland vegetables produced in the 13 towns of Benguet and in nearby Mountain Province and Ifugao have better quality compared to those imported from China but it is in the marketing of the crops that farmers in the Cordillera lag behind, thus, the need to empower concerned stakeholders to be aggressive in the marketing of local vegetables in order to gain superiority in the world market. (Dexter See)

BOER GOATS, CHICKS FOR LOCAL FARMERS

SAN JUAN, Ilocos Sur, Philippines — To further boost the income of local farmers, a total of 30 imported goat breeders and 2,100 Sasso chicks were distributed by Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singson and Vice Gov. DV Savellano as Christmas gift for their constituents in Barangay Demofarm, this town.

Singson said this is part of the continuous program of the provincial government to provide more livelihoods for the constituents in the different barangays in Ilocos Sur by providing them livestock.

Started during the term of Savellano as governor in 2008, each association will be given 100 chicks to raise until it will weigh to two kilograms.

The organization will then return eight chicks to the demofarm so they could in return, avail of another 100 chicks. A buck will be given to an organization with 25 members to raise native goats here.

The two top government officials also visited the different parts of the demo-farm especially the newly established facilities for grafting mangoes and banana tissue culture. (Mar Supnad)

BAGUIO CHILLS ANEW AT 12.2ºC

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — The local tourism industry here continues to flourish following the drop in the prevailing temperature in the country’s Summer Capital that saw thousands of foreign and domestic visitors flock to the city to enjoy its natural attraction – the cool and romantic weather.

For the third day in a row, the level of the thermometer again dropped several notches lower Tuesday morning recording a cool 12.2 degrees Celsius while the warmest temperature was still a cool 21.2 degrees Celsius Monday noon.

Hotel and restaurant owners in the city reported a drastic surge in their respective occupancy rates over the past few days following the reported drop in the city’s temperature which makes this city as a premier rest and recreating area for those who want to escape from the extreme heat of the lowlands.

Monday’s early morning temperature was recorded at 12.4 degrees Celsius which is much lower than the recorded Christmas Day temperature which was 12.6 degrees Celsius. (Dexter See)