KAPANGAN, Benguet -- As a way of promoting bell pepper as one of its top products, residents celebrated the first ‘Pongayan Sili Festival’ over the weekend.
Kapangan Mayor Manny Fermin said the celebration hopes to boost bell pepper or locally known as sili production in the municipality.
Fermin added they hope to sustain the activity with the barangay already setting its tourism plan to incorporate the celebration.
"This was conceptualized in order to support and promote bell pepper farmers,” Femrin said adding more bagsakan areas are needed to further provide more avenue to sell farmers produce.
Barangay Captain Fernando Sasa disclosed the barangay harvest at least 30 tons of bell pepper a month.
Sasa said in the past, production and bell pepper farming impose challenge to stakeholders but with several indigenous technologies, farmers were able to cope with the unpredictable weather.
Pongayan bell pepper farmers, are one of the top supplier in the province.
Officials added rice production has decreased as vegetable, particularly bell pepper farming continue to thrive in the fourth class municipality.
Former Kapangan Mayor and Board Member Roberto Canuto acknowledge stakeholders of Pongayan for conceptualizing the event.
“This is a product of Kapangan and we see farmers to generate more income. Seminars started to connect farmers with institutional and high end buyers. We are also thankful that Kapangan farmers are Good Agricultural Practices certified.”
The provincial official added they are encouraging farmers to also engage into farm tourism activities.
On Friday, Kankana-ey and Ibaloy folk joined by Benguet and Kapangan officials together with hundreds of Girl Scouts in Benguet at Barangay Pongayan showcasing bell peppers.
The festival featured bell pepper cooking contest and culturalpresentations.
Sasa added they are hoping to add more activities such as eating contrest and farm tours in the next staging of the festival.
Kapangan is located in the northern part of the province and can be reached from Baguio City via the Acop – Kapangan – Kibungan – Bakun Road.