THE municipality of Kabayan in the province of Benguet is one destination in the Cordillera that is truly blessed with natural wonders and rich customary practices of its people.
The municipality is the seat of cultural heritage in the province and host to the second highest mountain in the Philippines - Mount Pulag.
Once known for their ancient mummification process, the industrious Kabayan folks also boast traditional weaving and food processing among its local industry.
Today, this fourth-class municipality is a recipient of a Grassroots Participatory Budgeting (GPB) project from the Department of Trade and Industry. It involved a skills training on food processing and beads making and was participated by good number of participants coming from the different barangays of Kabayan.
This is the first GPB project implemented by DTI in the Cordillera region.
At the concluding ceremony of the food processing and beads making training, processed food products like potato and camote (sweet potato) chips including finished necklaces, bangles and earrings made from beads were displayed as added products and business line of the local entrepreneurs.
DTI Baguio-Benguet Director Freda Gawisan, together with local officials led by Vice Mayor Gideon Todiano, congratulated the participants.
During the annual Bendiyan Festival, a Diskwento Caravan was likewise conducted on May 1-3 by DTI Baguio-Benguet Office in coordination with the different suppliers and distributors through Rising Sun Commercial. The caravan offered basic and prime commodities at cheap prices.
This year’s Diskwento Caravan generated sales of P1.6 million. (Art Tibaldo)