SAN MATEO, ISABELA – The Municipality of San Mateo, Isabela celebrated their 9th Balatong Festival on May 4-6, 2017 with the theme “Munggo ay Itanim, Mundo ay Sagipin”. Activities held during the festival were the Search for “PINAKA” (pinakamahabang bunga ng munggo, etc.), cooking contests, Palaro ng Lahi, Street Dance Parade (Paddek ken Saniweng), Product Display at the Balatong Village, Awarding of Agricultural Achievers, and 2017 Search for Miss San Mateo.
In line with this, the Department of Science and Technology R02 (DOST-R02) participated in the Balatong Festival by setting up a booth with Munggo-based products produced by the CSU-DOST02 Food Innovation Center and other DOST-assisted Products thru SETUP.
Munggo-based products available for display were Crispy Sprouted Munggo, Munggo filling with Blue Pea, Munggo filling with Arius, and Classic Munggo filling. Anent to the displayed innovative and new munggo-based products, the LGU of San Mateo, Isabela expressed their interest to avail the services of CSU-DOST02 Food Innovation Center for the product development of their other locally-produced crops like Sweet Potato, which is proposed to be produced into jam and chips. Other product displayed during the event was the Apple Cider Vinegar of Double M Merchandise, which was assisted by the DOST R02 thru SETUP. Mr. Patrick Cristobal and Ms. Charmaine Tagarino, PSTC Isabela Staff, facilitated the booth of DOST with the said products.
Engr. Marcelo Miguel, Provincial Director of PSTC Isabela also graced the event with a message during the opening program to support the annual Balatong Festival of San Mateo, Isabela. In his message, Engr. Miguel said that “may we all share this mission not only in your beloved town but also in the whole Cagayan Valley: That we will never get tired or lose interest in growing, cultivating and innovate local produce, such as munggo. In today’s world where Climate Change is a reality, cultivation of such adaptable crops to our ever changing weather would be of big help not only to our own community but also to the whole value chain. May we always be on the look-out for opportunities where we can further develop the use of locally available produce”. He ended his message with a challenge to build a self-reliant San Mateo, Isabela.
San Mateo, Isabela, which is known as the Munggo Capital of the Philippines, was also proclaimed as the Agro-Ecological destination in Cagayan Valley.
