PHOTO RELEASE
Director Marita A. Carlos (center left) of the Applied Communication Division, Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) and Congressman Lawrence H. Fortun (center right) of the First District of Agusan del Norte, did the ribbon cutting, which marked the opening of the Balanghay Festival and the Farms and Industry Encounters through the Science and Technology Agenda (FIESTA) exhibits. The Caraga Consortium for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (CCAARRD) implemented the FIESTA, which was held at the City of Butuan Sports Complex in Barangay Libertad. Regional Research and Development Coordinating Council (RRDCC) Chair and Caraga State University President, Dr. Anthony M. Penaso (extreme left) assisted the guests during the ribbon cutting.
The Festival provided the venue for the conduct of the Indigenous Tree Plantations (ITPs) and Sago FIESTA, which was spearheaded by CCAARRD. As a technology diffusion platform, the said FIESTA adopted the theme “Celebrating the Balanghay Spirit through the FIESTA: Panagtagbo ug Kukibildo Para Sa Kalamboan sa Industriya sa Kahoy ug Sago.” The theme captured the value of cooperation among the consortium’s member agencies towards the development of industrial tree plantations and sago, two of the region’s priced agricultural commodities