PALO, Leyte- The promotion of the native delicacies is one of the strategies of her administration is considering to help the town’s economy still suffering from the impact of supertyphoon Yolanda. Mayor Remedios “Matin” Petilla told reporters in an interview that her office has initiated the improvements and the promotion of the native delicacies as one of the livelihoods of her people. Mayor Petilla said that the food festival that she initiated would now be a regular basis unlike before that it was only stage during special occasions. The food festival is now being held every Saturday at the town plaza. Petilla said that people coming from nearby towns are coming to Palo just to buy the delicacies like the bibingka, puto, biko, lechon baboy, sulam or suman filled with ulam like humba and adobo, lechon manok, among others.
She added that not only the varieties of cooked food are regularly sold every Sunday but also fresh farm products like vegetables, bananas and root crops. Petilla said that prices of the goods at the food festival are relatively lower. She added that the food festival is not only a venue for native food shopping but also a place for family bonding and enjoyment after attending church activities. Meanwhile, Desiderio Belas, Leyte provincial director of the Department of Trade and Industry, said that the food festival in Palo is a good venue for local businessmen in selling their products. Belas added that the festival also serves as the market day for the local producers and farmers are, in the process, being helped. Belas added that he is encouraging other mayors in the province to establish the same market for the native products as part of their recovery effort.
(RESTITUTO A. CAYUBIT)
