GUIMARAS – Two days of fun activities start today as this island province kicks off its maiden Dragon Fruit Fest.
A bike caravan opens the festival with around 100 cyclists from 10 associations of bikers. They will pedal from Jordan Wharf to the provincial capitol grounds starting at 6:30 a.m. today.
There is also a job fair at the provincial capitol grounds from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Virginia Ganza, Supervising Labor and Employment Officer of the provincial government of Guimaras, said 761 job vacancies will be offered by participating companies that include F&C Group of Companies; SM Supermarket-Mandurriao; IQOR Iloilo; Grandcars and Grandcanyon Multiholdings Inc.; Topserve Service Solutions, Inc.; Paramount Human Resource Multipurpose Cooperative; Waffle Time, Inc.; New Panay Agri-Ventures Development, Inc.; SYL; Hermanos Group of Companies; and Angelina Bakeshop.
Ganza said qualified job seekers will be hired on the spot.
Job applicants must bring their resumé, application letter, copies of school credentials (Transcript of Records, diploma), and passport-sized ID picture.
TRADE FAIR
The Guimaras Dragon Fruit Fest’s highlight is the trade fair; 1.4 metric tons of dragon fruit are up for grabs.
A total of 27 exhibitors from the Guimaras Agri-Eco Tourism Farm Owners and Operators Association (GATFOOA) will participate.
Although other Guimaras products will be displayed at the trade fair, the centerpiece would be the locally produced dragon fruit.
Gov. JC Rahman A. Nava said that, even though the volume of dragon fruit that will be displayed is not much, it is definitely of high quality because Guimaras is known for the quality of its produce.
As Guimaras is “mangoes and more”, other local products and delicacies of the island province will also be featured, such as crafts, herbal and organic products, processed foods, and a variety of plants.
Prizes also await the participating kiosks.
The winner of the Best Dressed Booth contest will receive P5,000; the second place winner will receive P3,000; and the third place will receive P2,000.
The Guimaras Dragon Fruit Fest, a first in Western Visayas, is in line with the celebration of National Tourism Month.
The celebration is expected to contribute to the economic recovery of the province that is anchored on the development of its Agri-Fishery and Agri-Eco Tourism sectors. (with a report from Guimaras Public Information Office)/PN
