Province of Cotabato Governor Emmylou “Lala” Taliño-Mendoza led the opening of Yaman ng Cotabato: Travel and Trade Expo in time for the official kick-off of Kalivungan Festival 2025 and the province’s 111th founding anniversary celebration on August 26 at the Provincial Pavilion in Amas, Kidapawan City.
Yaman ng Cotabato is one of the featured activities of the festival that aims to showcase the province’s world-class tourism destinations and to make its agricultural products, including rice, corn, coco products, cassava products, handicrafts, local-grown fruits and many more accessible to the market, particularly to the visitors of the festival.
“As we open our Yaman ng Cotabato: Travel and Trade Expo, we unveil the strides we achieved in our agriculture and tourism, the twin drivers of economic development. Makit-an nato ang bunga sa atong mga pagpaningkamot nga nagdala karon sa atong probinsiya bilang usa sa mga giila nga local government unit,” Mendoza said.
In his message, Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. stated that the collaboration between the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Provincial Government of Cotabato has progressed.
“Together we are investing in infrastructure that creates new opportunities for farmers and communities while strengthening the agricultural backbone that sustains the province,” Tiu said.
Tiu mentioned that DA recently turned over a P35.99 million mango processing facility in Midsayap to the Cotabato mango producers’ cooperative under the Philippine Rural Development Project.
He added that the facility empowers local growers to compete in both domestic and global markets.
Meanwhile, this year’s Kalivungan Festival celebration, which carries the theme “Cotabato Province at 111: Malasakit at Serbisyong Totoo. Diwang Kalivungan, Diwang Cotabato,” honors the province’s history, culture, and unity of Cotabateños.
“I welcome everyone to join, participate, and be proud in this grand celebration. In the days ahead until September 1, let us celebrate as one family. Maglipay-lipay kita, magpasalamat, ug maghiusa as we showcase the true spirit of being Cotabateño,” Mendoza said.
Aside from Yaman ng Cotabato expo, the opening day of the festival also highlighted with the Kalivungan Festival Drum and Lyre Corps Competition at the Provincial Capitol Grounds, followed by the Thanksgiving Mass at The Basket, Capitol Compound presided by Cardinal Orlando Quevedo and Archbishop Angelito Lampon, and attended by officials and employees of the provincial government.
The Municipality of Carmen emerged as champion of the Drum and Lyre Corps Competition and took home a trophy and P100,000 cash prize.
Following Carmen were Aleosan, 2nd place; Magpet, 3rd place; Libungan, 4th place; Makilala, 5th place; Pigcawayan, 6th place; and Midsayap, 7th place.
