The province of Aklan will be holding next month the 13^th Piña and Fiber Festival in time with the celebration of its 56^th anniversary of the province.

                The Piña and Fiber Festival, for years one of the regular highlights of the Aklan Day celebration, will run from April 23-29 at  The Trade Hall at the Capitol Grounds.

                The festival serves as a yearly opportunity for Aklan’s Micro, Small, Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to showcase the province’ locally-developed premium quality products such as piña, abaca, and raffia loomwoven fabrics and fashion accessories, gifts, furnishings and decorative crafts, processed meat and fish, bakery and confectionery, engineered bamboo, etc.

                According to Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) – Aklan Provincial Director Diosdado Cadena, Jr., the festival serves as a model of public and private partnership (PPP) of the Provincial Government of Aklan, DTI, Fiber Development Authority (FIDA), Aklan Piña Manufacturers and Traders, Inc. (PIÑAMANTRA) Hugod Aklanon Producers Association, Inc., and the PhilippineChamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. Aklan Chapter.

                “The exhibit also includes the One Town-One Product (OTOP) booths of Aklan’s 17 municipalities, and display of fresh farm-produce of community-based organizations, agencies and institutions,” Cadena said.

                Other attractions next month include a week-long nightly food festival and entertainment at the Tsibugan sa Kapitolyo at the Provincial Capitol Grounds.

                Now on its 13^th year, Cadena attributed the 12 successful years of holding the said marketing event due to the effective partnerships among cooperating entities.

                Aklan became a separate province from Capiz on April 25, 1956 upon the signing by then President Ramon Magsaysay of RA 1414 resulting from a bill filed by Congressman Godofredo P. Ramos.

                For this feat, Ramos is acknowledged here as the “Father of Aklan”.  (JCM/VGV PIA 6 Aklan)