Aluling Bridge in Cervantes, Ilocos Sur. Photographed by Arthur Allad-iw.
The online news portal of TV5
BAGUIO CITY – Continuing what their ancestors had started in highland-lowland trade relations prior to colonization, where the highlanders traded their forest products for commodities like salt and woven products of lowland Ilocos, the local governments of Sagada in Mountain Province and Tagudin, a coastal town in Ilocos Sur, strengthened their sisterhood ties with focus on trade and tourism relations.
The two towns recently reaffirmed their continuing past relationships with concrete bilateral trade programs aimed at bringing added mutual benefits.
Local cool-climate vegetable produce from Sagada will now regularly find their way to the Tagudin market, while the latter’s products, including fish and seafood, will become fixtures at the market in Sagada.
In the nippy areas of upland Mountain Province, Sagada farmers produce vegetable crops and fruits, like cabbage, potato, beans and American-sized tomatoes, and citrus fruits.
Tagudin, on the coastal zone of Ilocos Sur, harvests bangus (milk fish) and other marine food to compliment their fishermen’s catch on the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) and, likewise, lowland rice and vegetables, notable for their local dishes, like pinakbet.
Sagada has an estimated population of 11,244 while Tagudin has 38,122.
Recently, 37 delegates from Sagada, led by its Mayor Eduardo Latawan Jr., attended the Tagudin town fiesta last week.
"We have strengthened the sisterhood, where heightened trade will be among its realistic outcomes," Latawan explained.
He added that a "bagsakan center" or trading post was established at Bitalag, Tagudin, where the produce from Sagada will be delivered and then retailed to consumers there.
He also said that the arrangement will be set up for Tagudin products in Sagada.
Latawan disclosed that the sisterhood relationship was firmed up with Tagudin Mayor, Atty. Jose V. Bonuan in January this year.
The two towns recently reaffirmed their continuing past relationships with concrete bilateral trade programs aimed at bringing added mutual benefits.
Local cool-climate vegetable produce from Sagada will now regularly find their way to the Tagudin market, while the latter’s products, including fish and seafood, will become fixtures at the market in Sagada.
In the nippy areas of upland Mountain Province, Sagada farmers produce vegetable crops and fruits, like cabbage, potato, beans and American-sized tomatoes, and citrus fruits.
Tagudin, on the coastal zone of Ilocos Sur, harvests bangus (milk fish) and other marine food to compliment their fishermen’s catch on the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) and, likewise, lowland rice and vegetables, notable for their local dishes, like pinakbet.
Sagada has an estimated population of 11,244 while Tagudin has 38,122.
Recently, 37 delegates from Sagada, led by its Mayor Eduardo Latawan Jr., attended the Tagudin town fiesta last week.
"We have strengthened the sisterhood, where heightened trade will be among its realistic outcomes," Latawan explained.
He added that a "bagsakan center" or trading post was established at Bitalag, Tagudin, where the produce from Sagada will be delivered and then retailed to consumers there.
He also said that the arrangement will be set up for Tagudin products in Sagada.
Latawan disclosed that the sisterhood relationship was firmed up with Tagudin Mayor, Atty. Jose V. Bonuan in January this year.
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| Tagudin Mayor Bunoan (light blue shirt) and Sagada Mayor Latawan (dark blue shirt) inside the Tagudin town hall. Photo Andelo Umaming |
Shorter route via Aluling Bridge
InterAksyon.com learned that the opening of Aluling Bridge in Cervantes, Ilocos Sur now makes it possible to make the trip from Tagudin to Sagada in just three-to-four hours.
"The quicker route would help preserve the freshness of the products from both sides and shortens the time to destination," explained Robert Pangod, tourism officer of Sagada.
Lowland products, like bangus, used to be bought up by traders from Baguio City, which entailed a trip of more than six hours by bus just to reach Sagada.
There is also the possibility that Rep. Eric Singson would donate a refrigerated van for transporting Tagudin fresh products to Sagada.
Promotes tourism
The bilateral tourism potential between the two towns will also get a big boost with the newly opened, easier route.
Tagudin has attractive spots, including the nearby coastal areas, while Sagada is proud of its natural stalactite caves and hiking attractions, complimented by the indigenous upland culture.
Along the way, the historic Tirad Pass can be clearly viewed, while a visit to Bessang Pass (marking the victory in 1945 of Filipino soldiers serving the U.S. Army Forces over Imperial Japanese Army forces) serves to heighten compliment the visitors' sense of patriotism, Pangod said referring to these places in the Ilocos Sur area.
"The quicker route would help preserve the freshness of the products from both sides and shortens the time to destination," explained Robert Pangod, tourism officer of Sagada.
Lowland products, like bangus, used to be bought up by traders from Baguio City, which entailed a trip of more than six hours by bus just to reach Sagada.
There is also the possibility that Rep. Eric Singson would donate a refrigerated van for transporting Tagudin fresh products to Sagada.
Promotes tourism
The bilateral tourism potential between the two towns will also get a big boost with the newly opened, easier route.
Tagudin has attractive spots, including the nearby coastal areas, while Sagada is proud of its natural stalactite caves and hiking attractions, complimented by the indigenous upland culture.
Along the way, the historic Tirad Pass can be clearly viewed, while a visit to Bessang Pass (marking the victory in 1945 of Filipino soldiers serving the U.S. Army Forces over Imperial Japanese Army forces) serves to heighten compliment the visitors' sense of patriotism, Pangod said referring to these places in the Ilocos Sur area.
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| Marker at the Bessang Pass. Photo by Andelo Umaming |
In Tadian, Mountain Province, a neighboring town of Cervantes in Ilocos Sur, a visitor can view Mount Mogao, also dubbed irreverently as Mount Clitoris due to its sharp peak, and rolling hills and rice fields.
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| Rice fields in Cervantes, Ilocos Sur. Photo by Arthur Allad-iw |
Pangod admitted that the opening of Aluling Bridge at Cervantes expands opportunities for more visitors from Ilocos Sur, like Tagudin and Vigan, to visit Mountain Province. #
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