Iloilo’s instant salabat awarded Best Beverage in Trade Fair
In a recent Agraryo Trade Fair held at the Megatrade Hall, SM Megamall in Manila, the Badiangan instant salabat of Iloilo was awarded as the best beverage.
The instant salabat also known as instant ginger brew is a product of Badiangan Ginger Planters and Producers Cooperative, Inc. based in CLABBIS Agrarian Reform Community (ARC) in Bgy. Iniligan, Municipality of Badiangan, Iloilo. CLABBIS ARC is composed of Bgys. Catubig, Linayuan, Astorga, Budiaue, Bitaoyan, Iniligan and Sianon whose resident farmers are involved in ginger production. Production of salabat is being assisted by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Local Government Unit of Badiangan.
Due to product exposures during trade fairs, market demand increased and in fact it has established local markets in Iloilo City. From Badiangan Instant Tahu, the product name was changed to Badiangan Instant Salabat (Ginger Brew) because “Tahu” in Manila refers to Soya.
The Agraryo Trade Fair on the other hand is a yearly event organized by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) every month of June in celebration of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) Anniversary and in celebration of the Philippine Independence Day.
This year’s Agraryo Trade Fair is now on its 8th year. It carries the theme, “Enterprising Agrarian Reform Communities: Creating Jobs, Empowering Farmers, and Ensuring Food Security.”
The event showcases the best innovative, good and promising practices and program/projects of the different players in agrarian reform and rural development, aside from the regular promotions and selling of ARBs’ food and non-food products that improved farm productivity, employment generation, and more income for the farmers and their families. Awards and competitions are the highlight of the event. The award, consisting of a plaque and cash, for the salabat as the best beverage was received by DAR’s Provincial Marketing Assistance Officer, Rose Daborbor, who facilitates the participation of Iloilo farmers’ best products in the annual trade fair every year.
Last year and in 2004, Iloilo was also awarded as the best fresh produce for the lakatan banana of PUPANTA ARC in Lambunao, Iloilo.