TACLOBAN CITY— For eight years now, tuba gatherers and enthusiasts joined a festival aimed to promote the most popular local wine in the region.
Dubbed as “Oktubafest,” the one-day gathering is an initiative of the An Waray party-list group.
The first Oktubafest was first staged in 2008 spearheaded then by former congressman Florencio “Bem” Noel.
This year’s Oktubafest was held at the grounds of the Leyte Park Convention Center with a theme “One Eastern Visayas.”
The event is patterned after the famous Oktoberfest in Germany but with tuba, process by extracting the sap of a young coconut.
“Tuba processing is one of the many regional industries that the region could truly claim. Thus, I would like to thank my brother former congressman Bem Noel for starting the tradition of giving importance to the coconut industry which is the main source of livelihood in the region” said Rep. Victoria “Binky” Noel of the Waray party-list.
Region 8 is the third largest coconut producing region of the country.
However, after the region was pummeled by supertyphoon ‘Yolanda,’ the industry also suffered immense losses.
Noel promised to continue to support the industry by refilling a bill earlier filed by her brother seeking to revitalize the industry.
Meanwhile, Elvira Torres, assistant regional director for research and regulation of the Department of Agriculture, said that she is pleased that their department is part of the Oktubafest.
“After all, one of the major purposes of the activity is to promote the utilization of the coconut and for the stakeholders to be more aware and support as well the coconut industry” Torres said. (LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
