By Manny Piñol
Itbayat, Batanes – I am in the northernmost province of the country for a difficult two-day visit to check on the islands’ potentials in garlic and fish production.
After landing in Basco, the capital town in the island of Batan following a 1-hour flight from Clark International Airport, I and other Agriculture officials proceeded to the largest island of Itbayat using the MMOV Francisco Dagohoy of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.
It was about 2-hours from Basco to Itbayat but it took the boat a lot of time before it could dock in the notorious Itbayat Port where big waves could smash the boats against the rocks.
I was told by Batanes Vice Governor Romeo Aguto that from July to November, it is impossible to dock at the port because the waves are violently smashing against the rocks at height about 10 meters from the normal level.
Arriving in the town proper of Itabayat, which the biggest among the group of islands comprising Batanes Province, I saw the great potential to produce more of the famous Batanes Garlic.
Batanes Garlic, which comes in two colors – Red and White – is a gourmet’s delight mainly because of its strong aroma and taste.
The Itabayats and the Ivatans have been growing Garlic for almost 100 years but the very low market price and the unabated smuggling by the Garlic Cartel in the past, dampened the spirit of the garlic farmers.
Today, as the Duterte Administration intensifies its campaign against agricultural smuggling, Batanes Garlic farmers are enjoying better prices.
While the buying price in the past went to as low as P20 per kilo, the wholesale buying price in the island is now at P100 per kilo.
In the main island of Batan, tourists buy braided Garlic at P180 per kilo.
For next year, encouraged by the good price and government support, Itbayat Garlic farmers intend to increase their area to 500-hectares which is expected to produce an estimated 2,000 metric tons.
They could produce more they said but government must do something to improve the port facilities.
With this visit, I will take this problem up with Sec. Art Tugade of the Department of Transportation.
I am sure there is a solution and a way to do it.
(Video taken by Allan Jay Jacalan)
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