TARLAC CITY — The municipality of Moncada in Tarlac celebrated its rich agricultural foundation while showcasing growing livelihood opportunities for local farmers during the 2026 Kamote Festival.
Mayor Ramon Benito Aquino underscored that the festival went beyond promoting sweet potato or “kamote,” as it also championed the town’s entire agricultural sector.
“Hindi dahil Kamote Festival ito ay kamote lang ang prinopromote natin. Ang prinopromote natin ay ang kabuhayan ng mga farmers dito sa ating bayan ng Moncada (Not because this is Kamote Festival does it mean we are only promoting sweet potatoes. What we are promoting is the livelihood of the farmers in our town of Moncada),” he said.
Aquino noted that the majority of associations in Moncada were composed of farmers, making the festival a significant support platform for them.
He also shared that as part of the festival, local farmers’ associations were awarded with seeds and fertilizers to further boost their production capacity during their Farmers Fest.
Beyond recognition, Aquino acknowledged the Kamote Festival as a venue for farmers to build networks and explore new market opportunities.
“Nakakahanap din tayo ng network para matulungan sila na magbenta lalo na sa panahon ngayon hirap na hirap ang ating mga farmers (We can also find networks to help them sell, especially nowadays when our farmers are really struggling),” he added.
Anchored on the theme “Ili-likha Moncada”, this year’s celebration also reflected the town’s innovative and creative vision of promoting agricultural development and sustainable livelihood.
During the festival’s culminating activity, eight districts showcased the farmers’ journey, highlighting their hard work and resilience through the colorful costumes worn in their festival dance performances.
The grand float parade also featured decorated floats with agricultural crops, farming tools, and symbols of progress, further showcasing the town’s strong agricultural identity.
Moncada’s Kamote Festival stood not only as a celebration but as an initiative to strengthen the agricultural sector and improve the lives of farmers.
