CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, June 17 — Mindanao health and wellness industry players, traders, producers, and exporters showed off their finest healthy and organic food products and wellness programs as they participated in this year’s Kagay-an Health and Wellness Expo (KHAWE), last June 15-17 at Limketkai Mall, Cagayan de Oro.
Forming part of Mindanao Development Authority’s advocacy for culture-sensitivity, the Agency participated in the expo by inviting Marawi internally-displaced persons (IDPs) to showcase authentic Maranao handicrafts, products of Maranao women groups and livelihoods of siege survivors. The expo also fell on the celebration of Eid Al-Fitr.
MinDA Area Management Office-Northern Mindanao Head Engr. Emelian L. Lawansa attended the opening ceremonies of the expo along with City Councilors Jay Pascual and Suzette Daba and the Directors of Circle Productions, who hosted the event.
“MinDA has been pursuing aggressive development and investment promotion efforts that are also in-tune with the Maranao culture and way of life. As a member of the Task Force Bangon Marawi, we have been advocating for culture-sensitive rehabilitation plans to ensure a smooth transition to normalcy. Furthermore, while most of the TFBM committees have been focusing immediate response, we [look] into the more long-term and strategic development efforts,” Lawansa said.
According to MinDA, KHAWE is a new opportunity for the Marawi IDPs to attract more investments in Lanao, given the promising product representations during the exhibit.
“This is one way of helping them recover from the tragedy that they suffered during the Marawi siege and bringing them back on their feet again,” he added.
Thirty (30) exhibitors joined the exhibit and other special activities during the KHAWE. Parallel activities include Zumba dancing, healthy Asian dishes competition, flairtending competition and health and wellness seminar. Another highlight event organized by Circle Productions is Freedom Run Cagayan de Oro 2018.
MinDA acts as the coordinating body for the Mindanao participation, working alongside with the City Government of Cagayan de Oro, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI-X) and Department of Agriculture (DA-X). ( Cara Leigh M. Cadiz/AMO-NM/MinDA)