USM Joins Kalivungan Festival 2024

To celebrate the 110th anniversary of the Province of Cotabato, the University of Southern Mindanao (USM) participated in the Kalivungan Festival: Yaman ng Cotabato Travel and Trade Expo 2024. This six-day event was inaugurated by Emmylou “Lala” Taliño Mendoza, the Governor of Cotabato, and commenced on August 26, 2024, at the Basket Capitol Grounds in Amas, Kidapawan City. The theme for this year’s festival was “Cotabato @110: Embracing Diversity, Celebrating Unity, and Progress.”

Throughout the exhibit, USM proudly showcased its products under the USM Foods trademark in its nature-friendly booth. The products included Tableya, Turmeric-Based Tea, Sinamak, Robusta Coffee, Laurel Leaves, Camote Chips, Powdered Insulin Plant, Lanzones, Yacon, Insulin Wine, and dehydrated fruits such as Pineapple and Mango. Most of these products were processed at the High Value Crops and Food Processing Center (HVCFPC). The USM booth also featured Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials from the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) at USM, USM-Kidapawan City Campus (USM-KCC), and the SOCCSKSARGEN Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development Consortium (SOXAARRDEC). Additionally, milk products from PCC at USM, IP beads, bags, Nito, soft broom, and baskets from ICON-SP, cheese and banana muffins from USM-KCC, and products from the USM ATBI incubatees, including Chichaworm, peanut products such as Oil Nut, Nut Crumbs, Liquid Organic Deodorizer, Yema Nuts, Cassava Products, and Rabb-Eats Pastil were available for sale during the event. On the fourth day of the event, Chichaworm was sold out as many buyers decided to try it. Most of these buyers were first-time Chichaworm tasters, and it became the best-selling product at the USM’s booth.

Together with USM were 27 exhibitors from various universities and colleges, Department of Agriculture Regional Field Offices, private institutions, non-governmental organizations, provincial Local Government Units (LGUs), and farmers and fisherfolk.

The event was attended by local government officials, including Atty. Benjamin “Benhur” C. Abalos, Jr., the Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG); Governor Mendoza; and the congressmen of Cotabato’s two legislative districts: Rudy S. Caoagdan of the second district; and Ma. Alana Samantha T. Santos, congresswoman of the third district.