SPAOH: The Bukit Saban Food Festival and Sports Festival programme organised by the Bukit Saban Service Centere was held with the attendance of approximately 500 local residents.

The program was officiated by the Deputy Premier of Sarawak, cum Minister of Finance and New Economy II and Minister of Infrastructure and Ports of Sarawak who is also Bukit Saban Assemblyman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas on Saturday.

Also present was the Member of Parliament for Betong, Dato Dr. Richard Rapu.

Various activities were held to enliven the programme including a cooking competition involving the participation of 13 women's branches with Ranting Kubal Ili emerging as the champion.

In addition, the tug-of-war competition for men and women and the traditional game of pangka or pekit main asal were also well received.

Throughout the programme, several service counters were also opened to the public, including the Department of Social Welfare, Sarawak Service Center and Amanah Saham Nasional Berhad (ASNB).

The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) also held a Charity Sale to help ease the cost of living for residents.

The programme was also enlivened with food preparation demonstrations, the presentation of Sarawak Women's Empowerment Capital Grants to 11 recipients, and entertainment performances by local artists.

The organisation of such programmes is aimed at preparing local residents to boost the tourism sector in the Bukit Saban constituency, in line with the development of the Bebuling short take off and landing airport (STOLport) which is expected to open up more economic opportunities for the local community.-UKASnews