CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — The Department of Agriculture (DA) Central Luzon recently cited 15 regional winners of the Gawad Saka Search at the Laus Event Center in the City of San Fernando.
Assistant Secretary for Operations Waldo Carpio, together with Regional Executive Director Roy Abaya, Regional Technical Director for Operations and Extension Crispulo Bautista, Jr. , and OIC Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulatory Irene Adion, led the awarding of plaques and checks to the winners.
“The Search for Outstanding Agricultural Achievers and Outstanding Rural Women is a yearly undertaking of the department to give honor and pay tribute to the outstanding performers in agriculture and fisheries and rural women who serve as inspiration and model to other farmers in the community as well,” Abaya said.
This year’s roster of regional honorees from Nueva Ecija include Talabutab Norte PMPC of Gen. Mamerto Natividad as Outstanding Small Farmers/Fisherfolks Organization; PAG-ASA RIC in Sto. Domingo as Outstanding Rural Improvement Club; and Ernesto Perlas and family of Palayan City as Outstanding Farm Family.
Meanwhile, Bulacan produced three regional awardees, namely Nemencio Concepcion of San Ildefonso as Outstanding Rice Farmer, Edwin Mag-isa of San Ildefonso as Outstanding High Value Crops Farmer, and Norhaya Demacaling of Angat as Outstanding Organic Farmer.
This year’s Outstanding Coconut Farmer is Victoriano Farro of Maria Aurora, Aurora; Alex Diaz of Orani, Bataan as Outstanding Small Animal Raiser; Tuyo Barangay Food Terminal in Balanga City, Bataan as Outstanding Barangay Food Terminal (LGU-managed); Dr. Richard Torno of Guagua, Pampanga as Outstanding Sugarcane Farmer; Cesario Tabago of Moncada, Tarlac as Outstanding Corn Farmer; and Zambales Agricultural and Fishery Council in Iba as Outstanding Provincial Agricultural and Fishery Council.
In addition, Dr. Marissa Romero of Philippine Rice Research Institute was recognized as this year’s Outstanding Agricultural Scientist while the Outstanding Agricultural Researcher Award was conferred to Arthur Dayrit of DA Regional Field Office III.
DA-RFU 3 information officer Jun Espiritu explained that the contest started at the municipal level where model farmers, fishers and livestock raisers and farmers’ and fisherfolks’ groups, and organizations were endorsed by their respective mayors to the provincial level competition.
Profiles of the provincial winners were then submitted to DA-RFU3 for review and validation.
The regional awardees were automatically Central Luzon’s bets to the national Gawad Saka, whose winners will soon be announced. (CLJD/MJLS-PIA 3)