A resident of Barangay Sapang Biabas in Mabalacat City has topped the Agriculturist Licensure Examinations (ALE) with an 85.83 percent passing rate.
The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) said that Arriz Lansangan Cabigting, 21, topped some 1,790 ALE passers out of 5,795 examinees.
With Cabigting in first place is Roselle Estera Madayag of University of the Philippines – Los Baños.
Cabigting, a former student leader, holds a degree in Agriculture Major in Animal Science and graduated with Latin honor as Cum Laude at Pampanga State Agricultural University (PSAU) in Magalang, Pampanga.
“Ang unang reason ko sa pagkuha ng agriculture as my profession ay dahil in demand ito here and abroad. However after I graduated and landed on my first job as a researcher and extension worker sa Regional Field Office ng Department of Agriculture ay nakita ko po na kailangan ng mga Filipino farmers ang tulong at gabay ng mga agriculturists upang mapaunlad ang kanilang antas ng pamumuhay,” he said.
Currently, Cabigting is working on an agricultural project with the Office of the City Agriculturist headed by Lourdes Balatibat.
“Collaborative project po sya ng International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Philippine Rice Research Institute at ng DA. Varietal trial (rice) po sya ng mga bagong approved na varieties sa Pilipinas. Sinusubukan at pinagaaralan po namin sila sa mga iba’t ibang environments and ecosystem para malaman kung ano ang angkop na variety ang maaaring itanim sa isang lugar,” Cabigting added.