Department of Agriculture- Regional Field Office Cordillera (DA-RFO-CAR) recognized Cordilleran farmers for their contributions in the development of agriculture and fishery industries of the region last June 29 at the Crown Legacy, Baguio City.
Eight well-performing agricultural performers were awarded in the 2018 Regional Gawad Saka Search, while seven organic agriculture achievers were recognized for being able to make it to the national level of the National Organic Agriculture Achievers’ Award (NOAAA).
Farmers from Mountain Province get 3 awards as The Provincial Agriculture and Fishery Council (PAFC) of Mountain Province gets the award for the Outstanding PAFC in the region, while St. Williams Multipurpose Cooperative (MPC) of Paracelis claims the Outstanding Small Farmer and Fisher folks Organization, and the Municipal Agriculture and Fishery Council (MAFC) of Bauko received the region’s outstanding MAFC award.
Bantay Rural Improvement Club of Tabuk City clinched the Outstanding Rural Improvement Club award while Honorio Clemencia was hailed as the Outstanding Rice Farmer Adopting Integrated Rice-Based Farming System.
Awardees from La Trinidad were Romeo Kimbungan who received the Oustanding Agri Entreprenuer award, and Rogel Marsan who got the Outstanding Organic Agriculture Farmer for the province of Benguet, while the award for Outstanding Fisherfolk was received by the Apayao lone awardee, Renier Bilan Sr.
On the other hand, the DA-RFO-CAR also recognized the seven national finalists for the National Organic Agriculture Achievers’ Award.
Shiela Maie Butic (Outstanding Agriculture Extension Worker) is the only one from Ifugao to make it to the National level selection.
The other six national finalists came from Benguet, namely the MLGU Tublay (Outstanding Municipality), Teresita Guevarra of La Trinidad (Outstanding Provincial Focal Person) Berto Bayeng from Itogon (Oustanding Municipal Focal Person), Tublay Organic Practitioners Association Inc.(Outstanding Farmer’s Group), Jose Sacley Family from Atok (Outstanding Organic Farming Family), and Romeo Kimbungan from Tuba (Outstanding Small Farmer).
The Gawad Saka honors the achievements and contributions of individuals, organizations and local government units in the agricultural sector since it started in 1970 in partnership with the National Food and Agricultural Council (NFAC) and the Philippine Jaycees.
BY JAPHETH TOBIAS w/ reports from a Press Release by DA-CAR
