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[av_heading heading=’DA 6, honors this year’s Gawad Saka awardees ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
By: Resel Joy Tianero
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ILOILO City – The Department of Agriculture (DA) Regional Field Office 6 recognized the four farmers, agri-entrepreneurs and associations of Iloilo and Guimaras in the 2016 Regional Gawad Saka Awarding Ceremony held on Oct. 6 at Punta Villa Resort, Iloilo City.
Rebecca C. Tubongbanua, owner of McNester Food Products based in Buenavista, Guimaras, was this year’s regional Gawad Saka Outstanding Agri-entrepreneur. Myrna C. Reyes of Passi City, Iloilo garnered the outstanding corn farmer award and the Municipal Agriculture and Fishery Council (MAFC) of New Lucena was the outstanding agriculture and fishery council. Meanwhile, the Southern Iloilo Area Multi-Purpose Cooperative (SIAMPC) hailed as the outstanding small farmers’ organization.
Tubongbanua and Reyes received a P30,000 cash award and a project prize worth P25,000 each. On the other hand, the MAFC-New Lucena and the SIAMPC were awarded P50,000 cash and P25,000 project prizes. Their assisting agricultural extension workers were also given P15,000 for their initiatives and efforts in empowering the sector for food sufficiency and sustainability.
This year, only the SIAMPC of Oton, Iloilo was qualified for the national finalist, and it was field validated by the national screening committee chaired by Norman William Kraft, Director II of Agricultural Credit Policy Council last August.
According to SIAMPC manager Celestial Tollosa, the Cooperative was organized by 73 Samahang Nayons on May 22,1981 and it has operations in Oton, Tigbauan, Guimbal, Miagao, San Joaquin, Iloilo City and areas in the Province of Guimaras.
“The DA seeks to recognize the contribution of Filipino farmers, fisherfolk, small farmers/irrigators’ associations, agri-entrepreneurs, researchers, scientists and councils to the country’s economic and agricultural development,” said Remelyn Recoter, Regional Executive Director.
“We are hoping that from their efforts, other farmers and fisherfolk will be inspired to take the path that the four awardees are taking. And that by 2017, we will be able to increase the number of regional awardees so that we will be able to compete in the national,” Recoter added.
She also encouraged the local government units and rural-based organizations of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras and Iloilo to start scouting for outstanding agricultural stakeholders that can compete in the 21 categories in the Gawad Saka Search. (SMHToreno/DA6Information)/PN
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