Twenty two distinguished groups and individuals were recognized by the Department of Agriculture Cordillera (DA-CAR) for their significant contributions in the field of agriculture.
This was done during the Gawad Saka and Achievers in Agriculture Awarding Ceremony as part of the 31st Founding Anniversary of the agency at the Elizabeth Hotel, Gibraltar, Baguio City on June 28, 2019.
For the Gawad Saka Award, the four individual farmers who were recognized were Samuel D. Bakiran of Tabuk City, Kalinga, as Outstanding Corn Farmer; Conception G. Matias of Tadian, Mountain Province as Outstanding Agricultural Entrepreneur; Brenson L. Dagwat of Buguias, Benguet as Outstanding High Value Crops Farmer and Jekyl Jann Agustin of Tabuk City, Kalinga as Outstanding Young Farmer.
Rural based organizations include the Bauko Municipal Agriculture and Fishery Council (MAFC) as Outstanding MAFC; Aguinaldo 4H Club of Aguinaldo, Ifugao as Outstanding Young Farmer Organization; Tawangan ARB Multi-purpose Cooperative of Kabayan, Benguet as Outstanding Non-LGU Managed Barangay Food Terminal and Taccong Barangay Food Terminal of Sagada, Mountain Province as Outstanding LGU Managed Barangay Food Terminal.
Danilo D. Marcelo Sr. family of Tabuk City, Kalinga was also recognized as Outstanding Farming Family.
Gawad Saka is an annual search program of DA which is the highest form of recognition to deserving farmers and fisherfolk in the country who have excelled in the various sectors of agriculture.
Under the 2019 Regional Organic Agriculture Achievers Award, Teresa P. Sacley of Atok, Benguet was awarded as the Outstanding Young Farmer; Romeo A. Kimbungan of La Trinidad, Benguet as Outstanding Small Farmer Individual; Rogel A. Marsan family of La Trinidad, Benguet as Outstanding Farming Family; Tublay Organic Farming Practitioners Association (TOFPAI) of Tublay, Benguet as Outstanding Small Farmer Group; Jennifer B. Dulnuan of Lagawe, Ifugao as Outstanding Agricultural Extension Worker.
Further, Jeffrey D. Sotero from Tublay, Benguet was recognized as an Outstanding Municipal Focal Person; Catherine V. Buenaventura of Lagawe, Ifugao was recognized as Outstanding Provincial Focal Person; Municipal Local Government Unit Lamut, Ifugao as an Outstanding Municipality and Provincial Local Government Unit Ifugao as an Outstanding Province.
Alfonso Lista, Ifugao was also recognized as the Regional Outstanding Municipality Quality Corn Achiever.
Awardees received a plaque of recognition and cash prizes.
Under the Outstanding Rice Achievers Category, the Province of Kalinga were recognized as the Regional Outstanding Municipality and the Municipality of Kalinga was recognized as the Outstanding Municipality. The Municipality of Rizal was also an Outstanding Municipality in the National Level which entitled them to receive a Certificate of Recognition and a One Million worth of cheque from the Agricultural Training Institute Cordillera (ATI-CAR).
Also recognized during the awarding ceremony was Fonet Modesto A. Dirige for being a model in the field of Small Animal Raisers.
DA-CAR Regional Executive Director Cameron P. Odsey in his welcome message said that the Cordilleran farmers proved that they can be the best. This was attested by the National Gawad Saka awards bagged by Cordilleran Farmers over the past years notwithstanding the challenging face of agriculture in the region. He stressed that CAR was able to achieve it because of the significant support from the partner Local Government Units (LGUs).
“In this continuing quest, the DA-CAR is always ready and happy to help in improving the agriculture sector of the Cordillera,” he added.**RDibdiben
