BAGUIO CITY – Three entries from the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) for the annual Gawad Saka Awards were recognized as among the outstanding farmers and farmers’ groups for their extraordinary contribution to Philippine agriculture and fisheries.
Department of Agriculture (DA)-CAR Regional Director Jennilyn Dawayan identified the awardees: Edna Norial of Lamut, Ifugao as “Outstanding High-Value Crops Farmer”; the Municipal Agricultural and Fishery Council (MAFC) of Itogon, Benguet as “Outstanding Municipal/City Agricultural and Fisheries Council”; and the Provincial Agricultural and Fishery Council (PAFC) of Benguet, which received the “Outstanding Provincial/Highly Urbanized City/Independent Component City Agricultural and Fisheries Council” award.
“This is the DA’s way of thanking the people in the industry for their continuing effort to feed the country and improve their sector’s condition,” Dawayan said.
The DA holds the annual awarding to recognize individuals and councils for their exemplary contribution to agriculture, enhancing productivity and improving farmers’ conditions.
Out of more than 90 national finalists, 37 winners were chosen from seven major categories: crops, livestock, fisheries, institutions, agricultural extension, youth, and cross-cutting.
Norial received PHP250,000 in cash, while the two councils received PHP600,000 each during the 51st Gawad Saka Awarding ceremony on June 29 at the Philippine International Convention Center.
Norial, of Mabatobato, Lamut, and Ifugao, owns the “Love of Nature Farm,” which focuses on cacao production and processing. Her farm, an accredited learning site of the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), serves as a training ground where she positively influences her audience and contributes to her effectiveness as a trainer and leader.
She has partnerships with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), whose clients are also trained at her farm.
“Through these partnerships, she gained valuable skills and knowledge, eventually becoming a resource person herself in conducting trainings and participating in trade fairs,” ATI-Cordillera said. “She generously shares with fellow farmers and processors her expertise.”
DA Undersecretary Roger Navarro, representing Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., lauded the dedication and selfless service of the awardees, emphasizing that their contributions go beyond recognition.
“The country’s food security depends on the dedication and passion of farmers, fisherfolk, and agricultural leaders. Agriculture today should focus not only on increasing production but also on improving efficiency throughout the value chain, particularly in post-harvest facilities such as cold storage,” Navarro said. **Liza Agoot
