Lights are bright and eyes are focused on 16 farmers, fisherfolks, and organizations as they received their Gawad Saka trophies and certificates during the 2018 – 2019 Regional Gawad Saka Ceremony held in Bellevue Hotel last October 25.
“Gawad Saka is one of the ways the Department of Agriculture (DA) honors and gives importance to the sector that feeds the nation. We hope that through this, their children and young members of their community will see how strong our appreciation to all farmers and fisherfolks and they will see a future on the agri-fishery sector,” Regional Executive Director Arnel V. de Mesa of DA CALABARZON, said.
Regional Directors from other DA-attached agencies with Gawad Saka winners are also present during the ceremony. These are Center Director Marites P. Cosico of Agricultural Training Institute IV-A; OIC – Regional Manager Atty. Andrew Ian P. Edrada of Philippine Coconut Authority; and OIC – Division Head Ricardo Cochuella of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources – Administrative and Finance Division.
For Regional Gawad Saka Coordinator Patria T. Bulanhagui, this five-decade initiative not only allows DA to discover outstanding people but also provides an avenue for the winners to be known further and help in their chosen vocation. Ms. Bulanhagui is also the Regional Information Officer of DA CALABARZON.
The Gawad Saka process of selection involves LGUs submitting their entries and nominees for different categories. They are then judged via table read of their scrapbooks/portfolios and field validation of their farms. Only after that, a winner can be selected and proclaimed. Winners at the regional level will be then submitted for consideration at the National Gawad Saka level.
Gawad Saka winners
Of the sixteen Gawad Saka winners, 12 are from the province of Quezon, three from the province of Batangas, and a lone winner from the province of Cavite. Aside from the trophy and cash, the winners also received cash prize worth P50,000.00 for individual winners and P75,000.00 for group winners.
Michelle M. Razo of Indang, Cavite is the sole winner from the province of Cavite. She wins the Outstanding Organic Farmer category.
Three winners are from the province of Batangas. They are Orlando D. Pedraza of Nasugbu, Batangas as Outstanding Small Animal Raiser; Soro-soro Multi-purpose and Allied Services Cooperative of Batangas City as Outstanding Small Farmers’ Organization; and the Calatagan Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (MFARMC) of Calatagan, Batangas as Outstanding M/CFARMC.
The town of Sariaya and Tayabas City in Quezon province both have multiple Gawad Saka awardees. For Sariaya, they are Florencio A. Flores for Outstanding High Value Crops Farmer; Teodoro V. Panaligan for Outstanding Large Animal Raiser; and Mamalahin 2 Rural Improvement Club (RIC) for Outstanding RIC. The two winners from Tayabas City are Nelson M. Padin for Outstanding Young Farmer and Tayabas City Agricultural and Fishery Council (CAFC) as Outstanding M/CAFC.
Other winners from the province of Quezon are Alvin Ray U. Rivera of Buenavista, Quezon for Outstanding Rice Farmer; Gevanie U. Magpantay of Catanauan, Quezon for Outstanding Corn Farmer; Sera Family of Pagbilao, Quezon for Outstanding Farm Family; Quezon Provincial Agricultural and Fisheries Council (PAFC) for Outstanding PAFC; Nenieveh Fortun – Glinoga of Pitogo, Quezon for Outstanding Coconut Farmer; Richard L. Sucuano of Patnanungan, Quezon for Outstanding Fish Capture; and Benjamin O. Bajo of Panukulan, Quezon for Outstanding Fish Culture.
Special Awards
In view of awardees coming mostly from the province of Quezon, various personalities from the provincial government were also awarded. Receiving personally his award of excellence for Local Chief Executive is Governor Danilo Suarez. Other excellence awardees are Roberto Gajo as Provincial Agriculturist and Cristina Lucilla as Provincial Gawad Saka Focal Person.
Certificate of recognitions were also given to municipal and city mayors; provincial, city, and municipal agriculturists; provincial and city agriculturists; provincial coordinators; and agricultural technicians.
The Gawad Saka secretariat also gave due recognition to each regional commodity banner program coordinators and all agricultural program coordinating officers for five provinces on their continuous support in ensuring the success of the Gawad Saka.
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