AT LEAST 15 farmers, fisherfolk, and associations were recognized on Tuesday by the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Davao Region as the Gawad Saka Outstanding Agri-Achievers during the awarding ceremony at Grand Regal Hotel in Davao City.
Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF) executive director Ariel Cayanan lauded the efforts of this year’s awardees and encouraged them to continue their advocacies and best practices.
He said the regional winners will vie in the Gawad Saka national tilt and the awarding rites this year.
"Ang Region 11 (Davao) para sa inyong kaalaman ay palaging merong outstanding achievers hindi lamang sa level ng region maging hanggang sa national level. In fact, marami na po silang nabigyan ng award sa National Gawad Saka. Muli ay aming inaasahan na from regional level, meron pong makaakyat sa national level," Cayanan said.
The Gawad Saka regional winners are Danilo Diwata of Governor Generoso in Davao Oriental as Outstanding Small Animal Raiser, Virgilio Balicog of New Corella in Davao del Norte as Outstanding Large Animal Raiser, Danilo Cereño of San Isidro in Davao Oriental as Outstanding Fisherfolk (Fish Culture), Dr. Merlina Juruena of Tagum City in Davao del Norte as Outstanding Agri-researcher, Isidro Aniñon and Family in Maco town in Compostela Valley Province as Outstanding Farmer Fisherfolk Family and PAFC Davao Del Norte as Outstanding Provincial AFC.
The awardees of the Gawad Saka special citation are Marcos Cabrera of Sto. Tomas in Davao del Norte as Outstanding Rice Farmer, Meriam Pleños of San Isidro in Davao Oriental as Outstanding Corn Farmer, Jovito Arreza of Governor Generoso, Davao Oriental as Outstanding High Value Crops Farmer, El Tigre Food Products in Cateel, Davao Oriental as Outstanding Agri-entrepreneur, Nelly Wenceslao of Lupon, Davao Oriental as Outstanding Fisherfolk (Fish Capture), Checkered Farms Agrarian reform Beneficiaries Multi-Purpose Cooperative (Cfarbemco) in Panabo City, Davao del Norte as Outstanding Small Farmer Fisherfolk Organization, Barangay Balagulan Ric Sto. Tomas Davao del Norte as Outstanding Rural Improvement Club and FARMC in Banaybanay, Davao Oriental as Outstanding FARMC.
DA-Davao director Engineer Remelyn Recoter, in a press conference yesterday, said these are the farmers, fisherfolks and associations who have contributed much to the economic development of the region.
She added that this year's winners are different from the other winners in 2015.
"They are all new winners. When we say achievers, of course, from every province they have probably an outstanding performance and from that they are nominated, according to the measures that the DA together with other different government agencies and Armed Forces of the Philippines personnel [have set]," Recoter said.
Outstanding Small Animal Raiser Danilo Diwata, who expressed his gratitude over the award given to him, said that despite all the challenges, his determination, patience and passion to everything he does is his secret to achieve in his profession. (ICT)