DA awards Regional 2014 Gawad Saka winners

OUTSTANDING Ilocos Norte farmers dominate awardees during the awarding ceremony of the 2014 Regional Gawad Saka held at the Plaza Del Norte, Laoag City on July 17. (Lei Adriano)

By Leilanie G. Adriano

Staff reporter

LAOAG CITY—The Department of Agriculture-Region 1 recognized on July 17 outstanding farmers and farmers’ group in the 2014 Gawad Saka Regional Awards held at the Plaza del Norte, this city. 

Clad in Barong Tagalog and Filipiniana dresses, these outstanding men and women from the agriculture sector took time out from their daily routine as they climb up the stage at the Ilocos Norte convention center to receive their plaque of recognition and cash award from the DA for their great contribution in enhancing the development of agriculture and fisheries.

Engr. Ariel Cayanan, executive director of the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries who served as guest of honor and speaker lauded farmers in Region 1 for their remarkable performance in increasing farmers’ productivity, resulting to food sufficiency and sustainability.

“We salute our hardworking farmers for their excellent performance. Our awardees have gone beyond the traditional farming as they rise above innovative ways to improve their yield and contribute to positive growth,” Mr. Cayanan said.

Out of the 17 regional awardees, nine or most of the awardees will represent Ilocos Norte in the national search for Gawad Saka this year.

“We take pride of our farmers as they remain resilient at all times,” said provincial agriculturist Norma Lagmay citing the hard work and creativity of Ilocos farmers in keeping the economy going.

For the individual category, this year’s Gawad Saka Regional Awardees are: Orlando Bumanglag, outstanding rice farmer from San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte; Jonathan Sony Domingo, outstanding young farmer from Solsona, Ilocos Norte; Alberto Calsada, outstanding agri-entreprenuer of Bacarra, Ilocos Norte; Mario Dennis Pagal, outstanding small animal raiser of Laoag City; Eulalia Llaneras, municipal agricultural officer in LGU-Bacnotan, La Union; Dionisio Angeleo Sr.; outstanding fisherfolk-fish culture in San Gabriel, La Union; Marlon Taasin, outstanding corn farmer in Sta. Catalina, Ilocos Sur; Arnulfo Corpuz, outstanding large animal raiser in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte; Mary Ann Baradi, outstanding agricultural researcher in PhilRice, Batac, Ilocos Norte; Rommel Bumanglag, outstanding Agriculture Extension Worker in LGU-San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte; and Ediecris Raquino, outstanding fisherfolk-fish capture in Laoag City.

Unfortunately, two of the outstanding individual farmers—Ilocos Norte’s outstanding rice farmer Mr. Bumanglag and outstanding small animal raiser Mr. Pagal were represented by their family members as the two were already dead. According to the search committee, Mr. Pagal died of heart attack recently while Mr. Bumanglag was shot dead in San Nicolas town.

Meanwhile, the other 2014 Regional Gawad Saka awardees under the group category are:  City Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (CFARMC) of San Fernando, La Union as outstanding CFARMC; Rolando Rocapor and family as outstanding farm family of Rosario, La Union; Bigbiga Rural Improvement Club as outstanding RIC of Sudipen, La Union; Fish Searchers Sta. Cruz Fishermen Association, Inc. as outstanding small farmer/fisherfolk organization of Sta. Cruz, Ilocos Sur; City Agriculture and Fishery Council (CAFC) as outstanding CAFC of Laoag City; and the Barangay Food Terminal (BFT) Santiago Sur as outstanding BFT of Caba, La Union.

The Gawad Saka, the search for outstanding Filipino farmers, is an annual undertaking of the DA which aims to give due recognition and pay tribute to dedicated individuals and institutions whose exemplary accomplishments contributed to the country’s agricultural development.

Each winner for the individual category received P30,000 cash prize while each group category received P50,000 cash.

The regional Gawad Saka winners are automatic nominees to represent Region 1 in the national search for Gawad Saka awardees which will be announced later this year.