Ms. Gloria M. Arroyo, in her speech, thanked the distinguished individuals and organiza-tions in the agriculture and aquaculture sectors for their continuous efforts and unwavering support to the national programs of the govern-ment towards self-sufficiency. The government is investing heavily on farmers and continue to provide financial support to them, Arroyo said.
A 47 year old rice farmer Claudio C. Agcaoili of Vintar, Ilocos Norte led the 2008 awardees for his record harvest of 11.5 metric tons of hybrid rice. With increased earnings, he and wife Clarita were able to send their four children to school, and acquired farm machinery and equipment. With his success, he was chosen as the first ‘Farmer-Extensionist’ of Vintar, Ilocos Norte. As he became well-known and popular, he was elected as the number one Kagawad (councilman) of Barangay Alejo Malasig.
Agcaoili and eleven other individual awardees received P120,000 — the biggest cash prize in the history of GAWAD SAKA. The outstanding organizations each received P150,000-worth of project grant from the National Agricultural and Fishery Council. The Outstanding Provincial Agricultural and Fishery Council (PAFC) received P250,000-project grant.
The Gawad Saka Search is an annual activity of the Department of Agriculture since 1970. It recognizes outstanding farmers and fisherfolks and their respective organizations for their invaluable contribu-tions to agricultural and fishery production.
According to Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap, the event served as the government’s continuing appreciation of the efforts of the food champions of the Philippines. He believes that the annual GAWAD SAKA contest has been inspiring and encouraging others to walk the same path they are treading, thus creating a critical mass of modern, innovative, and market-driven farmer-entrepreneurs. 2008 GAWAD SAKA 16 National winners are:
Corn - Edilberto Bitacura. Momentarily hooked into drugs, the 48-year old Bitacura of Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur has recovered and redeemed himself, becoming a model farmer and an active community leader. Last year, he harvested 10.5 tons and 11.2 tons per hectare, respectively, during the 1st and 2nd cropping. With increased earnings, he sends his five children to school. Two have already finished and now working abroad. He was able to build his dream house within his five-hectare farm, and acquired several farm equipment.
Sugarcane - Preciosa Maturan (58 years old), Bgy. San Roque, Malbugas, Bayawan City, Negros Oriental. A chemical engineer by profession, she dedicated almost all of her farming life to developing the sugar industry in her province. Last 2006-2007 season, she produced 120 50-kg bags of sugar per hectare. She served as chairperson of the Tolong Multipurpose Cooperative, chosen Central Visayas Regional Winner as the best cooperative, and among the five national finalists under the Pitak Award Coop-LGU Partnership category sponsored by the Land Bank of the Philippines. She is planting mango and rubber trees. She operates a grains trading enterprise, and a convenience store.
Coconut Farmer - Benjamin Lao (50), of Bansalan, Davao del Sur. A full-time government employee at the Bureau of Immigration, ‘Mang Ben’ is efficiently managing his five-hectare integrated coconut farm, which gives him and his family a lucrative gross income of P500,000 per hectare.
High Value Com-mercial Crop (Mango) - Ricardo Tolentino (53), Gayamat, Piddig, Ilocos Norte. Instead of becoming a ‘seaman,’ being a BS Marine Transportation graduate, Carding opted to manage the mango farm of his surrogate father. His decision was largely influenced by a mango exporter he met in college. After 30 years of his mango-based enterprise, he became popularly known as ‘Mango King of Ilocos.’
Agri-Entrepreneur - JUBOKEN Enterprises, Gapo, Camalig, Albay. Family-owned JUBOKEN Enterprises is into processing of coconut by-products for domestic and export markets. These include decorticated fiber, soil erosion control products, horticultural products, and coconut fiber pads. Together with its partner CocoTech, it also designs and implements bioengineering erosion control, installation and river bank, and shoreline rehabilitation projects.
Fisherfolk (Fish Culture) - Renato Alfaro (50), Nungnungan I, Cauayan City, Isabela. With a 15-year experience in aquaculture, he is becoming Cagayan Valley’s ‘Hito or castfish King,’ producing fry and fingerlings in commercial scale.
Fisherfolk (Fish Capture) - Restituto del Rosario (51), Sabang, Morong, Bataan. A former tricycle driver, “Ka Resty’ found opportunities in selling fish, and into fishing. Today, he owns three motorized bancas which bring an average weekly catch of 50 kilos of various fishes and squids. He owns a 1.75-hectare rice farm and a piggery. He produces bagoong. An ardent marine conservation advocate, he supervises the fishery pilot research area in Sabang.
Small Animal Raiser - Annie Sitjar (52), Lantian, Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur. After several years working overseas as a nurse, Ms. Sitjar decided to settle down. She raises farm animals, which include swine, cattle, goat, ducks, poultry and turkey. Her four-hectare integrated livestock farm is also planted to rice (one hectare, where she harvested 162 cavans last season), corn, mongo, squash, pineapple, and mango trees. Her gross income was P900,000 last year.
Young Farmer - Rosita Naje (26), Bgy. Burabod, Castilla, Sorsogon. After working in Batangas, Ms. Naje returned to Sorsogon, and managed a 300-layer farm, using capital her aunt provided. In 2006, she expanded her farm, by availing of a P400,000-project financing. The DA, the National Agricultural and Fishery Council and the Congressional Oversight Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries Moder-nization jointly implement. With her earnings, she paid off her loan. She acquired several farm equipment like electric generator, two motorcycles, and rice thresher. She is now the president of the Burabod 4-H Club, Municipal 4-H Federation, and Provincial 4-H Federation.
Agricultural Scientist - Louella Rowena de Jesus. (47). A leading entomologists, Dr. de Jesus have spent more than a decade finding ways to control the dreaded pest, mango pulp weevil (MPW), which wrought havoc in Palawan and other Southern Luzon provinces. A doctorate on applied entomology, her team’s research outputs became the basis of the current protocol implemented versus MPW.
Farm Family – Ireneo Espartero and family, of Purok 2, Dujali, Davao de Norte. They operate a five-hectare integrated farm planted to hybrid rice, vegetables and fruit crops, livestock and tilapia. Ireneo is currently the Purok leader, chairman of the irrigators’ association, and active member of Gawad Kalinga.
His wife Wenita is the chairperson of the Matinao Multi-Purpose Cooperative, vice chairperson of Braulio Dujali Fish Farmers’ Association, member of Rural Improvement Club, and designated as ‘Magsasakang-Siyentista’ of Dujali. The Esparteros were declared the ‘Huwarang Pamilya ng Davao del Norte’ in 2007.
Young Farmer Organization - Mandaya Tribe Youth Organi-zation, Barangay Upper Ulip, Monkayo, Compos-tela Valley. Organized in June 2005, this group grossed P148,200 last year from agricultural and livelihood enterprises in poultry and goat raising, fishpond culture, and banana production. Membership grew eight-folds, from the original nine to the current 70.
Rural Improvement Club (RIC) – Barucboc, Quezon, Isabela. It has the distinction of being the first RIC organized in Quezon, Isabela, in 1970. It was revived 3 years ago, with a new name: ‘Go Forward Barucboc RIC,’ with 87 members. In 2006, its members increased to 187, and last year, doubled to 319. Integrating food production projects with the promotion of a green and friendly environment, the group maintains a show window in Baruboc that displays well-kept and productive communal vegetable garden, orchard and a fishpond. From an initial capital of P10,000 in 2005, its asset is worth P300,000 as of December 2007.
Small Farmers’ Organization - Tupi Integrated Agricultural Cooperative. Tupi, South Cotabato. This cooperative started 19 years ago with a P30,000 start-up capital and 15 farmer-incorporators. Today, they have a long-term pineapple and papaya contract-growing agreement with Dole. Its total asset is now P133 million. Its footprint has reached other towns in South Cotabato and Sarangani. It has diversified into grocery store and gasoline station. Last year, its net surplus was P1.6 million, distributed to its 1,850 members as dividends and patronage refund.
City Agricultural and Fishery Council (CAFC) – Vigan, Ilocos Sur. Since its organization in 1995, the Council has been closely and vigorously collaborated with the City Government to address the concerns of their farmer-members through the provision of post harvest equipment and facilities, certified rice seeds, hybrid yellow corn, fertilizers, livelihood assistance, establishment of techno-demo farms, and cattle dispersal project. All of these initiatives have made the CAFC a major partner in the sustained socio-economic development of Vigan in more than a decade . In 2005-06, it was adjudged as the Outstanding City AFC in Ilocos region.
Provincial Agricul-tural and Fishery Council (PAFC) - Camarines Norte. Organized more than 20 years ago, the Council remained steady and strong partner of the Provincial Government of Camarines Norte in the field of agricultural and fishery development and moderni-zation. It produces its own radio program called “Unlad Kabuhayan, Magandang Kinabukasan,” aired over Radyo ng Bayan. The anchor is PAFC chair, Mr. Benjamin Dimaano who also serves as a member of the Board of Directors and a ‘volunteer-professor’ at the Camarines Norte State College.
It implements livelihood projects funded through the NAFC-Livelihood Enhance-ment for Agricultural Development (LEAD), with 86 beneficiaries. /MP
