By Hydee Templonuevo/PNA
GENERAL SANTOS CITY — Two innovative farmers and a local agriculture and fishery council in South Cotabato province have been adjudged as among the top winners in this year’s National Gawad Saka search.
Milagros Casis, regional director of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Region 12 (Soccsksargen), said Tuesday the three winners were among the region’s four national finalists in the prestigious annual awards program.
She said Engr. Daniel Apostol of Koronadal City emerged as the most outstanding high-value crops farmer and Engr. Ernesto Pantua, Jr. as the most outstanding organic agriculture farmer.
The Municipal Agricultural and Fishery Council (MAFC) of Tampakan town in South Cotabato was adjudged as the most outstanding MAFC, she said.
Apostol owns an organic farm in Barangay Concepcion, Koronadal City that is planted with different plantation crops such as cacao and coconut as well as fruit crops like durian, rambutan, and lanzones.
Pantua is one of the owners and manages the Kablon Farms Inc., which produces export-quality processed juices, jams, jellies, tablea and other food products.
The Tampakan MAFC, headed by its chairman Stephen Divinagracia, has been instrumental in facilitating access to government programs and assistance, especially with the DA, for their farmer-members.
Casis said the three winners will formally receive their awards in a ceremony that will be held in Malacañang sometime next month.
She said each national winner will receive cash prizes, trophy and a citation from President Rodrigo Duterte.
“Based on the list, Region 12 was one of the regions that has the most number of winners,” Casis said in a statement.
In last year’s National Gawad Saka awards, Soccsksargen bagged two of the top awards.
Gerardo Cordero of Koronadal City emerged as the most outstanding coconut farmer and Dr. Emma Sales of North Cotabato as most outstanding agricultural scientist.
The Gawad Saka search is an annual awards program of the DA that aims to recognize the achievements of local farmers, fisherfolk and farming organizations.
