LEGAZPI CITY — The Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Regional Field Unit 5 (RFU5), based in Camarines Sur, awarded PHP1-million worth of projects to several organic agriculture producers, farmers, local government units, organic agriculture program implementers, and advocates from the academe during the 10th Bicol Organic Congress held in Labo town.
Emily Bordado, regional chief information officer of DA-Bicol, said in a phone interview Friday the gathering, attended by more than 700 farmers, shows the region’s active participation in advancing organic agriculture in the Philippines.
In his keynote speech, Rev. Fr. Ian Trillanes of the National Organic Agriculture Board (NOAB) extended the board’s sincerest gratitude to the Bicol region for aggressively implementing organic agriculture.
Trillanes challenged the participants to promote organic agriculture to a bigger number of people.
“We need to change their mindset. Malayo pa ang ating tatahakin (We still have a long way to go),” he said.
Trillanes added that the congress, with the theme “Pagsasakang Organiko: Kalusugan at Pag-unlad Sigurado”, “exemplifies what organic agriculture is all about — the way of the future which can address hunger and at the same time sustain health and environment preservation.”
One of the highlights of the congress was the awarding of the regional winners in various categories for this year’s Search for Outstanding Organic Agriculture Achievers Awards.
The province of Camarines Norte was awarded as Regional Outstanding Province, receiving a project grant worth PHP500,000. Mayor Patricia Alsua received a project grant worth PHP300,000 for Ligao City as Outstanding City in Organic Agriculture.
Felina Angeles of Sorsogon was named Outstanding Organic Agriculture Provincial Focal Person, and Engr. Dexter Mendoza as Outstanding Organic Agriculture City Focal Person, which came with a cash prize of PHP25,000 and PHP20,000, respectively.
Luisita Navo of Baao, Camarines Sur won as Outstanding Organic Agricultural Extension Worker, and Elmer Salazar of Tigaon, Camarines Sur as Outstanding Organic Agriculture individual farmer. They received PHP15,000 and PHP50,000 in cash prizes, respectively.
The Campita family of Goa, Camarines Sur was recognized as Outstanding Organic Agriculture Farming Family, which came with a PHP50,000 cash prize; and Guisican Multi-Purpose Coop as Outstanding Organic Agriculture Group, which came with a PHP100,000 project grant.
The Most Promising LGU award went to Iriga City while City Agriculturist Ruben Delos Santos received a PHP150,000 project grant. Jonafel Taduran of Iriga City was presented the Most Promising Organic Agriculture City Focal Person award and PHP10,000 in cash; and Edgar Oliva also of Iriga City, the Most Promising Organic Agriculture Extension Worker award and PHP8,000 in cash.
A special citation was awarded to the Local Government Unit of Albay for successfully implementing the five-year Albay Family-Based Food Production Program advocating organic agriculture in 720 barangays in the province with 72,000 co-operators.
Various topics were discussed during the plenary session, among them Trends, Opportunities and Challenges in Organic Agriculture; and Certification: Opportunities, Practices and Challenges and Updates on Organic Agriculture Program. Elmer Salazar, organic farmer of Tigaon, shared his best farm practices. (Connie Destura/PNA)
