DA fetes corn achievers in Bicol
NAGA CITY --- The Department of Agriculture in Bicol feted this year’s achievers in the development of the corn and cassava industry sectors, giving out a total of P480,000 in cash prizes plus plaques of recognition during the Regional Corn Congress 2018 and Awarding of Regional Quality Corn and Cassava Cluster Organization Achievers.
Undersecretary Evelyn G. Laviña of DA High Value Crops and Rural Credit, and Dr. Candido B. Damo, national corn and cassava program coordinator, conferred the awards to 24 awardees who were elegantly attired in their Barong Pilipino and Filipiniana.
Usec. Laviña in her speech, said that the AEWs should not compete with each other but rather “compete with yourself.” “Focus on what we can produce for others not for ourselves. Corn, cassava and malunggay grow well in Bicol, do the best you can for our community,” she added.
Dr. Damourged the awardees to continue improving their functions in their respective areas. “Ang awards ay hindi kabayaran, kundi konting token lang to thank you for your efforts.
The Corn Quality Achievers awardees were composed of municipal/city Local Government Units; mun/city agriculturists; agricultural extension workers; and cassava cluster.
Five municipal/city local government units (MLGUs/CLGUs) were adjudged as outstanding implementors of the DA Corn Program with strict adherence and compliance to quality corn standards.
The awardees are Calabanga, Camarines Sur; Ligao City in Albay; Iriga City in Camarines Sur; Naga City, and Tigaon, Camarines Sur.
Mayors Patricia Alsua of Ligao City and Pamela Rina Fuentebella of Tigaon, Camarines Sur received the plaques for their respective municipalities/cities while the city/municipal agriculturists received the plaques for the other LGU awardees.
Likewise, the municipal/city agriculturists of the outstanding LGUs were awarded as Outstanding Municipal City Agriculturists (MAs/CAs). Each awardee received a plaque of commendation and P25,000 cash award. They are: Gil Gabriel H. Bordado III of Calabanga, Camarines Sur; Engr. Dexter A. Mendoza of Ligao City; Ruben delos Santos of Iriga City; Maria Edna B. Bongalonta of Naga City; and Lea M. Beltran of Tigaon, Camarines Sur.
Meanwhile, Benedicto C. Heraldo, corn program coordinator of Naga City, also received P25,000 cash prize as Outstanding City Corn Coordinator. The Maymatan Cluster Cooperative in Goa, Camarines Sur received P25,000 cash as Outstanding Cassava Cluster Organization.
Twelve outstanding Agricultural Extension Workers were also awarded with plaques of recognition and cash prize of P15,000. The AEWs from Camarines Sur province are Joshua Ipo, Ryan Calatrava, Carlos Azañes all of Calabanga, Marly Corporal and Honesto Sirios of Iriga City; Noel O. Manaog and Buster Ibarbia of Buhi; Hector Llagas of Bato, and Victor Cortez of Baao. Also Marife Bonsobre from Uson, Masbate; Mary Jane Alicante and Susana Arcenal from Cataingan, Masbate.
The awardees proceeded to Davao City last November 14, 2018 for the 14th Philippine National Corn Congress and 6th National Quality Corn Achievers’ Awards (CCMEA) and 2nd Cornucopia Award.