gawad saka ecopy - Department of Agriculture

May 2011
A publication of the Department of Agriculture
SPECIAL ISSUE
Messages
Congratulations to all the recipients of the
Gawad Saka 2009-2010. I join the Department
of Agriculture in commending our farmers,
fisherfolk, and organizations with outstanding
accomplishments in the field of agriculture and
fisheries.
It is only fitting that we pay tribute to our
heroes in the countryside, whose contribution to
our country’s economy and food production
stands unparalleled. Their commitment to
national renewal manifest in their labor amid
challenges brought about by nature and by market recession. This
award is a recognition that our path to progress entails the continued
development of our agricultural sector, and that the continuing efforts
of our countrymen in the rural areas are crucial in our fight against
poverty. It is my hope that the achievements of our Gawad Saka
honorees will inspire more Filipinos to join our movement to rebuild
our nation and revitalize our economy.
Your support and the Filipino people’s yearning for change
continue to steer us along the straight and righteous path to genuine
reform. Let us, reclaim the glory of our nation under the daylight of
transparency, accountability, and integrity.
Benigno S. Aquino III
President, Republic of the Philippines
Isang maalab na pagbati at pasasalamat
sa mga natatanging magsasaka, mangingisda,
siyentista, samahan at iba pa nating katuwang
sa kanayunan na nagtitipon-tipon para sa 20092010 Gawad Saka.
Maituturing ang taunang parangal na ito
bilang isang tagumpay sa larangan ng
pagpapaunlad sa sektor ng sakahan at
pangisdaan. Hindi lamang tayo nagkakaroon
ng pagkakataon na kilalanin itong dakilang
bokasyon sa agrikultura, napag-iisa rin natin ang
lahat ng mga pagsisikap para makamit ang isang matatag na
kinabukasan.
Sa ilalim ng pamunuan ng Pangulong Aquino, makakaasa
ang sambayanan na pag-iibayuhin ng Kagawaran ng Pagsasaka
ang paghahatid ng mahusay, tapat at napapanahong suporta at
kalinga na karapat-dapat lamang ninyong matanggap.
Layunin nating siguruhin ang pambansang kasapatan sa bigas
at iba pang pagkain, at paramihin ang mga Pilipinong umaasenso
at yumayaman sa negosyo sa sakahan at pangisdaan. – nang hindi
nasasakripisyo ang kalusugan ng kalikasan.
At kayong mga tumanggap ng pagkilala sa Gawad Saka ang
inaasahan naming mangunguna sa kampanyang ito ng
pamahalaan. Sinasagisag ninyo ang galing, katatagan ng loob at
determinasyon ng isang Dakilang Pilipino.
Kaya, ipagpatuloy natin ang ating pagkakaisa. Nawa’y bigyan
tayo ng Mahal na Panginoon ng panibagong lakas upang
malampasan ang mga pagsubok na darating para sa katuparaan
ng ating mga dakilang adhikain.
Mabuhay ang magsasaka at mangingisdang Pinoy!
Proceso J. Alcala
Kalihim
P-Noy, Sec ‘Procy’ honor
Gawad Saka Awardees
President Benigno S. Aquino
III and Agriculture Secretary
Proceso J. Alcala lead the nation in honoring the country’s
outstanding farmers and
fisherfolk or Gawad Saka
awardees of 2009-2010, in
simple ceremonies, May 23,
2011, at Rizal Hall, Malacañan
Palace, Manila.
The awardees are composed
of 13 individuals and nine
groups, led by 78-year old
Efren Millare of San Juan, Abra,
as the outstanding integrated
(Pls. turn to p11)
Integrated Rice Farmer
Efren T. Millare
San Juan, Abra
Farm size and age do not matter.
This was proven successfully by 78-year
old Efren T. Millare or “Tata Efren” — of Sitio Barbarsic, Bgy.
Baug, San Juan, Abra — who from a mere 1.35-hectare farm
was able to produce rice and various crops, fish and swine
worth more than P400,000 in 2010.
Tata Efren, who has been farming for sixty years, adopts
the Palayamanan technology, an integrated farming system
implemented by DA through the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice).
He set up his farm in such a way that, in addition to his
main crop of rice, he could sustainably produce corn, peanut,
pepper and other crops.
He has also allotted a space for a fishpond and a shed to
take care of several head of livestock.
“Through Palayamanan, I was able to earn a gross income
of about P400,000 in 2010,” he explained in Ilocano.
From rice alone, he earned more than P173,000 from two
cropping seasons in 2009, despite the onslaught of typhoon
Pepeng that year.
He also made about P113,000 from livestock and tilapia
raising, P35,000 from vegetables, and P7,000 from corn.
Accustomed to farming a small lot, Tata Efren makes do of
what is available.
For example, he uses a mixture of animal manure, rice straw
and other farm wastes as fertilizer and feeds his pigs kangkong
and ipil–ipil leaves.
For pesticide, he uses a liquid concoction of hot pepper or
siling labuyo.
Tata Efren believes it’s not how small or big a farm is. It is
how well one manages any venture that makes the difference.
Despite his ‘ripe’ age, as he turns 79 on May 24, 2011, he
still continues to farm.
But he is passing on the legacy—and the benefits of planting and the success that goes with it—to his children and
fellow farmers and ruralfolk in Barangay Baug, San Juan, Abra.
“Six of my children graduated from college and three finished vocational courses,” he said, beaming with pride at the
accomplishments of his children.
“I was able to send them all to school through farming,” Tata
Efren proudly declared in Ilocano.
Organic Farmer
Ambrosio Acosta
La Trinidad, Benguet
In 1999, Ambrosio Acosta thought of
developing a farm, where he could grow
nutritious vegetables, using the organic
way.
Using some savings, he and some family members carved a
sloping terrain in La Trinidad, near their residence and trans-
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formed it into an organic farm, aptly called “The Master’s Garden.”
His agriculture degree from the University of the Philippines
at Los Baños (UPLB) came in handy.
He improved the farm’s soil by incorporating compost, animal manure, sawdust, leaf moulds, and some organic fertilizer.
Currently, he plants 10 to 15 varieties of lettuce, which is the
farm’s main produce, taking 60 percent of the total farm area,
of roughly 3,000 square meters.
The rest is planted to other vegetables like carrots, broccoli,
beans, cucumber, beets, tomatoes and cauliflower. Several
plots are also planted to herbs such as tarragon, thyme, sage,
oregano, rosemary, marjoram, dill, aragula, chives and coriander.
His “Master’s Garden” vegetables and herbs are now popular among consumers and Class A restaurants in Baguio, and
nearby areas.
The farm serves as a learning center and an agri-tourism
destination, where Acosta shares his knowledge and experience with fellow organic enthusiasts and farmers and tourists,
providing them with hands-on training on composting, seedling nursery and crop management.
He extends technical training on organic farming to interested farmers at the barangay level without monetary incentive.
He is among the key organizers of the Organic Farmers’
Multi-purpose Cooperative in La Trinidad.
Hybrid Rice Farmer
Michael W. Lumas-i
Tabuk, Kalinga
When the Department of Agriculture launched the Hybrid
Rice Commercialization Program sometime in 2004, only a
few brave souls took the plunge. One of them is Michael Lumasi, a 45-year old farmer who knew by heart the ins-and-outs of
hybrid rice farming.
Relying on his gut feel and vast experience in agriculture,
Michael took a risk on what his co-farmers in Ipil, Tabuk City,
Kalinga perceived as something new and planted hybrid rice
on two hectares of his 2.5 hectare farm lot.
Using the eight principles of PalayCheck System and farm
management tips from the local agricultural technologists,
Michael was able to increase his annual yield by five bags per
hectare.
“When I shifted from inbred to hybrid, I wasn’t sure what to
expect,” Michael narrates. Luckily, his gut feel was right. For
the dry cropping season (DCS) of 2010, he posted a 12.75
metric ton yield—half a metric ton higher than his 2009 DCS
harvest.
“Hybrid rice has brought me a lot of good things,” he exclaimed.
A father to six, Michael is happy that rice farming along with
other income-generating farm projects has helped him send
his children to school. “Now, I am able to provide for their school
requirements”, he said.
The family was also able to construct a house , buy a delivery truck, additional farm implements and home appliances.
While instincts and technology brought Michael his newfound glory in farming, hard work and perseverance earned for
him one of the most coveted titles in the National Gawad Saka—
the 2010 Outstanding Rice Farmer (Hybrid) award.
This year, along with 21 other outstanding individuals and
groups who have laboriously worked towards agricultural development, Michael is recognized not only for his feat, but also
because of his contribution to the rice-sufficiency program of
the government—something that can never be taken away from
him.
Corn Farmer
Jose F. Lorenzo
Crossing Rubber, Tupi, South Cotabato
At a tender age, Jose Lorenzo started
tilling his family’s two-hectare farm,
which has gradually increased to five
hectares through the years.
To fully enhance the farm’s productivity, he sought assistance from the Department of Agriculture and Japanese volunteers in the country — from which he adopted techniques in
cultivating upland corn and vegetables.
To date, four hectares of the area is dedicated to corn, where
he gets most of his income. He also planted high value crops
like cauliflower, broccoli, eggplant, cabbage, tomato, bell pepper and corn.
To further boost farm income, he put up additional facilities
such as solar dryers, nurseries and composting areas, and
acquired water pumps and power sprayers.
In the 2009 cropping season, he grossed more than P400,000
from corn and vegetables.
When El Niño hit the country during the first quarter of 2010,
he saved his crops by investing in water pumps. As a result, he
obtained an average yield of 8.9 tons of corn per hectare, while
his vegetables also did well.
Lorenzo said he always engages family members to help in
various farm chores. He also hires neighbors as farm hands,
thus providing them additional income.
As an entrepreneur, Lorenzo makes sure there are ready
markets for his corn and vegetable produce. Thus, he regularly
supplies supermarkets like Robinson’s Place and KCC Malls
in General Santos City and a vegetable trading post in
Koronadal.
Coconut Farmer
Catalino V. Ordinario, Jr.
Antequera, Bohol
Contrary to what his surname implies,
58-year old Catalino V. Ordinario is no ordinary guy.
He has transformed a 4.5-hectare farm in Quinapon-an,
Antequera, Bohol, as one of the country’s model integrated
coconut enterprises.
Special Issue
Having been into coconut farming since 1972, he is actively
involved in various coconut production and processing programs
of the Small Coconut Farmers Organization (SCFO) in
Antequera (of which he is the incumbent president), and of the
DA-Philippine Coconut Authority like the participatory coconut
planting project (PCPP).
Through his participation in PCPP, he was able to plant 200
more coconut trees to his existing 350 bearing trees.
He also maintains a coconut nursery for future expansion. In
2010, he earned close to P122,000.
Mang Catalino, as he is called by fellow farmers and
townmates, is also producing profitably several coconut byproducts such as bahalina or fermented tuba, which he branded
as ‘Catalino Bahalina Special Ordinario,’ which has become a
popular drink in Bohol. He also produces vinegar for local consumption.
But more than just coconut, Mang Catalino is engaged in
integrated farming by mixing crops, livestock, and fishery in
what is called diversified intensified contour farming system.
Under this system, he planted the farm’s hillside contour
with fruit trees like jackfruit, atis, avocado, mango, tambis,
durian, cashew, rambutan, guava, papaya and pineapple. He
also planted root crops like cassava and sweet potato, while
pasture grasses are grown as forage for livestock.
At the hilltop of his contour farm are animals like goats and
native chicken that range freely. He also maintains a patch
planted to several vegetables and herbs, and fishpond where
tilapia, carps and Taiwan shell thrive. There is also a basketball
court that doubles as a multipurpose dryer that he shares with
fellow farmers.
He also operates a 1.5-hectare rice farm, where he uses
vermicast as an organic fertilizer from his vermiculture project.
He sells the excess vermicast at P200 per bag. He also raises
anthuriums.
His farm has thus become a showcase, frequently visited by
farmers’ groups, people’s organizations, and government workers, who observe various farming technologies and attend lectures and demos on integrated coconut farming.
He actively participates and leads in the various agricultural
projects in Antequera, being chairman of its Municipal Agriculture and Fisheries Council (MAFC). He is also an officer of the
Bohol Provincial AFC.
Sugarcane Farmer
Florencia Cabautan
Warat, Piat Cagayan
She started sugarcane farming in
1993 at an initial two-hectare lot leased
from Hacienda Villacete, in Sta. Barbara, Piat, Cagayan.
She adopted new technologies, starting with the use of modern high-yielding sugarcane varieties, and organic fertilizers
like sugarcane mudpress. With this combination, she was able
to produce bigger yields, reduce the total production costs,
and earned for her higher income.
During the 2009-2010 season, her farm produced an average yield of more than 85 tons per hectare, more than double
the district’s average of 33 tons per hectare. This was equivalent to 175 50-kilo bags of sugarcane, about thrice the
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district average.
Through the years, with her savings, she was able to buy
adjoining farms, totalling to 23 hectares.
Cabautan is both a full-time farmer and an office manager of
the Cagayan Sugarcane Planters Association, Inc. (CAPSULA).
Portions of her farm are planted to other crops like rice, yellow and glutinous corn varieties, and high value crops.
Cabautan gained knowledge and skills by attending trainings
and seminars on sustainable and profitable production of sugarcane and other crops.
With her earnings, she was able to construct a decent house
complete with amenities and appliances, and buy a kuliglig
heavy duty tractor, a passenger jeepney as service vehicle of
farm workers, a personal car and motorcycle.
Her farm thus provides regular employment to townmates
and those from neighboring areas.
She was also instrumental in organizing in 1991, the Cagayan
Sugar Farmers Cooperative, Inc. (CASUFACO). The group was
able to acquire and avail of financial support and farm machineries from the DA and other institutions, which greatly improved
the cooperative members farm operations, eventually increasing their sugarcane yield and income.
High Value Crops Development Program Farmer
Edita A. Dacuycuy
Paayas, Burgos, Ilocos
Norte
When Editha Dacuycuy graduated
with a degree of BS Psychology at the
University of the Philippines, and
worked as Division Manager of an insurance company, it seemed unlikely that someday she will
be called the “Dragon Lady” of Ilocos Norte.
A mother of four, Dacuycuy came across the benefits of
dragon fruit when a friend gave her cuttings of the cactus-like
plant which the family planted in their backyard. With limited
space, they started with only 15 posts.
Since Dragon Fruit can be easily planted by seeds and stem
cuttings, Dacuycuy’s orchard easily increased from 15 to 5,000
poles in just two years, arranged in rows in their 5-hectare
farm.
With her thirst for curiosity, Dacuycuy conducted many experiments, and discovered that pure organic fertilizer is best
for her dragon fruit production. She also learned the technique
of composting, and eventually produced her own organic fertilizer.
Generous to share her blessings, she told other farming
enthusiasts about the success of her endeavor and urged them
to undertake the same. Under her leadership, they organized
the Saniata Dragon Fruit Growers in Ilocos Norte where she
was elected president. She was also nominated as Magsasaka
Siyentista under the OPAG FITS Center on Dec. 2008.
Her farm served as a demo farm for Dragon Fruit, and was
always included in the itinerary for Lakbay-Aral while Dacuycuy,
herself, became a favorite resource speaker in trade fairs, farmers’ congresses and information caravans.
Today, aside from fruit production, Dacuycuy has dived into
value-adding activities for her produce. She is now processing
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the fruits into pastries like cupcakes and cookies; recipes like
lumpiang shanghai, siomai, salads and soups; and special dessert like ice-cream.
She is also developing more areas for her plantation as she
plans to process the fruits into wine and puree in the future.
Agri-Entrepeneur
Eduarda V. Ayo
Capuy, Sorsogon City
She learned the intricacies of farming at an early age.
When her father died in 1975, Eduarda ‘Eden’ Ayo took over
and managed the family’s farm and rice trading business.
While she finished college with a degree in social science,
she opted to engage in farming, fulltime.
Now, she manages the family’s five-hectare rice farm in
Capuy, Sorsogon, and E.V. Ayo Enterprises, a diversified farm
inputs and products trading venture.
It was not easy for her at the start, but attending trainings
and seminars built up her knowledge and confidence.
When she married Antonio Ayo, a soldier, Eden established
EV Ayo Ricemill.
However, she strove harder, all for the sake of her son, Aldrin, when Antonio died in a battle in Mindanao.
And so, she expanded her rice trading enterprise to include
copra, fertilizers, pesticides, and other farm inputs.
She also invested in the production of quality palay seeds
and hog breeding.
Now, she has expanded her farm 30-folds to 150 hectares
and maintains a lease on farmlands at nearby barangays.
Currently, she allots 11 hectares for production of rice foundation seeds.
Eden continued to make a name in the business world. She
was accredited by the DA’s Bureau of Plant Industry as a
certified rice seed grower in 1992 and was formally recognized
for consistently topping the list of accredited seed producers
for 18 years in the Bicol region.
She also obtained a license from the DA’s Fertilizer and
Pesticide Authority to operate as a fertilizer and pesticide dealer.
At present, she has three warehouses for rice and palay
seeds, copra and fertilizers.
Her company has become a reputable quality rice seed producer. In 2008, her company produced 16,000 bags of palay,
most of which was bought by the DA for its palay seed subsidy program.
Hence, palay seeds from Eden’s rice seed production farms
in Sorsogon have found their way in other regions and provinces in Luzon, including Palawan.
In recent years, she has diversified into hog raising and breeding, establishing a 1,500 sow-level farm in Rosario, Batangas.
It produces purebred pigs on contract growing with SMC
Monterey.
In 2008, her company assets totaled roughly P54 million.
To this day, Eden remains humble, and serves as an inspiration to many who are as adventurous and enterprising as she
is.
Fisherfolk (Fish Culture)
Rodrigo Basallo
Cataanan, CDO
Misamis Oriental
A Certified Public Accountant and
a plant mechanic by profession,
Rodrigo Basallo was one of the pioneers to engage in the
Balingasag Mariculture Park in Misamis Oriental, the first
Mariculture Park in northern Mindanao.
Believing in the potential of the fishery project, he motivated
his friends, acquaintances and other investors to engage in
bangus culture in floating cages during the initial year of the
Mariculture Park’s establishment in 2007.
Rudy, as he is commonly known, invested without reservations on the establishment of two grow-out fish cage modules
measuring 10m x 10m each made of bamboo structures and
buoyed up with plastic drums.
With his keen management and business acumen, his initial culture and successful harvests of bangus in marine floating fish cages proved his detractors wrong and instead have
motivated and triggered a number of other interested parties to
engage in the said project.
As an engineer, Rudy experimented on the use of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) materials for the cage structures.
Because of the success of his initial and subsequent operations, other investors entrusted to him the technical supervision and management of the six grow-out fish cages for bangus.
Being optimistic of the bright prospect of the industry, he
further ventured in the marketing of his own produce to various
A fisherman for more than 30 years now, 57-year old Ramon
‘Ka Ramon’ M. Grimaldo is considered as the ‘big brother’ of
fellow fisherfolk in Atimonan, Quezon.
He fights for the rights of small fishers against large scale
fishing operations. Similarly, he encourages fellow municipal
fishers to be responsible, and strongly advocates the use of
sustainable fishing gears like ‘kitang,’ hook and line, and bottom
set gill nets.
Fisherfolk in Barangay Caridad Ilaya and nearby coastal
communities in Quezon regard him as a model and follow his
example.
He shares much of his time providing support to various fishery
programs implemented by the local government of Atimonan, in
partnership with the DA’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic
Resources (BFAR), such as the installation of artificial reefs,
conservation of pawikan, mangrove reforestation and protection,
and coastal clean-up.
As an environmentalist, he is one of the country’s frontliners in
saving the country’s marine resources for the future generation
of Filipinos, a translation of their battlecry: “Sagipin ang dagat,
Sagipin ang bukas.”
But more than just fishing for livelihood, Ka Ramon is an active
member of various organizations such as the Bantay Dagat,
Atimonan Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
Management Council (MFARMC) and the Atimonan Fish
Processor Organization (AFPO).
Special Issue
retailers and fish traders of Cagayan de Oro City (CDO) and as
far as Iligan and Valencia cities.
He now supplies fresh bangus regularly to Robinson’s Plaza
and other supermarkets.
To meet the demand of his growing business, he hired workers
to harvest, package, and deliver bangus to fish traders and retailers. and bought the produce of other fish cages at the Mariculture Park.
He and his wife also ventured into bangus deboning and sell
these at his Greenwater Resort in Jasaan or at the KS Fast
Food and restaurant at the Lim Ket Kai Center.
But Rudy did not rest on his laurels, he again engaged in the
growing of bangus fry and acquired a seven hectare pond in the
municipality of Magsaysay as fry nursery and established 16
conditioning cages for fingerlings.
Thus, making him attain another notch on the various aspects
of fish culture that is growing and selling bangus fingerlings to
grow-out fish cages.
Since he ventured into the grow-out production of bangus in
fish cages, Rudy has obtained an average production of 8.4MT
of marketable size bangus per cage (at 100 sq m) per cropping
at an average culture period of four months giving him a net profit
of P784,696 with four harvest periods and no carry over of stocks
from 2008 to 2009.
Indeed, Rudy is a living example of the modified Chinese proverb that says’” Give man a fish, he will eat for a day. But teach a
man how to CULTURE FISH and he will eat fish for the rest of his
life.” True enough, he has not only provided his family’s daily
needs for fish but supplied a number of people as well.
Fisherfolk (Fish Capture)
Ramon M. Grimaldo
Brgy. Caridad, Ilaya
Atimonan, Quezon
As he expanded his fishing operation, he provided employment to six families who help him in his business, enabling them
to operate three small fishing boats.
Now, he is also into fish cage culture, production of tilapia and
ornamental fish, and in fish processing and marketing,
Ka Ramon is happily married to Raquel Grimaldo, with whom
they are blessed with four children (three boys and one girl).
His income from fishing has sent them all to school, a privilege
which his parents failed to provide him four decades ago.
Three of his children are college graduates, while the youngest is about to enter third year college.
He said he treasures his 30-year experience more than a college diploma, as he is contended to go out to sea and fish everyday on board his banca ‘Lady Gift,’ named after his only daughter Gift.
During the ‘Farmers’ and Fisherfolk’s Month celebration in May
2008, he was designated by the DA-BFAR as the Region 4-A
‘Fisherfolk Director’ in recognition of his accomplishments and
commitment to empowering small fisherfolk.
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Large Animal Raiser
Leonora D. Jukni
Purok Mangga, Bgy.
Datagan, Pagadian City
Leonora Jukni started farming by raising goats, chickens, and native cows in
her five hectare coconut-based farm in Barangay Datagan,
Pagadian City.
To improve her farm, she attended farmers meetings and
various seminars and trainings conducted by the Department of
Agriculture (DA) and the City Veterinary Office.
In 2006, she completed all the needed requirements and
joined the Danlugan Multi-Purpose Cooperative which qualified
to the GMA Dairy CARES Program of the National Dairy Authority. Under this program, Jukni availed of four dairy pregnant
heifers, and an additional six heads more in the middle of 2008.
Eventually, she was processing dairy products at maximum
production.
To sustain the feeding of her livestock, she planted more
pasture grasses in an adjacent lot. When the animals became
ill, she used herbal medicines to treat them. She also used this
method for “mange” treatment and deticking.
Aside from her dairy projects, Jukni maintains a coconut
plantation and a farm planted to trees like rambutan, mango,
and guava which she fertilized with dried animal manure.
In 2009, she netted more than Php 150, 000 from her integrated farm. The bulk of the total earnings came from milk sales
accounting for more than Php 107, 000 while the rest from the
sales of coconut products and various fruits.
With enough savings, she was able to buy a milking machine
and a motorcycle with sidecar which she uses in transporting
fresh milk to her neighbors and other regular buyers.
Her integrated farm now serves as a show window to other
farmers and livestock raisers in Pagadian and other communities in Zamboanga. She was able to provide employment to
dairy farm worker and volunteers who wish to train in dairy operations. She also provided dairy milk to pre-school children in
their purok.
Her dedication and involvement in government programs particularly in livestock raising contributed to the food security and
sufficiency program of the Agriculture Department.
Small Animal Raiser
Hanani Nietes
Manticao, Misamis Oriental
He may be considered as one of
the country’s modern day
‘shepherds,’ as Hanani Nietes
shares not only the Word of God with fellow farmers and
townmates, but also teaches them how to raise goats and
cattle successfully as source of sustainable livelihood and
income.
A Seventh-day Adventist pastor, Nietes operates a model
goat farm, composed of 60 does and 20 bucks (Anglo-Boer
strain) in Manticao, Misamis Oriental.
For his feat, he is declared as a “Magsasakang-Siyentista”
by the Department of Science and Technology through the
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Philippine Council for Agriculture, Resource and Research
Development (DOST-PCARRD).
He practices a sustainable, organic livestock operation. He
feeds the goats with his own formulation of shredded ipil-ipil
leaves, copra meal, rice bran, molasses and salt.
He said this mixture induces dairy goats to produce more
milk, at three to four liters daily per doe.
On the side, he also raises dairy and beef cattle, which are
fed with the goats’ leftover forage mixed with copra meal.
He collects the goats’ and cattle’s urine and manure, and
use them as bio-pesticide and fertilizer.
With earnings from the goat farm, he was able to buy an
additional seven hectares, which are planted to ipil-ipil and madre
de cacao trees. The leaves serve mainly as forage for the goats
and cattle.
He also bought two horses to help transport forage and farm
products.
Pastor Nietes also raises earthworms to produce ‘vermicast’
which serves as organic fertilizer.
He also sells earthworms to interested vermiculturists.
For his efforts, his integrated goat and livestock farm earned
for him close to P110,000 in 2008, which is a respectable income
for his family (wife Saturnina and three children).
As a ‘shepherd,’ Pastor Nietes unselfishly shares his
knowledge and experience with fellow livestock farmers and
organic farming enthusiasts during livelihood seminars
conducted by the DA and other private institutions.
Further, he allows his breeder bucks to sire his neighbors’
does for free. He also buys from other farmers madre de cacao
leaves as forage for his goats and cattle.
Altogether, he has become a key player of the country’s small
ruminant industry, being the vice-chair for Mindanao of the Federation of Goat and Sheep Producers of the Philippines, Inc.
Young Farmer
Elnard S. Ympal
San Juan, Siquijor
Elnard Ympal of San Juan,
Siquijor has proven time and time
again that he is every bit outstanding as far as integrated farming
system is concerned.
After finishing a two-year course on Agricultural Technology
from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority
(TESDA), Ympal started his own vegetable garden on top of a
hill which he planted to cabbage, carrots, string beans, squash,
and others.
Soon, the upland farm was planted additional crops such as
corn, banana and cutflowers, giving him an income equal to
that of his vegetable production.
Using his ingenuity and innovativeness, Ympal devised a
drip irrigation system using recycled waste materials like empty
softdrink bottles and nylon wires to make up for the water
scarcity in his farm.
Aside from this technology, he also improvised light traps for
fruit flies, trellis for string beans, vermiculture, and organic
fertilizers for his vegetables, corn and rootcrops and formulated
his own pesticides using organic herbs and plants in the locality.
To further augment his earnings, the young farmer engaged
in poultry production as well as livestock raising with ten heads
of cattle and 18 heads of goat.
As an active youth leader in the community, Ympal at his
very young age has shown great leadership skills influencing
not only his neighbors, but his townsfolk as well, especially
the youth to engage in farming.
Outstanding Family
Mr. & Mrs. Abias Rosalita & Family
Valencia, Bukidnon
the two Rosalita daughters are currently working.
The family attributed their success in farming through their
cooperation and hardwork which helped their children pursued
their college degrees — Mirajen Rosalita, registered nurse;
Decemm, BS Medical Technology, Novie Lyn, B.S. Pharmacy;
Oct Chill, B.S.Pharmacy; and May Grale, B.S. Agriculture.
Because of their strong agricultural background, the family
members continued to receive numerous awards. Mrs. Rosalita
was adjudged as an Outstanding Farmer in Bukidnon and was
chosen as Barangay Agriculture Fishery Council Chairman of
Lurogan, Valencia City and RIC Barangay president .
Their youngest son, a 4-H club member, was a recipient of
Japan’s Young Filipino Training program, and the Japanese
Agriculture Exchange Council in the Asian Youth Leadership
Program and awarded as Young Farmer for Gawad Saka 20012002.
Truly, Mr. and Mrs. Abias Rosalita made outstanding agricultural practice a family affair.
Small Farmers’ Organization
Diffun Saranay & Development Cooperative
Diffun, Quirino
Abias Rosalita migrated to Bukidnon in his teen years, met
his wife Mercedes, and raised their own family. They were
blessed with five children: three girls and two boys.
From there on, the family depended on agriculture for their
livelihood.
At present, the family continued to till the land that Abias
used to farm and rented another piece of property to address
their growing needs. With the perseverance and industry of the
family, they were able to buy the five-hectare farm they are
tilling.
The couple with the help of their children continued on discovering new farming techniques, one of which is integrated
farming.
They applied what they learned from agricultural workshops,
trainings, seminars, farmer’s field schools, and school-on-theair programs sponsored by DA, other government agencies
and NGOs.
They optimized their farm production by venturing into other
alternative sources of income like fish culture, handicraft making, food handling and processing, and livestock raising.
Being innovative, the farm family used carbonized rice hulls
and bones for soil inoculants, and cultured mushroom using
“tiki-tiki for early maturity.
They applied Natural Farming Technology System (NFTS)
by planting leguminous plants in almost 75% of their farm lot
attracted pests which they control using organic extracts from
plants and fruits.
Post harvest losses from fruits were minimal as the family
processed these into jams, pickles, purees and chips sold
during trade fairs, town fiesta and in the provincial hospital where
Special Issue
As in most groups, the Diffun Saranay Development Cooperative (DISADECO) went through the proverbial ‘birth pains.’
It was organized in July 2, 1988, composed of 51 pioneer
members, mostly small farmers from four barangays (Ma.
Clara, San Isidro, Isidro Paredes and Bannawag), who put in
P100 each and came up with an initial P5,200 capital.
A few months later the group became inactive as several
key officers resigned when they transferred employment and
residence. The remaining members immediately reorganized
the group and registered with the then Bureau of Cooperatives
Development (BCOD), with the help of a non-government organization ,World Vision International, that invested an additional capital of P40,000.
Six years later, in March 21, 1994, the group attracted more
members from other towns, expanding its network to become
the Diffun Credit and Development Cooperative. However, it
opted to use its original name, DISADECO
To finance its growing operations, the cooperative sought
credit assistance from the Department of Trade and Industry
(DTI) and Land Bank of the Philippines.
With its good track record, it also succeeded in seeking
technical and logistics assistance from the Department of
7
Agriculture, that included a four-wheel tractor, village corn drying facility, bio-N mixing plant, warehouse, and drying pavement.
In 2008, with enough savings, it was able to construct a
P6.6-million two-storey DISADECO Farmers’ Center, with a
training hall, dormitory and cafeteria.
In December 12, 2009, it also put up its own grains processing center.
Today, almost 23 years since its inception, the cooperative
is profitably engaged in various agriculture-related enterprises:
rice and corn production, processing and marketing, fruit production, hog and poultry raising, meat processing, fishery and
trucking services. The cooperation also operates a farm supply and general merchandise grocery store and manufactures
sash and furniture. More importantly provision of affordable credit
to its members.
In the near future, it plans to put up a feed mill and an organic fertilizer production facility.
Aside from providing credit assistance to its members, the
cooperative extends other services such as mutual aid plan,
‘Saranay’ plan, loan protection and educational scholarship
programs.
It was also chosen as a ‘Hall of Fame’ awardee of the Land
Bank, under its annual Gawad Pitak, a contest among LBPfinanced agri-based enterprises.
productive lots, in turn, serves as a source of indigenous herbs
to cure common ailments of their families.
The RIC has also engaged in other non-agricultural livelihood
projects like food catering, flower arrangement, lending and
micro-financing, composting and recycling.
Regularly, the members attend trainings conducted by
various government organizations like DA, TESDA, DTI, DepEd
and other NGOs, to increase their level of awareness and
competence as active partners in the implementation of
development and income generating projects in their barangay.
At present, the Sinamar RIC’s “Guided Homes” project in
every purok serves as a show window on good home
management, and showcases the maximum utilization of
available areas in the backyard for better productivity and
additional income. In 2009, the group registered a net income
of P437,749.82 or 70.94.
With the income derived from their projects, the Club was
able to contribute significantly to the construction of the
Sinamar Norte Barangay Hall, which is now considered the
best—not only in the municipality, but in the whole province
of Isabela.
The group has also remained as an active partner of the
government in the implementation of projects not only in
agriculture but on all aspects of development making the
municipality of San Mateo an Agro-Ecological Destination in
the Region.
Rural Improvement Club (RIC)
Sinamar Norte
San Mateo, Isabela
It’s not a man’s world after all.
This reality was proven by the members of the Rural
Improvement Club of Sinamar Norte in San Mateo, Isabela
(organized in February 12, 1962) who believed in the importance
of mothers and women in society, and the value of proper
nutrition and health care for all citizens.
To empower its members, the group ventured in incomegenerating livestock projects particularly on poultry, duck,
swine and goat propagation.
They further ventured into meat, fruit and vegetable
processing, like pancit balatong, chips making, and mungo
flour making, whenever there is a surplus production in their
area.
They also planted crops like assorted vegetables, pineapple,
ginger, cutflowers and cultured mushroom and established
individual nurseries for the production of healthy seedlings that
they distribute for members’ backyard gardens These
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Young Farmers’ Organization
Catuguing Palayamanan 4H Working Youth Club
San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte
With the ongoing craze for high-tech gadgets and gizmos,
farming proved that it can hold a group of young people together.
Organized in January 2004, the Catuguing Palayamanan 4H Working Youth Club’s attempt to encourage the youth of the
community to come together and venture into various agricultural
and fishery projects was unsuccessful.
But they did not lose heart.
On August 27, 2008, the group re-organized with eight advisers
and 51 active members and was granted a P100,000 fund by
the Department of Labor and Employment. The financial
assistance jump-started the organization’s photo silk screen
printing project which in turn generated income that funded
their farm projects in the fields of high value crops, fishery and
livestock.
With close to 400 seedlings from the Ilocos Agriculture and
Resources Research and Development Consortium and the
Mariano Marcos State University, the youth of Catuguing
engaged in Dragon Fruit production.
They were also able to launch a 400 square-meter tilapia
production pond in August 2009 with close coordination with
the Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO) which provided the group
1,000 fingerlings.
Four months later, they embarked on a goat dispersal project
with the P50,000-grant from the DA-Agricultural Training
Institute. The group purchased 16 does and a buck and attended
trainings conducted by ATI to ascertain the success of the
endeavor.
Just recently, the Catiguing 4H Club went organic and
produced their own vermicompost thru a Community-Based
Composting Facility from DA, the Bureau of Soils and Water
Management, and the PAO/Municipal Agriculture Office. The
package includes a shredding machine, 15 kgs African Night
Crawler, 2 pcs compost tea brewer, and P4,500 cash for the
construction of 3 vermi beds, all worth P350,000.
Individually, the members are engaged in cattle fattening and
breeding and swine raising as well as rice, corn, vegetable and
legume production for income and daily home consumption—
a feat more rewarding than any gadgets and gizmos you can
find.
ment for Barangays Cali and Ver that will benefit a hundred
farmers.
Other significant projects of the MAFC include the establishment of tilapia grow-out in ponds, Modified Rapid Composting
technical briefing and Field Day, information dissemination on
pest management, distribution of certified palay seeds, and
the municipal cattle and swine dispersal program.
It has also actively engaged in many activities within the
municipality that foster the advancement of agriculture such as
the Agro-Industrial and Commercialization Trade Fair during
the Ani Festival. Apart from these, Dingras MAFC has also
extended efforts to conduct consultation-dialogues for farmers,
and the distribution of rehabilitation inputs during calamities.
Through the years, the Dingras MAFC has continued to
strengthen its linkages and remain active in the community to
keep its members educated with the latest agricultural technologies and information.
These separate them from the rest of the agri-organizations
in the country.
Provincial Agriculture and Fishery Council (PAFC)
Quezon Province PAFC
Municipal Agriculture and Fishery Council (MAFC)
Dingras Ilocos Norte MAFC
The Dingras Municipal Agriculture and Fishery Council has
been a steadfast partner of the local government of Dingras in
the promotion and development of agriculture.
In particular, the Council has continuously worked with the
Municipal Agricultural Office in disseminating, implementing
and monitoring of the Department of Agriculture’s banner programs.
In 2008 alone, the Dingras MAFC passed a resolution requesting the dredging of Baldias Creek at Barangay Guerrero
down to Barangay Bungcag that seeks to service around 600
farmers.
In the same year, the municipal government approved its
request for the construction of a multi-purpose drying paveSpecial Issue
With their 23 years of existence, the Provincial Agricultural
and Fishery Council of Quezon Province has shown strong
partnership, active and ef fective coordination and
complementation with the provincial, local government units,
national agencies, agri-based organizations and other nongovernment organizations and people organizations.
Among the PAFC’s notable projects and activities were:
Outreach Scholarship Program for farmers’ and fishermen’s
children; PAFC Newsletter/Quarterly Bulletin, which was
instrumental in information dissemination and policy
advocacy; organization of the PAFC-MPC to extend financial
assistance for livelihood projects of the farmers and fisherfolk;
and MAFC’s operation.
In terms of monitoring and evaluation, the Council has been
effective in overseeing the implementation of different
programs and projects of the Department of Agriculture as
evident in the creation of Provincial Monitoring Teams under
the Special Order No. 105, Series of 2009, which provides
authority for AFCs to monitor DA programs, projects and
activities.
Likewise, the council has played an important role in the
launching of coastal clean-up, tree planting programs,
9
mangrove reforestation, and conservation of fish and marine
sanctuaries in the Province.
Quezon PAFC is based in Pagbilao, Quezon, headed by
chairman Guillermo James Argosino. It has 29 organized
Municipal Agriculture and Fishery Council (MAFC) in the four
districts of Quezon: 8 MAFCs in District I; 4 in District II; 10 in
District III; and 7 in District IV.
Barangay Food Terminal
(LGU Operated)
MLGU of San Miguel Catanduanes
Outstanding Brgy. Bagsakan
(Non-LGU Operated)
San Quintin Abra Federated RIC Inc.
Villa Mercedes, San Quintin, Abra
The San Quintin Barangay Food Terminal (BFT), started as
a small “talipapa” and later on became the pilot BFT in the
Cordillera Region with the supervision of San Quintin Abra
Federation of Rural Improvement Club (RIC).
The project has employed eight of the RIC members to
manage it.
In the absence of municipal public market, this BFT serves
as the major trading center in the municipality which caters
1,067 households of six barangays namely, Villa Mercedes,
Poblacion, Tangadan, Palang, Labaan and Pantoc.
All of the wage goods and other basic necessities needed
in the community are available in this food terminal at
reasonable prices.
Pinakbet vegetables, fruits and pork are bought from the
local producers and nearby municipality, while chopsuey
vegetables come from Benguet Province.
Other goods such as eggs, sugar, oil, other meat and meatproducts are bought from traders.
Whenever there is a surplus of fish supply, the RIC members
are also engaged in meat processing such as longganisa,
tocino, and fish tapa which are then sold at the BFT.
Likewise, the operators maintain the cleanliness and
sanitation of the food terminal by observing proper hygienic
food handling, daily cleaning of the area and proper waste
disposal through waste segregation.
It has also established and maintained strong linkages with
the Local Government Unit and its different member
associations in the delivery of basic services and community
development.
10
Formally opened on January 7, 2009, the San Miguel
Barangay Food Terminal (BFT) was the very first in
Catanduanes, funded by the Department of Agriculture.
In its almost two-year operations, the BFT has opened
great socio-economic initiatives for the municipal government of San Miguel.
The BFT operates daily, with a market day every Saturday, to serve as a trading center for small farmers not only
from San Miguel but for those coming from neighboring
barangays and nearby towns.
It employs five personnel, excluding the officers that compose the BFT Management Team.
The Management Team provides the BFT with a variety of
commodities to meet consumer needs and preferences.
As part of its sustainability measures, the BFT engages
in the direct production of fish, swine and vegetables.
Products from these ventures are sold at the BFT, while
surpluses are either processed or sold to neighboring
barangays and towns.
Because of its direct production, prices of commodities in
the BFT are relatively lower compared to prices in the local
market or those of private traders.
In keeping with the objective of the BFT, the LGU of San
Miguel, Catanduanes is placing it among its priority concerns.
From time to time, the LGU conducts ocular visits to the
BFT to monitor its operations and inventory of goods to serve
as basis in purchasing stocks.
The operations of the BFT has also established intra-municipal linkages where the provincial employees’ cooperatives and other government agencies avail of goods at
farmgate prices, protecting them from price fluctuations.
Producers of agricultural, poultry, livestock, and fish products are now challenged to increase production and meet
the growing demand spawned by buyers’ confidence.
The BFT has thus proved to be a great boon to the economic upliftment of the countryside, and is expected to create enthusiasm for other barangays and municipalities to do
the same.
Muncipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
Management Council (MFARMC)
Tiwi MFARMC
Albay
Organized in December 20, 1999, the Tiwi Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council has become
an icon of determination and resilience in more than a decade
of operation and service to the fisherfolk and their families in
Tiwi, Albay, and has succeeded in every endeavor it took to
help improve the livelihood of fisherfolk and the coastal diversity in the area.
With the council’s vigilant monitoring and strict implementation of fishing laws, illegal fishing diminished by 90% from 200
incidents in 2002 to only 18 in 2009.
As a result, an increase in the catch of the albacore, Thunnus
alalunga or “Iliwon” by the local fisherfolk, was registered at
56.2MT as of September 2009, 75% greater compared to the
highest catch in 2005 at 14.5 MT.
Reports also showed an increase in fish catch from 1 kilo in
2002 to 5-10 kilos in 2008 , thanks to the regular patrolling and
assessment of the Corangon Marine Fishery Reserve and Sanctuary in the entire municipal waters.
Apart from these, three significant recommendations from the
MFARMC were enacted as policy legislations by the municipal
government of Tiwi. These are: the establishment of the Corangon
Marine Fishery Reserve and Sanctuary, the codification of the
Municipal Fisheries ordinance, and the integration of the Coastal
Resource Management Plan in the Municipal Development Plan.
The Tiwi MFARMC has continued to provide several sources
of alternative livelihood for fishermen in the coastal barangays
through the assistance of various government and private entities. In fact, the cassava production livelihood project provided
222 fishers a total of 84 hectares of production area.
With all the achievements under its belt, Tiwi MFARMC has
proven that having clear objectives and well-laid plans will take
you a long way.
P-Noy, Sec ‘Procy’ honor ... from p1
rice farmer.
For their feat, the 22 winners
will receive a total of P3.2 million in cash awards and agrifishery project grants, as well
as respective Presidential Citation and Gawad Saka trophy.
The awarding ceremony
highlights the annual ‘Farmers’
and Fisherfolk’s Month’ celebration, spearheaded nationwide
by the Department of Agriculture, with the theme: ‘Sa AgriPinoy, Asenso’y Tuloy-tuloy.’
‘Tata Efren’ Millare, who has
been farming for 60 years, integrates rice farming with vegetable and livestock enterprises, using an innovative and
sustainable ‘Palayamanan’
technology.
From his 1.35-hectare integrated rice farm he earned a
gross income of P400,000 in
2010.
Special Issue
For his feat, he will receive
P100,000 cash, a Presidential
citation and a Gawad Saka trophy from President Aquino and
Secretary ‘Procy’ Alcala.
The other 12 national Gawad
Saka individual winners will also
receive P100,000 cash, while the
nine group winners will get
project grants, ranging from
P150,000 to P350,000. All (shown
at right) will receive a Presidential citation and Gawad Saka trophy.
As part of their prize, they will
go on a three-day ‘Lakbay-Aral’
or study tour of model agri-fishery farms and research institutions in Luzon, sponsored by the
DA-National Agricultural and Fishery Council (NAFC).
Expected to attend are 500
guests composed of farmers and
fisherfolk leaders, local government officials, cabinet members,
honorable members of the Senate and the House of Representatives, heads of diplomatic missions and international organizations and donors, representatives from the private agri-fishery sector and other concerned
government agencies.
Gawad Saka is an annual contest conducted nationwide by
DA—in partnership with LGUs,
academe and the private sector—to recognize the continuing
efforts and contribution to nationbuilding of farmers and fisherfolk,
livestock raisers, and farmers’
and fisherfolk’s groups and organizations.
The annual contest, which
started in 1970, to date features
22 individual and group categories.
The search starts at the municipal level, where model farmers,
fishers and farmers’/fisherfolk
groups are endorsed by their
respective mayors to the provincial level competition.
The provincial winners will
then compete to represent their
respective region. The regional
contenders will finally vie for the
national awards.
Sa
Asenso’y
Tuloytuloy
11
gawad saka
2009 - 2010
awarding ceremonies
May 23, 2011, 2:30 pm
Rizal Hall, Malacañan Palace
Programme
National Anthem ................................................... NIA-Region 8 Chorale
Invocation .............................................................. DA U/Sec Bernadette Romulo-Puyat
Welcome Remarks ............................................... DA Secretary Proceso J. Alcala
Awarding ................................................................ President Benigno S. Aquino III
assisted by Sec. Alcala
Response ................................................................ Efren T. Millare
(Integrated Rice Farmer)
Intermission ........................................................... Students from Mary Help
of Christian School
Calapan, Mindoro Oriental
Introduction of the Guest of Honor .................. Sec. Proceso J. Alcala
and Speaker
Keynote Address ................................................... His Excellency President Benigno S.
Aquino III
Recessional
DA A/Sec. Salvador Salacup
Master of Ceremony