Pres. Marcos congratulated 50th Gawad Saka winners
President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. congratulated the 43 Grand Champions to include the two Boholanos of the
50 th Gawad Saka: Parangal sa mga Natatanging Magsasaka at Mangingisda during the awarding ceremony held at
the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice), City of Munoz, Nueva Ecija last
Monday.
Pres. Marcos in his message said that the Philippine Government has always recognized the individuals and
institutions whose dedication, innovation and leadership have significantly contributed to every Filipino and the
Republic of the Philippines.
The president said the farmers and fisherfolks have the important roles in the economy because they feed not
only their families but also the whole country.
In the meantime, the president said that the DA has 16 mobile soil laboratories to be used temporarily to every
region and soon there will be permanent soil laboratories for each region to determine the classification of the soils
so as to give maximum intervention from the government through DA.
The president said days will come that we will not depend on importation as there is hope in agriculture in the
Philippines.
DA Sec. Francisco Tiu Laurel led the giving of check, plaque, and certificates to 43 winners from the different
regions in the country to be assisted by DA Undersecretary for Operations Engr. Roger Navarro as the president
came late in the awarding.
Sec. Laurel said that since 1970, the Gawad Saka has been the symbol of knowledge and passion among the
farmers and fisherfolks who considered as the modern heroes.
Of the 43 winners, there were three from Central Visayas namely: Pablita Cabarles of Manga National High
School, Manga, Tagbilaran City; Jomer Balag of Jolit,s Eco Garden and Integrated Farm, Cambacay, Batuan; and
Chairperson Preciosa Maturan and Assisting Technician Adrian Enriquez, Bayawan City, Negros Oriental.
Cabarles received the check worth P300, 000 as National Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture – Micro
GardenCity; Balag handed over the check worth P250, 000 as Outstanding High Value Crops for Vegetables
category; while Maturan and Enriquez received the rewards worth P500, 000 as Outstanding City Agriculture and
Fisheries Council (CAFC).
Accompanied to receive the awards were DA7 Regional Executive Director Angel C. Enriquez, and Gawad Saka
Focal Person Liezl Lopez who congratulated the winners as the pride of Central Visayas. By Atoy Cosap