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8 entries from Soccsksargen vie for nat’l Gawad Saka awards

By Roel Osano

August 30, 2019, 8:51 pm

KORONADAL CITY -- Eight farmers, researchers, and groups from Region 12 (Soccsksargen) will vie for the top awards in this year’s national Gawad Saka search.

Milagros Casis, Department of Agriculture (DA) 12 director, said Friday the eight were among the 12 regional Gawad Saka winners who have been chosen as national finalists of the prestigious annual awards.

Casis said six of them were nominated in the individual category while the other two were for the group category.

“Some of them already underwent an intensive assessment by evaluators from the DA central office while the others are scheduled to be visited next month,” she said in a statement.

The six individual nominees are Jesus Horlador of  Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat for the outstanding rice-based farmer award; Bienvenido Nebres of Tacurong City for outstanding aquaculture farmer; Gerwin Galinato of Antipas, North Cotabato for outstanding young farmer; Dr. Onofre Corpuz, a professor of the Cotabato Foundation College of Science and Technology in Arakan, North Cotabato for outstanding agricultural scientist; Aldrin Cantila of Philippine Rice Research Institute - Midsayap for  outstanding agricultural researcher; and Jesus Dignadice of Polomolok, South Cotabato for outstanding coconut farmer.

The two entries in the group category are the Provincial Agriculture and Fishery Council (PAFC) of Sultan Kudarat, headed by Aurelio Betque, for the Outstanding PAFC; and the family of Victoria Motril of Tupi, South Cotabato for the outstanding farm family.

Region 12’s Gawad Saka winners were formally recognized by DA-12 during its Gabi ng Parangal 2019 held at the Paraiso Verde Resort Hotel and Waterpark here Wednesday night.

The four other regional winners are Renato dela Cruz of this city as outstanding organic agriculture farmer; Kablon Farm Foods Corp. of Tupi, South Cotabato as outstanding entrepreneur; Rogelio Genosas of Kidapawan City as outstanding high value crops farmer; and General Santos City Food Terminal, Inc. as outstanding barangay food terminal in the non-local government unit operated category.
Casis said the 12 winners received a plaque of recognition and cash incentives of PHP50,000 for the individual and PHP75,000 for the group categories.

She expressed hope that the region would produce more national winners in this year’s national Gawad Saka awards.

The Gawad Saka search is an annual award program of the DA that aims to recognize the achievements of local farmers, fisherfolk, agricultural scientists, and researchers, as well as farm-based organizations. (PNA)

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