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| Members of the MAFC of Kayapa, Nueva Vizcaya pose with President Aquino and Secretary Alcala (second from left) for a souvenir shot after receiving their award. |
In simple ceremonies held at the Rizal Hall in Malacañan Palace last December 13, 2011, Honorable President Benigno S. Aquino III and Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala honored this year’s national winners of the Gawad Saka search for out standing achievers in agriculture and fisheries.
The 2011 Gawad Saka national winners, composed of 14 individuals and nine groups, each re-ceived a Presidential citation, trophy and corresponding cash incentives for individual winners and project grants for group winners, totaling to PhP4.25 million.
The adjudged Outstanding Municipal Agriculture and Fishery Council (MAFC) was the MAFC of Kayapa, Nueva Vizcaya which started in the 1980’s with only 16 barangay members and was later on joined by the 14 remaining barangays in their locality.
It worked on strengthening and nourishing partnership among all the members by conducting regular meetings and dialogues to settle issues and other matters of the council’s concerns.
Because of this, the council soon gained the trust of the Local Government Unit and the Liga ng mga Barangay and was given fund allocations for their activities.
The Kayapa MAFC introduced livelihood programs such as mushroom production and processing of high value crops. It also distributes fruit-bearing trees, coffee seedlings and vegeta-ble seeds to qualified farmers.
The council currently maintains a revolving fund from repayments of dispersal projects which is used for petty cash loans to members with a minimal interest.
The council, currently headed by Mr. Pio Sinacay as the chairperson, is an active partner of the Municipal Nutrition Committee in the implementation of projects and has continuously supported the passage and implementation of municipal ordinances including the control and prevention of Avian Influenza Virus, prohibition of electro-fishing, explosive fishing and use of poisonous substances, implementation of the New Solid Waste Management and recycling activities of the municipality.
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| Mr. Arthur Baybayan leads the PAFC of Nueva Vizcaya in accepting their award from President Aquino and Secretary Alcala. |
On the other hand, the PAFC of Nueva Vizcaya was recognized as this year’s National Outstanding Provincial Agriculture and Fishery Council (PAFC). In spite of being awarded such recognition for the third time now, the Nueva Vizcaya PAFC vows not to remain complacent and instead work harder to maintain and even surpass its outstanding achievements.
Composed of 30 private and eight public sector-members, with Mr. Arthur Baybayan as its current chairperson, the PAFC of Nueva Vizcaya strongly supports the province’s vision for its people: to enjoy good quality life in an ecologically balanced and sustainable environment.
Because of the strong linkages it has maintained with national and local agencies, the PAFC of Nueva Vizcaya was able to successfully implement various projects such as construction and rehabilitation of irrigation canals, farm-to-market roads, mechanical and flatbed dryers, tramlines, multi-purpose drying pavements, and irrigation systems.
It is also instrumental in the successful organization and operation of the KINGBIKS Vegetable Growers’ Association, a federation of five vegetable growing barangays of the town of Dupax del Sur.
As a member of the Provincial Development Council, it regularly monitors the implementation of agricultural and fishery programs and projects funded by the Department of Agriculture, LGUs and other agencies and takes part in the passage and implementation of various municipal and provincial ordinances on agriculture, fisheries and environment.
The council’s commitment to service goes beyond the agriculture sector as it is active in many community activities. Aside from monitoring damages during calamities, the members also ex-tend material and financial resources to typhoon victims.
Their capable members sometimes serve as resource speakers during trainings to complement the efforts of agricultural extensionists.
With the leadership of the Nueva Vizcaya PAFC, the agri and fishery sectors of the province are off to greater heights. (Reports and Photos courtesy of Aggie Trends and Agriculture and Fisheries Information Service).
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