The Department of Agriculture (DA) Bicol celebrates the feast day of St. Isidore on May 15, 2025, with the kick off of the two-day Farmers’ Festival. The celebration began with a thanksgiving mass and opening of the Kadiwa sa DA, featuring 50 exhibitors coming from the different provinces of Bicol. About 20 farmers’ cooperatives and associations including Young Farmers Challenge (YFC) winners, Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) beneficiaries, and organic agriculture practitioners sell fresh agri-fishery products such as fruits, vegetables, rootcrops. The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) sold 275 packs of 10 kilos rice to vulnerable sectors at P29.00 per kilo. The DSWD and DTI also invited exhibitors for the 2-day event.
Meanwhile, a local agri machinery dealer is also selling various machineries such as rice combine harvester and 4-wheel drive tractor.
Farmer Regional Executive Director and RAFC Chairperson, Claudia Esmeralda Honrado, expressed her appreciation for the farmers, calling them “heroes of the nation” and noting that the festival is not just a celebration but a vibrant showcase of the region’s agricultural richness, from fresh vegetables to local delicacies. She also expressed support for the taMEMES initiative, encouraging everyone to “support local, buy local, and celebrate the hands that feed us.”
Emerson Yago, Director Designate for Rice Clustering and Consolidation under the Masagana Rice Industry Development Program awarded certificates of registration to 27 cooperatives engaged in rice, corn, high value crops and livestock and poultry from Cam. Norte, Cam. Sur, Albay and Sorsogon enrolled under the Farm and Fisheries Clustering and Consolidation (F2C2) and Agricultural Cooperative Enterprise Development Services (ACEDS) that are now registered in the Farmers and Fisherfolk Enterprise Development Information System (FFEDIS). Dir. Yago was assisted by Marilene Dimaculangan, F2C2 Focal Person for Bicol; Alden Jesus Ragay, ACEDS Focal Person; and Engr. Louie Baltazar, AMAD Chief.
One of the highlights of the festival was the launch of the book entitled taMEMES: Bicol Agricultural Memes, aimed to motivate the youth. Written by members of the faculty of the Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (CBSUA) and the Neo Normal AgVenture, the book was a collaborative partnership between the CBSUA and DA Bicol particularly the Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Information Section (RAFIS). The collaboration was sealed by a MOA signing during the event.
The farmer participants as well as CBSUA students present got copies of the book which were signed by the authors namely: Dr. Dariel A. Palmiano, Niña Francia B. Bergonio, Rochelle B. Villafuerte, and Anna Grace E. Villarico.
Dr. Maria Christina Campita, chief of the Research Division who represented Regional Executive Director Rodel P. Tornilla, and Lovella P. Guarin, Chief of RAFIS also signed in the MOA.
Also present during the farmers’ festival were RAFC Vice Chair Benedicto Palmares; Albay Provincial Agriculturist Cheryl Rebeta; Cam. Norte Provincial Agriculturist Engr. Almirante Abad; and Masbate Provincial Agriculturist Engr. Sheryl Almario; DA Bicol division chiefs and employees.
The Farmers Festival was spearheaded by the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) headed by Engr. Luisito Baltazar. (by: L.Guarin/EJ.Malonzo DA RAFIS 5)
(Photo credit: DA RAFIS 5)