Ten agricultural extension workers (AEWs) and three barangay local government units in Bicol were recognized by the Department of Agriculture High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) in collaboration with the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) for their exemplary contributions to the HVC industry during the 3rd HVC Achievers Award (HVCAA) and Gulayan sa Barangay Best Implementers Awarding Ceremony held in the DA Compound in Pili, Camarines Sur.

At the municipal level, eight HVCDP coordinators received the HVC Achievers Award. Four of the awardees hailed from Camarines Sur: Alvin Alvaro of the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Naga City, Sienna Sombrero of LGU-Tigaon, Dr. Irma Intia of LGU-Libmanan, and Engr. Rommel Nacario of LGU-Pili. Two winners were from Albay: Maricris Bernardino, HVCDP Coordinator of LGU-Polangui and Engr. Ailine Llagas, HVCDP Coordinator of LGU-Daraga. Nerissa Villaluz, Municipal HVCDP Coordinator of Daet, Camarines Norte and Mario Asuncion, HVCDP Coordinator of Virac, Catanduanes, also earned the award.

The HVCAA Hall of Fame Award was given to five HVC achievers: Sombrero, Intia, Nacario, Bernardino, and Asuncion. The award was conferred upon AEWs who have received the HVCAA for three consecutive years.

Each of the HVC Achievers received a cash prize worth P20,000, a plaque of recognition, and various agricultural inputs including one portable sprayer, three sets of garden tools, 1 unit of wheelbarrow, five sacks of organic fertilizers, and 100 packs of assorted seeds while the HVCAA Hall of Famers received a cash prize worth P50,000 and one unit of brushcutter in addition to their agricultural input prizes.

At the provincial level, the HVCAA was given to Engr. Cesar Cordenete Jr., Provincial HVCDP Coordinator of the Province of Albay and Marilyn Puatu, Provincial HVCDP Coordinator of the Province of Camarines Norte. They also received a cash prize worth P20,000, a plaque of recognition, and various agricultural inputs including one portable sprayer, three sets of garden tools, 1 unit of wheelbarrow, five sacks of organic fertilizers, and 100 packs of assorted seeds.

DA HVCDP also recognized the Best Implementers of the Gulayan sa Barangay. Brgy. Paulba, Ligao City, Albay won third place while Brgy. Asuncion, Viga, Catanduanes bagged the second place. They received P30,000, P50,000 as well as agricultural inputs worth a total of P48,970 and P72,235, respectively. Brgy. San Roque, Bacon District, Sorsogon got the first place. Brgy. Captain Rolfo Dogillo together with other barangay officials and Provincial Agriculturist Dr. Maria Teresa V. Destura received P100,000 as well as agricultural inputs worth a total of P115,970.

DA Bicol also acknowledged the PLGU-Camarines Norte’s adoption and approval of Provincial Ordinance No. 24-2024, An Ordinance Institutionalizing Gulayan sa Barangay Program in the Province of Camarines Norte also known as the “Gulayan sa Barangay Ordinance.” As stipulated in the ordinance, the provincial government shall allocate P1.2 million to the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist headed by Engr. Almirante A. Abad to reinforce GSB program for FY 2025 and may increase yearly.

In his message, Rodel P. Tornilla, DA Bicol Regional Executive Director, represented by Lorenzo L. Alvina, OIC RTD for Research and Regulations, thanked the AEWs, provincial, municipal and city agriculturists, and partner local government units for their support to the DA’s HVCDP. He also underscored the contribution of HVCDP, particularly the Gulayan sa Barangay, in promoting the importance of food security and having emergency food reserves in the rural areas especially during times of calamities.

“Your laudable contribution to food security in your community is worthy of emulation. These are small steps towards ensuring that all Bicolanos will have access to safe and nutritious food. Always bear in mind that the Department of Agriculture is ever ready to support your endeavors towards increased agricultural productivity and profitability upang sabay-sabay po nating makamit ang masaganang agrikultura at maunlad na ekonomiya,” he said.

Dr. Mary Grace DP. Rodriguez, OIC Regional Technical Director for Operations and DA Bicol HVCDP Regional Coordinator, for her part, urged the awardees to nurture not just crop but also hope and inspiration in their communities.

“Your stories of success can ignite the belief in the transformative power of agriculture and its profound impact on our lives,” she said.

Director Elsa A. Parot, Center Director of the DA Bicol ATI, challenged the HVCDP to adopt and anchor the program implementation to the Top 555 or emerging high value crops. She also reminded the awardees to stay grounded and treasure their awards.

HVCAA Hall of Fame Awardee Dr. Irma D. Intia thanked the DA Bicol HVCDP for recognizing the efforts of AEWs.

“I’m very thankful na sa likod kaitong kapagalan mi, may sarong institusyon na dakulaon ang tabang and at the same time, tigre-recognisar talaga ang samuyang mga efforts. Sa gabos pong arog mi, si mga baguhan, sana ipadagos ta, go lang, dawa dakol na interventions, psychologically but despite of that, ginigibo mi man po ang gabos,” she said.

DA Bicol piloted the HVCAA in 2022. The first two years only cover the municipal and city LGUs. The contest was extended this year to include the provincial AEWs. They were evaluated based on their performance from January to December of the previous year in terms of provision of technical assistance initiated by the LGU (35 points); provision of post-harvest, processing, logistics and marketing support initiated by the LGU (25 points); submission of accomplishment, status reports, and data (20 points); contribution to social development (10 points); and employee’s self-growth and development (10 points).

Meanwhile, the Best GSB Implementer was conducted among rural barangays of municipalities implementing the GSB. The contest aims to identify and promote best practices in barangay and household vegetable production. They were evaluated based on the following criteria: garden component (55 points); PLGU/MLGU/BLGU and community participation (10 points); project’s outcome (10 points); sustainability plan (10 points); design and layout (8 points); and record-keeping (7 points). (Annielyn L. Baleza, DA RAFIS V)

Photo Credits: Zandra G. Abogado & Hermito Antonio T. Privaldos