More than sixty awardees from respective national government, media, private sector and local government offices were awarded by the Department of Agriculture-Central Visayas (DA7) during the Partner’s Thanksgiving in celebration of the 127th anniversary.
Partner’s Appreciation is made for their contribution, dedication and support to the development of the agriculture and fisheries sector which has resulted in improving livelihoods in the rural communities.
The awardees are provincial agriculturists and provincial veterinarians in Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor, 18 Local Government Units, 13 National Government Agencies, 13 members of the Regional Management Committee, 9 media partners, 2 farmer cooperatives and associations (FCA) and 3 private sectors.
With the message of DA7 Regional Executive Director Angel C. Enriquez was grateful to the attendees as they took the time to celebrate the DA’s great event.
“I was not expecting everyone here to have really taken their time to be with us. Their presence is a very big manifestation of the support that we are going to have from their agencies,” ni Director Enriquez.
The former Mayor of the Town of Tuburan, Hon. Democrito Diamante, in his message, he emphasized the importance of empowering the youth to take the agriculture course. Historically “there will come a time when agriculture will earn more income than other courses, so parents, may we encourage the youth to take up agriculture courses”
He also urged the Local Chief Executives and government agencies that “may we work together, to change the lives of Filipinos, not immediately, but gradually, every Filipino will change and develop.” ”
The DA7 Regional Technical Director for Operations, Engr. Cyril N. Namoc, says DA cannot do it without partners to collaborate on agriculture such as NGAs, private sector, media and LGUs.
In addition to him, “the gift of friendship and loyalty; that’s what we expect in NGAs, convergence and partnership. If we have good skills, their partnership is a great gift to DA, because we can implement our programs and projects 100%, so the effect is, our farmers and fishermen are happy. ”
Among those who were given the highest award, the first award that DA7 will give to the two LGUs is Gawad Banika for LGU-Bayawan City, Negros Oriental, and LGU-Jagna, Bohol.
Sa response message ni Bayawan City Agriculturist, Kenneth S. Artes, nagpasalamat siya sa pasidungog nga gihatag sa ilang syudad. “Truly this is really inspiring, and gives us more fuel, hope. Bayawan is a bit of a remote city. On behalf of the farmers and fishers in our city and province, we are glad that through the collaborative effort, the convergence, that we worked together, we improved the harvest and the lives of our farmers, food security and improving their livelihoods.”
On the other hand, DA employees were honored who served 10 to 40 years in the office.
Additional message of Director Enriquez, “working in the government is not that materially rewarding, big salary of multi-national companies, yet you stayed with DA to serve the Republic of the Philippines. “
