City recognizes outstanding farmers

CEBU, Philippines — At least 10 outstanding farmers were recognized by the Cebu City government through the City Agriculture Department as part of the 81st Charter Day celebration of the city.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña and some members of the City Council conferred the plaque and P10,000 cash to the awardees.

They are Robin Borres, outstanding vegetable grower for North District; Catalino Panaginip, outstanding vegetable grower for South District; Rolando Bontilao, outstanding corn grower; Wilfredo Labay, outstanding mango grower; Jupiter Ibonalo, outstanding livestock grower.

Other awardees are Aracele Cadudut, outstanding cutflower grower for North District; Alma Gacayan, outstanding cutflower grower for South District; Josefa Saga, outstanding rice grower; Reynante Baculta outstanding agri-entrepreneur and Marifi Englatera, outstanding ornamental plants grower.

Osmeña, in his speech, vowed to continue implementing innovative programs for the farmers and their fresh produce.

“Importante nga issue sa mag-uuma dili ang production, ang importante ang ginansya. Useless ang production kon walay ginansya,” he said. (What is more important for the farmers is not the production but how much they earn.  Production is useless if they don’t earn.)

He cited the Farmer’s Market as one of the many programs prepared for the farmers which allow them to showcase their fresh produce to the market without a middleman.

The mayor said this program reduces the prices of the vegetables, flowers, and fruits from the city’s mountain barangays.

Osmeña also announced that he will be negotiating with Korean airlines to discuss possible export of city’s fresh produce.

He said he will be visiting Korea one of these days to discover the products that are in demand there.

The mayor also said one mall in Cebu will be buying fresh produce from the city’s markets for cheaper and fresher products.

Further, the mayor announced that the city will establish more farmer’s markets in different places.

CAD head Apple Tribunalo said it was a yearlong search for outstanding farmers. It started when they asked the mountain barangays for nominations.

“Atong gibuhat ni para ma-recognize ang ilang exemplary performance ug sa ilang contribution sa economy sa city and atong ipaila and i-recognize ang naghago sa bukid,” she told reporters.  (We are doing this to recognize the farmers’ to the city’s economy.)

She said the qualifications to be recognized as an outstanding farmer are he or she must be a registered voter and a resident of the city, risk taker, innovative, and are receptive to modern technology in farming.

In response, Labay, the outstanding mango grower, said that all of the outstanding farmers will serve as an example to other farmers on what they have contributed to the city.

“Sa 80 ka barangay, napulo ra ang napili. Ang atong buhaton, tabangan ang barangay ug syudad para molambo aron matuman ang gidamgo sa atong opisyales,” he said. (Of the 80 barangays, only 10 are chosen.  We will help the barangays and the city to progress.) (FREEMAN)