The “Abanse Negrense” campaign was cried in celebration of the success of rice farmers during the awarding ceremony.
TALISAY CITY, Negros Occidental – After a series of postponements due to unforeseen events, Negros Occidental successfully mounted its SOA-SRA Provincial Ceremonial Mass Graduation and Awarding Ceremony last February 17, 2022, at Nature’s Village Resort. The commencement was attended by Local Government Unit officials, SOA-SRA Coordinators, selected farmer-graduates, Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office 6 (DA-RFO6), DA – PhilRice, and ATI Region 6.
The commencement and awarding ceremony confirmed 1,900 farmer graduates from the first season of SOA-SRA, which launched last 2021. The graduates hailed from 25 cities and municipalities.
Through the initiative of LGU Negros Occidental and the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, the Outstanding SOA-SRA Farmer Graduates were recognized based on the number of technologies adopted as manifested in the standing crop (40%), management skills, and technical knowledge (20%), learning attitude and pattern of decision-making (20%) and farm record-keeping (20%). The Outstanding SOA-SRA Farmer-Graduates are Cornelia Santiana of Cadiz City, Leonardo Gubat of Sagay City, and Arnulfo Lapastura of Sipalay City. Cash prizes such as Php35,000; Php25,000; and Php15,000 were given to the outstanding SOA-SRA Farmer Graduates, respectively. While, Php5, 000 cash, and portable Bluetooth speakers were also awarded to the respective municipal awardees as an additional incentive.
Certificates of Recognition and Participation were also granted to the participating cities and municipalities.
“ATI Region 6 would like to extend its gratitude to the unwavering support of Dr. Dina Genzola our OIC-Provincial Agriculturist, our Provincial Coordinator, Dr. Mary Ann Ordinario, the information services and office of Ms. Lucille [Perartilla], and the LGU coordinators whose love and dedication played a great part in the development of our farmers, and over-all, a higher yield for the province,” asserted Nicolasita Gallego, Information Officer III of ATI Region 6.
Also present were Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr. of Cadiz City and Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member and Committee Head on Agriculture Andrew Montelibano. Furthermore, DA-RFO 6 was represented by Regional Information Officer James Earl Ogatis and Supervising Science Research Specialist Albert Christian Suñer attended for DA – PhilRice.
The SOA-SRA was aired over DYEZ Aksyon Radyo Bacolod 684 kHz.
