Three techno-gabay projects unlikely to get funds
By Rizalie Anding Calibo

SIQUIJOR, May 26 (PIA)---Three Science and Tecnology-Based Farm (STBF) proposed projects under the Techno-Gabay Program (TGP) of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD) will not likely to get funding due to the transfer of funds and supervision from the PCARRD to theAgricultural Training Institute.

Dr. Rosalina Catid of the Siquijor State College, the program’s partner agency and Provincial Director Engr. Mario E. de la Pena of theDepartment of Science and Technology gave this update during the Farmers’ Information and Technology Service (FITS) Consortium meeting today at the FITS Center, DOST office, Siquijor, Siquijor following queries on the status of the proposals submitted early part of last year.

The three STBFs are the proposed vegetable production for the local government unit of (LGU) San Juan, mango production for Siquijor and eggplant production for Larena LGU. 

But Engr. De la Peña said the non-release of funds is partly due to the identification of focused commodity and late submission of proposals by the LGUs as three proposals under the same program from three other municipalities were already approved and funds released in the middle part of last year.

These are the Cardava production of Enrique Villanueva town, ampalaya production of Maria and Lakatan production of  Lazi town, which are all thriving well per monitoring last month, de la Peña said. 

Dr. Catid also said the ATI is set to lead the implementation of PCARRD’s TGP as a result of the planning workshop participated in by the DA-ATI and the PCARRD.

The two government agencies, she noted, convened to institutionalize the TGP to the Department of Agriculture through the DA-ATI, as the Department's extension and training arm. 

The TGP, as the extension modality developed by DOST-PCARRD, is aimed to hasten technology transfer through a network of R&D institutions to help the Local Government Units (LGUs) enhance farming technology utilization, adoption and commercialization.

The move to institutionalize the TGP to DA-ATI is a step further to strengthen the existing extension programs and technology promotion services, de la Peñ added.

Catid said this may be finalized in 2012 yet as the DA-ATI and DOST-PCARRD will still have to conduct social mobilization activities to prepare their own networks for the major shift from PCARRD to ATI as Program's national coordinator by 2012. (RACalibo/PIA-Siquijor)

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PNoy honors Siquijodnon National outstanding young farmer

SIQUIJOR, May 26 (PIA)--- 2010 Gawad Saka national winner for Young Farmer’s Category Elnard Ympal of San Juan, Siquijor recently received his P100,000 cash award, Gawad Saka Trophy and Presidential Citation atRizal Hall, Malacañan Palace, Manila. 

No less than President Benigno S. Aquino III and Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala presented the awards to Ympal along with other 12 Gawad Saka individual winners and nine groups in the Gawad Saka national search. 

As part of his prize, Yampal who is best known for his modified drip irrigation, also went on a three-day “Lakbay-Aral” or study tour of model agri-fishery farms and research institutions in Luzon, sponsored by the DA-National Agricultural and Fishery Council (NAFC). 

In his message to the national awardees, President Noynoy Aquino said “it is only fitting that we pay tribute to our heroes in the countryside, whose contributions to our country’s economy and food production stands unparalleled”.   

 “Their commitment to national renewal manifest in their labor amid challenges brought about by nature and by market recession”, the President said. 

Gawad Saka is an annual contest conducted nationwide by the DA in partnership with LGUs, academe and the private sector to recognize the continuing efforts and contributions to nation-building of farmers and fisherfolk, livestock raisers and farmers and fisher folk’s groups and organizations. (Rizalie A. Calibo/PIA-Siquijor/Eda Lou T. Manigo)