Lupon MFARMC celebrates national Gawad Sakawin

DAVAO ORIENTAL, January 26, 2015—For winning the recently concluded 2014 National Gawad Saka Search for Outstanding Agri-Achiever in the category of Best FARMC last December 18, 2014, a thanksgiving celebration for the Lupon Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Management Council (MFARMC) was held here on Thursday, January 22.

FARMC is a recommendatory body composed of small fisherfolk oganizations, LGU officials and representatives from private, non-government organization, women and youth sector by virtue of the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998 and Fisheries Administrative Order 196.

Filled with joy and pride, Governor Corazon N. Malanyaon,during the thanksgiving celebration, said this is yet another milestone not only for the municipality but the entire province as a whole. She said this recognition is clearly a manifestation of the council’s great efforts in pushing the local aquaculture and fisheries for the benefit of fishing communities here.

She emphasized that this victory would not be possible without the efficient leadership and support of the members, stakeholders and most especially the unwavering aid of the different agencies both in the local and national.

Meanwhile, in time for the thanksgiving celebration, fishermen in four coastal barangays of Lupon town became recipient to a livelihood assistance given by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resource (BFAR) Regional Office XI.

This assistance include, fishing boats, in which 20 were non-motorized while 2 were motorized. Also included were 10 units motorized engine, 40 units tuna handline, 10 life vests, 2 hook andline, 5 units lantern, and 5 gill nets.

The coastal villages that received these fishing paraphernalia and supplies were Brgy. Poblacion, Bagumbayan, Ilangay, and Macangao. Fishermen in these villages say they are very thankful for these gifts and vowed to help protect the town’s coastal resources.

Aside from these items, scores of logistics support to the local Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Management Council (MFARMC) were also handed over. It comprises5 unitsdigital camerasintended for its counterpart in the barangays and for the Municipal Aquatic and Fisheries Council. Also given were a tablet, a laptop, 10 personal computers or database, 5 handheld radios for the local Bantay Dagat and 1 megaphone.

During the handover ceremony, the governor encouraged officials, stakeholders, and members of the community to maintain Davao Oriental’s trademark as a champion province through hard work and strengthened unity.

Regional FARMC Coordinator Raul Millana, who represented BFAR XI Regional Director Fatma Idris, said that ‘we are already on the right track,so we must continue what we have started’.  He lauded the Lupon MFARMC as a good example to the different sectors of the community, especially to the youth in the advocacy of conserving our coastal resources.

For three years since 2011, under the leadership of Governor Malanyaon, Davao Oriental became Grand Champion in the prestigious Regional Gawad Saka Awards. Taking respite only in 2013 as all efforts were focused in the typhoon Pablo response, it regained its champion status the following year.

Meanwhile, each year since 2012, the province has been producing national winners in the Gawad Saka National Awards in different categories which include Outstanding Corn Farmer and Outstanding Fish Capture in 2012, Outstanding Small Animal Raiser in 2013 and lately the Outstanding MFARMC in 2014, which was awarded at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Manila.

To date, the Provincial Agriculture Office is in search of potential entries in 22 categories for the upcoming Regional Validation to vie for the 2015 Gawad Saka Search. (ANALYN S. PADULLON/PIO)