KORONADAL CITY – A Grade VI pupil from Norala in South Cotabato, along with four other pupils, won the national On-the-Spot Poster Contest of the United Nations (UN) World Food Day rites and the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) each capping a P12,000 cash prize.

Roselle F. Factor, of Norala Central Elementary School in Norala, South Cotabato, joined four other winners from four different regions in the country.

There were 17 contestants from all regions of the Philippines who participated in the competition.

Factor and four other Grade VI pupils from the five regions were adjudged national winners for artistically interpreting on a poster the 2009 World Food Day (WFD) with the theme “Achieving Food Sufficiency in Times of Crisis” at the Convention Hall along Elliptical Road in Diliman, Quezon City.

Other winners include Jolibie Pil of Marabulig 1 Elementary School, Cauayan City, Isabela; David Cres Monsalud of West Visayas State University, Iloilo City; Reymond Berame, Canjulao Elementary School, Lapu-Lapu City; and Jasper Kent Villarias of Sto. Tomas Central Elementary School in Davao del Norte.

Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap and Mr. Kazuyuki Tsurumi, representative of the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in the Philippines, handed on Friday the cash prize to the winners in fitting ceremonies at the DA-BSWM Convention Hall.

Aside from the P12,000 cash prize, Factor will also receive an additional P10,000 from Department of Agriculture (DA) Regional Field Unit 12 Regional Executive Director Tommy A. Ala.

Yap and Tsurumi also led the symbolic handover of relief and rehabilitation assistance to farmers, fishers, livestock raisers and DA family employees adversely affected by typhoons “Ondoy” and “Pepeng.”