TARLAC CITY, Philippines — A Davao del Sur-based organic coconut farmer bagged the Outstanding Organic Farmer prize of the 2011 national Gawad Saka from the Department of Agriculture (DA).

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala conferred the citation on Lao Integrated Farms president Benjamin Lao during the opening of the 8th National Organic Agriculture Conference (NOAC) here where President Benigno Aquino III served as the guest of honor.

This marks Lao’s second national Gawad Saka distinction after being named as Most Outstanding Coconut Farmer in 2008. (Mark Anthony N. Manuel)

Water cleaning in Alaminos seen

ALAMINOS CITY, Pangasinan — Mayor Hernani Braganza of this city revealed yesterday a plan to replicate the success of the “constructed wetland” program, which eliminated pollutants in natural bodies of water in Udonthani, Thailand.

Braganza said this will be done in partnership with the Democratic Local Governance for Southeast Asia (Delgosea) within 30 months and a budget of P4.5 million. Dr. Antonio Avila, Delgosea country coordinator, said Alaminos in the Philippines is one of the five pilot locations of the “Best Practices” program, along with places in Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia. (Liezle Basa Iñigo)

Agriculture training

IBA, Zambales — Some 310 farmers from 12 municipalities in the province recently finished the “Palay Check Farmers’ Field School,” a four-month course on modern farming methods, said Dr. Rene Mendoza, head of the Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO).

The seminar-workshop was conducted by the PAO in coordination with local agriculture technicians to teach farmers techniques in organic farming, including the use of natural materials for pest control, and other ways to increase farm yield and quality of local agricultural products. (Jonas Reyes)

Police score big in Cavite

IMUS, Cavite — Police led by Senior Superintendent John C. Bulalacao recovered late Wednesday night a stolen 10-wheeler truck loaded with P2 million worth of groceries at a lot in Villa Muzon, San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, following the arrest of the Socito-Manlapaz hijacking group in Bacoor town of this province.

Bulalacao and his officers have recovered a total of P7.2 million worth of hijacked goods in less than 24 hours with the arrest of Rogelio A. Manlapaz. 33, Bornio A. Socito Jr., the alleged group's leaders and their cohorts namely Rosebilly S. Manlapaz, 19, Marcelo L. Cabanya, also 19, and Ramel D. L. Pipel, 15, all residing at 3-A Queensrowm, Bacoor. (Anthony Giron)

Forum on coffee production up

CANDELARIA, Quezon — The provincial office of Department of Trade and Industry (DTI- Quezon) in partnership with the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Quezon I, municipal government of Candelaria and Nestlè Philippines holds a forum today on coffee production at this town’s municipal hall.

Pablito Budoy of DTI-Quezon said that 30 coffee farmers from the towns of Candelaria and Sariaya will attend the forum which aims to boost coffee production in Quezon province. The said program is the first step in support of coffee farmers in Barangays Bukal Norte, Mayabo, Masalukot 3, Masalukot 4 and Masalukot 5 in Candelaria town and in Barangays Concepcion Banahaw in Sariaya. (Danny Estacio)