The President handed out the awards to eight outstanding individuals and three outstanding organizations for their invaluable contributions to agriculture.

She was assisted by Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno in awarding the top POCs.

The individual awardees were Nemecio Cristobal of Villa Magat, San Mateo, Isabela as the Outstanding Rice Farmer of the year; Edgar de Luna of Villa Luna, Cauayan City, Isabela, Outstanding Corn Farmer; Roger Camarinta of Lantapan, Bukidnon, Outstanding Sugarcane Farmer; Eriberto de Ocampo of Naguilan, Isabela, Outstanding High Value Crop Farmer; Ryan Montanez of Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur, Outstanding Young Farmer/Fisherfolk; Lourdes de la Peña of Bantayan, Cebu, Outstanding Fisherfolk (Fish Capture); Floresma Dacuycuy of Cauayan, Isabela, Outstanding Fisherfolk (Fish Culture); and Wilfredo Sia of Cagayan de Oro City, Outstanding High Value Crop Processor.

The Outstanding Farm Family award was given to the family of Benjamin Maputi of Malaybalay, Bukidnon. Calbayog City was adjudged the Outstanding Municipal/City Agricultural and Fishery Council, while Midsalip Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative was cited as the Outstanding Small Farmer/Fisherfolk Organization.

The President also handed out special citations to eight individuals for their invaluable contribution in agriculture. They were Carlos Dominguez of Iloilo (Young Farmer/Fisherfolk), Michael Binauro of Bukidnon (Young Farmer/Fisherfolk), Editha Tincang of Sibugay Zamboanga (Small Animal Raiser), Rogelio Guinto (Fisherfolk-Fish Capture), Jose Alegria of Davao City (Fisherfolk-Fish Capture), Noel Ramirez of Bataan (Fisherfolk-Fish Capture), Thomas Reyes of Tayabas, Quezon (Fisherfolk-Fish Capture), and Dr. Rene Rafael Espino of UP Los Baños (Agricultural Scientist).

The individual awardees each received P30,000 cash, a presidential trophy, and a special citation, while the institutional awardees were each given a P15,000 project grant from the National Agricultural and Fishery Council.

The individual achievers with special citations each received P15,000 cash and a presidential citation.

The Gawad Saka Award is the highlight of the Farmers and Fisherfolk Month (June).

The Award which was launched in 1970, continues to bring prestige and honor to individuals regarded as the creme of the crop in farming and fishing.

Meanwhile, President Arroyo also honored yesterday the country’s outstanding Peace and Order Councils (POCs) in recognition of their extraordinary and meritorious contributions to public safety and peace and order.

The President, assisted by Secretary Ronaldo Puno, handed out the awards to the winning POCs in ceremonies at the Rizal Hall in Malacañang.

The winner of the Most Outstanding CPOC-Component City category was Oroquieta City. This is the third year in a row that the Oroquieta POC won the award, and earned for the Misamis Occidental City a place in the award’s Hall of Fame.

The Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) plum went to Region 11, which also won the Best RPOC award in 1999, 2000, 2002, and 2004.

The Region 11 RPOC was also elevated to the award’s Hall of Fame for its exemplary achievements in the area of public safety and peace and order.

The winners of the second and third Best RPOC award were Regions 10 and 2, respectively.

Other winners in the CPOC-Component City category were Tuguegarao City and Legazpi City, 2nd placers, and Tagbilaran City, 3rd placer.

The winners of the provincial POC 1st to 3rd class category were Mt. Province, Most Outstanding; Bohol, 2nd; and Cagayan, third; and Camiguin, best POC award in the 4th to 6th class category.

Makati City won the Best City POC in the Highly Urbanized City category; followed by Davao City and Naga City.

The winners of the Most Outstanding Municipal POC, 1st to 3rd class category were La Trinidad, Benguet; Impasug-ong, Bukidnon, 2nd best; and Dumangas, Iloilo, 3rd best.

The Malitbog POC in Bukidnon was adjudged the Most Outstanding Municipal POC; Dingras, Ilocos Norte, 2nd best; and Sta. Teresita, Cagayan, 3rd best.

Ecija farmer with  highest palay yield  gets recognition

President Arroyo recognized the feat of a farmer from Nueva Ecija for producing the highest palay yield per hectare in the country during the 2006 Gawad Saka Achievers in Agriculture awarding ceremonies held yesterday morning at the Rizal Hall in Malacañang.

Fernando Gabuyo Jr., who abandoned his job as a marine engineer to become a rice farmer, produced 334 cavans of palay per hectare last April.

Gabuyo, who planted the SL9, a superior rice variety developed by SL Agritech, in his 25-hectare farm in San Jose City, Nueva Ecija, said he has one dream – to break the world record of 370 cavans per hectare yield now held in China.

He, however, fell short in his first and second attempts in his first try last year, he produced 332.5 cavans per hectare.

Gabuyo paid a courtesy call on the President after the awarding ceremonies. He was accompanied by BUTIL Partylist Rep. Leonila Chavez.