ALAMINOS CITY– A medical technologist turned farmer was named the Regional Outstanding Organic Agriculture Practitioner in ceremonies held at Oasis Country Resort Hotel in San Fernando City, La Union on Nov. 19.

Lilia Cacbay, one of the Regional Gawad Saka 2015 Awardees, was cited “for demonstrating excellent and commendable contribution in the promotion, implementation and practice of organic farming towards sustainable agriculture program development throughout the region”.

Cacbay gave up her career in Manila to be a full-time mother and wife and returned to the city almost a decade ago to pursue another passion–farming, like her parents.

In 2009, she ventured on organic farming in their vast farm and hilly lands in Barangays Sta. Maria and Dulacac this city after undergoing training-seminars on sustainable rice production, integrated farming and organic agriculture initiated and facilitated by the city agriculture office and the Department of Agriculture (DA) Region 1.

Cacbay was accompanied by her son Jasper when she received the plaque and P 30, 000 cash prize.

Her talent scout, Agriculturist II Gester Tolentino, one of DA’s Rice Achiever Awardees for 2013 as Outstanding Agricultural Extension Worker of the Philippines, also received a certificate of recognition from the search committee and for assisting and motivating Cacbay.

The city’s Executive Assistant Miguel Sison accepted the DA Region 1’s certificate of recognition awarded to Mayor Arthur Celeste for his support to this year’s Gawad Saka Search and for his huge contribution in the pursuit of agricultural development in the region.

Gawad Saka is an annual contest that recognizes farmers, fisherfolk, livestock raisers and farmers’ and fisherfolk groups who have excelled and made significant contributions for the development of the agriculture and fishery sector in their respective communities and in the country. (Tita Roces)

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