PGMA explores Sohoton Cave

President Gloria Arroyo was in Region 8 last Sunday. Mayor Mel Sarmiento who is also RDC Chair was among the guests invited to the various engagements of the President which included among others, the inauguration of the Agas-agas Bridge in Southern Leyte and a tour of Sohoton Cave. In photo with President Arroyo in Sohoton Cave are (l-r) PA Cynthia Nierras (to the President's right), Mayor Mel Sarmiento, Bassey Mayor Wilfredo Estrorinos, Secretary Gabby Claudio, Secretary Ebdane (partly hidden). (Photo courtesy of PIA-8 /Lulu Cuazon)

At the Climate Change Summit in Cebu

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signs the covenant on climate change during the “One Visayas Summit on Climate Change” Tuesday (May 12) held at the Imperial Palace Waterpark Resort Hotel and Spa in Barangay Maribago, Lapu-Lapu City in Mactan, Cebu. Eighteen “One Visayas Summit” leaders led by Calbayog Mayor and RDC-8 Chair Mel Sarmiento (in white polo) and Cebu Governor and RDC-7 Chair Gwenn Garcia (partly hidden at the back of the President) and other stakeholders also signed the covenant to signify their commitment to address climate change. (Dado Aguilar/OPS-NIB Photo)

For related posts, please check these links: link 1, link2.

On the billion-peso irrigation project in Norther Samar

“Let’s finish the project on time”, RDC Chair Sarmiento tells Hanjin engineers

Calbayog City. RDC-8 Chairperson and Calbayog City Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento on Tuesday summoned some Project engineers from Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction, Co. (HHICC) to a meeting at the function room of I’s Plant hotel, this city. On the agenda was the catch-up plan of the NIA / Irrigation and Drainage component of the Help for Catubig Agricultural Advancement Project (HCAAP). Included in this project are the irrigations systems in Catubig, Bulao and Hagbay (all in Northern Samar).

In attendance during the meeting were Ernesto Octaviano of NEDA-8, Engr. Romeo Irinco of NIA, HCAAP Consultants Teofilo Malocse and Miguel Espaldon. HHICC was represented by Engr. Hyun Suk Shin, Deok Weon Lim and Engr. Dante Tan.

Hanjin is undertaking the billion-peso project which commenced on March 22, 2007. Its original contract amount of Php 994,391,744.00 is expected to grow as revisions come along the way. Originally expected to be finished on March 19, 2010, it is now expected to be finished by August 25, 2010, with a contract duration of 1,253 calendar days from the original 1,095 calendar days.

As per January 31, 2009 accomplishment report, the HHICC’s actual performance was at 13.8% which is way below the 15.1% cumulative target. This was among the reasons for Tuesday’s meeting.

In his message, Mayor Sermiento informed everyone that as RDC Chair, he regularly updates President Arroyo on the ongoing projects in the Region 8. Among other things, he also reiterated the President’s marching orders which “to develop Samar Island”. When finished, the HCAAP would be the first major irrigation system in Samar. The President might consider inspecting the said project anytime this year.

Hanjin’s engineers present in the meeting gave their commitment to meet the project deadline. Among other things, they cited the floods as one major cause of the delay in the implementation of the project. They also noted that the area is not easily accessible. One engineer gave the assurance that they will do their best for the project. They assured everyone of their best effort in terms of equipments and manpower. By March 2009, they will focus on the project sites at Catubig and Bulao.

The HCAAP is located in the Municipalities of Catubig and Las Navas. Its fund source is JBIC Loan PH-P221 in the amount of 5,210 million yen. Its lead agency is the National Irrigation Administration (NIA). Other implementing agencies are the DPWH, Department of Health, Department of Agriculture, the Province of Northern Samar and the Municipalities of Catubig and Las Navas. When finished, the Irrigation and Drainage Component is expected to provide a 40-thousand ton rice production output per year which translates to an incremental net farm income of 247.03 million pesos (in constant 2007 prices).

PGMA in Lope De Vega

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was in Samar early this week. Last Monday, she visited the Municipalities of Silvino Lobos and Lope De Vega in Northern Samar before proceeding to Guiuan, Eastern Samar for her Cabinet meeting.

In Lope De Vega, the President took time to be with the people of the said municipality who gathered at the town Plaza. She was also given an update on the government projects being implemented in Northern Samar.

President Arroyo being briefed on the Lope De Vega - San Isidro Road Project by Usec Yabut of the DPWH. Looking on are Calbayog Mayor and RDC Chair Mel Sarmiento, DepEd Secretary Jesli Lapus, Congressman Paul Daza and Lope De Vega Mayor Erlinda Cinco.

President Arroyo as she adressed the crowd at the Lope De Vega town plaza. With her were (r-l) Congressman Reynaldo Uy, Mayor Mel Sarmiento, DepEd Secretary Jesli Lapus, Congressman Paul Daza, Lope De Vega Mayor Erlinda Cinco and Governor Raul Daza.

Images from PGMA's Calbayog stopover

As announced, President Gloria Macapagal - Arroyo was in Calbayog yesterday. The President had three Samar destinations in her itinerary for that day.

After her arrival at the airport, President Arroyo took the chopper for her visit to the Northern Samar Municipality of Silvino Lobos. After the said visit, she was back at the Calbayog airport for a luncheon meeting with some Samar officials. Then the President visited Lope DeVega. She proceeded to the said municipality (and back to Calbayog) by land - from Brgy. Trinidad (airport) to Oquendo and the right river area - through the now cemented highway which connects Northern Samar to Calbayog. After Lope DeVega, the President flew to Eastern Samar where she is expected to hold her Cabinet meeting.

Let me give you some pictures taken by Vaugn Calvara at the airport.

Mayor Mel Sarmiento with City Schools Division Superintendent Edita Paculan (rightmost), ASDS Angelo Gelera (to the mayor's left) and other DepEd officials as they await the President's arrival.

President Gloria Arroyo being welcomed by Mayor Mel Sarmiento and other Samar officials (l-r) Cong. Reynaldo Uy, Gov. Raul Daza, Cong. Ann Tan and Gov. Mila Tan.

Cong. Reynaldo Uy as he exchanged pleasantries with DepEd Secretary Jesli Lapus.

Mayor Mel Sarmiento as he welcomed Secretary Lapus.

Secretary Lapus with SDS Edita Paculan and some DepEd officials.

PGMA in Calbayog City

(September 24, 2008) President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo addresses the opening of the 63rd United Nation General Assembly at the U.N. Headquarters in New York City.
(JERRY CARUAL/PCPO) (photo taken from http://www.op.gov.ph/photogallery_230908_01jc.asp)

President Gloria Macapagal - Arroyo will be in Calbayog City today. The City is part of her many stops in Samar where she will be staying in the next three days.

As of this blog update, the President is expected to have luncheon meeting with Mayor Mel Sarmiento and other officials at the Calbayog City Airport. Afterwhich she is expected to proceed to some areas in Northern Samar to inspect some government projects, especially the ones she mentioned in her last SONA.

Among the officials who will be with the President is Department of Education Secretary Jesli Lapus. Sec. Lapus will be spending time with the officials of DepEd Calbayog.

This is the 8th time that the President will set foot on Calbayog as President.

October 16, 2008, a non-working day in Calbayog City

It's official, Malacañang has declared Thursday, October 16, 2008 as a special (non-working) day in Calbayog.

Proclamation No. 1624 dated September 17, 2008 and signed by the Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita was received (via fax) today by the City Mayor's Office.

and now for the good news

(I got this news / PR a few days after the President's visit. I tried to confirm it and got busy along the way. I think it's never too late to announce any good news.)

PGMA orders upgrade of Calbayog airport


CALBAYOG CITY – This city received an unexpected boost when President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo directed national and local officials to implement enhancements to the local airport following the arrival here of the inaugural flight of PAL Express, the low-fares unit of flag carrier Philippine Airlines.

The chief executive instructed Reuben Ciron, newly appointed director-general of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, and Calbayog Mayor Mel Sarmiento, concurrent chair of the Regional Development Council in Region 8, to look into the request of PAL for urgent improvements to Calbayog airport.

These measures included the asphalt overlay of the runway extension, installation of runway lights, expansion of the turning pad, and setting-up of perimeter concrete fencing.

For the passenger terminal, the enhancements included the installation of a baggage carousel, x-ray machine and walk-through metal detectors.

Modern air-to-ground communications equipment was also needed, PAL said.

“We believe that these physical improvements will lead to a corresponding expansion in the Calbayog operations of not just PAL Express but other airlines as well,” said PAL president Jaime J. Bautista, who was on board the Bombardier Q400 turbo-prop that arrived here from Manila at around 10:10 a.m.

Other ranking passengers were PAL deputy chief executive officer Henry So Uy and Canadian Ambassador Robert Desjardins.

On hand to welcome the flight at Calbayog airport was President Arroyo, who arrived earlier to convene a meeting of the Regional Development Council and inspect development projects in the region.

She was joined by local officials led by Calbayog Mayor Sarmiento.

from the PIA website

Here are some (July 15, 2008) Malacañang photo releases which I got from the PIA website.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo shakes hands with PAL President & Chief Operating Officer Jaime Bautista during the PAL Express Inaugural Activities today (Tuesday), July 15, 2008 at the Calbayog City Airport, Calbayog City, Samar. (Benjie Basug-OPS/NIB Photo)

Calbayog City Mayor & Regional Development Council (RDC) VIII Chair Mel Senen Sarmiento presents the Score Cards and the Status Report on Major Infrastructure Projects to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo during the Regional Development Council Region VIII Meeting at Tiburcio Tancinco Memorial Institute of Science and Technology (TTMIST) Calbayog City, Western Samar (Tuesday) July 15, 2008. Also in photo (from left) are Northern Samar 2nd District Congressman Emil Ong and DPWH Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane. (Benjie Basug OPS/NIB Photo)

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo during her attendance at the Regional Development Council Region 8 Meeting at Tiburcio Tancinco Memorial Institute of Science and Technology (TTMIST), Calbayog City, Western Samar. (Tuesday) July 15, 2008. Also in Photo from left are Region 8 NEDA Director Buenaventura Go Soco and DPWH Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane. (Benjie Basug-OPS/NIB Photo)

PGMA IN SAMAR—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo gestures during the Regional Development Council Region VIII Meeting at Tiburcio Tancinco Memorial Institute of Science and Technology (TTMIST), Calbayog City, Western Samar today. (Tuesday), July 15, 2008. Also in Photo from left are Calbayog City & RDC 8 Chair Mayor Mel Senen, Presidential Adviser Victor Domingo, Region VIII NEDA Director Buenaventura Go Soco & DPWH Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane. (Benjie Basug-OPS/NIB Photo)

Gov't team coming to Calbayog to further study airport redevelopment plan

(Let me give you Sarwell Meniano's report as printed in today's edition of the LSDE)

CALBAYOG CITY- The national government will send a team to this city this month to further study the plan to redevelop the city airport after Philippine Airlines’ top management asked President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to upgrade the airport’s facility.

City Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento said one of the tasks of the group is to come up with costings required for the project.

The request was made on the airport here following the inaugural flight of PAL Express here Tuesday morning, 10 years after it ceased its operation in Samar province.

In his talk with Arroyo, PAL President Jaime Bautista said that the airport needs repair to pave a way for expansion of PAL and other airlines in the future.

These measures include the asphalt overlay of the runway extension, installation of runway lights, expansion of the turning pad, and setting-up of perimeter concrete fencing.

For the passenger terminal, the enhancements include the installation of a baggage carousel, x-ray machine and walk-through metal detectors. Modern air-to-ground communications equipment was also needed, Bautista said.

“We have sought the support of the President for a much needed upgrade of Calbayog Airport in order for it to handle the operation of jet aircraft. She said that she will seriously look at it,” the PAL executive said in a media interview.

In a brief interaction with the media prior to the plane's arrival, Arroyo welcomed PAL’s move to include Calbayog in their routes.

“The coming of PAL is an assurance that Samar is peaceful. I am here to see what else we can do in Samar in terms of infrastructure development,” Arroyo told the media.

It was learned that the President instructed Reuben Ciron, newly appointed director-general of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, and Calbayog City Mayor Mel Sarmiento, concurrent chair of the Regional Development Council in Region 8, to look into the request of PAL for urgent improvements to Calbayog airport.

PAL first flew to Calbayog in 1958; the city was among the flag carrier’s pioneer destinations. PAL last operated there in 1998 when its rehabilitation plan obligated it to focus only on major trunk routes.

“We were the first airline to fly to Calbayog back in 1958. Now, we hope to take Calbayog’s development to a higher level with our new PAL Express service. We are committed to provide affordable air service to the many far flung island communities of our country,” Bautista added.

Constructed in 1970’s, the airport’s runway has a length of 1,476 meters. Under the plan, the local government wants to extend the runway into another 200 meters and thicken the runway.

“The embankment is now ready. We just need funds to start the expansion. Our goal is to meet the international requirement of the runway to accommodate bigger aircraft in the future,” said Sarmiento.

“We’re expecting that passenger traffic will increase tremendously with the entry of PAL in the city. It will encourage more people to come. Accessibility and frequency is very important,” the city mayor said.

PAL Express flight PR 091 from Manila, served by a Bombardier Q400 turbo-propeller aircraft, landed at Calbayog airport 10:10 a.m. on Tuesday after a one-hour-and-20-minute journey from Manila. The flight carried 48 passengers.

Among them are Bautista, PAL’s deputy chief executive officer Henry So Uy, Canadian Ambassador Robert Desjardins and Leyte 1st District Representative Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.

Apart from Calbayog, which is served with four flights weekly, PAL Express also launches on the same day separate daily services from Manila to San Jose (Occidental Mindoro), Virac (Catanduanes) and Surigao City (Surigao del Norte).

This city now has daily flight with Asian Spirit flying three times a week. PAL Express will also launch the Manila-Catarman flight next month in Northern Samar.

Images from the President's visit

As reported, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo came to Calbayog last Tuesday. She was in town for three engagements: The inaugural Manila - Calbayog flight of PAL Express; blessing of the 56 million peso bridge in Gandara and the RDC Meeting.

Let me share with you some pictures taken during her first engagement at the Calbayog Airport.

Some of the officials who were on hand to meet the President were (l-r) Councilors Sonny Salurio, Nonoy Pasacas, BM Charlie Coñejos, Councilors Virgil Clemens, Jonas Montealto, Ver Porlares, Danny Dernate, Ina Rabuya and Julius Mancol.

President Arroyo being welcomed by Gen. Arthur Tabaquero

The President inside the terminal building as she waited for the PAL Express flight. With here were Mayor Mel Sarmiento, Sec. Gabby Claudio, Rep. Ann Tan and Gov. Mila Tan, among others.

President Arroyo greeting PAL President & COO Jaime Bautista

The President greeting PAL Deputy Chief Executive Henry So Uy

President Arroyo greeting Canadian Ambassador Robert Desjardins

President Arroyo as she listened to the brieifing made by Mr. Bautista

For more images, please check this link.

RDC endorses to PGMA 45 major projects in Eastern Visayas

(let me feature Sarwell Meniano's report as printed in today's edition of the LSDE)

(President Arroyo listens as Mayor Mel Sarmiento made his report during the RDC meeting. To the President's left is DPWH Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane)

CALBAYOG CITY -- At least 45 major projects in Eastern Visayas were endorsed by the Regional Development Council (RDC) to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in a bid to get funding allocation and complete it at the “soonest possible time.”

These projects are roads and bridges, airports and seaports, power generation and transmission, flood control, post harvest facilities, small farm reservoirs, and irrigation.

RDC Chair and Calbayog City Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento said that the President was very happy with the output and that she expressed her desire to replicate the scorecards to other RDCs in the country.

The media was not allowed to listen to the President’s response after Mayor Sarmiento endorsed the score cards, but Arroyo said in an interaction with the media at the city airport that the national government will earmark more projects in Samar before her term ends.

“We want to see Samar enjoying the same blessings of Cebu and Bohol. This is a beautiful island with a big potential for eco-tourism destination,” Arroyo told the local media.

The President recently approved the release of a 478 million-peso fund for rehabilitation of coastal road network in Eastern Samar.

“She welcomed our output and our initiative to improve the economic status of (the) people in Region 8. PGMA has assured funding but not for all projects of course” Sarmiento said.
The endorsed road projects aimed at upgrading the road links between the three Samar provinces, the Biliran Circumferential Road, and the Panaon Island Circumferential Road in Southern Leyte.

Airports and Seaports included the redevelopment of Tacloban Airport, Calbayog Airport upgrading, Catbalogan Seaport improvement, construction of Carigara RoRo Port and Carigara Wharf.

Prioritized power generation and transmission projects were the Southern Leyte Geothermal Project, Wright-Taft-Borongan 69 KV Transmission Line Project and Sta. Rita-Basey-Quinapondan 69 KV Line Project.



Proposed flood control projects are situated in the towns of Tanauan, Palo, Lapaz, Burauen, and MacArthur in Leyte. Distribution of post harvest facilities and construction of small farm reservoirs will be concentrated in Leyte.

At least six out of eight proposed irrigation projects are in Samar Island. These are located in the towns of Basey, Sta. Rita, and Calbiga in Samar; Bobon and Mondragon in Northern Samar; and Dolores in Eastern Samar.

“For major projects, we are not in a position to decide the annual allocation. We are appealing to Her Excellency to endorse these projects to the line agencies, through the Cabinet Secretaries, with the hope that same line agencies will support the funding requirements, to complete the projects,” Sarmiento said in his presentation during a joint meeting of the RDC and Regional Disaster Coordinating Council held at the Tiburcio Tancinco Memorial Institute of Science and Technology.

(President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as she received a copy of Mayor Mel Sarmiento's report)

Few minutes after her arrival, the President took part in the inaugural flight of Philippine Airlines' PAL Express. She also led the formal opening of the 56 million-peso Sto. Niño Bridge linking the towns of Gandara and Matuguinao in Samar before she convened the RDC members. The President left Calbayog City around 12:30 p.m. to visit Masbate and lead the cabinet meeting there.

GMA greets passengers of PAL Express inaugural flight

(Let me feature the headline in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

CALBAYOG CITY- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Tuesday led in welcoming the passengers of the PAL Express inaugural Manila-Calbayog flight at the city’s airport.

Among the 48 passengers who were welcomed by the President was eight-year-old Stephanie Spillane who was with her mother Nenita and elder sister Josephine, 10.

“I don’t know who she was but still I was excited,” she said, referring to the frenzy that greeted the arrival of the passengers at the airport located in Barangay Trinidad, seven kms. away from the city proper.

Her 40-year old mother said that she had no idea that they would be welcomed by no less than the President, who was on a smart casual. “I am shaking because of the excitement. She welcomed us” Nenita said.

The family had just arrived in the Philippines from London after 13 years of absence. They are here for a visit at Nenita’s town of San Isidro in Northern Samar.

Nenita and her two daughters had a picture taking with the President who also shook hands with other passengers, which included six foreigners.

Among the passengers of the 76-seater Bombardier Q400 turbo-prop aircraft were six officials of Philippine Airlines led by its president Jaime Bautista, Canadian Ambassador Robert Desjardains and Leyte Representative Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.

The President, who presided the joint meeting of the Regional Development Council and the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council held at the Tiburcio Tansingco Memorial Institute of Science and Technology, was joined by city and provincial officials led by Calbayog City Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento and Governor Milagrosa Tan.

Joining the President were Secretaries Hermogenes Ebdane of the Department of Transportations and Communications; Arthur Yap of the Department of Agriculture; Gabriel Claudio, presidential adviser for political affairs, and Sergio Apostol, presidential legal adviser and the Cabinet Officer for Regional Development-Eastern Visayas.

The commercial plane landed at the Calbayog Airport around 10:10 in the morning, just few minutes after the arrival of President. Ms. Arroyo arrived at the airport on board the presidential aircraft.

Bautista said that the new Manila-Calbayog route was in support to the President’s “super regions programs” as it would pave the way for the opening of a new route that could result to investments and tourists alike.

“This is (also) in response to the call of the government to improve the facilities of the airports so that we can carry more passengers,” Bautista said.

The PAL official personally asked the President to improve the more than 30-year old Calbayog airport facilities like perimeter concrete fence; asphalt overlay; runway lights and x-ray machine, among others. The President promised to accommodate the request of the PAL management.

Ms. Arroyo herself said that she was happy that the country’s premier airline company is now serving the Samar province. The President said that with the coming in of the PAL, influx of tourists as well as the coming in of more investors is expected to follow.

“(And) the coming in of PAL is also a recognition that peace and order in Samar is (improving),” said the President.

Samar Island, comprising of Samar, Eastern Samar and Northern Samar provinces, has an active insurgency problem in Eastern Visayas.

Calbayog City Mayor, meantime, could not hide his happiness with the new Manila-Calbayog flight, echoing the observations of the President that it would boost the province’s economy as well as its tourism industry.

“Calbayog is really poised for more development with the coming in of PAL,” he said. At present, the Asian Spirit is servicing the Manila-Calbayog twice a week. PAL, meantime, has a four times a week flight schedule.

(By JOEY A. GABIETA, SARWELL Q. MENIANO & MIRIAM GARCIA DESACADA Staff Writers)

PGMA to visit Calbayog today

( Photo courtesy of the Office of the President)

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will be in Calbayog today. This is the sixth time that she will set foot in Calbayog as President.

The President's itinerary includes a welcome program for the inaugural Manila - Calbayog flight of PAL Express. Among the VIPs expected is Philippine Airlines President Jaime Bautista. This activity will be held at the Calbayog Airport.

From the Calbayog Airport she will take a chopper to Brgy. Sto. Niño in Gandara. She will be on hand for the inauguration of a new bridge in the said barangay. The said bridge connects the Municipality of Matuguinao (by land) to the Municipality of Gandara and the rest of Samar.

The last acitvity is the Regional Development Council (RDC-8) Meeting which will be held at the TTMIST AVR.

PGMA on Calbayog City

Let me share with you something I got (by accident) from the website of the Office of the President. It's a speech delivered by PGMA wherein she made a reference on what she called "the Calbayog City experience".

The paragraph referring to Calbayog is as follows: ". . . but while the fiscal numbers are better than expected, we need to work harder and more effectively in improving the tax effort together. I ask our governors to join the BIR’s LGU Assurance Program which will result in better collections of both national and local taxes, as illustrated by the experience of Calbayog City . . . "

For a complete text of the speech, please check this link.

The Region 8 Peace and Security Assembly

Calbayog City Mayor and Regional Development Council (RDC-8) Chairman Mel Senen Sarmiento actively participated in the Peace and Security Assembly which was held in Tacloban City last November 8 - 9, 2007. He presented to President Gloria Arroyo a copy of the Comprehensive Development Plan for Region 8.

Here are some pictures from that event.

Mayor Mel Sarmiento giving his presentation / report before the Peace and Security Assembly participants which included the President

Mayor Sarmiento as he presented his report to President Arroyo

Mayor Mel Sarmiento, Congressman Reynaldo Uy and PGMA with some Region 8 officials.

on the sidelights . . .

Mayor Sarmiento with National Security Council Member General Victor Mayo

Mayor Sarmiento with General Mayo and National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales

Northern Samar Governor Raul Daza, Congressman Paul Daza, Congressman Reynaldo Uy, and (partly hidden) An Waray Congressman Bembem Noel

Mayor Sarmiento with Congressman Paul Daza and Gen. Mayo

The 2007 GAWAD-SAKA Awards

the event: The 2007 Gawad Saka Awarding Ceremonies

the date: 12 July 2007

the venue: Malacañan Palace

the awardees: Councilor Arturo Pasacas and Family

the cash award: Php 125,000.00 (Php 100,000.00 from DA National Office, Php 25,000.00 from DA Regional Office #8)

The Pasacas Family

The Awardees with PGMA

The Pasacas Family with their escorts. (extreme right) Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento. (L-R) Tetchie Pagunsan, CAFC Chair Esteban Conchas and City Agriculturist Adela Ocenar

Mayor Mel Sarmiento with DA Secretary Arturo Yap (center), Sta. Margarita Mayor Fred Serrano (2nd from the left) and Tetchie Pagunsan (extreme right)

The awardees after receiving the cash prize from DA Usec Jesus Paras

The awardees' escorts were Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento, DA Region 8 Executive Director Leo P. Caсeda, City Agriculturist Adela P. Ocenar, CAFC Chair Esteban Conchas, Lucena Mendoza and Techie G. Pagunsan.

On July 10, 2007 the awardees and their escorts attended an orientation/ briefing at the NAFC conference Hall from 9 am to 5 pm. The day's activity was capped by a Fellowship Night and the giving of the Cash Awards at the BSWM Function Room with DA Undersecretary Jesus Emmanuel Paras in attendance.

On July 12, 2007, at 3:00 pm, the awardees received their trophies from PGMA in Malacañan.

(pictures and other event details courtesy of Tetchie Pagunsan)