PILI, Camarines Sur --- Agricultural stakeholders who have gained recognition as National Gawad Saka winners because of their outstanding accomplishment in their agri-based undertakings recently organized themselves as Bicol National Gawad Saka Achievers.

        They will serve as DA’s pool of experts and resource persons and help in program advocacy and technology transfer. Their farms will serve as show windows for improved agricultural and fisheries technologies and practices.

        Engineer Raul Careras of Panagan, Tigaon, Camarines Sur , Gawad Saka National winner for sugarcane production category in 1981 and currently Magsasaka Siyentista for Corn was elected president.

        Twenty-three year old Rosita Naje of Castilla, Sorsogon, this year’s national Outstanding Young Farmer is the vice-president. Erlinda P. Rillo, former PCA senior researcher and last year’s Gawad Saka Agricultural Scientist and Pro Patria Awardee is the secretary.

        Joseph Lomibao of J. Emmanuel pastries, also last year’s Gawad Saka Outstanding High Value Commercial Crops processor is the treasurer. Jay Magana , Outstanding young Farmer in 2004 and the country’s representative to the Young Filipino Farmers Training Program in Japan is the auditor while Wilfredo Menor, outstanding fisherfolk for fish capture category in 2002 is the association’s business manager.

        According to Aloha Gigi I. Bañaria, chief of the Institutional Development Unit and regional Gawad Saka Coordinator , the Bicol region has already produced 25 national Gawad Saka national winners since the launching of this nation- wide search in the 70’s. The first ever Bicolano winner was rice farmer Ruperto Sabio of Magarao, Camarines Sur who is now a staunch advocate for organic farming.

         The other national Gawad Saka awardees who attended the organizational meeting held at the DA regional office were Benjamin C. Dimaano, chairperson of PAFC Cam. Norte; this year’s outstanding PAFC; Restituto Basquiñez, outstanding coconut farmer (2002); Wilfredo Menor outstanding fisherfolk (fish culture category,2002); Mr. Taclan , representing MAFC Gubat, Outstanding MAFC (2002); Jimmy Cordero, representing MAFC Tigaon, outstanding MAFC (1981); Lydia Lomibao of J. Emmanuel Pastries, outstanding HVCC processor (2007). Ulysses Salvino , outstanding Young Farmer (1983) and Mr. Godofredo Ditan representing PAFC Sorsogon, outstanding PAFC for three consecutive years.