Gov’t fetes top farmers, coops, communities for rural progress

By Marita Moaje, Philippine News Agency

SYMBOLS OF HOPE. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III, and San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora pose with the awardees of the Gawad Agraryo 2025 on Friday (Sept. 12, 2025) at the Makabagong San Juan National Government Center in San Juan City. The most outstanding farmers, cooperatives, and communities were honored for being “symbols of hope, resilience, and rural progress” and driving rural progress. (PNA photo by Joan Bondoc)

MANILA – The country’s most outstanding agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs), cooperatives, and communities driving countryside development were honored on Friday by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., and the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) led by Secretary Conrado Estrella III.

In his speech during the Gawad Agraryo 2025 awarding at the Makabagong San Juan National Government Center in San Juan City on Friday, President Marcos described the awardees as role models of strength, perseverance, and service to the nation.

“To the awardees, you are the symbols of hope. You prove that the Filipino spirit remains unshaken in the face of challenges, and you serve as guiding lights to fellow citizens aspiring for success. Thank you for your sacrifices that continue to strengthen the foundations of our society,” he said.

Gawad Agraryo 2025, a national recognition program of DAR, recognized 10 Most Outstanding ARBs, three Most Progressive Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organizations (ARBOs), and four Most Progressive Agrarian Reform Communities (ARCs).

The honorees were also lauded for being “symbols of hope, resilience, and rural progress.”

Outstanding individual ARBs

The event, with the theme “Repormang Agraryo: Binhi ng Kaunlaran at Tagumpay” (Agrarian Reform: Seeds of Development and Success), recognizes the essential role of ARBs who have turned awarded lands into productive farms,

Ten farmers from across the Philippines were given recognition by the government for transforming their lives and communities through perseverance, innovation, and leadership.

The awardees include Luzviminda Edna Cacanindin from La Union, recognized for her initiative on creating sustainable livelihoods from corn husks, Alexander Josol from Leyte, who rose from being a tenant’s son to becoming a cooperative pillar, Emiliana Volante of Camarines Sur turned her livelihood as a street vendor into a thriving agribusiness, Ruben Ragas of Agusan del Norte, a farmer-scientist and model organic farmer, Eduardo Policarpio of Nueva Ecija for empowering farmers through science and technology, Luis Gamboa of Batangas, an advocate of organic farming and climate resilience, Cesario Cielo from Zamboanga Sibugay, a leader in high-value cropping and community development, Antonia Mohametano of Zamboanga del Norte, a cooperative leader and diversified farming advocate, Maria Cecilia Canada, a farmer, entrepreneur, and public servant Negros Oriental, and Jocelyn Reyes, founder of a learning site and organic agriculture champion in Bulacan.

Progressive ARBOs

Three organizations were cited for empowering members and driving rural innovation.

They are Guintapagin Agrarian Reform Cooperative in Iloilo, recognized for discipline and innovation, Agsirab Multipurpose Cooperative in Capiz, honored for livelihood services and resilience, and Midsalip Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (MIFAMCO) in Zamboanga del Sur, which was commended for evolving from irrigators into innovators.

Model ARCs

For the Most Progressive ARCs under Category 3, four model communities were honored for embodying unity, resilience, and sustainable growth.

Feted were the Binatog ARC in Ilocos Norte, for fostering unity and prosperity, the Isabela Settlement ARC in Isabela for building infrastructure and agribusiness ventures, the Allen ARC in Northern Samar for sustainable waste management and agri-entrepreneurship, and the Alamada Expanded ARC in North Cotabato for transforming conflict into peace and development.

In recognition of their achievements, DAR said each of the awardees received a plaque, a medal, and a PHP25,000 cash prize.

Meanwhile, ARBOs and ARCs were honored with plaques, medals, and development projects amounting to PHP70,000 each.

Earlier, Estrella highlighted that the awards symbolize the government’s continuing commitment to agrarian reform and to the people who till the land.

“Through the Gawad Agraryo, we are not only giving honor to our outstanding farmers, organizations, and communities, but also reaffirming our pledge to support them. Their success stories prove that when farmers are empowered with land and support services, they become drivers of national progress and rural development,” Estrella said.