MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon – The Department of Agriculture has provided agricultural assistance to two outstanding cooperatives in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon

The DA-Northern Mindanao (DA-10) headed by its Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado, has granted the two coops more than P4.78 million in agricultural interventions on December 4, 2023.
This comes after the Mantibugao Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Farmers’ Cooperative (MARBFC) and Bliss Lingion Multipurpose Cooperative (BLMC) won the coveted championship in the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), which is run in collaboration with the DA through its national Corn program’s Corn and Cassava Cluster Management Excellence Awards (CCMEA).
These awards acknowledge the commendable efforts of cluster organizations in promoting and developing the corn and cassava industries.
DA-10, led by Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga, together with Manolo Fortich mayor Rogelio N. Quiño and Gemma G. Cania, municipal agriculturist, conferred a certificate of award amounting to P4,015,800 to MARBFC for being adjudged as the top corn cluster throughout the country.
The ceremony took place at the town’s gymnasium at the presentation of the town’s three-part food and nutrition-security contests.
Since its foundation over three decades ago, MARBFC has bolstered partnerships with various entities to assure maximum and sustainable production among its farmer members, as well as a guaranteed market for their harvest.
A hauling truck (P3.25-M), 100 bags of hybrid yellow (NK6410BGT) corn seeds (P600K), and 100 bags of complete inorganic fertilizer (P165,800.00) are on the group’s list of agri help.
BLMC, on the other hand, grew from a seven-member group to a 353-member group mostly engaged in cassava farming and inking marketing deals, which helped them earn the top prize for the best cassava cluster across all areas.
BLMC received a certificate of award in the amount of P765,800.00 from DA-10 RTD Madriaga and town officials for different agri inputs, including 100 bags of hybrid yellow (NK6410BGT) corn seeds (P600K) and 100 bags of complete inorganic fertilizer (P165,800.00).
In her message, RTD Madriaga emphasized the need to adopt the DA’s clustering model as a key strategy for modernizing and industrializing Philippine agriculture while improving farmers’ lives.
“Atong gi-aghat atong mga gagmay’ng mag-uuma nga maghugpong sila aron maka-access sila og dinagko nga assistance, diin ang ilang interventions nga ilang ma-avail dili lamang limited to seeds, fertilizers or garden tools, apan malakip na ang hauling truck, farm tractor, combine harvester ug uban pa,” Madriaga said.
With the poured assistance serving as government investments to the winning coops, she reminded the awardees saying “ampingan ninyo ang mga butang [agri interventions] aron molahutay kini ug dugay nga mapuslan sa mga miyembro sa kooperatiba ug aron mahimo kamong modelo sa inyong komunidad ug madasig pa ang ubang grupo sa Munisipyo nga molambo sab.”
Besides the presentation of the CCMEA honorees before their hometown, Mayor Quiño lauded them for bringing glory to the municipality, including those who have responded to the LGU’s-spearheaded contests such as the 1st Communal Garden, 2nd Gulayan sa Paaralan and 3rd Utanan sa Tugkaran contests, participated in by 45 schools and 22 barangays, for embodying the spirit of cooperative that contributes to Manolo Fortich’s quest in achieving food and nutrition security.
The local chief executive also commended their efforts as he recognized their integral role in the municipality’s success, and even urged them to continue supporting the government’s various development plans.
In addition, in mid-November in Quezon City, DA, and ATI formally recognized the champion clusters, with each receiving P2-M for the purchase of various agri inputs to help them expand their farming operations, livelihood, and income.
Other local officials gracing the event include Councilor Raquel Bayacag, committee chair on Agriculture; Councilor Elzevir A. Dagunlay, chairperson on the Committee on Farmers; Fe Q. Sangco, second place in the Search for 2023 NorMin Outstanding Rural Women, also from the said municipality; and Corn program staff from DA-10. (melbmadera)