QUEZON CITY -- Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary Bernie Cruz recognized the role of women as partners in development and food security during the closing ceremony of the National Women’s Month with the theme “We Make Change for Women.
“We look up, respect, and acknowledged women for their various contributions in our lives and the role they play to develop our farmers,“ Cruz said.
Pinagdanlayan Rural Improvement Club Multi-purpose Cooperative manager Cristina Quijano-Generoso from Dolores Quezon shared their success story as agrarian reform beneficiaries and disclosed the processing of their ginger-based products remains an inspiration to all small cooperatives in the area.
“We grow our own ginger and turmeric. In this way we have an assurance that we will have enough supply of ginger and turmeric for our manufacturing and added income for our farming families,” Generoso said.
During the event, Cruz led the announcement and awarding of winners for the trade fair, highest sales, best in donor country national costume, and the TikTok challenge contest.
Five regions participated in the trade fair, Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Region 1, Region 2, Region 3, CALABARZON, and MIMAROPA.
The best booth was awarded to Region 2 garnering 88.89%, second is CALABARZON with 86.67%, third is Region III and MIMAROPA with 80.00%, and 4th CAR with 75.76%. Criteria for judging include creativity and uniqueness of the booth, the applicability of the theme, and creative display of products for selling or promotion.
The trade fair has registered a total sale of P480,308.20 displaying locally affordable but world-class quality products of the agrarian reform beneficiaries organization from March 28 to April 1, 2022.
CALABARZON got the highest sales amounting to P170,137.00, second is Region 3 with Php153,897.00 and third is Region 1 with the total sale of P52,700.00.
Winners for the international costume of DAR donor countries include a Cagayan Region representative as grand prize, Support Services Office group 2nd prize – both a costume from India and Special Projects Office (FASPO) group 3rdprize – wearing an Italian costume.
Of the 44 DAR offices nationwide that participated in the Tiktok challenge, Negros Occidental 2 won first place, second is Davao del Norte and third is Negros Occidental 1.
Aside from the trade fair and the contests held, the DAR also conducted a week-long health and wellness program aimed to inspire and contribute to promoting gender equality and women empowerment,
The closing ceremony was also graced by Quezon City Councilor Mayen Juico and other officials and employees from the DAR central, Cagayan Region, Central Luzon, MIMAROPA and CALABARZON offices. (DAR)
