Baguio land- scaping winners get cash awards

YOUNG FARMER -- Ryan Palunan, the Cordillera president of the Regional Agri-Fisheries Council, shows his family's backyard farm in in Baguio City. On Wednesday Palunan said the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), the training arm of the Department of Agriculture, launched Kapatid Agri Mentor Me Program in Cordillera. --PNA

By Gaby B. Keith

BAGUIO CITY The City Veterinary and Agriculture Office (CVAO) under Dr. Silardo Bested announced the winners of the Edible Landscaping Contest in Monday's flag-raising rites as part of the city's Urban Farmers and Fisherfolk's Month last May with the theme, "Modernisasyon at Industriyalisasyon Tungo sa Masaganang Ani at Mataas na Kita." Declared champion was Barangay Lucnab Agriculture and Fishery Association receiving a cash prize of P30,000 while Happy Hallow Persons with Disability Association was first runner-up netting P20,000. Matagotago Livelihood Blessed Organization Inc. got second runner-up honors getting P15,000 cash while receiving P10,000 for the third place was Pinget Rural Improvement Club. The prizes were handed over by local officials led by Rep. Mark Go, Mayor Benjamin Magalong, Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan, Department of Agriculture Regional Director Cameron Odsey and several city councilors. The panel of judges was led by Dr. Meriam Micklay, DA-Agriculture Programs Coordinating Officer, Baguio; Maribeth Laduan, Agricultural Training Institute-Cordillera; Elmer Macalingay, Agri-Entrepreneur/Owner, Um-a Agri-Tourism farm; and Marcy Tingco-Tabelin from the Public Information Office.