Department of Agriculture — CALABARZON Regional Field Office
Written by Amylyn Rey-Castro
Photos, Taken by Bryan Arcilla and Jasp Daquigan
Aimed at promoting the so called agricultural development in the CALABARZON Region, the Department of Agriculture (DA) Region IV CALABARZON, through its Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Information Office (RAFIO), supported the 12th Bright Leaf Agriculture Journalism Awards caravan in the province of Laguna launched on May 24, 2018 at Hotel Marciano in Calamba City, Laguna.
The caravan, which was initiated by Philip Morris Philippines Manufacturing, Inc. and Fortune Tobacco Corp. (PMFTC), intends to encourage media practitioners in print, radio, and television who are based in the province to submit entries to the following categories: Agriculture Story of the Year, Agriculture Photo of the Year, Tobacco Story of the Year, Tobacco Photo of the Year, Best Television Program or Segment, Best Radio Program or Segment, Best Agriculture News Story-National, Best Agriculture News Story-Regional, Best Agriculture Feature Story-National, Best Agriculture Feature Story-Regional, and Best Online Story.
Along with this, Regional Information Officer Patria T. Bulanhagui and Agricultural Program Coordinating Officer (APCO)-Laguna Antonio C. Visitacion both shared with the attendees the various programs of the DA CALABARZON. And through a dialogue between them and the local media, they were able to discuss further the nitty-gritty of the latest programs of the department which focus on technology, mechanization, credit, and marketing, hence encouraged them to write and broadcast anything about agriculture in the region.
Josephine F. Costales, chairwoman and co-founder of Costales Nature Farm, also spoke at the event to present to them how their family invested into organic and sustainable farming in the province.
Likewise, details of the awards were discussed.
Bright Leaf Agriculture Journalism Awards honor and give due recognition to journalists and photographers who are behind the stories on the importance of agriculture in our everyday lives and pay tribute to the successes of the country’s farmers and fishers.