2019 Winners
BEST TOBACCO PHOTO OF THE YEAR
"GOLDEN LEAVES"
LAILA AUSTRIA , BUSINESS MIRROR
BEST AGRICULTURE PHOTO OF THE YEAR
"SALT HARVEST"
WILLIE LOMIBAO , THE PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER
This is a four-part series that discussed the multi-faceted coconut, known to be the tree of life. Considered God’s gift to the Filipinos. The article details the problems farmers face due to the low pricing of copra. It also talks about the different exported products made out of the plant and how it provides livelihood to 1/3 of the total population.
The story follows the journey of the women in a marginalized agriculture sector in Bacoor, a town experiencing rapid urbanization, as they experience the many challenges that threaten their way of life. On top of the environmental pollution and climate change, a massive land-reclamation project to pave way for. Urban expansion amidst an on-going effort to rehabilitate the Manila Bay now threatens to kill an industry that has empowered the women of Bacoor.
It is a news report on the resilience of farmers in the coldest parts of Benguet. The early morning frost has led farmers in this vegetable producing province to adapt to this natural occurrence through the years. Now, with the help of technology and reliable weather reports, the farmers will have a better chance of keeping their crops safe.
Despite the dry spell of El Nino phenomenon, Nueva Ecija remains in business because of its powerful solar powered irrigation system. There were neither dry taps nor parched lands to speak of. Instead rice paddies thrive with the help of efficient irrigation systems . The biggest in the country, this technology separates the province from most agricultural areas. This article highlights the importance of government support in sustaining agriculture in the other areas that still rely on rainwater.
"A Very Long Summer" is a narrative of the five-month journey of two Palay farmers in Morong, Rizal, in the face of a "mild" yet devastating El Niño. The story covers the scorching impact of El Nino on the farmers’ crops, and the cascade of other difficulties it creates for the farmers’ careers, community and lives, touching on their remarkable will to survive.
An investigative report produced by the GMA News Special Assignments team, “Drought in Number; Farmers Farming No More” takes an in depth look at the challenges facing farmers.
The dream of rice self-sufficiency remains elusive for the Philippines, more so now as the government has stepped up importation to avert the escalating consumer prices amid mounting public outrage.
This episode features a diverse series of short interviews with citizens from Nueva Ecija, whether they be farmers, farm hands, fishermen, or small scale business owners whose businesses rely on the farming industry. With humor, candor, and a strong appreciation for the humanity of each interviewee, the report discussed on unique practices and specialized knowledge of Nueva Ecija’s everyday heroes.
The story tackles the vision of having a “smoke-free future as Philip Morris targets to commercialize its “heat-not-burn” IQOS devices. It talks about meeting the changing needs of consumers, and the ways in which technology has paved the way for better alternatives for smokers.
The winning article discusses the finance officials’ push for increasing the tobacco tax law and how it will affect the behavior of manufacturers and their buying power, which will have a direct adverse effect on the farmers’ livelihoods and threaten their survival.
This is a story about the transformation of Villaconzoilo, a poor remote farming village and a one-time haven of the New People’s army, into a progressive and peaceful Barangay. Now it is also a fast emerging tourist attraction in Leyte thanks to a farm facility managed by the Villaconzoilo Community Association, a conglomerate of local residents led by Alex Aborita.