Farmers’ Day: Celebrating with the Nation’s Breadwinners

by Rogelli Corpuz, Gillian Agbuya and Klieo Agacite

Bayambang’s Pista’y Baley 2019 celebration would be never complete without putting into limelight the community’s hardworking pillars and considered breadwinners of Filipinos’ dining tables — the farmers — at its Farmers’ Day (Agew na Dumaralos), April 2.

The second day of the town’s more-than-a-week-long triple fiesta celebration commenced with a parade of the farmers from various agricultural barangays of the town featuring their floats ornamented with vegetables and crops, especially corn and onion, which are the town’s prime agricultural products.

Senator Cynthia Villar, a tireless advocate of agricultural development in the country, graced the formal program at the Balon Bayambang Events Center.

Sen. Villar encouraged the farmers to improve their technical skills in farming by attending trainings at various skills development agencies such as the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), which will educate them on farm mechanization and seed growing.

Further, the senator also commended the dedication and persistence of the farmers, which is the main reason why nutritious foods are available at Filipinos’ plates. She also encouraged them to integrate innovations in farming. “You should plant hybrid seeds that will increase your harvest from 4 metric tons per hectare to 6 metric tons per hectare, and will increase your harvest as well as your income by 50% and decrease cost by 25%,” Villar added.

Also gracing the event were MTRCB Chairperson Rachel Arenas, Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos, Alaminos City Mayor Art Celeste, ABONO Partylist Representative Rosendo So, Congressman Conrado Estrella III, Provincial Agriculture Office’s Erlinda Manipon, Mark Lambino, and Darwina Sampang.

In keeping with the guests’ message, the LGU-Bayambang, under the leadership of the Municipal Mayor, Dr. Cezar T. Quiambao and Vice Mayor Raul R. Sabangan, together with all the Saungguniang Bayan members present, likewise swore to uphold and prioritize the policies and programs that will better the living conditions of the farmers, most of whom are said to be living below the poverty line.

The event was organized by the Municipal Agriculture Office under Artemio Buezon, in cooperation with the Federation of Farmers’ Associations of Bayambang under President Eligio Veloria.

(Photo credits: MDRRMO Bayambang, Ruby Ann Matutino, Zyra Orpiano, Sen. Cynthia Villar’s and Gov. Imee Marcos’ FB pages)