The Davao City Agriculturist Office (CAO) on Monday awarded the winners of the Gulayan sa Barangay and (GSB) and Gulayan sa Eskwelahan (GSE) that promote good nutrition and clean environment.
The GSB and GSE are competitions among villagers and schoolers to grow plants in their area. The participants that produced the biggest and most nutritious harvest received cash prizes.
The barangay competition is divided into Rural Category where residents grow plants within their farm, garden, or anywhere in their area, while in the Urban Category the plant-growers use their rooftops or backyards for gardening and farming.
The competition in schools was divided into two levels – elementary and high school, participated by the pupils.
Leo Brian Leuterio, the officer-in-charge of CAO, said the activity also allows the people to see the beauty of agriculture.
“Ang objective niya gyud kay maencourage ang mga tao, especially and mga bata— mao mana ang isa sa mga issues karon sa agriculture, na ma-enganyo sila to go into pananom, not necessarily farming just yet but makita nila ang science and beauty of agriculture, planting and harvesting (The objective here is to encourage the people, especially the children to plant. Through this, they will be able to see the science and the beauty of agriculture, planting and harvesting),” Leuterio said.
Leuterio added that the activity was designed to help families lessen their expenses on food.
Gardening also has an environmental impact since plant-growers, especially those under the Urban Category, recycle ice cream gallons, milk cans, among others, for planting.
In encouraging families and schools to join the gardening activity, Leuterio said the city government provided them assistance such as tools, seedlings, wheel-borrow, watering cans, and other materials needed for gardening.
The participants planted a variety of vegetables such as tomatoes, eggplant, bitter gourd, and among others.
In this year’s Gulayan contest, Rosalie Dajao from Barangay Tamayong bagged the first place with a cash prize of P50,000; Alibaba T. Dela Torre from Barangay Mahayag in second place with P30,000 prize; and, Nely R. Palayen in third place with a P20,000 cash prize.
Under the same category, five (5) more individuals received a consolation prize each amounting to P5,000.
The lucky recipients were Generose S. Bacalso from Barangay Daliaon Plantation; Joel R. Laborte from Barangay Manuel Guianga; Purification A. Suryco from Barangay Marilog Proper; Alex A. Anong from Barangay Wines; and, Edwin S. Gandia from Barangay Mabuhay.
Under the Urban Category, the three winners Ma. Merlie D. Fernandez from Barangay Bago Aplaya in the first place; Joselito D. Ongcay from Barangay Cabantian in second place; and, Consuelo M. Somera in the third place. Winners under this category also took home cash prizes amounting to P50,000, P30,000, and P20,000, respectively.
In the school category, three elementary and three high school pupils bagged the placer awards with the same cash prizes as the GSB winners.
In the elementary level, the first placer was Ludivina S. Maningo from Cadalian Elementary School; the second placer is Arnel C. Saballa from San Roque Central Elementary School; and, the third placer is Rey B. Cadiena from Mabini Elementary School.
The consolation prize winners were Marissa U. Ampog from Pegdalahan Elementary School; Esmeralda P. Mamac of Malabog Central Elementary School; Editha P. Agualan of Biao Escuela Elementary School; Candy A. Owe of Binugao Central Elementary School; Luzviminda F. Cuevas of Maa Elementary School; Vergie G. Tamayo of Bunawan Elementary School; Ana Villa A. Montero of Gatungan Elementary School; and, Amparo M. Serrano of Doña Asuncion Hizon Elementary School. Each also received P5,000.
For the high school level, the three placers were Dilbert S. Bawiga from Sta. Ana National High School (first), Arnel S. Saballa from Tapak National High School (second), and Jocelyn D. Mantiles from Tacunan National High School (third).
Under the same level, consolation prize winners were Josephine Attos from G. Astilla Minority National High School, Zenaida M. Ibuos from Talomo National High School, and Nelma May D. Omo from Latawan National High School. CIO
