Western Visayas agricultural communicators recognized

Most active members of the Department of Agriculture (DA) Western Visayas Press Corps, Provincial Agricultural Reporters, and Farmcasters were honored for their invaluable contributions in communicating the programs and services of the department during the Media Pasasalamat and Year-End Press Conference held on December 17 in Iloilo City. 

Regional Information Officer James Earl Ogatis noted that the DA has been partnering with mainstream media partners as well as provincial farmcasters to get the message across to stakeholders in both urban and rural farming sectors, highlighting their contributions necessary in ensuring that farmers received timely, relevant, and helpful information to boost their production and income. 

Meanwhile, DA Western Visayas’ Regional Executive Director Dennis Arpia shared updates on department programs and initiatives to enhance food security and bolster farmer support in the region. 

“Sa maraming pagkakataon, ang inyong mga medium ang nagparating sa ating mga kababayan ng ating relevant efforts sa maraming challenges ng sektor,” said Director Arpia who also underscored the need for the agency to improve its capability and expand its network to sustain the gains in the agricultural development. 

Director Arpia also addressed several concerns in the sector, such as the threats of climate change, particularly the effect of El Niño and La Niña phenomena on food production, marketing constraints in palay, and the damages of the Mt. Kanlaon recent eruption to crops and livestock.

“Sa tulong ninyong lahat, mas malayo ang mararating ng pagpapatupad ng mga programa ng ahensya,” he added.  

DA awarded plaques, certificates, tokens, milled rice, and cash prizes to the outstanding agricultural reporters for print, radio, TV, digital media, photojournalism, provincial media partners, and provincial agricultural information officers/farmcasters in this yearly gathering. ### Photos by VNOQuimpo and JESEsmao/DA-RAFIS 6