OPA celebrates Prov’l. Achievement Day

CITY of BALANGA, Bataan – The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA), headed by Ms. Imelda D. Inieto, conducted a three-day celebration tagged as the “Provincial Achievement Day” bounded by its theme: “Agriculture and Fisheries Sector Accountability towards a Sustainable and Resilient Agriculture, held at the Bataan People’s Center, this City, March 9-11.

The three-day program kicked-off with a parade wherein 11 municipalities and one city of Bataan were represented by the Agriculture and Fishery Council (AFC), 4-H Groups, Rural Improvement Clubs (RICs), Fishery Councils (FARMC and CACFs), staffs from the City/Municipal Agriculture Offices, sponsors and other exhibitors.

“Isa sa pinakaimportanteng industriya ay ang sektor ng agrikultura, target natin na i-improve pa ang sektor na ito. Lubos akong nagpapasalamat sa ating mga magsasaka at mangingisda dahil kayo po ang nagpapakain sa ating bayan, sa ating lalawigan. Sana po ay lalo pa po tayong magtulong-tulong upang maging progresibo ang ating bayan,” said Gov. Albert S. Garcia in his inspirational message.

During the opening program, Dr. Lilian C. Garcia, OIC-Regional Director of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources III, led the awarding of interventions to fisherfolks from the different municipalities of Bataan a total of 18.98 million worth of fishing equipments which consists of fishing gears, lifevests, non-motorized bancas, marine engines, fiberglass boats, fish vending equipments and other incentives like weighing scales and crab nets, plus the financial assistance being awarded to them.

The opening of the Agri-Aqua Fair/Exhibit, Judging of the Best Booth, Well-Participated Municipal/City Agriculture Office and “PINAKA” malaki agri-farm products were completed in the morning of Day 1. While in the afternoon, cooking contests of the RICs and 4H was done simultaneous with the seminars on climate change and its effect on Agriculture.

Day 2 was encapsulated with a symposium on health, wellness, and organic food production while on Day 3, various competitions like poster-making contest, extemporaneous speech contest and singing contest was held in the morning, while in the afternoon session, the recognition and awarding of plaques to the outstanding achievers was organized.

The three-day activity was held to enliven and uplift the moral of the farmers and fisherfolks and to recognize and honor the unsung heroes and silent contributors to our economy. It was also executed to showcase the agricultural and fisheries’ products of Bataeños and to give recognition to the outstanding men and women in the agriculture and fisheries sector.