What she reaps is what she sows

“Never in my younger years did I ever dream of landing in the field of agriculture as I have today,” Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) head Imelda Inieto admitted. But how can a person be really good at something she didn’t see coming?

Ma’am Imet, as most people would call her, resides at 20 Naval St. Cupang, Balanga City. She is happily married to Ricardo and brought up four lovely daughters namely Carimel Joyce, Honeylette, Imelle Rica, and Carmella Socoro.

She graduated elementary in Cupang Elementary School as valedictorian and high school in Tomas del Rosario Academy. As a child, she loved playing roles as a teacher and a cook. She knew by then that her future would include taking up courses in education or nutrition, but as a good daughter, she followed her father who encouraged her to take up BS Agriculture at the University of the Philippines Los Banos. Not enjoying the course she took up, she then met a BS Home Technology student who influenced her to change her course without her father knowing it. Fast forward to graduation, she earned a degree in BS Home Technology major in Foods and Nutrition, minor in Education. Thus, both of her longings as a child were fulfilled.

She had her first job even before graduating college and it was in Bataan Hilltop Hotel in Mariveles, now The Oriental Hotel Bataan. She worked there as food cost control assistant, but she didn’t see any growth there, so she resigned. Her next job was as a nutritionist supervisor in Planters Cooperative Cafeteria but she didn’t stay long there either. While having a short break to reflect on what kind of job she really wanted, a friend visited her at home and told her about a job opening at the Farm Systems Development Corporation (FSDC). In that job, she found the answers to her questions that she was searching for.

Her training required living in the project site which in her case, was in Cataning, Hermosa and therefore required her to walk 4 km from the national road. “Nakita ko yung farmers na kulang sila ng access sa resources, sa mga programa at proyekto na ibinibigay ng gobyerno. Ang dami dami pero wala silang alam, kasi ang layo nila,” Ma’am Imet said. That was a life-changing experience, that she promised herself to do everything to help the farmers in need.

After a few years, she then became the general manager of the Panlalawigang Kalipunan ng mga ISA (Irrigators Service Association) sa Bataan – FSDC. Unfortunately, FSDC was abolished but with proper lobbying with the Governor and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, their office was absorbed by the Provincial Government of Bataan. Her career in the PGB then kicked-off.

In 1990, she started working in OPA as a senior agriculturist. Fast forward to 2004, with a normal day in the office, she received an unexpected call. The call was about her not reporting to the Governor. She was confused for a moment, because she didn’t know that she had to report to the Governor. Later on, the caller broke the news – she has then been designated as the officer-in-charge of her office.

“Nung ako yung naging OIC, na-challenge ako,” Ma’am Imet said. With a limited background in the Department of Agriculture’s programs and projects and with her being looked down by some of her co-workers from the DA, she felt it would be somehow difficult for her to be their leader. But it didn’t stop her to live up to her promise to help those in need. “Na-challenge ako, sabi ko, pinagkatiwalaan ako ni Gov., ibabalik ko lahat ng trust and confidence na yun. Pagbubutihin ko, ipapakita ko sa kanila dito na kaya ko tong trabaho na to,” she added.

With her determination to prove some people wrong, she exerted extra effort in attending all seminars, congresses, and summits needed for the improvement of her knowledge. She also coordinated with partner agencies and read a lot to widen her expertise in her field of work. Several years after being designated as OIC, she became a full-pledged department head of the OPA in 2013. While proving others that she can be who she ought to be, her office was hailed as the Outstanding Provincial Agriculturist in the Agri-Pinoy Achievers Awards in 2015. She considers this as their most significant accomplishment.

Asked about the most fulfilling part of her job, she answered “yung alam ko na in my own little way, nakakatulong ako sa magsasaka at sa ibang tao.” Since that life-changing moment, it drove her to become who she is today, and who she will be in the future. That is why, in the next five or ten years, she sees herself retiring from her beloved job and focus on her most-valued hobby, which is gardening. She plans to give all of her time and effort to take care of her land in Nagwaling, Pilar and start her own network also to further help the farmers.

Who would’ve thought that a woman struggling to find the right course, the right job, and the right knowledge to live up to her duties is now someone whom many people look up to. She planted enough effort, determination, and faith in God so now, she continues to harvest them all.