San Jose City, Nueva Ecija – Through the collaborating agencies and partnership with Jollibee Group Foundation, Allied Botanical Corporation, Department of Agriculture Region III (DA-RFO III) and Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), 41 members of KALASAG Farmers Producers Cooperative of San Jose City, Nueva Ecija awarded as Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) Certified on Onion Harvest Festival last March 31, 2017.

With that received award, APCO Nueva Ecija Evelyn Fernando of DA-RFO III encouraged the cooperative to enjoin again at Gawad Saka Awards due to their higher chance of recognition at national level.

KALASAG FPC Chair Arnold Dizon gave his welcoming message. Dizon acknowledged the local government units (LGU) and other agencies and bureaus that gives help to get the said award.

San Jose City Mayor Mario “Kokoy” Salvador also gave his message where he mentioned that one of his dreams for his people is to have a vegetable storage in the city.

“Makakaasa kayo sa aking panunungkulan na kung ano ang puwedeng maging tulong ng pamahalaan, ipagbigay-alam ninyo lamang po para tayo ay magkatulungan”, he added.

Meanwhile, City Agriculturist Wilfredo Alfonso gave an overview of the Onion Harvest Festival and GAP awarding. Also, Jollibee Group Foundation Assistant Program Manager Ruth Ramirez, Bureau of Plant Industry Assistant Executive Director Jennifer Remoquillo and Allied Botanicals President Michael Caballes encouraged the farmers’ cooperative to continue and exert more effort for their success.

There were also a field walk at the Demo Site at Barangay Kalinawagan, San Jose City before the ceremony.

They showcase different varieties of onion through ‘product expo’. Some of these were 10039 F1 Hybrid Red Onion, Red Colorado Onion, Rio Bravo F1 Hybrid Yellow Onion and Superstar Hybrid Yellow Granex Onion.

Eighteen more members of the cooperative will receive the said award next batch.

The certification aims to facilitate adoption of GAP aimed at ensuring food safety and assuring produce quality while keeping high regard for environmental protection and that of workers’ health, safety and welfare; Produce quality and safe agricultural crops for consumers; and facilitate access of Philippine agricultural crops to neighboring ASEAN markets and other foreign markets.###

(Justine Trey Cubos, Information Section-DA-RFO III)