ILOILO CITY (PIA) — The Department of Agriculture Western Visayas (DA-WV) recognized the outstanding rural women in the region through its 2024 Gawad Parangal sa Katangi-tanging Kababaihan sa Pagsasaka at Pangingisda sa Kanayunan on Oct. 17 in Iloilo City.
Four women leaders who have remarkable contributions to agricultural development, community leadership, and gender equality were given citations during the awarding ceremony for the Search for Outstanding Rural Women (SORW).
The winners of SORW were adjudged based on several criteria including contribution to food security/ agricultural and fishery development; contribution to sustainable development and use of climate-resilient or environment/ women-friendly technologies; and impact of rural women in the promotion of women empowerment and gender equality, leadership, contribution to society and the local economy.
This 2024, DA-WV has given a special citation to Beatrice Lastimoso of San Carlos, Negros Occidental; Nieva D. Dela Torre of Maayon Capiz as 2nd runner up; Fatima Ebanen of Igbaras, Iloilo as 1st runner up; and Ma. Ninfa Desiree Segovia of Malay, Aklan as the Regional Winner.
DA Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulations Zarlina B. Cuello noted that acknowledging the essential role of rural women, DA celebrates their exemplary achievements and contributions in the areas of agriculture and fisheries in Western Visayas.
“As we highlight the significant contributions of the regional winners, we continue calling for action and concerted effort to rebuild food systems from the ground focusing on empowering rural women to produce and distribute diverse, healthy food, and create innovation to rural enterprise,” said Cuello.
Cuello also highlighted that this initiative aligns with the global efforts to support rural women’s livelihood and leadership with the goals of achieving Zero Hunger under Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) No. 2 and Gender Equality under SDG No. 5 which serve as the country’s commitment as a member of the United Nations.
Meanwhile, 2024 regional winner Ma. Ninfa Desiree Segovia shared her vision and enjoined other women to engage in agriculture.
“I’d like to inspire our women farmers to continue farming because women have important roles in the countryside, especially in agriculture. We provide food for our community. Let us put our efforts into farming, believe in agriculture, and move towards agribusiness,” said Segovia.
To note, this initiative aligns with DA’s efforts to advance gender-responsive strategies in agriculture, ensuring women’s invaluable roles are acknowledged and supported in sustainable rural development. (AAL/AGP/PIA 6)
