News Details

Gov’t Honors Outstanding Farmers, Cooperatives, and Communities at Gawad Agraryo 2025

NPO

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September 13, 2025

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) on Friday recognized the country’s most outstanding farmers, cooperatives, and agrarian reform communities for their vital role in strengthening rural progress and national development.

During the Gawad Agraryo 2025 awarding rites at the Makabagong San Juan National Government Center, President Marcos lauded the honorees as models of perseverance, resilience, and service.

“To the awardees, you are the symbols of hope. You prove that the Filipino spirit remains unshaken in the face of challenges, and you serve as guiding lights to fellow citizens aspiring for success,” Marcos said in his keynote message.

The annual Gawad Agraryo program recognized:

• 10 Most Outstanding Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) for transforming awarded lands into productive farms;

• 3 Most Progressive Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organizations (ARBOs) for empowering members and fostering innovation; and

• 4 Most Progressive Agrarian Reform Communities (ARCs) for showcasing unity, resilience, and sustainable development.

Inspiring Stories of Awardees

Among the individual ARBs honored were Luzviminda Edna Cacanindin of La Union, who turned corn husks into sustainable livelihood products; Alexander Josol of Leyte, who rose from tenant’s son to cooperative leader; Emiliana Volante of Camarines Sur, who transformed her street vending into agribusiness; and Ruben Ragas of Agusan del Norte, recognized as a farmer-scientist and organic farming advocate.

Other awardees included leaders in climate-resilient farming, agrientrepreneurship, community development, and agricultural innovation from across the country.

The ARBO awardees were the Guintapagin Agrarian Reform Cooperative (Iloilo), Agsirab Multipurpose Cooperative (Capiz), and Midsalip Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (Zamboanga del Sur), all cited for discipline, resilience, and innovation.

For the ARC category, Binatog ARC (Ilocos Norte), Isabela Settlement ARC (Isabela), Allen ARC (Northern Samar), and Alamada Expanded ARC (North Cotabato) were honored for their transformative projects in unity, peace, and sustainable growth.

Support and Incentives

DAR said each individual ARB received a plaque, medal, and PHP25,000 cash award, while ARBOs and ARCs were granted plaques, medals, and development projects worth PHP70,000 each.

DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III emphasized that the awards are not only about recognition but also about reaffirming the government’s support to farmers and their communities.

“Through the Gawad Agraryo, we are not only honoring our outstanding farmers, organizations, and communities but also highlighting how agrarian reform continues to uplift lives. When farmers are empowered with land and support services, they become drivers of national progress and rural transformation,” Estrella said.

The 2025 awards carried the theme: “Repormang Agraryo: Binhi ng Kaunlaran at Tagumpay” (Agrarian Reform: Seeds of Development and Success).

NPO News Team | PNA-PR