Four rural women who made remarkable contributions to the development of agriculture and fishery, community leadership, and gender equality in Western Visayas received recognition during the 2024 Gawad Parangal of the Department of Agriculture (DA) on Thursday.
DA 6 (Western Visayas) technical director Zarlina Cuello, in her message, said their Gender and Development System culminated their search for outstanding rural women by honoring women in rural areas who have shown exemplary performance in agriculture or fishery and contributed positively to women empowerment, rural development, and food security.
“As we highlight the significant contributions of the regional winners, we continue calling for action or concerted effort to rebuild food systems from the ground, focusing on empowering rural women to produce and distribute diverse and healthy food and create innovation for rural enterprise development,” she said.
Ma. Desiree Ninfa Segovia of Barangay Manocmanoc in Boracay Island in Malay, Aklan was proclaimed the regional winner and represented Western Visayas in the national search. The result will be announced in March next year.
“Helping the community while preserving the environment, Segovia provided livelihood to residents, particularly women from 31 barangays and sitios of Malay, Aklan. Aside from these noteworthy efforts, Desiree continues to help her community by leading various initiatives aimed at rural and countryside development,” Cuello said.
Now 56 years old and a member of the LGBTQ community, Segovia chairs the Boracay Women Producers Cooperative and is project manager of the Promoting Boracay Women Empowerment Project.
"It is very inspiring for our DA to have a program like this for women. Thank you so much for believing in us, for believing in me," Segovia said in her response.
She said she did not expect the award, adding that it was her first time to be given such recognition.
She called on women, youth, and those with the capacity to help not to give up on helping farmers and the fisherfolk.
Fatima Ebanen of Igbaras town in Iloilo was first runner-up for her organic farm integrated with goats, vegetables, and bananas; and Nieva Dela Torre of Maayon, Capiz was second runner-up for her mushroom production and processing project.
Beatriz Lastimoso of San Carlos City, Negros Occidental received a special citation for her integrated farm, focusing on vegetables and chicken production.
Dela Torre, in an interview, said she hopes to inspire women in their area, especially because their sector excels in agriculture.
“We have proven that women can also be farmers,” she said.
Aside from being a wife and a mother, she also manages three associations – the Capiz Micro, Small and Medium Entrepreneurs with 41 members, the Mushroom Growers Association with 22 members, and the association of ladies in their barangay with 36.
Remia Aparri, regional director of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, said they would bring the winners to coastal communities to share their experiences and best practices with other women.
“I’m learning to bring these outstanding women to the coastal community to share their best practices, the knowledge management why they were able to achieve these awards,” she said.
She also reminded the winners to be conscious and reflect on their role in the ecosystem, which is only in producing. She urged them to help manage coastal resources within their capacity.
The winners received a plaque of appreciation, a cash prize, and a project for their association. (PNA)
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