SK coffee farmer hailed as Sox’s most outstanding rural woman

By: Carl Ulysses Aguillion, DA RAFIS XII

Senator Ninoy Aquino, Sultan Kudarat - A coffee farmer from Senator Ninoy Aquino (SNA), Sultan Kudarat bagged this year’s award for Most Outstanding Rural Woman of the Department of Agriculture (DA) XII.

During the awarding ceremony in Koronadal City, Rebecca Gacayan of Barangay Malegdeg of the aforesaid town bested ten other rural women from the other provinces of SOCCSKSARGEN.

Gacayan, who advocates for ‘carpeting the mountain with coffee trees,’ is also a coffee processor and trader.

She also considers herself as a motivator of other coffee farmers, especially rural women, who face challenges in farming.

Gacayan’s win placed her as the regional bet for the national edition of the Search for Outstanding Rural Women (SORW). “I offer this win to my fellow rural women in the Municipality of Senator Ninoy Aquino, that they may continue to engage in coffee production regardless of the challenges in life,” she said during the ceremony.

Meanwhile, it was notable that the top three winners for the Regional SORW are coffee farmers.

The second placer, Shiela Livera of Kidapawan City, Cotabato and third placer Ruby Cabredo, of SNA town, are also rural producers of coffee.

Livera is a local processor who advocates for decent work for women, and helps her fellow rural women improve their literacy rate.

Aside from the three regional winners, DA XII also acknowledged the following provincial nominees: Agripina C. De Leon ( Brgy. Cinco, Banga, South Cotabato); Ma’am Salvacion P. Casica (Brgy. M. Roxas, Sto. Niño, South Cotabato); Nenita P. Arot (New Bohol, Alegria, Alabel, Sarangani Province); Evelyn L. Delfinan (Pag-asa, Alabel, Sarangani Province); Dioscora C. Martin (Brgy. Nomoh, Maasim, Sarangani Province); Dearly G. Gaveliño (Brgy. Nati, Senator Ninoy Aquino, Sultan Kudarat), and; Lerma Javing (Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat).

The Outstanding Rural Women Awards is an annual search for extraordinary females who have manifested exemplary contributions to food security as well as economic growth towards the improvement of their communities.

Under Republic Act 9710 or the magna carta for women, the event recognizes women’s endeavors and their contributions towards the improvement of the agrifisheries sector.

Ms. Rebecca Gacayan (3rd from left) bagged this year’s award for Most Outstanding Rural Woman of the Department of Agriculture (DA) XII. She bested 10- other rural women from other provinces of SOCCSKSARGEN.