IN PHOTOS || Personnel from the Department of Agriculture–Cordillera (DA-CAR) and other government agencies cut loose in a simultaneous fun run activity at Capitol Hills Park at Bulanao in Tabuk City, Kalinga, and at Baguio Athletic Bowl Friday morning.

One way of celebrating National Rice Awareness and Organic Agriculture Month is through a fun run, which campaigns for a healthy Filipino lifestyle through the consumption of brown rice, and organic agriculture products, as well as being physically fit.

𝗕𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗼 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆

After DA-CAR Regional Executive Director Cameron Odsey struck the “starting gong,” the participants began to circle the Athletic Bowl to complete the 1k and 3k races.

In the 1k category, Tim Chattom from the Regional Agricultural Engineering Division (RAED) placed first, followed by Danny Macyon from Special Area for Agricultural Development and Addison Kyle La-ao from the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division in second and third places, respectively.

In the 3k category, Engr. Bernard Bagsiyao from RAED stole the top spot, while Rodham Bandao from the Organic Agriculture Program and Larenstein Bakilan from the Philippine Rural Development Project garnered the second and third spots, respectively.

Participated in the fun run were the representatives from the Department of Agrarian Reform, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, Department of Social Welfare and Development, National Economic and Development Authority, and the City Government of Baguio.

𝗧𝗮𝗯𝘂𝗸 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗞𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗮

In the 1 km race, Jerry Marce Lumino finished in first place followed by John Wayne Luminio. In the 3 km race, Manuel Fontanilla won first place, while Elmer Bunagan and Jovani Tabbu placed second and third places, respectively.

The fun run participants carried a trash bag with them so they could pick up any trash they saw along the tracks.

There was also an NRAM facts quiz. The winners, Domingo Bayog and Joseph Lumino, Jr., received a pair of mallard ducks courtesy of Research Outreach Station Rizal., while another winner, Miguel Bading, Jr., received one water pump courtesy of the Office of the Provincial Agriculture Services.

After the race, Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulations Atty. Jennilyn Dawayan reminded the youth participants to include heirloom rice as part of their narratives in terms of rice awareness.

“I hope that the youth has learned a lot from this activity. You share the relevance of rice awareness month with your family and friends. Let’s help in the conservation, not only in the increase of production but also in lessening post-production losses,” Dawayan said.

Participated in the Kalinga fun run were the Young Farmers’ Challenge Kalinga awardees, seed laboratory employees, provincial local government unit employees headed by Provincial Agriculturist Engr. Domingo Bakilan, Philippine National Police-Tabuk City Police Station—who also served as the escort during the fun run, organic agriculture practitioner, and Provincial Agriculture and Fisheries Council.

This celebration was in line with Proclamation no. 524-2004, which aims to raise awareness of rice consumption towards addressing issues of malnutrition and poverty; and Proclamation no. 1030-2015, which aims to heighten advocacy on organic agriculture programs and technologies, breeding to the further advancement of OA in the region.// JBPeralta