San Luis Bags DAR National Award
QUEZON CITY — San Luis town in the province of Pampanga was named on Monday as the “Most Progressive Agrarian Reform Community” in the country besting other municipalities in Central Luzon and the entire nation as well.
Department of Agrarian Reform Undersecretary Rosalina Bistoyong, together with Department of Agrarian Reform Regional Director Arnel Dizon awarded the “Natatanging Gawad Parangal” (national level) to San Luis Mayor Venancio “Asyong” Macapagal and Vice-Mayor Leonardo Salas Jr. at the BSWM Convention Center in Diliman, here.
Eden Ponio, Pampanga Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer II Pampanga, said that San Luis represented not only the province of Pampanga but Central Luzon in the national level in which it won the prestigious award.
Ponio who is also the chairman of the provincial screening committee said that the awarding coincided with the International Year of Family Farming, adding that one of the highlights of the two-day celebration held last November 24 to 25 was the “Natatanging Gawad Parangal” awards.
She said that San Luis got a rating of 4.60 and a ranking of 1 from the provincial screening committee which is the highest score given to any local government unit in Pampanga and Central Luzon.
Secretary Virgilio De Los Reyes said that the Natatanging Gawad Parangal is given to municipalities which have been successful in the implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program.
“Ang parangal na ito ay ginagawad sa San Luis, isa sa pinakamaunlad na pamayanan ng repormang pansakahan. Dahil sa pagpupunyagi at pagsisikap nito na maisulong ang kaunlaran ng kanilang agraryong pamayanan alinsunod sa minimithing layunin ng CARP,” De Los Santos said.
“Umaasa ang pamunuan ng kagawaran na ang tagumpay na ito ay magsisilbing huwaran sa iba pang mga pamayanang agraryo sa buong Pilipinas,” he added.
For his part, Macapagal thanked De Los Reyes and the entire DAR family for the prestigious award, adding that it is not solely for the local government unit but the hardworking farmers of San Luis.
“Ang award na ito ay para sa ating mga magsasaka na walang sawang bumubungkal ng lupa para meron tayong kainin sa araw araw. Sila ang tunay na mga bayani ng ating bayan at para sa kanila ang karangalan ito,” Macapagal, who is also a farmer, said.