TWO farmers from Mandaue City placed first and second in the national search for outstanding farmers of the Philippines.
Rogelio Sulad, 56, of barangay Subangdaku and Alma Rosell, 50, of barangay Pakna-an won the two top awards in one of the 11 categories of the search. Sulad received a gold plaque and P50,000 cash for having won the urban city farmer category, while Rosell was awarded a bronze plaque and P25,000 cash.
Sen. Francis Pangilinan handed the awards in an awarding ceremony at the Rafols Hotel in Makati City last Jan. 24.
Sulad and Rossell had first won the backyard gardening contest organized by Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes in July last year to promote the proper disposal and recycling of garbage in the barangays.
They were then nominated by the city agriculture office to the search for outstanding farmers in the Philippines organized by the Junior Chamber International.
Sulad and Rossell were among the 111 farmers nationwide nominated to the search. /CORRESPONDENT NORMAN V. MENDOZA