BAGUIO CITY — They came all the way from Mountain Province to get the cash prizes and plaques as Gulayan sa Masa Awardees of the Cordillera National Nutrition Council.

The NNC, headed by Dr. Micaela M. Defiesta, gave out plaques and P8,500 cash for the winners in school-based high school and elementary categories, as well as community-based communal garden and backyard garden categories.

Defiesta explained the contest was done in Mountain Province to encourage food production among its residents because it is among the 20 food poorest provinces in the country.

Winners in the high school category are Tadian’s Cagubatan National High School, 1st; Sadanga National High School, 2nd; and Bauko’s Pingad National High School, 3rd. In the elementary level, the first prize was shared by Namatec Elementary School in Sabanagan and Paracelis Elementary School. Public elementary schools Masla in Tadian, Tapapan in Bauko, Angkileng in Sagada, Sadanga Central and Lias in Barlig also garnered prizes as well as the private school All Saints Mission School in Bontoc.

Communal gardens tended by the Kiltepan clan in Kilong Sagada and Paracelis rural improvement club also got top prizes along with Lubon in Tadia and Maggon in Supang, Sabangan.

In individual backyard category, Fidela Gawidan of Kin-iway Besao and Ann Lee Makellay of Dagdag, Sagada shared the first prize. Seven others shared thrid and second prizes, namely, Abe Crepa of Caluttit, Bontoc; Victoria Latowed of Supang, Sabangan; Minda Nonnot, Fiangtin, Barlig; Antonio Pilar, Butigue, Paracelis; Brigida Anaban, Lubon, Tadia; Wilma Lazaro, Poblacion, Sadanga; and Segundina Joaquin, Otucan, Bauko.

Gawidan is a graduate of Agri-business. She worked in Kochi, Japan as an agricultural trainee in 1999 before she got married. Her home garden is only some 25 square meters with a variety of edible and ornamental plants, including herbs, spices, shrubs, vines and trees.

As a housewife, she produces food and medicines for the family. She also sells to her neighbors as she has more than enough all year round. She employs relay planting and multiple cropping. She said, she uses all types of containers from the smallest tin cans to the largest plastic containers, thus contributing in the reduction of solid wastes.

Meanwhile on the same occasion, NNC also awarded three outstanding barangay nutrition scholars, this time from other parts of the region. First place winner is Lina L. Sakiwat from Paykek, Kapangan in Benguet; the second is Mercedez Nicanor of Pinto, Alfonso Lista in Ifugao; and the third is Rosalina P. Caya-os of Irisan, Baguio City. They received P4,000 and a certificate of appreciation. # Lyn V. Ramo