We should all work from the heart – DA USec Laviña
“Tanggalin na natin all the negative things and let’s work together to create something that’s so beautiful for La Trinidad. Remember your strawberry always. It is your heart. It comes from the heart. Work with your heart and you will achieve a lot of good things.”
This is what the Department of Agriculture (DA) Undersecretary Evelyn G. Laviña emphasized in her message during the main program of the 36th Strawberry Festival with the theme “Sustaining the fruits of La Trinidad's agro-eco tourism” last March 18 at the La Trinidad Municipal Gymnasium. Laviña served as guest of honor and speaker during the program.
“If DA gives something to you, you have the responsibility to give in return.” Laviña added.
“It is not just the responsibility of the farmer to produce, or it is not just the responsibility of your mayor and the officials of this town, but it is the responsibility of everyone,” she explained.
Citing Korea as an example where a complete farm enterprise is owned and managed by a group of farmers, Laviña said that the nation’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs is turning 69 years yet it is way better than the Philippines’ Department of Agriculture which is 119 years old.
The undersecretary suggested that the farmers of La Trinidad and Benguet must have an agri-plan for each commodity with its seedling source, variety, market potential, and processing. She said that the strawberries of La Trinidad can be of international power if it is well-packaged.
According to Laviña, farmers, LGU, and the Department of Agriculture should work hand and hand in order to gain something useful and come up with a product.
“For everything that you do, set your heart, and believe in God. Then you have it all,” Laviña concluded.
