More than 300 attendees are expected to join the five-day anniversary festivities of the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) on March 25 to 29. The theme of the celebration is “Empowering ‘Carapreneurs’: Our Purpose in Focus”.
All the activities related to the celebration which marks the 26th founding anniversary of the agency will be held at the PCC National Headquarters and Gene Pool in the Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija.
The term “carapreneurs” refers to carabao raisers turned carabao entrepreneurs.
“PCC is now focused on empowering our farmers in carabao-based communities through continuous development and assistance to related enterprises. Our purpose is not just to usher our clients to succeed in their business but to help them carry on what they have so far established as their own,” said Rowena Bumanlag, anniversary overall chair and the head of the Applied Communication Section of the Knowledge Management Division.
Bumanlag added that the PCC’s Carabao Development Program (CDP) implementation is ardent toward a sustainable carabao-based livelihood that aims to gradually empower farmers.
Among the PCC’s clients, 25 faces of success in carapreneurship were chosen to be featured in a video presentation and coffee table book. These include farmers, cooperatives and other past awardees of PCC who either exemplified remarkable entrepreneurial spirit or can demonstrate the tangible benefits of being participants in the national CDP.
During a program on March 27, outstanding farmers and employees of PCC will also be recognized.
The following awards will be given to : “Outstanding Dairy Buffalo Farmer”, “Outstanding Juana sa Pagkakalabawan”, “Outstanding Kabataan sa Pagkakalabawan”, “Gintong Kalabaw Cup”, “Outstanding Dairy Buffalo Cooperative”, and a special award for private individual farmer.
To highlight this year’s anniversary celebration, a keynote address shall be delivered by Dr. Segfredo Serrano, Department of Agriculture’s Undersecretary for Policy and Planning.
Serrano, a staunch advocate of the PCC, is an outstanding extensionist who is credited for the establishment of the Task Force on World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Agriculture (Re)negotiations (TF-WAR), a multi-sectoral group. The initiative is meant to better the negotiation between agriculture stakeholders in the government and private sectors.
Another highlight of the weeklong celebration is the “Farmer’s Field Day cum Technology Showcase” that will exhibit a complete industry value-chain of technologies and best practices for the appreciation of the public and farmer-clients.
Other activities lined up for the upcoming anniversary are the Pre-Inhouse R&D review, Knowledge Café, PCC Employees Association General Assembly and Election of New Officers, Carabao Value Chain Analysis Players Consultation Workshop, Employees’ Night, “Karwanan”, Training-Workshop for PCC Regional Information Officers (RIOs): Strengthening Reportage of Regional CDP Highlights, HR Transformational Seminar, and Sports Day.
