Ligao Community College students among the TOSB awardees

Four students from Ligao Community College (LCC) were among the Ten Outstanding Students of Bicol (TOSB) for this year’s search. Bachelor of Secondary Education students Norman P. Manlangit, Angel DL.Parado, Jiesel Ll. Pesito, and Darwin Racadag were recognized during the awarding ceremony on March 4, 2016 at the Social Hall, University of Nueva Caceres, Naga City, Camarines Sur.

Photo credit: Ako Bicol Partylist

Also from LCC are TOSB finalists, Chenel O. Rosopa and Judy Mae C. Navera. Parado received the Top Initiative on Bicolano Advocacies by the Youth (TIBAY-TOSB 2016) award for her proposal, School Based Waste Segregation and Management. Rosopa, on the other hand, received the Most Promising Youth-Led Proposal award.

Photo credit: Ako Bicol Partylist

To complete the list, the following are the Ten Outstanding Students of Bicol :

Joshua Arsenio Espiritu III (University of Nueva Caceres)
Froilan Celetaria (University on Northeastern Philippines)
Norman Manlangit (Ligao Community College)
Francis Orasa (University of Nueva Caceres)
John Jorge Rances (University on Northeastern Philippines)
Aggie Zephaniah Gonowon (University on Northeastern Philippines)
Angel Parado (Ligao Community College)
Jiesel Pesito (Ligao Community College)
Darwin Racadag (Ligao Community College)
Ron Ephraim Roluna (Ateneo De Naga University)

Organized by the Ako Bicol Partylist in partnership with the Commission on Higher Education, TOSB was organized to recognize Bicol students with exemplary academic performance. College students aged 18-25 years old ,has a General Weighted average of 1.75, and good leadership, service, and scholarship performance are qualified for the search. The TOSB are identified based on the documents presented by the applicants and results of the on-the-spot essay writing and panel interview, according to Ako Bicol Partylist Representative Rodel Batocabe. albay3d.blogspot.com

Reference/Sources: akobicolpartylist.com , facebook.com/akobicolpartylist

PhilRice Bicol: Opening opportunities for Bicolanos and the agricultural sector

The establishment of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) Bicol station at Ligao City paved the way to many opportunities for Bicolanos especially those in the agricultural sector.

Through the initiative of Congressman Fernando V. Gonzalez, the PhilRice Bicol Station was successfully established and inaugurated on March 25, 2010 at Batang, Ligao City. Aside from the geographical advantage of Ligao City, the local government also maintain a strong support and partnership with PhilRice, making Ligao City the best location for the PhilRice Bicol.

Opportunities for farmers and investors

As a new established station, PhilRice Bicol is inviting farmers to come and see the rice farming technologies available in the station. These technologies include the Leaf Color Chart (LCC)1, a tool for identifying the right amount of fertilizer to apply in the field, and different varieties of seeds for seed growers.

The station also provide training for farmers by partnering with the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI). They also provide rice farming advice in which the researchers and rice farming experts can visit the field and provide solutions for the problems encountered by farmers. While farmers are being trained as seed growers, the station also provide them income by buying the seeds they produced one peso higher than the commercial price.

Dr. Reynaldo Castro, branch manager of PhilRice Bicol, also stated the need for manufacturers of the technologies that they developed. "We have a lot of new machines developed. And we are looking for manufacturers to be accredited," said Dr. Castro.