DA turns 107

Just want to share this:

DA turns 107Agriculture secretary Arthur C. Yap will lead the107th anniversary celebration of the Department ofAgriculture (DA) today, Thursday, June 23, 2005. Thefestivities will kick-off at 6:00 A.M. with a Fun Walkactivity from DA to the Veteran’s Hospital and backfollowed by a Calisthenics activity to be participatedby the DA employees, followed by a Thanksgiving Massto be held at the Convention Hall of the Bureau ofSoils and Water Management (BSWM) and an ExhibitionGames at the DA-NAFC Gym.

One of the highlights of the celebration is thelaunching of the “Globe Agri-Text”, an SMS servicethat will disseminate information on weather andagricultural commodity prices thru text between DA andGlobe Telecom at 9:00 A.M.

In the afternoon, a series of lectures related towomen’s health including a lecture demo on skin patchcontraceptive method and women’s breast cancer will begiven in the afternoon through the initiative of theDA Employees’ Association and the DA-GAD. The lectureseries will be held at the ITCAF Main Conference Roomat 1:30 P.M.

Another activity to look forward to is the MiniHuwarang Palengke which will feature four segmentsnamely, Urban Agri-Aqua, Affordable Food, NutritiousFood/Healthy Well-Being, and Entrepreneurial Approach.It will be headed by the DA’s different bureaus andattached agencies.

To add flavor to the affair, a tribute to pastagriculture secretaries will be held at 6:00 p.m. at the BSWM to honor the men who have led the DA throughthe years. Among the former DA secretaries expected tograce the event are Salvador Escudero III, Carlos G.Dominguez, Senen C. Bacani, Roberto S. Sebastian,William D. Dar, Sen. Edgardo J. Angara, Domingo F.Panganiban, Leonardo Q. Montemayor, and Luis P.Lorenzo, Jr. Senator Ramon B. Magsaysay, Jr. and CongressmanBenasing O. Macarambon, Jr., Chairmen of the Committeeon Agriculture and Food for the Senate of thePhilippines and the House of Representatives will alsobe given due recognition.

Upon the proclamation of the Philippine Independenceon June 12, 1898, the Department of Agriculture andManufacturing was created through a PresidentialProclamation on June 23, 1898. Throughout the years,the Department of Agriculture (DA) has evolved andundergone changes in policy and name.

One hundred and seven years later, DA continues itsmission to help and empower the farming and fishingcommunities and the private sector to produce enough,accessible, and affordable food for every Filipino anda decent income for all.###