DA-6 to develop Antique’s little Baguio

Department of Agriculture in Region 6 encourages Antique farmers to plant high value vegetables such as lettuce, cabbage, carrots, broccoli and sayote.

ILOILO CITY – Seeing the potentials of barangay Aningalan, San Remegio known as “Little Baguio” in the province of Antique, DA-6 Regional Executive Director Remelyn R. Recoter directs banner programs, Regional Agricultural Engineering Division (RAED) and Agriculture and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) focal persons to gather baseline data and determine proper intervention for the development of the place.

Director Recoter asked for master list of farmers, volume of production, commodities planted with corresponding number of hectares during a dialogue together with RTD Manuel O. Olanday and former Director Larry P. Nacionales and focal persons at the strawberry farm of Captain Vicente E. Fedelicio.

Recoter stressed that there should be a strong farmers organization in the barangay for them to avail of interventions such as trainings, farm mechanization, postharvest facilities and infrastructure not only from the DA but also from other National Government Agencies.




She encouraged the farmers to plant high value vegetables such as lettuce, cabbage, carrots, broccoli and sayote. “The one year produce of Panay on these vegetables from the highlands of Alimodian and Leon towns of Iloilo can only supply one month demand in Metro Iloilo which means the remaining 11 months consumption came from other regions specifically from Luzon and Cebu,” Dir. Recoter added.

Also institutional buyers in Boracay, Malay, Aklan; Sicogon Island, Carles, Iloilo and Mararison Island, Culasi, Antique are possible markets not only of vegetables but also of poultry and livestock and even fisheries.

Brgy. Captain Reson M. Alejo raised concern during wet season wherein farmers cannot plant vegetables and sources of water were not enough to irrigate their gardens during dry season which Dir. Recoter instructed RAED to validate identified existing springs for possible development and HVCDP to put-up rain shelter.




Meanwhile, Capt. Fedelicio encouraged the farmers to adopt good agricultural practices in their respective farms to deter soil erosion, ensure the quality and sustainability of soil and protect the freshness, coldness of air and natural resources of the barangay.

He appealed to them not to use chemicals as he is advocating the putting of carbonized rice hull, vermi compost and proper disposal of farm waste in his model farm.

Fedelicio is currently developing his eight hectare farm which is almost 880 meters above sea-level with strawberry, sayote, lettuce, cabbage, free-range excellent-breed chicken and fruit trees.

Municipal Agriculturist Marcos I. Malicano assured the group of the full support of the municipal government and promise to submit the needed data next week. [By James Earl E. Ogatis/RAFIS-6]