In a tribute to the backbone of the regional economy, the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 8 (DA RFO8) OIC Regional Executive Director, Rodel G. Macapañas, served as the Keynote Speaker for the Farmers’ and Fisherfolk’s Day. The event was a central highlight of the 102nd Anniversary of the Visayas State University (VSU), held under the theme “Celebrating Service Excellence and Shaping a Resilient Future through Innovation.” The celebration brought together agricultural stakeholders, educators, and local producers to honor the vital partnership between scientific innovation and traditional farming and fishing practices.

During his keynote address, Director Macapañas highlighted the immense potential of Eastern Visayas while emphasizing the irreplaceable role of its people. “Region 8 is rich in natural endowments. We have vast land areas, fertile soils, aqua/marine resources, rich cultural heritage, scenic spots. We are strategically located favoring interisland trade. Even to have dependable and prestigious institutions like the Visayas State University which effectively backstop agricultural development in this region is also a blessing. And of course, we have you—our farmers and fisherfolk,” he remarked. He stressed that in these difficult times, recognizing these workers is not enough; the government and institutions must move beyond mere accolades to actively provide for their specific needs and acknowledge their daily sacrifices as the primary guardians of food security.

A central highlight of the day was the presentation of the UGMAD Awards, VSU’s premier recognition program for excellence in the agri-fishery sectors. Director Macapañas spoke of the awards as a beacon of hope for the entire region. “As we recognize this year’s Ugmad Awardees, I feel distinct pride and a sense of relief. In these trying times, we need more inspiring people. We need to spread hope and raise the spirits of our farmers and fishers”. He noted that the UGMAD Awards serve as a critical platform to showcase successful agricultural models that can be replicated across Eastern Visayas to strengthen local food systems.

The ceremony reached its peak with the official announcement of the year’s high achievers, honoring eight individual winners and two group winners who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to their craft. These awardees, ranging from innovative crop farmers to organized fisherfolk associations, were recognized for their ability to thrive despite economic and environmental pressures. Their success stories underscored the university’s commitment to service excellence, proving that with the right support and mindset, the agricultural sector in Region 8 can be both profitable and sustainable.

Relating the current state of agriculture to the university’s anniversary theme, Director Macapañas urged a shift toward a more holistic view of innovation. He cautioned against a narrow focus, stating, “Too often, we’re focused on food production of our staple food, as if farm level operations is the only issue – forgetting the complex web and cycle of the entire food system that we need to deal with from the inputs supply to farm production, consolidation/warehousing, processing, transporting, marketing and up to when it reaches the household tables of each Filipino family. Our deficiencies in many of these aspects result in missed opportunities and heavy reliance from external sources. May this crisis situation serve as a lesson for us to seriously consider attaining food sovereignty.” This perspective aligns with VSU’s mission to shape a resilient future by innovating the entire value chain rather than just the harvest.

In his closing remarks, the Director reaffirmed the Department of Agriculture’s steadfast commitment to further improving the lives of those in the agri-fishery sectors across Eastern Visayas. Drawing a sobering yet motivating lesson from recent global challenges, Macapañas left the audience with a powerful parting shot: “If there is one thing I realized from this crisis situation, it is this: That, while we are a sovereign nation, we do not have food sovereignty. Our food supply is highly vulnerable to external shocks.” This realization serves as the driving force for the DA’s future initiatives, aiming to build a more self-reliant and resilient agricultural landscape for the region.