Tabuk City farmer is national finalist for 50th Gawad Saka

Tabuk City, Kalinga – A Tabukeño farmer is now one step closer to bagging the 50th Gawad Saka of the Department of Agriculture (DA) after becoming an official national level finalist for the highly-sought award.

Gawad Saka is the most prestigious award given by the DA to most promising farmers, fisher folk, groups, or institutions in the field of agriculture.

Sunshine Genevieve Sacki-Molintas, the proud owner and manager of Kalinga Mountain Roasters by QRS Farms, is from Tabuk City, Kalinga. She became an official national level competitor after receiving a Certificate of Recognition for the Outstanding High Value Crops Farmer - Plantation Crops Category in the region.

The certificate was personally handed to Molintas and three other competitors by DA Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr., on May 26, 2025, at the Philippine Trade Training Center in Pasay City as part of the National Farmers and Fisherfolk Month Culmination.

DA Secretary Laurel praised the hard work and dedication of Molintas and the other outstanding farmers and fisherfolks of this year, recognizing their vital role in ensuring food security.

It could be recalled that the Gawad Saka was temporarily halted in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic struck the country, but has been reactivated this year. The winner for the highly-anticipated recognition will be announced in June 2025.