A resolution recognizing of the achievements of Negrense engineer Igmedio Tabianan who was chosen as the Outstanding Agricultural Engineer for Agricultural and Rural Development by the Philippine Society of Agricultural Engineers, was approved by the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod yesterday.

The resolution authored by Councilor Sonya Verdeflor said that  in 1995, Tabianan of Sum-ag, Bacolod City, in his capacity as Assistant Provincial Agriculturist,  pushed, defended and pioneered the creation of Agricultural Engineering as one of the divisions in the organizational structure of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist in the Province of Negros Occidental.

Thus, the Agricultural Engineering and Development Division was created and consequently, Agricultural Engineer positions were also created, it said.

On Dec. 20, 2013 or 20 years later, R.A. 10601, or “The Agricultural and Fisheries Mechanization (AFMech) Law” was approved, which adapted and provided similar positions for agricultural engineers in the Department of Agriculture organizational structure as well as in the LGU's, the resolution said.

Under his leadership as Provincial Agriculturist with agricultural engineering skills and knowledge, he had steered the province to be included in the Top 10 largest rice producing provinces in the country, despite being a mono-crop sugarcane economy.Consequently, the province was recognized by the DA as an Agri-Pinoy Rice Achievers Awardee in 2011, it said.

The Pagkaon Scholarship program, eventually became the basis and foundation of the provincial and district scholarship of the province and being implemented continuously up to the present, it said.

As Provincial Agriculturist, he also spearheaded the implementation of Organic Agriculture Program in Negros Occidental and eventually, the province received a national award as an Outstanding Province in Organic Agriculture Implementation in the Visayas Region, awarded by the Department of Agriculture at the Philippine International Convention Center, Manila last 2013, it said.*CGS

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