ILIGAN CITY – “I am more proud of being a farmer than a lawyer”. This is a statement from Iligan City Administrator Atty. Leo M. Zarragoza, during the 4-H Club Regional Officers’ courtesy call in his office.
Atty. Zarragoza congratulated the young farmers, particularly Richard Dadole and Jun Beltran who just came from their training in Japan. He requested them to help the farmers in providing food for the country. He said, ”the real barometer of success of a country is the presence of food in the table for every family. And no nation will ever progress unless it will learn that there is honour and dignity in tilling the soil.”

An Agricultural Engineer and a Lawyer by profession, Atty. Zarragoza owns a farm where he works in his vacant time. He then asked the 4-Hers if they have their own agricultural endeavour in their individual homes, to which most of them proudly said yes. He continued by saying that there is no such thing as barren or unproductive unhealthy land, only lazy hands. That is why as young as they are, there is the need to revolutionize the hearts and minds of the youth from the mentality of seeking brighter future outside the country. To reorient and redirect them that there is honour and dignity in working for agriculture. He then expressed his hopes that the 4-H Regional Officers as leaders of the youth in agriculture will be able to bring them back to working in the land and help the country to become really progressive.

Atty, Zarragoza also promised to assist and provide the group with whatever the Local Government can do during the conduct of the Regional Youth Camp.

The visit to the City Administrator’s Office was part of the preparatory activities for the 6th 4-H Regional Youth Camp which will be held at Tabe’s Place, Palao, Iligan City, on April 29 – May 1, 2019. The group then proceeded to the venue for the site reconnaissance, and to Buhian Farm in Initao City for the finalization meeting. Present during the preparatory activities were 4-H Club Region 10 President Sanny Daraman, Dandee Tinonas of Cagayan de Oro, Princess Sanguila of Lanao del Norte, Jerald Balanay of Iligan City, Richard Dadole of Bukidnon, Kin Galas, Jun Beltran and Krizha Mae Valdon of Misamis Oriental, with Ms. Cristine Galupo, the ATI-RTC 10 4-H Focal Person.