By Cyrus A. Natividad
Antique Provincial Agriculturist ‘Nick’ Calawag in his office.
On the way to the CPU Alumni Homecoming 2022 in October, the Centralian Link is meeting Centralians in government, local executives, and elected public officials.
At the opening of the Executive-Legislative Agenda (ELA) of the province of Antique held at the Zuri Hotel in Mandurriao, Iloilo City on Tuesday August 9, there were Centralians who attended the event who are currently serving the Province of Antique.
Among them is DSWD Provincial Director Lazaro ‘Larry’ Petinglay who introduced us to another successful Centralian – Provincial Agriculturist Nicolasito ‘Nick’ S. Calawag, a graduate of B.S. Fisheries from the Polytechnic College of Antique (now University of Antique); he studied Master of Management in Public Management in UP Visayas. He attained a Doctoral degree in Public Administration from the University of Antique.
Before his appointment as Provincial Agriculturist in Antique, he studied in CPU College of Law from 2000-2003. During that time he was Executive Director of the Agri-Business Center for Western Visayas which was based inside CPU Campus. He was also Agricultural Development Project Manager from October 1990 to June 1992 in the Management Association of the Philippines, ABCD Foundation, Inc., and Sanguniang Panlalawigan Member of the Province of Antique from1992 to 1995.
Calawag recalled, “During our time in the CPU campus, we implemented the InLife (Integrated Livestock and Feedstaff) Program. The InLife program was in coordination with Nueva Swine Valley which provided piglets for fattening, while the farmers were encouraged to plant corn, cassava and camote as main ingredients for the feed.” He added that “The discipline and training I learned from CPU have contributed much to my career in agriculture.” Hoping that there would be a similar program to come back to CPU, he encouraged food production and agriculture.
The Executive-Legislative Agenda of Antique was a productive meeting where updates, proposals, and areas of concerns of the provincial government were discussed and listened to by Antique Governor Rhodora Cadiao and other officials like Calawag.
“The ELA is a good strategic time to discuss and consider ideas like agriculture and development projects in Antique. It is a persuasive time to encourage workers to assess and help the province to progress,” Calawag explained.