In the serene farming village of Barangay Cansayang, Siquijor, 67-year-old Martina Inapan鈥攁 dedicated farmer, passionate community advocate, and current treasurer of the Provincial Agricultural and Fishery Council (PAFC)鈥攈as earned national recognition for her unwavering commitment to rural development.
In 2011, she was named 3rd Place National Winner in the prestigious Search for Outstanding Rural Women by the Department of Agriculture鈥攁 nationwide program that honors the invaluable role of women in advancing rural communities across the Philippines. This recognition shines a spotlight not only on Ms. Inapan鈥檚 life of service but also on the enduring strength, innovation, and leadership of rural women, often the unsung heroes of food security and community resilience.
Inapan is more than a farmer; she is a force for change in local governance and agricultural development. As Treasurer of the PAFC, she consistently provides encouragement, inspiration, and full support for all the activities of the Agricultural and Fishery Council (AFC), where she has long served as a dedicated volunteer.
Martina鈥檚 journey began with a simple vision: to turn rice fields and fishponds into sources of livelihood, dignity, and hope. That vision has now grown into a legacy of leadership, volunteerism, and empowerment, especially for rural women who often work in silence.
Central to Inapan鈥檚 advocacy is her family鈥檚 integrated farm, which stands as a living example of sustainability and self-reliance. Nestled in the hills of San Juan, the Inapan family farm is a thriving hub of diverse agriculture: tilapia culture, livestock raising, vegetable gardening, rice, corn, root crops, and banana (saba) cultivation.
Inapan manages a seven-hectare integrated farm, where she champions the Alternative Staple Sufficiency Program, which promotes the cultivation of alternative food sources and substitute crops in support of the government’s food self-sufficiency goals. Her work not only enhances food security but also encourages sustainable and diversified farming practices in her community.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, as lockdowns and supply shortages hit the island, Inapan鈥檚 farm provided not only food for her family but also work and sustenance for neighbors. 鈥淥ur goal was not just survival, but helping others get through hard times with dignity,鈥� she added.
After the pandemic, Inapan became an advocate of the 鈥淕ulayan sa Matag Panimalay鈥� (Gulayan sa Bawat Tahanan) ordinance, a local initiative encouraging households to grow their own food. Through training and by example, she continues to show that food security begins at home鈥攁nd that women are key drivers of this movement.
Beyond the farm, Martina is a respected official of the Irrigators Association and serves as president of the Rural Improvement Club (RIC) in Barangay Cansayang, further amplifying her impact on the livelihoods and empowerment of women in her village. Despite her age, Inapan remains hands-on in every initiative. Her commitment to the RIC, an all-women organization, is unwavering. She continues to push for livelihood projects such as poultry layer production.
Renowned for her dedication to community engagement, she actively motivates inactive members to participate, fosters unity, and champions the sustainability of group projects. The RIC, under her influence, has pooled its limited resources to sustain a communal vegetable garden, which now proudly features its produce at agricultural fairs.
In addition to her local efforts, she serves as an Officer of the Siquijor Provincial Confederation of Agriculture and Fishery Producers Association (SIPROCAFPA), supporting a range of livelihood programs that aim to boost members鈥� incomes.
She also serves as member of the Technical Working Group of the Department of Agriculture鈥檚 LEAD Program, a pro-poor initiative implemented by the National Agricultural and Fishery Council (NAFC, now PCAF). LEAD is a long-running, participatory program that has supported marginalized farmers, fishers, out-of-school youth, and rural women for over 20 years by providing financial aid for livelihood and skills training, helping them build creditworthiness and access formal financing.
Martina鈥檚 passion for volunteerism, local leadership, and community advocacy has empowered countless other women to find their voice and place in local agriculture.
More than an awardee, Martina Inapan embodies what it means to serve with heart, lead with vision, and plant seeds that grow not only in the soil, but in the lives of others.| Jane Bri帽a
