For over three decades, Epifanio 鈥淏oy鈥� Loyola Jr. has been a cornerstone of agricultural advocacy in the Davao Region. From his early beginnings in 1986 as Chairperson of the Barangay Agricultural and Fishery Council (BAFC) in Cagangohan, Panabo City, Davao del Norte to his current role leading the Regional Agricultural and Fishery Council (RAFC) as Chairperson since 2020, his journey demonstrates the power of grassroots leadership and agricultural innovation.
An Unlikely Calling: From Marine Transportation to Master Beekeeper
Loyola came to beekeeping from an unlikely background. Trained in marine transportation and formerly a rural bank manager, he had no formal background in apiculture when he first ventured into farming.
At the time, his interest was simply in raising livestock and growing crops. That changed in 1980, when a Peace Corps volunteer introduced him to beekeeping. “I was really curious. I couldn’t sleep. Can I really do that? People would ask me, did I ever think that it would become a business? Before, it was a really straight 鈥渘o鈥� answer.” Loyola recalled during the sit-down interview.
Fascinated by the science behind bees and their management, Loyola pursued specialized training in Israel, where he deepened his knowledge of beekeeping and the management of wild bees. His interest eventually grew into a lifelong commitment to the industry. In 1995, he co-founded Beenet Philippines (Beekeeping Network Philippines Pollination Incorporated), where he has served as president and trained generations of beekeepers from the Philippines and abroad.
Championing the “Pollination Revolution”
While many view bees solely for their honey, Loyola鈥檚 central mission as RAFC Chairperson has been pushing apiculture as an essential input for crop yield expansion. He tirelessly advocates that pollination should be formally recognized alongside seeds and fertilizers as a core component of agricultural productivity.
He emphasized that “if we’re talking about increased production, pollination should be included. Until now, it hasn’t been. It should be part of the resources or raw materials that are needed.” Loyola took pride that during planning workshops and performance review related activities in the region and national levels, he always brought forward to prioritized pollination activities in all production programs and projects of the Department of Agriculture (DA).
He then explained the pollination impact to the production yield increase of certain agricultural commodities, as shown in the table below:
| Crop Target | Observed Yield Increase | Key Pollination Impact |
| Coconut | 60% to 80% increase | Significant jump in nut retention per cluster (from 3鈥�4 nuts up to 8鈥�10 nuts). |
| Coffee | 32% to 34% increase | Fuller, larger coffee cherry development reported in areas like Tibulo and Santa Cruz. |
| Durian | Enhanced fruit set | Supported through RAFC research requests on natural pollinators (including bat and bee interactions). |
“Farmers would always tell me, ‘Sir, thank you for introducing the bees to us.’ In the past, the coffee fruits were small, only 4 or 5 in size but now it’s full.” Loyola proudly shared after explaining the result of pollination to agricultural production.
Through his leadership, Loyola successfully lobbied the DA Regional Field Office XI National Livestock Program to allocate targeted budgets, scaling up to 鈧�15 million to distribute beekeeping equipment and colonies to accredited coffee and coconut farmer cooperatives.
Overcoming Challenges and Looking Forward
Despite his decades of achievements, Loyola remains candid about the institutional hurdles facing volunteer-driven agricultural councils.
First, logistical and financial constraints. High fuel costs and limited institutional budgets frequently challenge AFC officers when traveling across remote municipalities to offer free training activities and consultations.
Then, institutionalization and LGU engagement. Loyola continues to push for stronger local executive support, urging municipalities to formally allocate logistical support and meeting funds for local AFCs.
Lastly, policy and formal documentation. He actively works toward converting informal partnerships and initiatives into official policy resolutions, ensuring long-term institutional support from the national government.
“What’s important is what the farmers need. That’s the job of the AFC,” served as the closing statement of Loyola during the interview. At 71, Loyola鈥檚 vision for Philippine agriculture remains clear. To integrate beekeeping across all high-value crop programs, build strong civic-government bridges, and ensure that local farmers have the knowledge and tools needed to thrive. | Text by Junry Danila. Photos by Jezebel Campaniel and Joy Camille Luza
