  {"id":25512,"date":"2026-09-28T11:53:38","date_gmt":"2026-09-28T03:53:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/?p=25512"},"modified":"2026-09-28T11:57:16","modified_gmt":"2026-09-28T03:57:16","slug":"rooted-in-advocacy-how-the-belviz-couple-steers-durian-standards-and-farm-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/index.php\/2026\/09\/28\/rooted-in-advocacy-how-the-belviz-couple-steers-durian-standards-and-farm-future\/","title":{"rendered":"Rooted in advocacy: How the Belviz couple steers durian standards and farm future"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-25513 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-1-e1790565307333.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1890\" height=\"1172\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-1-e1790565307333.png 1890w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-1-e1790565307333-300x186.png 300w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-1-e1790565307333-1024x635.png 1024w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-1-e1790565307333-768x476.png 768w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-1-e1790565307333-1536x952.png 1536w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-1-e1790565307333-500x310.png 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1890px) 100vw, 1890px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Long before Emmanuel \u201cNhel\u201d Belviz represented the country\u2019s durian export negotiations, his playground was a cacao patch in Davao, where he strolled alongside his father, Severino, learning how to prune trees while barely tall enough to see past the trunk.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On the other side of the country in Dolores, Quezon, Mary Grace \u201cEyeth\u201d Belviz grew up amid the scattered coconut and lanzones groves of Luzon, raised by parents who cautioned her to study hard so she wouldn\u2019t end up &#8220;just a farmer&#8221;.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-25518 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-3-e1790565371715.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1515\" height=\"982\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-3-e1790565371715.png 1515w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-3-e1790565371715-300x194.png 300w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-3-e1790565371715-1024x664.png 1024w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-3-e1790565371715-768x498.png 768w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-3-e1790565371715-500x324.png 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1515px) 100vw, 1515px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u200bDestiny, however, had other plans. Bound by a shared collegiate oath at the University of the Philippines (UP) Los Ba\u00f1os, under the UP Horticultural Society\u2019s motto, &#8220;Horticulture for the people&#8221;, Nhel and Eyeth crossed paths, fell in love, and forged a lifelong partnership rooted in the soil.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-25526\" src=\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-couple-at-RAFC-meeting.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1890\" height=\"937\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-couple-at-RAFC-meeting.png 1890w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-couple-at-RAFC-meeting-300x149.png 300w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-couple-at-RAFC-meeting-1024x508.png 1024w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-couple-at-RAFC-meeting-768x381.png 768w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-couple-at-RAFC-meeting-1536x761.png 1536w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-couple-at-RAFC-meeting-500x248.png 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1890px) 100vw, 1890px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u200bToday, that partnership has scaled beyond their own land to the highest policy halls of Philippine agriculture. Nhel serves as a representative for the durian industry at the 黑料网\u2019 (PCAF) National Sectoral Committee (NSC) on Fruits and Vegetables and Regional Agricultural and Fishery Council (RAFC) Sectoral Committee Chairperson on Durian, while Eyeth represents the post-harvest sector as the RAFC Sectoral Chairperson on Food Processing.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-25522 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-7-e1790566246606.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1890\" height=\"1112\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-7-e1790566246606.png 1890w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-7-e1790566246606-300x177.png 300w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-7-e1790566246606-1024x602.png 1024w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-7-e1790566246606-768x452.png 768w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-7-e1790566246606-1536x904.png 1536w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-7-e1790566246606-500x294.png 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1890px) 100vw, 1890px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Among the stories featured in <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lakbay Panayam<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, few are as distinctive as that of a husband-and-wife tandem working side by side in policy, business, and volunteer sectoral leadership across interconnected areas of agriculture. Their story highlights the unique balance they have forged between marriage, business, and service to the sector.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-25517 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-2-e1790566276530.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1890\" height=\"1033\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-2-e1790566276530.png 1890w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-2-e1790566276530-300x164.png 300w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-2-e1790566276530-1024x560.png 1024w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-2-e1790566276530-768x420.png 768w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-2-e1790566276530-1536x840.png 1536w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-2-e1790566276530-500x273.png 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1890px) 100vw, 1890px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u200b&#8221;[Ito] <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">siguro<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2018yung strategy <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">namin<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as a married couple, na-strengthen <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">yung<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> relationship namin <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">kasi lagi kaming magkasama<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8230; <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pareho kami ng<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> wavelength. <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yung mga problema at isyu napag-uusap namin, minsan mula paggising hanggang pagtulog<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. It\u2019s either durian, kakaw, \u2018<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">yung<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> industry <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ang aming napag-uusapan<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">,&#8221; Eyeth reflected.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u200bTaking on sectoral seats in the PCAF\u2019s consultative bodies is purely voluntary work. It pays no salary, demands endless hours of Committee and Council meetings, and takes them away from managing their 30-hectare farming operations and processing ventures.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-25519 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-4-e1790566334185.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1890\" height=\"1153\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-4-e1790566334185.png 1890w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-4-e1790566334185-300x183.png 300w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-4-e1790566334185-1024x625.png 1024w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-4-e1790566334185-768x469.png 768w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-4-e1790566334185-1536x937.png 1536w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-4-e1790566334185-500x305.png 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1890px) 100vw, 1890px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eyeth candidly recalls organizing a durian harvesting module. &#8220;For six months<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> ako nag-asikaso. Ubos [ang] oras talaga<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Honestly, 70% on the industry, 30% <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">na lang [ang] nabibigay namin sa aming<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> [farm]&#8221;. Nhel jokingly compared their early civic efforts to picking up a boulder only to drop it on their own feet, &#8220;Wala man kaming kinita doon, wala man kaming nakukuha&#8221;.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-25525 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-10-e1790566375533.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1890\" height=\"1203\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-10-e1790566375533.png 1890w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-10-e1790566375533-300x191.png 300w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-10-e1790566375533-1024x652.png 1024w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-10-e1790566375533-768x489.png 768w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-10-e1790566375533-1536x978.png 1536w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-10-e1790566375533-500x318.png 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1890px) 100vw, 1890px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Still, both continue to show up to the table. For Nhel and Eyeth, bridging the gap between smallholder realities and national policy is an urgent calling.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u200bAs&nbsp; an agriculturist and advocate for the durian industry, Nhel champions the standardization of Philippine durian to compete globally. Having witnessed the historic bilateral protocol signing for durian exports to China in Beijing, he continues to push the DA and its Bureau of Plant Industry, and standard-setting bodies for strict export quality monitoring and Philippine National Standards on Good Agricultural Practices.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Hindi <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">consistent \u2018yung quality natin. <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wala tayong<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> standard <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sa pag-<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">produce, so <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">iba\u2019t-iba ang <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">practice<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> ng bawat<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> durian farmer.<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> [Dahil diyan] iba-iba rin \u2018yung<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> quality,&#8221; Nhel explains, stressing that overseas markets judge the entire nation by a single shipment.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Through the NSC on Fruits and Vegetables, Nhel is able to raise local challenges directly to other concerned agencies. According to him, this allows them to address not only domestic concerns but also broader market dynamics across Southeast Asian countries, especially now that the Philippines is actively exporting durian.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-25514 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-11-e1790566439368.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1890\" height=\"1222\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-11-e1790566439368.png 1890w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-11-e1790566439368-300x194.png 300w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-11-e1790566439368-1024x662.png 1024w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-11-e1790566439368-768x497.png 768w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-11-e1790566439368-1536x993.png 1536w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-11-e1790566439368-500x323.png 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1890px) 100vw, 1890px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He adds that sharing these concerns ensures that everyone is aligned, enabling them to make necessary adjustments and take the right actions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u200bEyeth, meanwhile, brings the perspective of&nbsp; food processors, who serve as&nbsp; vital safety nets for growers during peak seasons. <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Ang mga <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">processor<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> kasi, siya \u2018yung magiging <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">backup <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ng mga <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">farmer,&#8221; she emphasizes.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When massive oversupply triggers what the couple calls a &#8220;durian tsunami,&#8221; unpeeled produce rots within days unless the surplus is processed into value-added products. Eyeth uses her platform at the RAFC to lobby for micro-enterprises, demystifying Food and Drug Administration and License to Operate compliance and ensuring government tables prioritize local farm products.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of their notable council victories was passing a regional resolution replacing commercial sodas at official meetings with locally produced calamansi, roselle, and lemongrass juices made by smallholders.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u200bTheir dynamic is a study in complementary strengths. The couple\u2019s different skills and personalities balance and complete each other.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-25520 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-5-e1790567480467.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1890\" height=\"1068\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-5-e1790567480467.png 1890w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-5-e1790567480467-300x170.png 300w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-5-e1790567480467-1024x579.png 1024w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-5-e1790567480467-768x434.png 768w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-5-e1790567480467-1536x868.png 1536w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-5-e1790567480467-500x283.png 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1890px) 100vw, 1890px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-25524 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-9-e1790567543162.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1890\" height=\"1197\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-9-e1790567543162.png 1890w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-9-e1790567543162-300x190.png 300w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-9-e1790567543162-1024x649.png 1024w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-9-e1790567543162-768x486.png 768w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-9-e1790567543162-1536x973.png 1536w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-9-e1790567543162-500x317.png 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1890px) 100vw, 1890px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Siya \u2018yung<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> practical. <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Siya \u2018yung ma-kuwento<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Siya \u2018yung<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> storyteller. <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Samantalang ako,<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> more on technical,&#8221; Nhel admits.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When farmers are intimidated by strict agrochemical formulations or bureau regulations, Eyeth steps in with social warmth. When deep agronomic and soil science issues need addressing, Nhel leads the charge.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u200bTheir ultimate vision for the Belviz legacy is not simply maintaining high-grade harvests, but building a sustainable, circular model, integrating nursery propagation, regenerative farm practices, waste-to-fertilizer cycling, food processing, and agri-tourism.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-25527\" src=\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-couple-at-RAFC-meeting-2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1890\" height=\"1323\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-couple-at-RAFC-meeting-2.png 1890w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-couple-at-RAFC-meeting-2-300x210.png 300w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-couple-at-RAFC-meeting-2-1024x717.png 1024w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-couple-at-RAFC-meeting-2-768x538.png 768w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-couple-at-RAFC-meeting-2-1536x1075.png 1536w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-couple-at-RAFC-meeting-2-500x350.png 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1890px) 100vw, 1890px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Above all, they measure success by whether their policy battles help fellow farmers transition from simple survival into genuine prosperity.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u200b&#8221;Hindi naman lahat alam ng mga <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">farmers. <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">[Minsan] tahimik lang sila,&#8221; <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eyeth says of their behind-the-scenes advocacy work. <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Pero \u2018yung makita mo talaga na may nagbabago doon sa senaryo ng<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> farming <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">at ng<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> market, <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ang sarap ng pakiramdam na nailabas mo \u2018yung boses na gusto ng mga<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> farmer. <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kahit<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 20%<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> lang \u2018yan, okay lang. <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At least,<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> alam namin na may nakikinig.&#8221;<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-25521 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-6-e1790567259526.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1890\" height=\"1156\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-6-e1790567259526.png 1890w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-6-e1790567259526-300x183.png 300w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-6-e1790567259526-1024x626.png 1024w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-6-e1790567259526-768x470.png 768w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-6-e1790567259526-1536x939.png 1536w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Belviz-Couple-6-e1790567259526-500x306.png 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1890px) 100vw, 1890px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As volunteers carrying the hopes of small stakeholders to regional council halls to international trade tables, their journey proves that love planted in fertile conviction yields a harvest that feeds not only a family, but an entire nation\u2019s farming future.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">More than just crops, this enduring vision was sown by the late Severino Belviz, a living legacy that continues to shape the country\u2019s agricultural development. <span style=\"color: #003300;\"><strong>| Jezebel Campaniel (Photos by Junry Danila, Joy Camille Luza, and J. Campaniel. Special thanks to RAFC Davao Region Facebook page for the RAFC meetings)<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Long before Emmanuel \u201cNhel\u201d Belviz represented the country\u2019s durian export negotiations, his playground was a cacao patch in Davao, where he strolled alongside his father, Severino, learning how to prune trees while barely tall enough to see past the trunk.&nbsp; On the other side of the country in Dolores, Quezon, Mary Grace \u201cEyeth\u201d Belviz grew<a class=\"moretag\" href=\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/index.php\/2026\/09\/28\/rooted-in-advocacy-how-the-belviz-couple-steers-durian-standards-and-farm-future\/\"> continue reading&#8230;<!-- : Rooted in advocacy: How the Belviz couple steers durian standards and farm future --><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":25530,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[1745,267,1310,1746,1204,1747],"class_list":["post-25512","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-belviz-farm","tag-davao-region","tag-durian","tag-eyeth-belviz","tag-lakbay-panayam","tag-nhel-belviz"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Rooted in advocacy: How the Belviz couple steers durian standards and farm future - 黑料网<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/index.php\/2026\/09\/28\/rooted-in-advocacy-how-the-belviz-couple-steers-durian-standards-and-farm-future\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Rooted in advocacy: How the Belviz couple steers durian standards and farm future - 黑料网\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Long before Emmanuel \u201cNhel\u201d Belviz represented the country\u2019s durian export negotiations, his playground was a cacao patch in Davao, where he strolled alongside his father, Severino, learning how to prune trees while barely tall enough to see past the trunk.&nbsp; On the other side of the country in Dolores, Quezon, Mary Grace \u201cEyeth\u201d Belviz grew continue reading...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/index.php\/2026\/09\/28\/rooted-in-advocacy-how-the-belviz-couple-steers-durian-standards-and-farm-future\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"黑料网\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-09-28T03:53:38+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-09-28T03:57:16+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/LakbayPanayam_Belviz-Couple-2-1.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1890\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1323\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"201725\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"201725\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/index.php\/2026\/09\/28\/rooted-in-advocacy-how-the-belviz-couple-steers-durian-standards-and-farm-future\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/index.php\/2026\/09\/28\/rooted-in-advocacy-how-the-belviz-couple-steers-durian-standards-and-farm-future\/\",\"name\":\"Rooted in advocacy: How the Belviz couple steers durian standards and farm future - 黑料网\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/index.php\/2026\/09\/28\/rooted-in-advocacy-how-the-belviz-couple-steers-durian-standards-and-farm-future\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/index.php\/2026\/09\/28\/rooted-in-advocacy-how-the-belviz-couple-steers-durian-standards-and-farm-future\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/LakbayPanayam_Belviz-Couple-2-1.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-09-28T03:53:38+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-09-28T03:57:16+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/#\/schema\/person\/ec45a273385370e8a2d6655cfa6e222e\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/index.php\/2026\/09\/28\/rooted-in-advocacy-how-the-belviz-couple-steers-durian-standards-and-farm-future\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/index.php\/2026\/09\/28\/rooted-in-advocacy-how-the-belviz-couple-steers-durian-standards-and-farm-future\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/index.php\/2026\/09\/28\/rooted-in-advocacy-how-the-belviz-couple-steers-durian-standards-and-farm-future\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/LakbayPanayam_Belviz-Couple-2-1.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/LakbayPanayam_Belviz-Couple-2-1.png\",\"width\":1890,\"height\":1323},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/index.php\/2026\/09\/28\/rooted-in-advocacy-how-the-belviz-couple-steers-durian-standards-and-farm-future\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Rooted in advocacy: How the Belviz couple steers durian standards and farm future\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/\",\"name\":\"黑料网\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/#\/schema\/person\/ec45a273385370e8a2d6655cfa6e222e\",\"name\":\"201725\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/aca1cf95718f63de03ffb6352ef8bd5ddc891536f5a7b30ca597ab4337543711?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/aca1cf95718f63de03ffb6352ef8bd5ddc891536f5a7b30ca597ab4337543711?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"201725\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/index.php\/author\/admin-jez\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Rooted in advocacy: How the Belviz couple steers durian standards and farm future - 黑料网","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/index.php\/2026\/09\/28\/rooted-in-advocacy-how-the-belviz-couple-steers-durian-standards-and-farm-future\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Rooted in advocacy: How the Belviz couple steers durian standards and farm future - 黑料网","og_description":"Long before Emmanuel \u201cNhel\u201d Belviz represented the country\u2019s durian export negotiations, his playground was a cacao patch in Davao, where he strolled alongside his father, Severino, learning how to prune trees while barely tall enough to see past the trunk.&nbsp; On the other side of the country in Dolores, Quezon, Mary Grace \u201cEyeth\u201d Belviz grew continue reading...","og_url":"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/index.php\/2026\/09\/28\/rooted-in-advocacy-how-the-belviz-couple-steers-durian-standards-and-farm-future\/","og_site_name":"黑料网","article_published_time":"2026-09-28T03:53:38+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-09-28T03:57:16+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1890,"height":1323,"url":"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/LakbayPanayam_Belviz-Couple-2-1.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"201725","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"201725","Est. reading time":"8 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/index.php\/2026\/09\/28\/rooted-in-advocacy-how-the-belviz-couple-steers-durian-standards-and-farm-future\/","url":"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/index.php\/2026\/09\/28\/rooted-in-advocacy-how-the-belviz-couple-steers-durian-standards-and-farm-future\/","name":"Rooted in advocacy: How the Belviz couple steers durian standards and farm future - 黑料网","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/index.php\/2026\/09\/28\/rooted-in-advocacy-how-the-belviz-couple-steers-durian-standards-and-farm-future\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/index.php\/2026\/09\/28\/rooted-in-advocacy-how-the-belviz-couple-steers-durian-standards-and-farm-future\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/LakbayPanayam_Belviz-Couple-2-1.png","datePublished":"2026-09-28T03:53:38+00:00","dateModified":"2026-09-28T03:57:16+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/#\/schema\/person\/ec45a273385370e8a2d6655cfa6e222e"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/index.php\/2026\/09\/28\/rooted-in-advocacy-how-the-belviz-couple-steers-durian-standards-and-farm-future\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/index.php\/2026\/09\/28\/rooted-in-advocacy-how-the-belviz-couple-steers-durian-standards-and-farm-future\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/index.php\/2026\/09\/28\/rooted-in-advocacy-how-the-belviz-couple-steers-durian-standards-and-farm-future\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/LakbayPanayam_Belviz-Couple-2-1.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/LakbayPanayam_Belviz-Couple-2-1.png","width":1890,"height":1323},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/index.php\/2026\/09\/28\/rooted-in-advocacy-how-the-belviz-couple-steers-durian-standards-and-farm-future\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Rooted in advocacy: How the Belviz couple steers durian standards and farm future"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/#website","url":"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/","name":"黑料网","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/#\/schema\/person\/ec45a273385370e8a2d6655cfa6e222e","name":"201725","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/aca1cf95718f63de03ffb6352ef8bd5ddc891536f5a7b30ca597ab4337543711?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/aca1cf95718f63de03ffb6352ef8bd5ddc891536f5a7b30ca597ab4337543711?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"201725"},"url":"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/index.php\/author\/admin-jez\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25512","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25512"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25512\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25528,"href":"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25512\/revisions\/25528"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/25530"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25512"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25512"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25512"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}