The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) – Bohol and Bohol Province
were recognized by the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PHILRICE) and
Department of Agriculture (DA) for their successful implementation of the
Rice Competitiveness Enhance Fund (RCEF) program, which aims to
provide high quality seeds of rice to Bol-anong farmers.
The award was given during the Awarding Ceremonies held on September
13, 2023 at the PHILRICE Negros Branch Station in Murcia, Negros
Occidental.
The event was attended by DA-RTD Joel Elumba, PHILRICE Negros
Director Leo Sta Ines, PHILRICE Nueva Ecija Director Rizal Corales, and
BPI-NSQCS Marchet Brina.
Liza M. Quirog, the Provincial Agriculturist of Bohol, expressed her
gratitude to all the stakeholders who contributed to the success of the
program.
“I would like to dedicate this award to all Municipal Agriculturists, Municipal
Agricultural Officers, Rice Technicians and Rice Farmers throughout the 45
towns that grow rice in Bohol and to the hardworking staff and technicians
of OPA,” she said.
She also acknowledged the support of Provincial Rice Seed Coordinator
Loribien Lorebien Namanama Lagapa, who joined her in receiving the
award. Vice-Governor Victor Balite and Mayor Juliet Dano were also
present to give their congratulations.
Three Municipal Agriculturists from Sevilla, Trinidad, and Ubay also
received awards for their exemplary performance in the RCEF program.
The RCEF program is a government initiative that aims to improve the
competitiveness and productivity of the rice sector by providing farmers
with access to quality seeds, farm machinery, credit, and extension
services.
The program is funded by a P10-billion annual appropriation from the tariff
revenues collected from rice imports.