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 14, 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.
