Western Visayas can help the country in coping with agriculture losses, especially in rice, following the damages caused by recent calamities, an official of the Department of Agriculture said Monday.
Speaking during the awarding of the 2019 Rice Achievers Award, held at the Western Visayas Integrated Agricultural Research Center in Iloilo, DA 6 regional executive director Remelyn Recoter said the region has posted a positive growth in the second and third quarters this year.
“Amid the pandemic, limited movement, border restriction, we have a good harvest,” she said.
Based on the Philippine Statistics Authority data, Recoter said agriculture, forestry and fishing (AFF) has posted a positive growth of 1.6 percent in the second quarter of 2020, and 1.2 percent in the third quarter.
In the first semester of this year, the region has produced an additional 81,000 metric tons of rice and over 200,000 metric tons during the third quarter when compared with the same period in 2019, she said.
This indicates that the rice production is high in Western Visayas, Recoter said. “We owe that to our rice farmers together with our local farmers technicians and agricultural extension workers,” she added.
Meanwhile, the DA awarded Monday 17 individuals, three irrigators associations, and one local government unit for their contribution in the national food self-sufficiency program.
Awarded as outstanding agricultural extension workers were Mirasol Coste and Carlito Indencia from Bago City, Negros Occidental, Sanly Galvez from Banate, April Joy Depamaylo and Marlon Narida from Miagao, Ma. Razel Serilla from San Joaquin, and Ramon Tejero Jr. from Tigbauan, all in Iloilo; and Fe Pollentes from San Lorenzo, Guimaras.
The outstanding local farmer technicians were Jienie Balboa, Beverly Causing and Lailyn Arangga from Banate, and Jesus Nualda Jr. and Agapito Niño from Miagao, all in Iloilo; Leonardo De Juan and Richard Nadua from Madalag, Aklan, and Lalaine Ganate from Bago City, Negros Occidental.
Winners for the two categories each received P25,000, plaque, and certificate of recognition from the DA Western Visayas.
The DA also awarded the local government unit of Bago City, while Ramon Uy Sr., owner of the Foundry and Machine Corporation from Bacolod City was given a special award for his contribution to farm mechanization. Awardees from Negros Occidental were conferred during the visit of DA Secretary William Dar to Bacolod City last week for the launch of the cash and food assistance for corn, sugarcane, coconut and fisherfolk.*PNA
