CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – In preparation for the region’s 2021 dry planting season, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10), headed by Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado with Assistant Secretary for BARMM and in concurrent capacity as Director I of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) Midsayap, Dr. Sailila E. Abdula laid plans for next year’s inbred rice distribution.

Of the total 1.7 million bags allocation for 2021 dry season, Region 10 is apportioned with 75,300 bags at 20 kilograms per bag under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Program.

DA has estimated around 30,120 rice farmer-beneficiaries from the provinces of Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Norte and Misamis Occidental.

Jasmine J. Rey, Focal Person of PhilRice Agusan Cluster covering Regions 10, 11 and 13 said, the local governments’ participation in the implementation of the program is significant to avoid over and under allocation of the rice seeds intervention.

Also discussed in the meeting on August 6 includes the consideration of other towns in Bukidnon that were not previously covered by the program such as, Baungon, Kadingilan, Libona and Sumilao, which are also potential rice producing areas.

DA’s provision of certified rice seeds is to compensate the affected rice farmers in the low buying price of palay seeds as an effect of the full implementation of Republic Act No. 11203, otherwise known as the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL).

The recipients of this program are farmers enlisted under the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) that were validated thru the city and municipal agriculture office.# (Edgar M. Bentulan, Jr.)