MUÑOZ, Nueva Ecija – The Apayao provincial government has recently gained national recognition for its outstanding contribution to the implementation of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF)-Seed Program of the Department of Agriculture.
The province was honored with an Excellence Award in the small-scale category as part of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund Program (RCEF) seed component bestowed by the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice).
The award was presented during the RCEP Seed and Extension Annual Review on February 8, 2024, at PhilRice Central Experimental Station, Science City of Munoz, Nueva Ecija.
Following the agency’s assessment, Apayao was named the most outstanding implementing province in Luzon in 2023 under the small category, surpassing 77 other provinces.
Romolo L. Padirayon, the provincial rice program coordinator, received the award on behalf of the Provincial Office for Agricultural Services (POAS).
Municipal Agriculturist Engr. Franklin C. Abad, meantime, received the award for the municipality of Santa Marcela which was recognized as the most outstanding Municipal Local Government Unit under the medium-scale category.
The accolades prove the province’s commitment to providing agricultural support to its local rice farmers.
This accomplishment underscores the importance of farmers reaching out to their municipal agriculture offices to register or update their enrollment in the Registry System for Basic Sector in Agriculture (RSBA) to access agricultural interventions.
The OAS family extends heartfelt gratitude to all partners and stakeholders for their tireless efforts in implementing the RCEF program, with special recognition to Governor Elias C. Bulut Jr. for his steadfast support to these initiatives. By Michelle Acantilado
