REGION 8 has three of the best rice-producing local government units (LGU). This came about after it was learned that the city of Ormoc and the towns of Kananga, Leyte and Hinunangan, Southern Leyte made it to the top 50 outstanding cities/municipalities in the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) 2011 Search for Agri-Pinoy Rice Achievers Awards.
DA Regional Director Antonio Gerundio informed that the local government units (LGU) earned the nod of the judges because of their highly impressive track record in terms of implementing the food staple sufficiency plan for 2011-16, the degree of financial, logistical and personnel support and the farmer-beneficiaries served as well as other notable achievements.
Each winning LGU will receive P1 million project grant which will be used to further increase the rice sector’s productivity in the locality. Aside from awarding the best rice-producing LGUs, commendation will also be given to 18 LGU-based extension workers for the outstanding agricultural extension workers (AEW) category, namely Samuel P. Daroy, Dante B. Albarico, Judy Veneranda B. Mendiola, Judith Paredes, Sofronio G. Laguma Jr. and Consolacion Y. Mendez of Ormoc City;
Carlito J. Torreen, Rowena P. Lacandazo, Virgilio B. Burato, and Rosalina B. Cabilin of Kananga, Leyte; Dr. Arturo T. Juanico of Tabontabon, Leyte; Erma K. Capilitan of St. Bernard, So. Leyte; Marlina M. Bagohin of Libagon, So. Leyte; Marietta C. Alago of Macrohon, So. Leyte; Marlou H. Pan and Roberta R. Manun-og of Hinunangan, So. Leyte; Shirley I. Jadulco of Naval, Biliran; and Christine C. Devio of Culaba, Biliran. Each one of them will receive a cash prize of P20,000.
Meanwhile, another category of the contest is the top 10 performing provinces in which Region 8 has two official nominees: Biliran and So. Leyte. Its evaluation of accomplishments relative to the rice program headed by the National Search Committee from DA is expected to be completed this month.
The 2011 Rice Achievers Awards is tentatively set on Feb. 7 at the Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija. DA launched the nationwide contest for Agri-Pinoy Rice Achievers Awards in the start of wet season cropping (May-September) last year to recognize provinces, cities, municipalities, irrigator’s associations (IAs) and agricultural extension workers as important stakeholders in the production and self-sufficiency of rice, and to encourage participation and awareness to attain food self-sufficiency by year 2013.
(West Leyte Weekly Express issue of Jan. 30-Feb. 5, 2012)
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