ILOILO City – To encourage commitment among local government unit (LGU) stakeholders towards the goal of advancing the rice industry, the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Western Visayas held its 2019 Rice Achievers Awards on Dec. 14.
The awards were for the Outstanding Agricultural Extension Workers (AEWs), Outstanding Local Farmer Technicians (LFTs), Outstanding Small Water Irrigation System Association (SWISA), Outstanding Irrigators Associations (IAs), and Outstanding LGU.
For the Outstanding AEWs, five recipients were from Iloilo province: Sanly Galvez from Banate; April Joy Depamaylo and Marlon Narida from Miag-ao; Ma. Razel Serilla from San Joaquin, and Ramon Tejero Jr. from Tigbauan.
Fe Pollentes from San Lorenzo, Guimaras also received the same award.
As to the Outstanding LFTs, Jienie Balboa, Beverly Causing and Lailyn Arangga from Banate were recognized together with Jesus Nualda Jr. and Agapito Niño, both from Miag-ao, Iloilo.
Included as well in the roll of awardees for the said category were Leonardo De Juan and Richard Nadua of Madalag, Aklan.
Each of the awardees was given a certificate, plaque, and cash amounting to P25,000.
Meanwhile, the Durog Irrigators Association of Miag-ao was granted with P1,000,000 cash incentive together with a certificate of recognition and plaque as Outstanding SWISA for 2019.
The same award was given to the Palacatian Irrigators’ Association, Inc. of Pavia, Iloilo as Outstanding IA for National Irrigation System Category while the Ugasan-Juanico Irrigators Association, Inc. won in the Outstanding IA Award for the Communal Irrigation System Category.
The LGU of Bago City was acclaimed as the top rice producing city in the region and awarded with a cash incentive of P1 million.
“We commend everyone, especially our rice achievers, for increasing their productivity and hopefully, their profitability. We appreciate the efforts, time, and industry of everyone who has made a contribution in the growth of the rice industry in the country,” said DA regional executive director Remelyn Recoter. (DA-6/PN)
