IPIL, Zamboanga Sibugay--The provincial government is set to receive PHP4 million incentive and a trophy from the Department of Agriculture (DA) after being named recipient of the agency's 2017 Rice Achievers Award
Organized by the DA, the annual award recognizes top rice producing provinces in the country. Zamboanga Sibugay was adjudged last year as the top producer in the Zamboanga Peninsula.
Data from the provincial agriculture office showed the rice production of the province in 2017 was at 178,315 metric tons (MT), up by 76,432 MT compared to that in 2016.
Governor Wilter Yap Palma said he will join the province's agriculture officials in receiving the award on May 31 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City. He said Zamboanga Sibugay and six other provinces and 15 cities and municipalities will also be honored during the awarding ceremony.
Palma said the PHP4-million incentive will be in the form of rice production-related projects.
Eight irrigators’ associations (IAs) for the national and communal irrigation system categories and three small water irrigation system associations (SWISAs) will also be awarded at the event with trophies and checks for PHP500,000 each.
Now on its fifth year, the Rice Achievers Awards is one of DA’s ways of motivating and showing appreciation for institutions, groups, and individuals for their contributions in its food sufficiency thrust.
Senator Cynthia Villar, chairperson of the Senate’s Committee on Agriculture, and DA Sec. Emmanuel Piñol are expected to grace the awarding ceremony, together with officials from the National Irrigation Administration, Bureau of Soils and Water Management, and other DA bureaus and attached agencies. (PNA)
