CEBU, Philippines - The City Government of Toledo is among the local government units in the country to receive the Agri-Pinoy Rice Achievers Award on Friday at the Philippine International Convention Center in Manila.
Toledo, the only LGU in Cebu, along with the six municipalities in Central Visayas were recognized for its performance in the rice production and farmers training and research that help the national government’s vision of achieving rice self-sufficiency in 2013.
The 10 winning provinces are: Ilocos Norte, Mindoro Oriental, Mindoro Occidental, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Southern Leyte, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Agusan del Sur, and Surigao del Sur.
Aside from the LGUs there are also 10 agriculture extension workers who will receive the same award. The awardees aside from Toledo City are the towns of Pilar, Ubay and San Miguel in Bohol and Ayungon and Sta Catalina in Negros Oriental. Each of the LGU awardees will receive P1 million cash prize while the 10 AEWs will receive P20,000 each.
Among the 10 AEW awardees are Carmen Cubrado of Pilar Bohol; Nena Alangilan of Ubay, Bohol; Felix Lucip of San Miguel, Bohol; Lucila Tomarong of Toledo City, Cebu; Helen Pastor of Ayungon, Negros Oriental; and Alvin Blaza of Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental.
DA-7 director Leo Cañeda said the Agri-Pinoy Rice Achievers Award program was launched by the government to help achieve rice self-sufficiency in 2013.
“This would identify and give recognition to the highly performing provinces, cities, municipalities and agricultural extension workers in the production of rice. This is also to sustain awareness, encourage full participation, support and commitment to the program,” Cañeda said.
Cañeda said the awardees were chosen based on the yield increment recorded by the said localities. It has been noted that the region posted its highest increase of 19% in rice production last year – a feat directly attributed to the support of the LGUs. – (FREEMAN)