Bulacan now a Hall of Famer in Agri-Pinoy Rice Achievers Award

CITY OF MALOLOS – Meaningful harvest time has come for the province of Bulacan after being elevated as Hall of Famer in the Agri-Pinoy Rice Achievers Award of the Department of Agriculture for its invaluable contribution to the national rice sufficiency.

Gov. Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado and Vice Gov. Daniel R. Fernando received the plaque of recognition and P1 million worth of project intended for the province’s rice productivity enhancement during the 2015 Agri-Pinoy Rice Achievers Awards held Wednesday afternoon at the Resorts World Manila, Newport Boulevard, Newport City, Pasay, Metro Manila.

From three consecutive years, 2012 to 2014, Bulacan has maintained a production yield above the national level despite the problems in irrigation and calamity occurrences experienced by the province.
“It is a great honor for Bulacan to be recognized as a Hall of Famer in Agri-Pinoy. This award is a clear manifestation that we are committed in supporting the agricultural endeavors of the DA in providing sufficient and safe farm produce to the rest of the nation,” the governor said.

The province was also lauded for its appropriate interventions and support to the farmers including the conduct of Palay Check Farmers’ Field School, provision of small-scale irrigation support (STW/OSP), provision of farm machineries and post-harvest facilities, access to financing (SIKAT SAKA Program) coupled with the provision of inputs like organic fertilizer and locally funded seed subsidy.

According to Provincial Agricultural Office, the innovations on the promotion of production technologies through School-on-Air program aired over Radyo Bulacan, the conduct of “Usapang Palay” using a mobile techno-van, and capability building support to AEWs also helped the province in heeding the government’s call in increasing yield that contributes to the attainment of the nation’s thrust of food sufficiency.

Other “Hall of Famer” provinces include Pangasinan, Ilocos Norte, Nueva Vizcaya, Isabela, Occidental Mindoro and Davao Del Sur.

The Agri-Pinoy Rice Achievers Award is an annual event organized by the DA National Rice Program in recognition to the outstanding and significant contributions of the local government units, irrigators association, agricultural extension workers and local farm technicians to the Philippine rice industry.