Ilocos Norte, Cagayan farmers win top prize in hybrid rice promo

MANILA, Philippines - Two hybrid rice farmers from Ilocos Norte and Cagayan won the top prize in the raffle draw sponsored by SL Agritech Corp. to promote the planting of hybrid rice.

Ma. Diana Loreign Veloria of Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte and Dante S. Padre of Sta. Teresita, Cagayan, will each receive a Suzuki deluxe multicab, one of three major prizes given away by SL Agritech. The raffle draw, dubbed, “Todo Hataw sa Tag-araw,” was held Feb. 15 at the firm’s offices in Makati City.

Over 130,000 ticket stubs submitted by hybrid rice farmers from different provinces and towns were raffled off under the supervision of representatives of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Agriculture (DA).

Second prize winners were Dexter Guinto of Gapan, Nueva Ecija and Melanor Reyes of San Isidro, also of the same province, who each won a Kawasaki motorcycle with sidecare. Two Shinski scooters were given, as winners of the third prize, to Constancia Gallarga of Sta. Rosa, Nueva Ecija and Carmelita dela Cruz also of San Isidrio, N.E.

Cathy Galura, SL Agritech senior vice president for operation, said the prizes will be given over to the winners right in their respective provinces.

Henry Lim, chairman and CEO of SL Agritech, said 10 single door refrigerators, 10 flat TV sets, 10 washing machines, 20 colored cellphones, 20 stand fans, 20 gas stoves and 20 oven toasters were given away as consolation prizes.

Over 120,000 hybrid rice farmers from all over the country participated in the raffle promo which is being held every year by SL Agritech, the country’s biggest producer of the high-yielding SL-8H hybrid rice seeds. Last year, it gave away valuable prizes including a trip to Hong Kong, hand tractors, rice threshers and water pumps.

Also present during the raffle draw were former food minister and NFA administrator Jesus Tanchanco and Dr. Noel Mamicpic, SL Agritech vice president for quality control.