NCotabato gets award for exceeding rice target

NORTH COTABATO, Philippines  –  The Department of Agriculture has conferred North Cotabato the “Rice Achievers’ Award” for having exceeded production targets for 2013.

The award was also given as a recognition of the provincial government’s promotion of the use of high quality rice seeds and modern farming technology by local peasant communities, according to the DA's Region 12 office in Koronadal City.

North Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza , in an emailed statement, said she was delighted by the award as the  province won it through the cooperation of various stakeholders.

The governor said credit also has to go to the regional office of DA in Region 12 for supporting the provincial government's rice sufficiency programs.

Engr. Elly Manglinawan, chief provincial agriculturist, and Renato Cabaya, an incumbent member of the provincial board, received on Friday the award from the DA, with corresponding P4 million worth of special grant for local rice-production projects.

Three North Cotabato towns – Tulunan, Midsayap, and Mlang – also got the same awards from DA for having exceeded their respective municipal rice production quota for 2013.

The office of Manglinawan, also received an additional P25,000 incentive from DA as North Cotabato surpassed its rice production target for last year.

The local government units of Tulunan, Mlang, and Midsayap also received P25,000 each as reward for municipal agricultural technicians and DA’s field workers who worked to improve  the production of rice in their respective areas of assignment.

The provinces of Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Isabela, Pangasinan, Ilocos Norte, Bukidnon, Bulacan, Kalinga, Mindoro Occidental, Laguna, and Lanao del Norte have also received the Rice Achievers’ Award, based on the volume of rice produced by local farmers last year. - John Unson