By Sean Seismundo
Compostela Valley Province—The provincial government of Compostela Valley won yet another award for the "Rice Achievers Award" for 2019, earning the title of being one the top producers of rice in the country.
Awarded by the Department of Agriculture (DA), a ceremony was held last May 30, 2019 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City, Metro Manila.
The National Rice Achievers Awards is an annual event by the Department of Agriculture under the National Rice Program (NRP) by PRRD, for the purpose of promoting and honoring those provinces, municipalities, cities, farmer technicians, and agricultural workers and associations for their contributions for the rice industry of the country.
Provincial Governor Jayvee Tyron L. Uy received the award during the ceremony along with Dr. Minda Agarano, PG Department Head of Provincial Agriculturist Office (PAGRO) and Dr. Ronald Sibayan, Asst. PG Department Head of PAGRO from the ceremony’s guest of honor, Senator Cynthia Villar.
Among the prizes were a certificate and official plaque of the award, as well as 4 million pesos as given by the DA.
Out of all 82 provinces in the country, Compostela Valley won the “Rice Achievers Award” and the Municipality of Compostela was named as the LGU with the most sufficient production of rice in Davao Region.
A total of seven provinces also won the said award throughout the country, which includes Compostela Valley, Lanao del Norte, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Viscaya, Occidental Mindoro, Bukidnon, and Zamboanga del Norte.
"Our province won the highly-coveted Rice Achievers Award today. We are one of the only seven (7) rice-sufficient provinces in the whole country. As a reward, the Department of Agriculture extended us a four (4) million pesos incentive. We dedicate this award to all hardworking rice farmers in our province, to the Department of Agriculture and our Provincial Agriculturist's Office for assisting our farmers. Indeed, a huge leap for our goal to achieve zero hunger and food security in the province.", said Governor Uy
This is not the first time the province has won the Rice Achievers Award, as they have also won three times before, making it the 4th recognition this year.
"Despite our limited production area of about 13,000 hectares, yet we were able to contribute significantly to the regional and national rice sufficiency. The province attained a 102% rice sufficiency in 2018. This award was achieved due to our concerted efforts, unity and cooperation among our stakeholders,” Agarano said. (Sean Seismundo, ID Comval, Photos by M. Lasaca)
