The RCEF- CES Unit was awarded Most Outstanding Unit and the RCEF Units of the Bicol, Agusan, Isabela, Negros, Los Baños, Batac, and Midsayap branch stations received Special Citations for their “dedicated service and exemplary leadership” in implementing the RCEF-Seed Distribution Programs.
Senator Cynthia A. Villar, chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, lauded DA-PhilRice for accomplishing its target in delivering high-quality inbred rice seeds, conducting extension work, and innovating its approaches under the RCEF Seed and Extension Programs despite the pandemic.
As of August 31, 2021, DA-PhilRice, in coordination with LGU Agricultural Offices, have distributed more than 7M bags of free certified seeds to almost 1.2M farmers since the inception of the RCEF Seed Program in 2020.
Based on the Institute’s Socioeconomics Division monitoring and evaluation survey conducted among RCEF seed beneficiaries, it was found that the yield of the respondents significantly increased from 3.65t/ha in the 2019 dry season (DS) to 4.22t/ha this 2021 DS. Meanwhile, 98% of them who had access to the communication services said they have applied the knowledge they learned from them.
“This is an example of public service at its best. PhilRice has evolved and responded very well to the needs of the rice industry and the demands of the times. I thank PhilRice for being true to its mandate under RCEF,” Villar expressed.
