The Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office 5 (DA-RFO 5) turned over its funded seed warehouse to the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) in Ligao City, Bicol on March 27, 2018.
Dr. Victoria C. Lapitan, PhilRice Bicol branch director said that the facility will help the station produce high-quality seeds and to make them fully available for the rice farmers.
”The use of quality seeds is necessary to ensure high productivity and profitability among farmers. However, accessibility and availability of these seeds are limited owing to the absence of proper storage,” she said. The facility will also help the station on its commitment to the National Rice Program of maintaining about 65 hectares of seed production on foundation and certified seeds.
Present in the ceremony were Gov. Al Francis Bichara, Rep. Fernando V. Gonzales, Mayor Patricia Gonzales-Alsua, PhilRice Deputy Executive Director for Research Flordeliza H. Bordey, , staff from the Agricultural Training Institute Region 5, Bureau of Plant Industry-National Seed Quality Control Services, DA-RFO 5, LGU of Ligao City, officers of the Seed Growers Association of Albay, and the Rice Business Innovations Systems (RiceBIS) cluster.
The turn-over was part of PhilRice Bicol’s 7th Founding Anniversary.