The Provincial Government of Bulacan (PGB) received a special citation from the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) for its implementation of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF)- Seed and Extension Programs for the 2022 Wet Season.
The recognition was given during the RCEF Awards Recognition of Partners held at the DA-PhilRice Central Experiment Station, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija last Aug. 5, 2022.
PGB’s leadership and guidance have been instrumental in achieving 100 percent of the seed delivery target in the province, enabling its 14 municipalities and two cities to attain a cumulative distribution rate of 98 percent.
Governor Daniel R. Fernando assured the farmers in Bulacan that improving their competitiveness and income is the top priority of the PGB.
Fernando also congratulated the other municipalities and cities that were given the same citation including the City of San Jose del Monte, Doña Remedios Trinidad, Guiguinto, Hagonoy, and Paombong under the Small Scale category.
Angat, Baliwag, Bustos, City of Malolos, Norzagaray, Pandi, Plaridel, Pulilan, and Santa Maria were cited under the Medium Scale category; and San Ildefonso and San Miguel under the Large Scale category.
Republic Act No. 11203 or the Rice Tariffication Law created the RCEF or Rice Fund to improve rice farmers’ competitiveness and income amidst the liberalization of the Philippine rice trade policy that lifted quantitative restrictions on rice imports and replaced them with tariffs, among others.