Wrapping up the region-wide consultation-dialogue for the Department of Agriculture’s implementation of the Rice Resiliency Project (RRP) in Region I, the final leg of the activity was held in Ilocos Sur on May 8, 2020 after the DA-RFO I RRP team has visited the provinces of Pangasinan, La Union, and Ilocos Norte for the series of consultation.
The DA’s RRP is part of the P32B fund under the Plant Plant Plant Program or the Ahon Lahat Pagkaing Sapat (ALPAS) laban sa COVID-19 program primarily created to address the country’s battle for food security amidst the pandemic.
“We are in the wet cropping season of rice so this consultation is timely and critical because our rice crop will be harvested in the month of September to October,” said Regional Technical Director for Operations Erlinda F. Manipon.
Municipal and City Agriculturists including other stakeholders attended the activity which was held in two separate venues – the Provincial Library of Vigan City and in Barangay Calaoa-an Covered Court, Candon City.
“Tulungan tayo kuma ti kliyente tayo nga farmers iti implementasyon na daytoy nga programa (Let us help our farmer clients in the implementation of this program), ” shared Ilocos Sur Provincial Agriculturist Mr. Oscar Tobia to the attendees during the activity.
In Pangasinan, 5th District Congressman Ramon Guico III joined the Municipal Agriculture Officers in making queries regarding the implementation of the RRP in the province.
“I am vey thankful to DA-RFO I most especially to Director Alviar for taking the initiative to really bring to our attention what we ought to know and do in order that we can actively do our part in this program of DA. My concerns also regarding the financial assistance for our constituents in Pangasinan was even made clear so now we can guide our farmers what to do.”, he said.
Consultations with stakeholders in the local government units in the four provinces were pushed through upon the directive of DA-RFO I Regional Executive Director Lucrecio R. Alviar, Jr. despite the posing dangers of the pandemic given DA’s commitment to food sufficiency in the country.
“Although we are doing this, we are still following the protocols such as proper wearing of face masks, hand sanitation, and social distancing,” RTD Manipon also noted.
The Rice Resiliency Project is among the fourteen (14) projects under the Plant Plant Plant program allocated with P8.5 billion budget that will provide free seeds and fertilizers as intervention to rice farmers nationwide. //