With the added P108-M budget from the Rice Resiliency Project (RRP) under the Ahon Lahat, Pagkaing Sapat (ALPAS) kontra COVID-19 program, the Department of Agriculture in the CALABARZON region will distribute hybrid and inbred seeds, and inorganic fertilizers to 49,426 farmer-beneficiaries located in Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) and non-RCEF areas for both irrigated and rain-fed lowland cities/municipalities in the region.
To help attain the optimum level of rice production activities this wet-season cropping, Regional Director Arnel V. de Mesa met with Manager Romeo M. Lopez of National Irrigation Administration (NIA) CALABARZON and his team on April 22, 2020, via video conferencing to discuss RRP, its components, targeted areas per province, and the provision of free inputs.
According to Manager Lopez, the NIA CALABARZON will extend its full support to the program by ensuring the availability of irrigation water on targeted areas and providing assistance during the distribution of interventions.
Manager Lopez will be requesting all provincial, city, and municipal agriculturists in the region to coordinate with their office as they are updating the list of rice farmers who will be included in their operational/programmed areas.
Director de Mesa said that coordination between DA and NIA in CALABARZON will surely continue to ensure more effective and efficient program implementation.
Also present during the meeting were DA CALABARZON Field Operations Division Chief Engr. Redelliza A. Gruezo and Provincial Agriculturist of Laguna Mr. Marlon P. Tobias. ● (RFL, DA-RAFIS)
[Photos Courtesy of Engr. Redelliza Gruezo]
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