Dads approve LOA with DA-PhilRice

Through an ordinance, the 20th City Council, on its regular session yesterday presided over by Vice Mayor Jocelyn B. Rodriguez, authorized City Mayor Rolando A. Uy to enter into and sign the Letter of Agreement (LOA) with the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) covering the implementation of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Seed and Extension Programs.

The RCEF Seed and Extension Programs seek to implement one or a combination of the projects in high-priority localities. These projects include Distribution of Certified Seeds (CS) of Inbred Rice Varieties and IEC Materials (with complimentary technical briefing sessions prior to or during the distribution proper); Palay Sikatan: The RECEF Technology Demonstration of Recommended Inbred Rice Varieties and Mechanized Farming System; and Development of Fertilizer Recommendations for Provinces under the RCED Seed Program.

These projects are designed to interdependently help improve the yield of rice farmers via the utilization of high-quality seeds while optimizing their production costs through appropriate crop management technologies and practices.

Under the agreement, the parties shall carry out their respective responsibilities in accordance with the provisions of the LOA and shall undertake the engagement in conformity with relevant government policies.

They shall agree to cooperate at all times, and maintain close working relationships to achieve the engagement’s objectives, promote social inclusivity and undertake a participatory and gender-responsive approach to project implementation that is cognizant of the diverse socioeconomic and cultural contexts and differentiated individual capacities, roles and needs of female and male FBs (farmer-beneficiaries), among others.

The legislation was reviewed and endorsed by the committees on agriculture and on laws and rules chaired by Councilors Jay R. Pascual and Ian Mark Q. Nacaya, respectively.