MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon – A Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Stakeholders Meeting took place at the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office 10 – Provincial Operations’ Center, Bukidnon Office, San Victores Street, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon last January 16, 2020. The meeting was presided by Engr. Deliza T. Camato, DA-Provincial Operations Center Head for Bukidnon.

Several agencies were present and well-represented. Among them were Engr. Alson G. Quimba from the Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO), Mr. Paulo Miguel Diputado from the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO X), Ms. Noemi Beth G. Macario from the DA-Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center X (DA-ATI RTC X), Ms. Jan Rorilei Alima from the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech), Gabriel M. Rara from the Landbank of the Philippines (LBP), Mr. Abdulwahid H. Madum from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), among others.

Engr. Alson G. Quimba, the Provincial Agriculturist, emphasized that although each agency have their own programs, the most important thing is to harmonize all of them to maximize resources for the benefit of the farmers.

The primary aim of the activity was to fast track the implementation of the RCEF Program in the Province of Bukidnon. All the agencies who were present presented their 2019 accomplishments, 2020 program, as well as some of the problems that were encountered.

The group agreed to meet regularly to support each others programs and thresh out problems, if any. The next meeting will be on February 13, 2019 to be sponsored by ATI-RTC X.