DILIMAN, Quezon City—In line with the implementation of the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL), the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) held a meeting to ensure a common understanding of the programs and services under the law among its network of training centers.

This meeting, dubbed as “Demystifying Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF),” convened the center directors, Rice Program focal persons, and planning and information officers of all ATI regional training centers.

ATI Director Alfredo Aton graced the activity and asked for the collective efforts of everyone in the Institute for the implementation of the law.

To give the participants updates on the Philippine Rice Industry, Emerson Yago of the Department of Agriculture’s National Rice Program presented statistics on current rice production in the country. He also noted the target crop yield as RCEF takes off.

Meanwhile, Philippine Rice Research Institute Deputy Director for Development Karen Barroga briefed the participants about the RTL and the implementing guidelines for the seed component under RCEF.

Issues and concerns on mechanization, credit, and extension components of RCEF were also discussed during the activity. Meanwhile, outputs from the meeting include the schedule for RCEF information caravans for 2019 and a proposed calendar of activities for 2020.

Other speakers during the event were Aldrin Badua of the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization, Crisso Pernito from the Landbank of the Philippines, and Renato Dela Cruz of the ATI Partnerships and Accreditation Division.

The meeting was organized by ATI as the lead in the RCEF extension services program. It was held last August 26-28, 2019 in this city.