TAGUIG CITY—Implementing agencies of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) convene for an orientation and harmonization workshop for 2020.

The two-day activity served as an avenue to present activities and accomplishments of each agency on the implementation of RCEF in 2019 in the national and regional levels.

"This activity will allow for better realization of RCEF from us as implementers. We will use our learning from 2019 to improve the implementation of RCEF moving forward, " said Isidro Lapeña, Director General of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

Included in the discussion during the breakout session of the workshop were problems and issues encountered during RCEF implementation and related activities, actions each agency has taken, lessons learned, and recommendations for future references.

Areas for convergence were also identified to harmonize activities from every RCEF implementing agency in line with the program’s components. Each region will also develop an action plan for their respective targets and activities for 2020.

"If we have a strong foundation in the implementation of RCEF, we can withstand any problem and circumstance that will arise. This will allow us to deliver what RCEF aims for our rice farmers and the rice industry," stressed Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary William Dar.

Present in the activity were representatives from the central office and regional offices of DA, Philippine Rice Research Institute, Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization, Agricultural Training Institute, Bureau of Agricultural and Fisheries Engineering, Bureau of Plant Industry, TESDA, as well as representatives from Land Bank of the Philippines and Development Bank of the Philippines.

The 2020 RCEF Orientation and Harmonization Workshop was conducted on January 9-10 at the TESDA Women's Center, Taguig City.