RCEF Takes Off in Bicol RCEF Goes Online RCEF: Farmers’ Immense Page 1 Page 5 Boost of Optimism|Page 8 I N S I D E N E W S 1 RCEF Takes Off in Bicol RCEF Takes Off in Bicol 2 Potential Seed Growers Engage in Inbred Seeds Production 3 DA-ATI Bicol Holds RCEF Extension Consultative Meeting 4 RCEF Info Caravan Boasts First-Ever 4-Province Simulcast Radio Broadcast, Youtube Stream 5 RCEF Goes Online RCEF Transitions to New Normal via SOA 6 Trainers Trained on Inbred Rice under RCEF 7 First School-On-Air on RCEF ‘Harvests’ 500 Graduates 8 RCEF: Farmers’ Immense Boost of Optimism 9 DA-ATI Bicol, Partner Agencies Report 2020 RCEF Extension Performances PILI, Camarines Sur – A series ing Sites which shall become the Basic Sector in Agriculture of activities kicked off the Rice Farm Schools managed by (RSBSA). The RSBSA registra- ATING KAUGNAY NEWSLETTER Competitiveness Enhance- the Technical Education and tion is a requirement for those ment Fund (RCEF) implemen- Skills Development Authority availing themselves of seed Editorial Board: tation in the Bicol Region (TESDA). The third batch was and mechanization assistance Technical Advisers | ELSA A. PAROT starting October 2019. for 27 agrarian reform bene- under RCEF. VIVIEN V. CARABLE ficiary organizations (ARBOs). DR. FRANKLIN BEL T. ISIP Four (4) training courses and The fourth training courses was RCEF provides an annual ap- ENGR. JOEY A. BELARMINO eleven (11) information cara- a Training on Inbred Rice Seed propriation of 10 billion for the Editor-in-Chief | PRIMALOU B. IMPERIAL van/technical briefing pro- Production and Farm Mecha- next 6 years with the enact- Editor | ISAGANI C. VALENZUELA, JR. Layout Artists | CHRISTIAN T.R. TOSOC | KRISHELL E. BALISORO pelled the RCEF in the priority nization for Seed Growers. ment of Republic Act 11203. Contributors | MA. LOUIZA SB. TENA | KRISHELL E. BALISORO | RAMONA INES B. RANESES, LIB, PhD. provinces of Albay, Camarines The increasing population Photo Credits | PROJECT IMPLEMENTERS Sur, Masbate, and Sorsogon. Meanwhile, from November growth and per capital con- to December 2019, the eleven sumption, together with more This newsletter is published every semester by Three (3) Training of Trainers (11) batches of information extreme weather events that Department of Agriculture (TOT) on Inbred Rice Seed caravan/technical briefing limit the worldwide rice supply, Agricultural Training Institute - Regional Training Center V (Bicol) Production and Farm Mech- informed a total of 800 farmers are just some of the reasons through Information Services Section anization served 95 rice and farm workers on the four why we need to achieve a Diversion Road, San Agustin, Pili, Camarines Sur industry stakeholders. The first (4) RCEF components – seeds, more competitive, profitable, www.ati.da.gov.ph/ati-5 and second batches were mechanization, credit, and resilient, and responsive rice for 70 agricultural extension extension. The activity also industry for a rice-secure Philip- Printed in the Philippines workers (AEWs) and owners/ discussed the process of en- pines. Primalou B. Imperial listing in the Registry System for Copyright 2020. All Rights Reserved farmer cooperators of Learn- 1 | Potential Seed Growers Engage in DA- ATI Bicol Holds RCEF Extension Rice Seed Growers Consultative Meeting Trained for Inbred Seeds Production Re-Accreditation PILI, Camarines Sur – The Rice outdoor activities were done Philippines sought to protect Camarines Sur – Rice seed grow- Competitiveness Enhance- including Seed Sampling, Sam- Filipino rice farmers from the in- ers play a crucial role in improving ment Fund (RCEF) enforces ple Preparation and Routing flux of imported rice by enact- the productivity of rice farmers. Sufficient, appropriate, and timely measures that will improve rice of Samples, Field Inspection ing the Agricultural Tariffication farmers’ productivity. One of and Rouging in Inbred Rice availability of seeds are needed for Act (RA 8187) in 1996. The law farmers to realize high yields and these is the Training Course Fields, Seed Bagging and Tag- exempts rice from tariffication. return on investment. on Modernized Production of ging, Harvest and Postharvest High-Quality Inbred Rice Seeds Management Technology and However, the Rice Tariffica- With this in mind, the Department for Seed Growers. Seed Testing Methods. tion Law or Republic Act (RA) of Agriculture’s Agricultural Training Institute in Region V (DA-ATI Bicol) 11203 enacted in 2019 liber- PILI, Camarines Sur – The chez; conducted the Retooling on Inbred The 31 training participants As the participants anticipat- alizes rice trade. Quantitative Department of Agriculture- Rice Seed Production for Seed represented the four RCEF-pri- ed engaging in inbred rice restriction on rice imports are Agricultural Training Insti- Philippine Rice Research Growers on February 26-28, 2020 ority provinces in the region seeds production and be tute-Regional Training Center Institute (PhilRice Bicol) Mr. Mi- replaced with a tariff system. V (DA-ATI Bicol) spearheaded chael Satuito and Ms. Arlene at Isarog Hall, ATI Compound, San – Albay, Camarines Sur, accredited as seed growers, the Rice Competitiveness Narvasa; Agustin, Pili, Camarines Sur. Masbate, and Sorsogon. The they formed a Seed Grower Nevertheless, an annual Enhancement Fund (RCEF) – training took place at Isarog Association with Mr. Andres appropriation of PhP10 billion Extension Component Consul- Philippine Center for Posthar- Rice seed growers have to maintain tative Meeting at Isarog Hall, vest Development and Mech- Hall, ATI Compound, San Paclibar of Pioduran, Albay as from the tariffs on imported the genetic identity and purity of ATI Dormitory, ATI RTC V, San anization Mr. Mark Anthony rice seeds, and make high quality Agustin, Pili, Camarines on last president-elect. They named rice shall be used for measures Agustin, Pili last 31 January Isureña, Mr. Glenn Joshua seeds of superior varieties available October 14-18, 2019. their group ALCAMAS which under RCEF that will improve 2020. Fumigay, Mr. Joseph Corporal, to farmers. Thus, the three (3)-day stands for Albay, Camarines Jr. and Ms. Edlin Kate Banton. rice farmers’ productivity. This training equipped the participants The activity honed the skills Sur, Masbate and Sorsogon. ATI Center Director Elsa Parot includes the training of poten- gave the opening remarks LandBank Camarines Lending with the technical competencies of prospective seed growers tial seed growers. Krishell E. and highlighted Sec. William Center Ms. Jhoan Salcedo, on inbred rice seed production and who will produce high-quality A member of the World Trade Balisoro Dar’s mantra “Masaganang and Development Bank of the farm mechanization. inbred rice seeds. Indoor and Organization since 1995, the Ani, Mataasna Kita” as the Philippines Lending Center Mr. beginning of 2020 project Mark Bragais. Major activities during the capa- implementation. bility building are the laboratory Present also were the rep- and hands-on activities such as The main objectives of the resentatives from different germination test, varietal purity test, activity are to harmonize the Provincial Agriculture Offices in programs’ activities exten- the region. They are Ms. Hilda physical purity test, and moisture sion targets as well as discuss Lopez, Ms. Rosalinda Belodo, content determination. These were the issues and concerns and and Ms. Rochelle Adivino of done at the Bureau of Plant Indus- actions taken regarding Albay; Mr. Ulysses Cabrera of try’s National Seed Quality Control RCEF implementation in the Masbate; and Mr. Levi Barce- Services (BPI-NSQCS) located at the Bicol Region. Presented also lona with John Rey Olivenza of Department of Agriculture Regional were the 2019 accomplish- Sorsogon. Field Office 5. ments and target activities of program implementers for this ATI and TESDA will expedite The training participants comprises year. registration of additional Farm- 32 seed growers from Camarines er Field Schools (FFS) on Pro- Twenty-five participants from duction of High-Quality Inbred Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, and Cama- different partner agencies Rice Seed Certification and rines Norte. attended the meeting. These Farm Mechanization to ensure are the Department of Agricul- the smooth implementation The Resource Persons were tech- ture represented by Ms. Phoe- of the program. Remaining nical experts of the Department of be San Buenaventura; slots for 2019 for FFS will be re- Agriculture (DA), BPI-NSQCS, the aligned to Solar Power Irriga- Seed Coordinator of the Office of Technical Education and tion System Operations and the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAg) in Skills Development Authority Maintenance. Camarines Sur, PAGASA-Pili, Agrom- represented by Camarines Sur et Station, and PhilRice Bicol. Provincial Director Alejandro Other agreements were Cortez, TESDA Albay Provincial discussed through an open Director Ruth Dayawen and forum and agreed on the Having acquired updated knowl- Maria Bella Atienza, TESDA complementation of resources edge and skills on producing high Masbate Ms. Laura Cabug, and the schedule of extension quality inbred rice seeds, the par- Mr. Roberto DelasLlagas from activities for the effective im- ticipants may renew their rice seed TESDA Camarines Sur; plementation of RCEF activi- grower accreditation at BPI-NSQCS, ties in the Region. Pili, Camarines Sur after the training. Bureau of Plant Industry-Na- tional Seed Quality Control Director Ruth Dayawen ended The training initiated the year’s series Services (BPI-NSQCS) Mr.