NUEVA VIZCAYA, Philippines — The Provincial Government of Nueva Vizcaya, led by Gov. Atty. Jose V. Gambito, and the Provincial Agriculture Office headed by Provincial Agriculture Officer(PAO) Absalom Rizal D. Baysa, has received an Excellence Award for outstanding implementation of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Seed and Extension programs. The recognition cites the province’s strong partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA) and PhilRice and its success in meeting seed delivery and distribution targets that improved the competitiveness and incomes of rice farmers.
The Excellence Award (Medium-Scale Category — Luzon) covers the 2024 wet season and the 2025 dry season. It was conferred on 29 August 2025 at the DA–PhilRice Central Experiment Station in Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, and was formally presented to the provincial leadership during the Monday flag-raising ceremony today at the Provincial Capitol.
The award citation recognizes the province’s leadership and the Provincial Agriculture Office’s role in enabling LGUs to effectively roll out certified seed distribution and extension services. The award bears the signatures of RCEF Program Management Office Director Flordeliza H. Bordey and Executive Director John C. De Leon.
“Agriculture is the top priority of my administration. I congratulate the Provincial Agriculture Office for this distinguished recognition — a clear indication that our programs are on the right path. We reaffirm the Provincial Government’s full and sustained support for the sector — from quality seeds and comprehensive farmer training to modern machinery and resilient infrastructure — so we can sustainably raise yields, increase farmers’ incomes, and strengthen rural livelihoods.”
Following the recognition, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office No. 02 issued a Certificate of Allocation dated 13 September 2025, formally allocating PHP 70,262,665.65 to the Province of Nueva Vizcaya for the 2024–2025 cycle. The funds are earmarked for agricultural machinery and equipment, farm facilities, and infrastructure projects to boost productivity and support rice sector development across the Cagayan Valley. The certificate was signed by Regional Executive Director Rose Mary Aquino, Ph.D.
PAO Baysa emphasized that both the award and the allocation reflect coordinated planning and effective implementation with the DA and PhilRice. He noted that the RCEF Seed and Extension initiatives—providing certified seeds, farmer training, and extension services—have contributed to higher yields and improved farm incomes in the province.
The PHP 70.26 million allocation will finance an itemized package of interventions, including procurement of machinery and upgrades to farm facilities, subject to DA guidelines and procurement processes. The province will proceed with planning and implementation to ensure timely, transparent use of funds for the benefit of rice farmers throughout Nueva Vizcaya.
