San Carlos City Mayor Renato Gustilo signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Department of Agriculture-PhilRice Negros branch director Ommal Abdulkadil Feb. 2 for the Rice Business Innovations System (RiceBIS) project.
The MOU states that sustainable rice productivity, improved farmer competitiveness, and enhanced rural livelihoods can be achieved more effectively when closely integrated with local governance, planning, and support services.
The RiceBIS has already been successfully implemented in San Carlos, particularly in barangays Quezon, Codcod, and Bagonbon, and the MOU formalizes and strengthens the partnership between the local government and DA-PhilRice to further accelerate rice-based community transformation under the project, the city said.
Abdulkadil said the initiative aims to assist farmers’ organizations in the city by improving productivity, increasing profits, and sustaining operations through continuous support, while promoting local rice products and facilitating access to assistance through the local government.
DA-PhilRice Research for Development specialist Alvin Palanog and focal person Cielo Luz Mondejar said that a series of workshops will be conducted for farmers, including trainings on producing high-yield crops, introducing and adopting modern rice farming technologies, and marketing products to larger markets, such as government-funded programs, malls, and supermarkets.
The DA-PhilRice delegation was welcomed by city administrator Estefanio Libutan Jr., while personnel from the City Agriculture’s Office and the Cooperatives and Livelihood Development Office assisted during the signing ceremony at the City Mayor’s Office. ||
