CERTIFIED RICE SEEDS. One of the nearly 100 farmers from Veruela, Agusan del Sur receive more than 1,000 sacks of inbred certified seeds on Thursday (May 28, 2026). PhilRice-Agusan said 7,763 certified rice seeds are set to be distributed to 2,045 qualified farmers from four towns and one city in the province. (Photo courtesy of Veruela Information Office)
BUTUAN CITY – The Philippine Rice Institute (Philrice) – Agusan has begun releasing inbred certified seeds to farmers in Agusan del Sur, with a total allocation of 7,763 bags to be distributed to 2,045 target beneficiaries under the Binhing E-Padala program.
On Thursday, PhilRice Agusan released more than 1,000 bags to nearly 100 farmers in Veruela, which has an allocation of about 3,000 bags intended for more than 1,000 rice farmers, according to Reynick Namalata, regional coordinator of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Seed program in the Caraga Region.
“Aside from Veruela, five more areas in the province are included in the program, such as Bayugan City and the towns of Trento, Loreto, and Santa Josefa,” Namalata said in an interview.
A total of 601 farmers from Trento have already received 2,152 bags of certified seeds during distribution on Wednesday.
A farmer with a one-hectare rice farm is allocated two sacks, while those with two hectares receive four bags of certified rice seeds.
“The distribution will continue before the end of this month in the other towns covered under this program,” Namalata said. (PNA)