MANILA, (PNA) — Outstanding corn producing provinces, municipalities and cities, along with corn coordinators and agricultural extension workers will be recognized during the first-ever National Quality Corn Achievers Award to be held on Oct 23 in Tagaytay City.
A total P28.9 million worth of grants and cash prizes will be bestowed to five provinces, each receiving P3 M worth of project grant; 24 municipalities and cities, each receiving P500, 000 worth of project grant; five provincial coordinators, each receiving P20, 000 cash; 24 municipal/city corn coordinators, P15, 000 cash; and 71 agricultural extension workers, P10, 000 cash.
A plaque and medal will also be given to the winners, the department said in a press release..
Pangasinan, Isabela, Occidental Mindoro, Misamis Oriental, and Agusan del Norte were selected as the top five corn producing provinces based on the quality and quantity of corn grains produced last year.
“The Corn Quality Award aims to recognize local government units and their respective agriculture officers and extension workers in the continued development of the country’s corn industry,” Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said.
The 9th Philippine National Congress which runs from Oct 22 to 25 will also be held in Tagaytay City.
The Congress will showcase technology demonstration, exhibits of corn and other agricultural products, and technical sessions on yellow and white corn road map, soil management, livestock industry update, farm mechanization, and germplasm technology improvement.
Participants in the Congress include US Embassy Manila Agricultural Counselor Philip Shull, Congress Committee on Agriculture Chairman Mark Llandro Mendoza, DA Assistant Secretary and National Corn Program Coordinator Edilberto de Luna, Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla, Tagaytay City Mayor Agnes Tolentino, and thousands of corn farmers and corn industry stakeholders.
From 2000 to 2011, the country’s production of yellow and white corn grew positively by an average annual rate of 3.85 percent. Yellow corn accounts for about 50 percent of livestock feeds, while white corn is a food staple and alternative to rice, consumed by at least 14 million Filipinos nationwide.