Manila, June 6 -- The Department of Agriculture - Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) has awarded PHP84.96 million worth of certified rice seeds to farmers in Negros Occidental for this year's wet cropping season.

Dina Genzola, officer-in-charge of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, received the allocation during the turnover ceremony at the National Food Authority (NFA) warehouse here, from DA-PhilRice Negros Director Ommal Abdulkadil, in the presence of Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., who visited Bacolod City and Negros Occidental on Thursday.

Implemented under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Seed Program, the distributed 96,550 20-kg. bags of certified inbred rice seeds will bene...