About 1,907 rice farmers in Surigao City received PHP2.44 million worth of rice seeds during a distribution conducted by the city government and the Department of Agriculture (DA) 13 (Caraga) from Wednesday until Thursday.

In a statement on Thursday, the Public Information Office (PIO) of the Surigao City government said 3,210 bags of certified palay seeds were distributed during the two-day activity.

“Agriculture, especially rice production, is among the priorities of the present administration of Surigao City government under Mayor Pablo Dumlao II,” the PIO said.

It said the 1,907 farmer beneficiaries came from Surigao City’s 34 barangays.

The distribution of rice seeds is being funded under the DA’s National Rice Program.

The PIO also reported that PHP1,815,255 worth of certified rice seeds was given by the City Agriculture Office (CAO) to the rice farmers in the area in September.

“We are also announcing that the city government of Surigao is set to receive additional aid under the Quick Respond Fund (QRF) of the DA,” it said.

The additional QRF support will consist of 70 bags of certified rice seeds and 100 bags of hybrid rice seeds.

“The city government is also working on the procurement of an additional 315 bags of certified rice seeds with separate funding from the City Disaster and Risk Management Office,” the PIO said.

It said the city government, through the CAO, has yet to schedule the distribution of the additional rice seeds for farmers in the area. (PNA)