The Department of Agriculture VIII distributed 850 bags of certified seeds to rice farmer-beneficiaries in the Municipality of Basey, Samar. The Municipal Agriculture Officer, Ador Amascual, said that a corresponding 1 sack of urea fertilizer was also given per farmer.

The beneficiaries were identified based on the listing submitted by the barangay captains of the different barangays, which have been verified by the assigned agricultural technicians. They checked whether these farmers are still tilling the rice fields that they declared before the Typhoon Yolanda or if any member of the family tilled it. These facts had to be established for these farmers to qualify as recipients of the certified rice seeds and urea fertilizer.

During the distribution done on November 17, 2015, the farmer-beneficiaries themselves went to the nursery of Brgy. Can-abay, Basey, Samar where the seeds are stocked. The said activity was spearheaded by the agriculture technicians assigned in Basey, Samar. These technicians made sure that the seeds and fertilizers were given to the right beneficiaries.

Marlon T. Andrino, YPMO, NEDA VIII