The government’s intensified rice production program is expected to further lift the country’s farm sector and rural economy after surpassing its second dry season planting targets in Nueva Ecija, the nation’s top rice-producing province.

Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. and National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Administrator Eduardo Guillen led the ceremonial harvest on a 5.7-hectare farm in Barangay Talipapa, Cabanatuan City, on Tuesday as part of this year’s Second Dry Season Harvest Festival.

Under the Masagana Rice Industry Development Program (MRIDP), the DA supported 76,075 hectares for double-cropping in the Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation Systems (UPRIIS) service area — 4,090 hectares more than the 61,985-hectare target.

Shared belief

“This harvest is more than the fruit of planting. It is the result of collective commitment, hard work, and shared belief that Filipino farmers can lead our journey to food security,” Tiu Laurel said.

Guillen praised farmers’ resilience, saying the expansion “reflects the unwavering dedication of our irrigators and the government’s sustained investment in irrigation infrastructure.”

He added in Filipino: “To our farmers, I know your hard work and sacrifices are no small matter. If I may ask one thing from you, it is that you never change, never tire. Let us keep planting hope, watering dreams, and harvesting success.”

Record high output

The festival comes as the Philippine Statistics Authority reported a record-high first-half palay output of 9.08 million metric tons, representing roughly 45 percent of the DA’s target of 20.46 million metric tons for 2025.

Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan credited the gains to favorable weather and government support measures, noting the agriculture, fisheries, and forestry sector grew 7 percent in the second quarter — rebounding strongly from last year’s El Niño-induced slump.