Caraga: The Department of Agriculture (DA) 13 (Caraga Region) announced Tuesday the ongoing distribution of certified rice seeds to farmers for the 2025 wet cropping season, with more than 100,000 bags already released. The initiative is part of the agency's Rice Competitiveness Enhancement (RCEF) Program, designed to boost agricultural productivity among farmers.

According to Philippines News Agency, the latest data from DA-13 shows that between March 16 and April 16, a total of 137,941 bags of certified rice seeds were delivered to various organizations and local government units in the region's five provinces. Out of these, 103,308 bags have been distributed to 29,474 rice farmers.

The release of certified rice seeds is expected to cover around 39,061 hectares of farmland across 69 cities and municipalities in the region, as stated by DA-13. The varieties of certified seeds distributed include NSIC Rc160, 222, 436, 442, 508, 534, 216, 402, 440, 480, and 512, along with PSB Rc18 and 27.