Butuan City – In a bid to bag the most coveted 2018 National Search for Corn Achievers Award, four local government units in the region are eyeing this year for the prestigious award.

In municipal and city category, DA-Caraga has endorsed four LGU for the search namely: Butuan City, Las Nieves of Agusan del Norte and Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur while the Province of Agusan del Sur is vying for the provincial level category.

A national team has already conducted its validation and assessment.

Minimum requirements for LGU category includes the level of aflatoxin from the samples taken during the contest period not to exceed the maximum aflatoxin level of 20 parts per billion (pbb) for white corn and 50 pbb for yellow corn, and with average corn yield for the past three years shall be at least four metric tons (MT) per hectare for yellow and 1.5 MT for white corn based on the latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Melody Guimary said that big prizes are at stake for the winners wherein the awarding ceremony has been scheduled to take place in Davao City during the National Corn Congress slated on November 13-15, 2018.

“President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to hand-in the awards for the winners,” Guimary said.

The winning provincial local government unit will receive P3 million worth of monetary incentives to be used to purchase farm inputs, farm machinery or equipment or any other needs of the farmers. Its respective provincial agriculturist, provincial corn coordinator will also receive cash prize and plaque of recognition.

For the city and municipal level, the LGU will receive P 1 million worth of monetary incentives for the same purpose with the provincial level winners, while its city or municipal agriculturist, city or municipal corn coordinators including its agricultural extension workers (AEW) will also receive cash prize and plaque of recognition.

The respective regional corn team of the winning LGU will also be recognized as outstanding regional corn team who will receive non-monetary recognition such as plaque and medals.

Guimary is optimistic that Caraga Region’s entry would yield a positive result.

“This year’s award will choose top 5 provinces, top 5 provincial agriculture officers, top 5 provincial coordinators, top 25 city and or municipal agriculture officers, top 25 city and or municipal corn coordinators and top 100 AEWs,” Guimary enumerated.

For the past years, Agusan del Norte was adjudged as the top province for three consecutive years hence it was awarded a Hall of Famer.

National Quality Corn Achievers Awards aims to recognize the achievements of top performing LGUs and DA-RFOs in producing quality corn in support to the development of the corn industry. (Aurelius P. Arais/DA Caraga).