Governor Rodolfo T. Albano III personally attended the Orientation and Seminar on the Nagkaisang Magsasaka ng Isabela Agriculture Cooperative (NMIAC) with simultaneous conduct and distribution of the BRO for Education Scholarship Allowance and Financial Assistance to Tobacco Farmers in the municipalities of Luna, Aurora, Roxas, Burgos, and Mallig from September 16 to 20, 2019. The orientation and seminar was spearheaded by former Congresswoman Ana S. Go and Provincial Cooperative Development Officer Lilia Castillo. The Governor himself answered questions from the rice farmers during an open forum, and he assured that the cooperative will work its best to help the farmers. The orientation and membership seminar enlisting has been made in 17 municipalities and 1 city with a total of 2,724 members registered. The cooperative was duly registered with the Cooperative and Development Authority last August 28, 2019.
October 12, 2019 – Senator Cynthia Villar was the Guest of Honor at the formal launching of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) in a jampacked Roxas Astrodome in Roxas, Isabela attended by rice farmers of the six congressional districts of Isabela. Villar was recently reelected as the chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food. She was the primary author of RA 11203 or the Rice Tariffication Law that was enacted on February 14, 2019.
In her message to the rice farmers of the province of Isabela, she said that one of the key features of RA 11203 is the creation of the RCEF to protect the rice industry from sudden or extreme price fluctuations. RCEF consists of initial appropriation of P10 billion of the tariff collections on rice imports and shall be appropriated annually for rice farmers. RCEF will support greater farm mechanization, distribution of high-yield inbred seed, expanded rice credit assistance, and rice extension services or education in the rice industry
September 27, 2019 –the Regional Development Council for Region 02 conducted its 115th Regional Business Meeting on September 27, 2019 at Marco Paulo Hotel in Cauayan City.
The highlight of the RDC2 meeting was the nomination of Chairperson and Co-chairperson to head the Council for 2019 - 2022. Governor Rodolfo T. Albano III, a first-term Governor in Isabela Province, was unanimously endorsed as the lone nominee for Chairperson from the government sector. Former Tourism Regional Director Blessida Diwa from the private sector was also endorsed by the Council as Co-chairman. The names of the two nominees shall be submitted to the President who will appoint the RDC2 Chairperson and Co-chairperson.
