Twenty college students from the Jose Rizal Memorial State University (Siocon campus) will be training for two weeks at the Philippine Rice Research Institute in the Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija as Secretary Manny Piñol banks on the passion of the young adults for the further improvement of rice farming in Zamboanga del Norte. The students who will be learning farming technologies and modern rice production innovations from PhilRice experts, will serve as agricultural technician interns once they finish the 2-week course. The proposal, aside from improving the rice sector, seeks to imprint to the youngsters the value of farming and its impact to rural development and economic stability. The agri chief, visited Siocon on February 23, 2017, to personally deliver government assistance to farmers and fishers to assist them in their livelihood. Mayor Julius Lobrigas (center) was all praises to the Secretary, who was the first cabinet member to visit the town. “Masaya po ang mga taga-rito dahil hindi lamang nakarating kundi nag-abot pa ng tulong si Sec. dito sa amin,” he said. (photo by Alarico Nuestro)