DA, rice-based enterprises join Cashless Expo 2023

The Department of Agriculture (DA) represented by Undersecretary for Policy, Planning, and Regulations Mercedita Sombilla and Undersecretary for Rice Industry Development Leocadio Sebastian participated in the opening of the Cashless Expo 2023 on November 17, 2023.

Organized by the GoDigitalPilipinas Movement (GDP) Inc. in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), and DA, the three-day event promotes the use of digital or cashless transactions among micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and consumers.

It also aims at showcasing the transformative potential of digital payment methods such as e-wallets, debit and credit cards, and online bank transfers using Near Field Communication (NFC) technology.

Coinciding with the celebration of the National Rice Awareness Month (NRAM), the Expo also features local rice-based enterprises, technologies, and DA projects that are geared towards digitalization and rice industry development.

With the “Be RICEponsible” theme, the DA-National Rice Program, DA-Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), and other partner offices will take over the Cashless Expo’s main stage on November 19, 2023 for the promotion of NRAM’s advocacy projects and activities.

The DA will also lead a series of discussion on rice pricing, empowering agri MSMEs, agriculture modernization and transforming rice farming, and farm clustering, among others.

The DA’s Cashless Expo exhibitors include the DA-PhilRice, DA-Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), Rice Business Innovations System (RiceBIS) Community Program, Rice Board, USSC, Philippine Rice Industry Stakeholders Movement (PRISM), and farmer cooperatives selling rice and rice-based products.

The Cashless Expo is open to anyone interested in the latest trends, technologies, and strategies related to cashless payments, digital finance, and emerging payment solutions. ### (Gumamela Celes Bejarin, DA-AFID)