(February 13, 2012) – Mayor Ferdinand M. Amante, Jr. received the award for Butuan City as one of the Top 50 Outstanding Municipalities/Cities of the Agri-Pinoy Rice Achievers Awards for 2011 dubbed as "Mga Bosing ng Palayan". The awarding ceremony was held last Friday, February 10, 2012 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Manila with Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala as guest of honor.

       Joining Mayor Amante at the awarding ceremony were DA-13 Regional Executive Director Edna Mabeza, City Agriculturist Alberto Buca, and Ms. Gertrudes Fortun of the City Agriculturist's Office who also received an award as one of the Outstanding Agricultural Extension Workers. The City Government received Php1 Million while Ms. Fortun received Php20,000. 

        According to Mayor Amante, the cash award will be spent on the city’s Organic Farming Program to further enhance rice production. It was learned that Butuan City’s rice production rose drastically from 2.6 metric tons in 2010 to 5.1 metric tons in 2011. 

        Other awardees from the Caraga Region are the Municipality of Trento and the Provinces of Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur. - CMO-PIO