CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) expects some 3.7 million metric tons of palay for the remainder of the season.

For the first semester alone, the region had already produced some 1.8 million metric tons.

"With good weather, we are confident to hit the target this season," DA Regional Director Crispulo Bautista said, crediting variables such as good weather, use of hybrid seeds, and the increase in irrigable areas in the region for the good yield performance.

This year alone, the DA has recorded some 7,000 hectares of irrigated land, which had transitioned from their previous status as rain fed areas.

Central Luzon's production alone accounts for 18 percent of the country's total rice production.

To boost this further, Bautista said they are doubling their effort to make hybrid seeds available and speed up the release of machineries to farmers in accordance with the directive of Secretary William Dar.

Last year, the DA had released more than P200 million worth of farm machineries in Central Luzon. Some 10 dryers were also released last year with the DA planning to release some eight more this year.

Some P400,000 million of hybrid seeds for 100,000 hectares were also distributed last year and the DA aims to target 100,000 hectares again this year for hybrid seeds.