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Early this month, our acting executive director, Dr. Sailila E. Abdula, shared the Institute’s milestones and its new goals. In this message, he encourages us to support the upcoming Rice Tariffication Act and be SAILILA: Strengthen and Advance Innovation, Linkages, Learning, and Advocacy. Read his full message below:

Peace be with us and good morning!

It’s another challenging, exciting, and successful year for PhilRice. We can give each other a smile, hug, or any gesture of warm welcome.

[As we welcome 2019, we remember our colleagues, friends, and loved ones who are no longer with us in this physical world]. We offer our deep prayers. [Life is indeed short]. That is why we should never take for granted the people we love and those who are close to us. Our work might be stressful, but we should take good care of our health for us to enjoy the good life that we deserve.

When I took my office as your acting executive director more than two years ago, I was overwhelmed with the challenge of sustaining and enhancing what we have done to further elevate the Institute into new heights of excellence.

The crafting of the Strategic Plan 2017-2022 is one of our significant moves. The preparation was arduous as it took us more than a year to complete the document. The plan is our roadmap in addressing the challenges and our collective commitment in addressing the problems besetting the Philippine rice industry.

Our strategic plan articulates our Rice4Development efforts and interventions to achieve the desired outputs, outcomes, and impact in pursuing our vision of a “Rice-Secure Philippines”. The upcoming Rice Tariffication Act will compel us to revisit the plan this year and refocus our flagship programs to revolve around seed systems. With an additional P3 billion every year for six years, the Rice Tarrification Act poses a gigantic challenge for PhilRice to make good quality seeds available to EVERY Filipino rice farmer.

We are entrusted with this enormous task because they believe we could deliver, and indeed, WE WILL DELIVER. This will be the most significant and lasting impact of PhilRice to our country.

In 2018, the 22 (5 inbred, 12 hybrid, 5 saline) rice varieties we have developed were approved by the National Seed Industry Council for commercial production. Three were solely bred by PhilRice while others were developed with the private sector and the University of the Philippines Los Baños.

[The Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund under the Rice Tariffication Act focuses on high-quality seeds and farm mechanization]. While farmers’ adoption of high-quality seeds had increased from 48 to 58%, this figure is still very low. Much is yet to be done.

Cost-effectiveness is another key factor we looked into rice farming. Hence, we continue advocating for farm mechanization. We have developed and constructed pre- and post-harvest facilities to showcase their importance in farm operations. The development of farm machines such as local mechanized weeder, gear transmission power tiller with pivot mechanism, local riding-type precision seeder, multi-crop reduced till-planter, and lightweight riding boat tiller using molded tough virgin polyethylene could help increase efficiency in farm operations.

The effect of climate change is inevitable and unrelenting. It was projected that by 2020- 2050, extreme weather events will occur and will have great impact to rice production. According to the International Rice Research Institute, yield losses could be between 10-15%. As such, we developed pre- and post-production technologies for postharvest handling and machines for water-logged areas.

We must succeed in this endeavor. Mechanization has a big share in RCEF so let us pursue this vigorously with the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) and the private sector.

We are also developing the Integrated Crop Management options for improved management of pests and diseases, soils and nutrients using diagnostic tools, and information support systems. These are further tested to validate their effectivity in the local setting.

We have also explored the potential of high-value products from rice. Gamma-aminobutyric Acid (GABA) rice from NSIC Rc 160 and Rc 222 were found suitable for the production of instant rice congee, ready-to-eat rice meal, and other rice-based foods and beverages.

We worked collaboratively with other agencies especially on policy analysis and advocacy on credit system for rice farmers, dissemination of knowledge products and rice-based policies, conduct of advocacy campaigns, and crafting of policies and recommendations that could further improve farmer’s practices, increase yield, and reduced production cost. For instance, we partnered with private companies in Samar and Leyte that engage in rice marketing system. They help farmers through lending quality seeds, providing inputs and machineries, and extending technical assistance. They buy the palay from the farmers, which they process into premium quality rice.

We have also produced 29 publications on ISI and non-ISI journals and books, which were given appropriate incentives.

Our technology promotion efforts reached almost 200,000 farmers, agri-entrepreneurs, and extension workers. We have strengthened our connectivity through our social media accounts, broadcast media, distribution of IEC materials, Lakbay Palay, series of trainings, and exhibits.

The creation of Community Relations Office enabled us to focus on reaching out more stakeholders. It serves as the central point of coordination in aligning messages, educational experiences, and image and brand.

Eighty-eight Research for Development projects were implemented nationwide in partnership with DA research centers, academe, LGUs, and non-government organizations. We acknowledge the role of our branch and satellite stations, which made project implementation worked smoothly at the ground level.

We also strengthened our institutional capability.

In 2018, 48 infra projects including the 21 projects that were carried-over from 2017. These included 10 projects under capital outlay, 7 externally funded, and 7 repair and maintenance.

The construction of Rice Biotechnology Center amounting to P125,839,888 is a significant accomplishment. Through biotechnology, we could help increase yield potential, improve nutritional quality, broaden tolerance of rice against biotic and abiotic stresses, and increase resistance to pests and diseases.

From P518 million in 2017, we obtained a 50%-increase in the approved budget of P778 million for 2018. This implies that higher authorities trust us. The total funds managed by the Finance Management Division amounted to P1.1B including Trust Fund and Institute’s 2018 income.

We acknowledge our limitations in fund disbursements, which led to the issuance of AOM by the Commission on Audit in 2017. Our Legal Office is continuously working this out. In fact, 29 Notices of Disallowances and civil cases for small claims against two defaulting scholars were already settled. However, there is still a need for constant follow up and submission of documentary requirements so that we will be cleared from other monetary accountabilities. We must also learn from the cases to avoid similar incidences in the future.

Likewise, out of 10 cadastral cases on the Petition for Application for Registration, two were already decided confirming the title of PhilRice over the subject landholding. Settlements of other disputed properties are still on-going.

To further enhance our human resource complement, our proposed new organizational structure was already crafted. The final draft will be presented to the Board of Trustees and Department of Budget Management. The new structure is already responsive to the mandate of the Institute and in the realization of the strategic plan. We are also glad that at least 30 of our staff have been promoted and that many of our service contractors are already employed as permanent.

In our continued pursuit for excellence, PhilRice provided supportive environment for professional growth and development.

Two were recently conferred scientists, Dindo King M. Donayre and Jayvee A. Cruz, while there were five pending applications. Congratulations! I encourage everyone to take this opportunity and start working on the requirements.

We also have four colleagues who are now MS and PhD graduates while some 20 are pursuing their graduate studies. Congratulations! I would like to emphasize and reiterate the value of continuing education and professional development.

In recognition to the exemplary performance and outstanding contribution to the nation and to the Institute, two bagged the Presidential Lingkod Bayan and one CSC Pagasa Awards. I will not pass this moment without recognizing them once again. Congratulations Dr. Norvie L. Manigbas and Roger F. Barroga! Of course, that also includes your acting executive director!

There are already 116 personnel covered in the Magna Carta and they have received benefits in accordance to the provisions of RA 8439. We will work out on ensuring that this privilege will be availed by ALL, as an Institute, in our drive for inclusiveness, and to further strengthen support mechanism for our workforce.

The innovations we made in our management information systems translated into efficiency in responding to the transacting public and in day-to-day operations of the Institute. This is our edge in adhering to quality management. Kudos, Information Systems Division!

We have smoothly journeyed so far, but the road to achieving our commitments in the Strategic Plan is still a long way. However, I am very certain we can reach that end.

Insha Allah (in God’s Will), during my term, I will intensify support in strengthening our branch and satellite stations. They play a critical role in making things happen at the field level, especially in our expanded role on seed systems. We will work out the acquisition of land for PhilRice Los Baños and Batac.

On top of our renown certification on System of Quality Management, Environmental Protection, and Occupational Health and Safety in research and development, we will further endeavor to get the Philippine Quality Award as the highest level of national recognition for exemplary organizational performance.

In my 25 years of service, I have reflected on whether the things I have sweated for and the matters that the Institute have been doing throughout 33 years, have reached and transformed the lives of our rice farmers. For me, it’s a proud “yes”. However, realities in the field tell us to work harder.

In summary, I propose the acronym SAILILA as our guide in our way forward: Strengthening and Advancing Innovation, Linkages, Learning, and Advocacy.

We will further strengthen and institutionalize our linkage within PhilRice, with our stakeholders (DA and attached bureaus and agencies, LGUs, other government agencies and non-government organizations), and with the rice farmers. Our constant collaboration with them and being mindful of their views, needs, and aspirations, can help us in making things better.

We will further strengthen and institutionalize learning. As the lead institution in rice research for development, we take the authority on rice matters from seeds to seeds. We will continue to build, innovate, and do more researches especially in addressing climate change and making farm households and farming environment less vulnerable to its effects.

We will intensify our advocacy. Our knowledge products and services, and the innovations we have developed and we will be developing, must be widely availed and adopted by our rice farmers.

May we be inspired from our gains and learning. Let us give our best further for a more responsive, compassionate, and effective public service.

We have our own share in making every rice farmer’s aspirations a reality. Afterall, this is the reason of our existence at PhilRice.

We can do it! Maraming salamat po sa lahat!

 

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Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) is a government corporate entity attached to the Department of Agriculture created through Executive Order 1061 on 5 November 1985 (as amended) to help develop high-yielding and cost-reducing technologies so farmers can produce enough rice for all Filipinos.

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Philippine Rice Research Institute