In celebration of its 30th anniversary, PhilRice recognized outstanding employees and official during the 2015 Dangal ng PhilRice Ceremony, 6 November. 
Twenty awards were given to outstanding research, development, administrative support, laboratory, skilled, and utility workers. Other awards recognized were 6 best papers, 28 best posters, 34 scientific productivity awards, nine scholastic awards and 18 loyalty awards.
“Thank you for your selfless dedication to public service…for exerting your best effort, for showing love for your work that epitomize excellence, dedication, commitment to duty, and devotion to showing respect for public trust through outstanding public service,” said Dr. Manny Regalado, deputy executive director for research, addressed the awardees.
The Best Team Award was given to the Upland Rice Development Program (URDP) Team. The program aims to promote sustainable farming systems and practices in upland communities. It has formed 75 farmers’ organizations with more than 3,000 members from 35 provinces; the majority of the organizations have been registered to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Cooperative Development Authority (CDA).
Meanwhile, the Socioeconomics Division (SED) won the Best Office Award. The division led the DA-funded research study Benchmarking the Philippine rice economy relative to major rice-producing countries in Asia in partnership with IRRI. Their research studies are also well-cited in national reports and used as references by policymakers and researchers alike.
Outstanding Senior R&D Researcher, Dr. Marissa V. Romero, shared, “We may have different motivations for our hard work and dedication, but I am certain that surely, we are in one in advancing the vision to contribute to the institutional goals of PhilRice.”
Officials from the local government and neighboring agencies in the Science City of Muñoz such as the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC), Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech), and the Central Luzon State University (CLSU) were also present during the occasion.
“In the past 30 years, PhilRice guided us through the challenges and efforts in ensuring that every Filipino family has food on their table,” said Jessica Marie G. Robredo representing her mother, Cong. Leni Robredo, as guest speaker.
Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala lauded PhilRice’s research and development initiatives that contributed to the attainment of the country’s 18.97M metric tons of rice produced in 2014 and the continued efforts to achieve food staples self-sufficiency.
