Written by the Web Team
Over 51 organizations from the government and private sector have thrown their support for the National Year of Rice (NYR 2013), which is expected to result to more Filipinos adopting healthier and responsible consumption of rice.
“This swelling of support for the advocacies of NYR shows that more institutions are now becoming aware of the need to be ‘rice-sponsible’ or be healthier and more responsible rice consumers,” said NYR 2013 campaign director Hazel Antonio.
Among the government entities that threw their support for NYR is the Department of Health, which agreed to incorporate NYR advocacies in their campaigns on diabetes and obesity, among others. DOH Assistant Secretary Dr. Eric Tayag has also agreed to be one of the NYR ambassadors by promoting the NYR dance and advocacies during interviews.
Aside from DOH, 26 other government agencies have joined the campaign. Among these are the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), which have requested the institutions under them to incorporate NYR advocacies in their respective activities, reciting the Panatang Makapalay, and displaying of the NYR tarpaulin.
DILG, in particular, has encouraged local governments to pass ordinances on responsible rice consumption and productive rice farming.
Meanwhile, giant television networks, ABS-CBN and GMA 7, have joined the league of 24 private organizations supporting NYR. Soon, NYR promotional materials will be visible in ABS-CBN regional stations nationwide. Press releases and spiels may also be aired in the network’s regional and national broadcast facilities.
GMA 7, on the other hand, has already aired NYR infomercials over GMA7, GNTV, and DZBB. Filming of the Panatang Makapalay video, a pledge to save and conserve rice, featuring Kapuso stars and a feature on the station’s “Pepito Manaloto” are in the offing.
Smart Telecommunications, National Telecommunications Commission, Philippine Information Agency, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Department of Finance, and Department of Transportation and Communications are among the key private and public entities that have collaborated thus far with the NYR.
SL Agritech, a private firm involved in rice production, had pledged to include the NYR advocacy of using technology in rice farming in its seminars for farmers.
Meanwhile, schools like the University of the East- Manila, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology, CARAGA State University, Cagayan Sate University, Central Luzon State University, Laguna State Polytechnic University, Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology, Siquijor State College, and Romblon State University have agreed to display NYR tarpaulins in their campus, incorporate NYR advocacies in their events, and implement the serving of ½ cup rice, brown rice and other staples in their canteen.
The Philippine Basketball Association will also support NYR by playing NYR videos during the finals, or twice per championship game.
