The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) has been honored with the “2023 Asia’s Best Employer Brand” at the 18th Employer Branding Awards conducted in Singapore, Aug. 17. The award, presented by the Employer Branding Institute, recognizes Asian organizations that excel in enhancing employee satisfaction, engagement, talent development, innovative talent practices, and retention. In her acceptance speech, Sophia T. Borja, PhilRice deputy executive director for Administrative Services and Finance, emphasized the […]

Agricultural Officer Dr. Bo Zhou (center) of the Food and Agriculture Organization Regional Office for Asia and Pacific, visited PhilRice CES on August 7 for a discussion and progress of the “Building Capacity on Promoting Economically and Environmentally Efficient Rice Production through DSR” project with PhilRice’s DSR team. This project aims to support rice farmers in reducing production costs through the promotion of mechanized DSR technologies. During this visit, Dr. […]

Sen. Cynthia A. Villar, chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, cited the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund Rice Extension Services Program (RCEF RESP) during its midyear review in Nueva Ecija, Aug. 10. “The team of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) has [significantly] contributed in achieving the goals of the Rice Tariffication Law [of helping the farmers become competitive amidst the influx of rice from the international market],” […]

Decision-making is made easy as rice-related information is right at our fingertips. Thanks to ICT and digital technologies! Information and communications technology (ICT) and digital technologies pave the way for anticipatory decision-making and action for our policymakers, researchers, development workers, and rice farmers. The Philippine Rice Information System (PRiSM), Rice Crop Manager Advisory Service (RCMAS), and Oryza Germplasm Management System (GEMS) are just among the decision-making tools available. With the […]

Members of the RiceBIS Bayambang Agriculture Cooperative (RBAC) in Pangasinan are expanding their reach with their rice-based products being showcased at the World Food Expo in Taguig City, Metro Manila, Aug. 2-5.  To prepare for this event, this Rice Business Innovations System (RiceBIS) community  were already awake like crepuscular animals active at dawn and dusk to transport their products outside the region.  RBAC Chair Conrado Lapurga shared that their journey […]

To fortify rice-farming communities against the challenges of a changing climate, PhilRice Los Baños distributed over 260 seed packs of climate-smart varieties to Quezon farmers this wet season. Each pack had 5kg of seeds of rainfed varieties such as NSIC Rc 416 and 426 or saline rices Rc 330 and 338. Reports showed that majority of the farmers favored adopting climate-smart varieties, demonstrating eagerness not only to continue planting the […]

Government agencies “converge, cooperate, and coordinate” in their commitment to support the Masagana Rice Industry Development Plan, which President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. agreed in May to implement.  In the recent convergence meeting held in Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, Development Bank of the Philippines, Philippine Crop Insurance Corp, and Land Bank of the Philippines have pledged to prioritize financial aid to rice farm clusters, especially in their engagement in […]

Envisioning a fully mechanized farming, an efficient seed processing facility, and a thriving community of experts, Negros Branch Director Leo T. Sta. Ines believes that the station has a promising future as he expressed during his speech in the branch’s celebration program on July 31. PhilRice Negros being the sixth home of the Institute, celebrated its 20th anniversary with the theme: “Unite and celebrate the two decades of existence.” Negros […]

To address poor adaptability of rice to local conditions and its adoption in Sta. Monica, Siargao, Surigao del Norte, PhilRice Agusan is now showcasing various regional and national rice varieties. The study, “TechnoPUSH: Technology Demonstration of Rice Production Technologies,” seeks to bolster farmer awareness regarding yield-enhancing and cost-reducing practices.  Through this, NSIC Rc varieties such as 436, 480, 506, 508, 510, 512, and 514 are being tested under local conditions […]