Dr. Sailila E. Abdula, DA-PhilRice Midsayap branch director, holds two concurrent positions under the Department of Agriculture (DA).
He is the designated regional executive director, officer-in-charge, of DA-Regional Field Office 12 and director of the Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR).
In a turnover ceremony held Sept. 12 at DA-RFO 12, Abdula vowed to bring ‘sense of continuity’ in implementing the department’s programs in the region.
As DA-BAR director, meanwhile, he expressed commitment to ensure the bureau’s relevance and sustain its programs.
Abdula was acting DA-PhilRice executive director from July 2016-Sept. 2019.
One of his notable accomplishments was the development of rice varieties NSIC Rc 120 and Rc 226 in response to infestation of tungro rice disease in Southern Mindanao.
He garnered the Presidential Lingkod Bayan award in 2018, ASEAN Rice Science and Technology Ambassador’s Award in 2017, and Gawad Saka Award Research Category in 2016.
