Farmers in Zamboanga Peninsula will soon have better access to quality rice seeds as the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) and the Western Mindanao State University (WMSU) signed a memorandum of agreement to build the Institute’s second satellite station in Mindanao, December 4. The first satellite station is based in Central Mindanao University (CMU) in Musuan, Maramag, Bukidnon with 96-hectare rice seed production farm. “We are trying our best to […]

Rona T. Dollentas is a soil scientist. She has greatly contributed in producing the guide books for different soil types in the Philippines.

Photo courtesy: Edwin C. Martin In a study conducted by a team of PhilRice’s weed science researchers, it appears that the growth and development of weedy rice are higher than cultivated rice. It also matures earlier than cultivated rice and its seedlings can survive even in adverse environmental conditions. Weedy rice is a type of a grain-bearing weed, considered as a pest, which reduces rice yields, affects quality of rice […]

Over 2,800 farmers, agricultural extension workers, students, and other stakeholders learned new rice and rice-based farming technologies during the farmers’ field days conducted by five PhilRice branch stations. “Our farmers’ field days are one of our ways to bring the technologies to our farmers. They also serve as an opportunity for us to brief our farmers about our new programs that could help them become more competitive by adopting our […]

Cheaper crop establishment cost, reduced seeding rate, and more accurate seeding compared with manual broadcasting are the main features of the new multi-purpose seeder (MP seeder) for direct seeding. During the field trials for the MP seeder last year, PhilRice engineers saw impressive results especially for farmers in the rainfed areas. “The machine is attached to a handtractor as it is common among farmers and many of them own a […]

Among PhilRice’s promising young scientists, Dr. Reynante Lacsamana Ordonio, 36, has already published in high-impact journals such as Science, Nature Cell Research and Scientific Reports, and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences-USA. A rare feat for Filipino researchers. He is among the very few researchers at PhilRice that focus on plant molecular breeding and genetic engineering. Rey is currently a postdoctoral research fellow at Nagoya University, working on rice […]

Being a local gives one the advantage of seeing the needs in his community. It fuels the passion to contribute something in whatever means possible. PhilRice researcher Alvin D. Palanog, 35, grew up in a sugarcane hacienda in La Carlota City in Negros Occidental where his father worked as a laborer. As in most agricultural communities in the Philippines, life is difficult in their community during lean months or what […]

Photo credit: Honors Awards Program Committee, Civil Service Commission Information Office We introduce Mr. Rizal G. Corales, acting branch manager of PhilRice Negros, who was among the recipients of the PAG-ASA award, a prestigious recognition given by the Civil Service Commission last month. Kuya Rizal, as he is fondly called at PhilRice, hails from Sanchez Mira, Cagayan now residing at Bagong Sikat, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija. He oftentimes […]

A supervising science research specialist was conferred the 2017 Civil Service Commission (CSC) Pagasa Award during the Gawad Career Executive Service held at the Malacañan Palace, September 20. A Pagasa awardee, PhilRice Negros Branch Director Rizal G. Corales received his plaque from President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and CSC Chairperson Alicia Bala. The Pagasa award is one of the highest awards to be given to a government employee for outstanding contribution […]

Working in the agriculture research sector for 36 years now, PhilRice Scientist Dr. Norvie L. Manigbas has been involved in around 100 studies and has published widely in local and international journals. His group led the development of the first released direct-wet seeded rice variety, NSIC Rc298, which is now grown nationwide. At PhilRice, he leads projects with support and collaborators from Japan, South Korea, and eight ASEAN-member countries. Childhood, […]