Newly appointed agriculture secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has pledged to focus on reducing rice importation during his tenure — a commitment made during the Ugnay Palay: 35th National Rice R4D Conference at the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) in Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, Nov. 29. “Our ultimate goal is to swiftly reduce rice imports for food security and efficiency. We also aim to inspire a new generation […]

Several legislators expressed their support for the BeRICEponsible campaign of the National Rice Awareness Month (NRAM) as they visited the recent exhibit titled, “Palay. Bigas. Kanin. Alamin” at the Senate building in Pasay City. The lawmakers affirmed their commitment to the campaign by endorsing the ABKD practices: (A) Adlay, mais, saba, atbp. ay ihalo sa kanin; (B) Brown Rice ay kainin; (K) Kanin ay huwag sayangin; at (D) Dapat bigas […]

Sen. President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda urged Filipinos “not to waste rice” during “Palay. Bigas. Kanin. Alamin” exhibit held for the National Rice Awareness Month celebration. She also emphasized the importance of achieving rice self-sufficiency and reducing wastage in line with biodiversity and climate concerns. Read: https://www.lorenlegarda.com.ph/dont-waste-rice-legarda-reminds-public-2/?fbclid=IwAR3jFmMynaVa9mDKXxM_5d7O2jo2Yz8v7StCusHuUDwIEALjOJrnYeYVUjc

As the country celebrates National Rice Awareness Month (NRAM), the call for half-cup rice servings has garnered support from the country’s legislative body to sponsor a bill that was first filed in the Senate in 2013. “As of today, two congressmen have already expressed their willingness to volunteer as sponsors for the bill we are trying to revive,” said Dr. Hazel V. Antonio, lead of the NRAM celebration.  Based on […]

Representatives from Korean and Philippine national agencies and corporations recently commenced construction on a new rice seed processing facility and warehouse with cold storage, marking a significant step in strengthening bilateral ties.  Established in Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, the facility, according to Dr. Byung Ki Lee, Global Agricultural Policy Institute (GAPI) project manager, is expected to help increase the utilization rate of high-quality certified rice seeds, improve self-sufficiency […]

The Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) is ramping up its advocacy efforts for the National Rice Awareness Month (NRAM) to enhance public awareness about “BeRICEponsible.” The online activities, which is a part of the NRAM celebration held every November, will kick off through the RCEF PalayAralan TV on Facebook on Oct. 27, 3 p.m. Established under Proclamation No. 524 in 2014, this year’s NRAM focuses on the theme […]

The rice market nationwide is undergoing a surge in palay prices, reaching P25/kg based on data from the Philippine Rice Information System (PRISM) of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice). From July 31 to Aug. 6, the average price of fresh palay stood at P17.83/kg while dry palay commanded P19.33 benefitting the early planters this 2023 wet season. In June, the peak price of dry palay per kilogram reached P25 […]

Domingo F. Panganiban, senior undersecretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA), honors journalists for their significant contributions in agriculture and environment reportage during the recent 2022 Binhi Awards given by the Philippine Agricultural Journalists (PAJ), Inc. “We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the Binhi awardees for your unwavering support to farmers and fisherfolk. Your dedication in crafting inspiring and impactful write-ups truly encourages the Filipino people, including the DA, to […]

A Singapore-based publication and a national science body recently cited two experts based at the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) for their significant contributions to agricultural science. Dr. Roel R. Suralta was listed in the 2023 edition of the Asian Scientist 100 of the Asian Scientist Magazine following his winning in the 2021 National Research Council of the Philippines. The council recognized his works in root science resulting in producing […]

Just before the recent announcement of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on the arrival of El Niño, the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Seed Program has already delivered almost 2 million bags of certified seeds that included early-maturing varieties across the country.  Experts at the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) said early-maturing varieties are recommended during El Niño as these can be harvested before the drought intensifies so […]