While substantial steps to promote gender equality in our country have been taken with the enactment of the Magna Carta of Women in 2009, gender gaps remain in other industries like agriculture. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, 8.31 million men and 2.76 million ladies in 2016 were employed in agriculture. Men were also paid P17.45 higher than women. Yet these data are not enough to reflect the important roles […]

In the outskirts of Santiago, Gerona, Tarlac, a community is nestled in the middle of an agricultural land. Here, families know each other. After all, they are related by blood. By early afternoon, many of the relatives gather under a massive mango tree where halo-halo is being sold to beat the April heat. It resembles an opening sequence of a local movie – children at play, the huddle of parents […]

Rogel Comesario’s farm in Manaoag, Pangasinan was the center of attention on March 5, 2020 as the first Rice Competitiveness Enhancement (RCEF) produce was ceremonially harvested. High-ranking national and regional government personalities graced the ceremony, engendering a virtual barrio-fiesta mood. The roaring combine harvester blended well with the output of the drum-and-lyre corps, and the loud speakers further intensified the noisy but pleasing rendition. It was musical democracy at its […]

The afternoon heat is unusually bearable as Dr. Ricardo Orge and I walk through a path that leads to a portion of the farm. The road divides the sprawling rice field to the left and irrigation canal to the right. As we reach the site, we went straight to the oven housed in a shed. “This is where they pasteurize the mushroom fruiting bags,” Dr. Orge reveals. But the oven […]

The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) has started training new brred of rice specialists to help the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) beneficiaries become competitive. Titled Rice Specialists’ Training Course (RSTC), it is set to enhance the technical competence of rice focal persons from the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) Regional Centers and DA-Regional Field Offices, June 24-Aug. 17.Twenty-nine participants completed part 1 of the training course that focused on mind-setting […]

An official of Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), the country’s lead agency on rice research for development, persuaded more than 400 farmers to adopt new technologies to survive rice trade liberalization. In farmers’ event called Lakbay Palay conducted at PhilRice Negros, Dr. Karen Eloisa T. Barroga, deputy executive director for development, said science-based technologies such as seeds and machines, coupled with sipag (diligence), and pagsama-sama (organized and united) will help […]

Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), the country’s lead agency for rice research for development, pushes for the use of high-quality inbred seeds and its associated technologies to help farmers become competitive and survive the influx of cheaper rice from the international market. According to PhilRice experts, competitiveness means increasing farmers’ yield by at least 5 tons per hectare for inbred seeds and reducing their production cost by 30%. Signed on […]

Head of the country’s lead agency on rice research for development rallies workers to support the upcoming Rice Tariffication Act or currently the Senate Bill 1998, which aims to replace import restrictions on rice with tariffs. Dr. Sailila E. Abdula, acting executive director of Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), urged in his statement early this month that cost-effective technologies should be further generated for the farmers to survive the possible influx […]

Crude bioethanol distiller that is powered by rice husk was acclaimed grand prize winner during the recent Alfredo M. Yao Intellectual Property Awards (AMY IP Awards) held at the Manila Hotel. Invented by engineers at the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), the machine uses rice husk as alternative fuel to produce crude bioethanol (lambanog or vodka) from fermented feedstock. Engr. Alexis Belonio, PhilRice senior research fellow and main inventor, said […]

Filipinos’ love for rice is unlimited. Despite the need to include other high value crops in our health, Filipino families prioritize rice in the food expenses.  For families living below the poverty line, having rice on the table is enough as they cannot afford a diverse diet to meet their nutritional needs due to rising food prices. “Rice intake was lowest among the richest households and highest among poor households,” […]