The Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) honored two researchers of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) during the graduation of the Middle Managers’ Class 8 of the academy’s Public Management Development Program (PMDP) at the DAP Conference Center in Tagaytay, 29 January. Senior Science Research Specialist Rhemilyn Z. Relado led the graduates as class valedictorian and received the Most Relevant Re-Entry Project (ReP) Award.  The initiative titled Binhi para […]

Scientists at the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) have adapted a simplified method to detect viruses in plant and insect vectors using the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) technique. LAMP assay has been proven useful in detecting viruses in animals and humans, said Dr. Emmanuel Tiongco. His team, composed of Dr. Xuan Hoai Truong, Ms. Ma. Johna Duque, and Dr. Rubigilda Paraguison-Alili (Central Luzon State University), extended the application of this […]

The direct seeding, a crop establishment method where pre-germinated seeds are sown directly onto the soil surface, can help address high labor cost in rice farming according to experts. PhilRice Agronomist Myrna D. Malabayabas said that the method can be done either by dry or wet seeding and does not require seedbed preparation. “The dry direct-seeding method is more commonly used in rainfed and upland areas. It involves sowing of […]

A new rice seed processing facility was established at the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) in the Science City of Muñoz to help farmers and seed growers in neighboring provinces have an access to high-quality seeds. These seeds have high seedling vigor, meaning, they have a good survival rate and root anchorage, which leads to a higher yield advantage. The facility worth more than $2 M is funded by the […]

  Access to online journal databases such as Springer, Science Direct, and Proquest Agriculture now available at the PhilRice Library. Library services also open to non-PhilRice staff members. They just need to coordinate with the Institute’s librarian: library@philrice.gov.ph. These new services received funding support from the DA National Rice Program through the DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research.   Researchers at the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) are now able to access […]

Rice-based farming will increase farmers’ income and consumers will have healthier options according to Dr. Eufemio T. Rasco Jr., of the National Academy for Science and Technology (NAST) and a former executive director of PhilRice. The said approach requires diversification, integration, and intensification of farming practices. “Instead of rice mono-cropping, farmers should also grow other crops, and livestock alongside rice. With the use of existing models like vermiculture, mushroom production, […]

Dr. Calixto M. Protacio, executive director of PhilRice, designated three acting deputy executive directors (DED), effective January to December 2016. Roger F. Barroga has been designated as acting DED for administration. Drs. Eduardo Jimmy P. Quilang and Flordeliza H. Bordey have been designated as acting deputies for research and for development, respectively. Barroga currently leads FutureRice, a program that explores ways to increase current rice output using 21st century and […]

A PhilRice-IRRI study recommends that the country should focus on increasing rice yield, reducing production costs, and improving milling efficiency to boost PH’s rice competitiveness. The two institutions co-implemented the study titled Benchmarking the Philippine Rice Economy Relative to Major Rice-Producing Countries in Asia. Comparative studies were done in sites representing irrigated and intensively cultivated areas in six countries: Philippines (Nueva Ecija); China (Zheijang); India (Tamil Nadu); Indonesia (West Jave); […]

The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) is making the rice seeds more accessible to farmers through Lakbay Binhi, a project that brings high quality and location-specific seeds through trucks converted into mobile seed centers. The project was pilot-tested in three sites affected by typhoon Lando. On 4-9 December, 82 bags of 20-kg registered seeds were given to over a hundred farmers of Dipaculao and Casiguran in Aurora and Guimba, Nueva Ecija. Rhemilyn […]

A PhilRice-IRRI study recommends the use of hybrid varieties, optimal use of fertilizers, training of more farmers on rice technologies, and educating future farmers as some of the ways to boost rice productivity in the country. These recommendations came from the study titled Benchmarking the Philippine Rice Economy Relative to Major Rice-Producing Countries in Asia. Co-implemented by PhilRice and IRRI, the study was presented in a research seminar on 3 […]