United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food Dr. Hilal Elver (second from left) visited PhilRice in Nueva Ecija to familiarize herself with the Institute’s initiatives in support to UN’s advocacy on food security, Feb. 24. According to the Department of Agriculture Office of the Secretary, Elver is on a mission in the Philippines until February 27, 2015 to assess the efforts being made in the country to achieve […]

Science City of Munoz, Nueva Ecija – The science community here celebrated the county’s sustained good harvest in an exhibit dubbed as “Bountiful Harvest,” at the Rice Science Museum, Feb. 23.  Early this month, Sec. Proceso J. Alcala of the Department of Agriculture announced that the Philippine agriculture in 2014 has achieved growth despite “strong typhoons that battered some key production areas.” Palay output reached 19 million metric tons or […]

An alternative source that does not rely on fossil fuels was established in Infanta, Quezon to help supply the energy demand in rice and rice-based communities, Jan. 29. Located in Brgy. Binonoan, the bioethanol distillation facility produces energy without negative impact on environment as nipa sap is processed into biofuel for spark-ignition engines that farmers commonly use. Nipa is an indigenous product of Infanta. “This facility built basically produces hydrous […]

Edilberto M. De Luna, assistant secretary of the Department of Agriculture accepts the challenge of leading PhilRice as he was designated officer-in-charge of the institute upon the retirement of former Executive Director Eufemio T. Rasco Jr., Feb. 3.  Rasco turned 65 on Feb. 3. The search for the new executive director is ongoing. “I accept the challenge being assigned as OIC of PhilRice until a new executive director is selected. […]

In more than three years as PhilRice executive director, Dr. Eufemio T. Rasco, Jr. has stood with his conviction to swing rice R&D direction from the rice crop to the rice farmer.   “When you focus on the rice farmer, you begin to realize that the rice environment is not only about rice. There are many things you can do in the rice environment with the rice farmers so that you […]

Highly cited PhilRice scientist and crop physiologist Dr. Rolando T. Cruz ended his 19 years of government service at the Institute, January 23. Cruz, who worked at the Agronomy, Soils, and Plant Physiology Division (ASPPD), was responsible for conducting systems analysis and simulation modelling for potential yield and nitrogen optimization in irrigated rice systems. In addition, he spent several years developing practical field diagnostic tools for plant nutrient status and […]

It was more than just a school project for grade 3 students of Adonai Integrated Montessori School in the Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija. For Edward Johanne Y. Quilang, Caleb John H. Bandonil, Ghenard V. Fernandez, John Cedric L. Labugnen, Erelle John S. Clamelo, and Wilfred Neal R. Bernardo, no one is too young to care for the Filipino rice farmers. When Science teacher Aurora A. Ferrer assigned the […]

Three PhilRice scientists were recognized by the local government of the Science City of Muñoz in Nueva Ecija for “giving pride and honor to the city and for their contribution in scientific research.” The Institute’s executive director Dr. Eufemio T. Rasco Jr., Ms. Thelma F. Padolina, and Dr. Riza A. Ramos received plaques of recognition during the Teachers and Employees’ Night, January 9. Ramos was recognized for receiving the 2014 […]

PhilRice Agusan received the top prize in the 2014 Best Station contest – an annual internal competition organized by the Institute to elevate and improve the modalities in promoting new technologies in rice production. It also aims to highlight the best-fit practices of the stations in rice R&D. Agusan was also recognized for successfully and creatively executing the Intensified Rice-Based Agri-bio Systems (IRBAS) program in support of PhilRice’s major advocacy, […]

A study recently identified 25 new advanced breeding lines after rigorous selection for high temperature tolerance using conventional method and marker-assisted selection. Titled Development of new rice varieties for high temperature tolerance in the Philippines, the research was the bronze winner of the Gold AFMA Best R&D Paper Award. Dr. Norvie Manigbas, lead researcher, said that the development of rice varieties for high temperature tolerance is important in addressing climate […]