The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) is spearheading an initiative to cultivate appreciation among Manila-based reporters and communications heads for rice production, while raising awareness of data-driven rice science and technology.
In response to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s call to revolutionize agriculture with data-driven systems, the initiative enables journalists to understand rice production intricacies and communicate these effectively to the public through credible reporting on rice or “riceponsible” reporting.
“This empowers the community with knowledge, fostering informed decision-making and encouraging active participation in agricultural development. It provides journalists with the opportunity to highlight the importance of science and technology in enhancing the country’s agricultural sector; thus, promoting a culture of innovation and progress,” Director Julius N. Leonen of the PCO said.
As part of the Food Security Cluster Communications Workshop to be conducted on April 3-5 in Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, 35 media personnel will be informed of the contributions of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) in helping the country achieve its record-breaking rice harvest of 20.06 million metric tons in 2023.
Reporters will tour around PhilRice’s experimental fields showcasing trials on the performance of multi-environmental rice varieties and the strategies on managing pests and diseases.
They will also learn about the drought-tolerant lines being developed, gender-neutral machines designed to increase rice yield and reduce production cost, and drones used in precision planting and fertilizer management.
They will also view the rice paddy art featuring the nation’s highest harvest.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. and other senior officials from the agriculture sector will deliver their talks during the three-day workshop.
