Due to pandemic and travel restrictions, it is very challenging for me and my family since my mother was diagnosed with Stage 4 Colon Cancer and undergoes chemotherapy. I have been the one providing for the medication of my mother and basic needs of my family including my sister and nephews who stay in our house to help me attend to our mother since the lockdown. It was also quite a challenge for me since I have to take extra precaution when going out (to work and to go to the market) since we have vulnerable people inside our home (3 senior citizens and 6 minors). These challenges have made me even stronger and strive harder for my family. Following health protocols as well as practicing backyard gardening helps me with the expenses.

In my work, it is hard to continuously and efficiently deliver our services to our clients and successfully achieve our targets due to COVID 19 restrictions. We also have conducted limited face-to-face trainings which resulted to low targets. Our demo sites and on-farm trial were hard to establish and maintain. The establishment of Binhing Palay Farms has been challenging due to the difficulty in distributing planting materials but were successfully achieved through partnership and close coordination with partner agencies. Maximizing the use of existing resources such as social media and other digital means while having close coordination with the partners is one of the keys to achieve targets.

On a personal note, work-from-home arrangement is quite harder than I thought since I sometimes lost focus due to the kids. Public transportation is also a hindrance in fulfilling my duties. Nevertheless, as a public servant, being selfless and always thinking of the responsibilities, is what kept me going to deliver our targets.

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Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) is a government corporate entity attached to the Department of Agriculture created through Executive Order 1061 on 5 November 1985 (as amended) to help develop high-yielding and cost-reducing technologies so farmers can produce enough rice for all Filipinos.

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Philippine Rice Research Institute