SCIENCE CITY OF MUÑOZ, Nueva Ecija—At least 100 staff members and employees of the Philippine Rice Research Institute were honored as the institute marked its 31st anniversary as the country’s sole research agency on rice Tuesday.
This year’s anniversary celebrations, themed “Rice science and innovation for inclusive growth,” kicked off Monday at its central experiment station in Barangay Maligaya with the opening of the National Rice Awareness Month and the Santiago R. Obien seminar series on research management and institution.
The seminar was named after the former PhilRice executive director.
Dr. Sailila Abdulla, PhilRice executive director, said the employees were honored during the “Dangal ng PhilRice” recognition day on Tuesday.
Dr. V. Bruce J. Tolentino, deputy director general for communication and partnerships of the International Rice Research Institute, awarded plaques and certificates to the awardees who included those who excelled in external fields, scientific productivity, scholastic, loyalty, and as outstanding employee.
Abdulla said as a research institution, PhilRice had advanced rice science by producing scientific publications written by its researchers and scientists.
These were later on published in some of the most reputable journals such as the Journal of Food Agriculture and Environment, International Journal of Ecology and Conservation, Philippine Journal of Crop Science, and the Philippine Agricultural Scientist.
PhilRice is a government corporate entity attached to the Department of Agriculture and created through Executive Order 1061 in 1985.
It is mandated to help develop high-yielding and cost-reducing technologies for farmers through research and development work in its central and six branch stations, coordinating with a network that comprises 57 agencies and 70 seed centers located nationwide.