PhilRice Bicol breaks ground for new laboratory and training building with lodging facilities

The ceremonial groundbreaking was lead by ASec Edilberto De Luna, Dr. Reynaldo Castro, Ligao City Mayor Patricia Gonzalez-Alsua and former Mayor Linda P. Gonzalez with representatives from Bicol University Research Center, Department of Agriculture, agriculturists, researchers, and local officials.

Expanding its facilities for rice research, the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) Bicol Station held a Groundbreaking Ceremony for its new laboratory and training building with lodging facilities on 9 June 2015 at Batang, Ligao City.

The ceremonial groundbreaking were lead by PhilRice OIC-Executive Director ASec Edilberto M. De Luna, Ligao City Mayor Patricia Gonzalez-Alsua, former Ligao City Mayor Linda P. Gonzalez, PhilRice Bicol Branch Manager Dr. Reynaldo Castro, and representatives from Bicol University Research Center, Department of Agriculture, local officials, and agriculturists.

The project costs P 10.9M and is expected to be completed on 27 November 2015. “This facility will not only showcase research activity but this will focus more on the production of seeds to cater to the needs of our farmers and seed growers in the region,” said ASec De Luna. The production of rice in the Philippines has significantly increased over the years due to proper use of technologies and new varieties of rice, despite limited area for agriculture, according to ASec De Luna.

The lowering of time capsule during the ceremonial groundbreaking was lead by ASec Edilberto De Luna, Ligao City Mayor Patricia Gonzalez-Alsua and former Mayor Linda P. Gonzalez with representatives from Bicol University Research Center, Department of Agriculture, agriculturists, researchers, and local officials.

The ceremony also gathered stakeholders in the agricultural sector including agriculturists, researchers, extension workers, and policymakers. ASec De Luna saw this as an opportunity to draft a rice research agenda.

Aside from research facilities, former Mayor Gonzalez also envisions the establishment of rice museum where different rice varieties and technologies developed by the institute will be displayed, and eventually become a tourist destination. This will encourage the youth and families not to leave farming.

PhilRice Bicol is also something that Congressman Fernando V. Gonzalez has dreamed of, said former Mayor Gonzalez. Because rice is next to coconut as top agricultural crop produced in Ligao, they are prioritizing agricultural programs that will enhance farming activities in the local areas. “The station represents a good part of the population, the farming sector, of the Bicol region,” said former Mayor Gonzalez.

Congressman Gonzalez and former Mayor Gonzalez were named as the Father and Mother of PhilRice Bicol due to their painstaking efforts to establish the branch in Ligao City.

Ligao has always proved to be the rightful place for the institute. ASec De Luna acknowledged the good collaboration of researchers, agriculturists, LGUs, with the strong support of the City Government of Ligao. “We are one with PhilRice with this vision,” said Ligao City Mayor Patricia Gonzalez-Alsua while stating her commitment to support the institute.


By Lala Peñafiel

PhilRice Bicol: Opening opportunities for Bicolanos and the agricultural sector

The establishment of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) Bicol station at Ligao City paved the way to many opportunities for Bicolanos especially those in the agricultural sector.

Through the initiative of Congressman Fernando V. Gonzalez, the PhilRice Bicol Station was successfully established and inaugurated on March 25, 2010 at Batang, Ligao City. Aside from the geographical advantage of Ligao City, the local government also maintain a strong support and partnership with PhilRice, making Ligao City the best location for the PhilRice Bicol.

Opportunities for farmers and investors

As a new established station, PhilRice Bicol is inviting farmers to come and see the rice farming technologies available in the station. These technologies include the Leaf Color Chart (LCC)1, a tool for identifying the right amount of fertilizer to apply in the field, and different varieties of seeds for seed growers.

The station also provide training for farmers by partnering with the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI). They also provide rice farming advice in which the researchers and rice farming experts can visit the field and provide solutions for the problems encountered by farmers. While farmers are being trained as seed growers, the station also provide them income by buying the seeds they produced one peso higher than the commercial price.

Dr. Reynaldo Castro, branch manager of PhilRice Bicol, also stated the need for manufacturers of the technologies that they developed. "We have a lot of new machines developed. And we are looking for manufacturers to be accredited," said Dr. Castro.

New PhilRice Bicol station operates at Ligao City

The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) Bicol Station was established at Batang, Ligao City on March 25, 2010 to focus on minimizing the adverse effects of climate change in rice production including typhoon, flooding, and drought.

According to Dr. Reynaldo Castro, branch manager of the PhilRice Bicol, most of the research and development projects of PhilRice Bicol lean towards climate change but the scope of all research, training, and development depends on the needs of the farmers.

Ligao City is almost at the center of the region which makes it easier to visit even by the people from the island provinces, said Dr. Castro. Through the initiative of the Congressman Fernando V. Gonzalez and former Ligao City Mayor Linda P. Gonzalez, the PhilRice Bicol Station was established at Ligao City. "I think the key to success to [a] government project is the cooperation and, of course, the support of the local government. And that is present in Ligao," said Dr. Castro.

With the establishment of the new station, we look for more livelihood, business, career, and academic opportunities for farmers, investors, and agricultural students.

The PhilRice Bicol Station was established under the leadership of Secretary Proceso Alcala of the Department of Agriculture, in line with President Noynoy Aquino's agenda on targetting rice self-sufficiency.

The PhilRice Central Experiment Station is located at the Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija headed by Dr. Eufemio T. Rasco Jr. Visit the official website of the PhilRice at philrice.gov.ph for more information.

Related Links:
Official website of the Ligao City
Official website of the Philippine Rice Research Institute