Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. has commended Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) for its role in shaping the future of Philippine agriculture through innovation as the institute marks its 39th anniversary on Nov. 5.“As we celebrate this 39-year milestone, I underscore PhilRice’s role in shaping the future of Philippine agriculture. You are not just improving rice production; you are improving lives,” the secretary, who started his term around this time in 2023, said.Laurel tied PhilRice’s contributions to the government’s Masagana Rice Industry Development Program (MRIDP), an initiative to boost food supply and strengthen the rice value chain.“PhilRice has been instrumental in fostering a culture of collaboration and resource-sharing among farmers,” he said.One of PhilRice’s strategies has been promoting farmer clusters to enhance access to resources, information, and technology, enabling farmers to cope with agricultural challenges. This, the agriculture chief noted, is critical to the success of MRIDP, particularly as farmers face climate-related issues such as the recent El Niño and La Niña.Tiu Laurel cited PhilRice’s proactive response to climate-related challenges including the recent El Niño and La Niña events, where PhilRice provided early-maturing rice varieties and information to help farmers adapt to changing conditions. As of Aug. 31, the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Seed Program has distributed 18.25 million bags of certified seeds, which benefitted 1.77 million beneficiaries. The institute’s social media page also launched its #BeClimateSmart campaign, which reached more than 500,000 netizens.“This responsiveness shows how deeply PhilRice cares for the well-being of our farmers,” he said.Meanwhile, Mayor Baby Armi L. Alvarez of Science City of Muñoz lauded the Institute’s role in fostering collaboration among farmers, researchers, and policymakers under this year’s anniversary theme, “Bida ang Sama-sama para sa Masaganang Bagong Pilipinas.” “PhilRice has created a powerful synergy, bringing together diverse stakeholders who work hand-in-hand to advance agricultural science and address the challenges faced by our nation’s rice industry,” Alvarez said.The local government unit of the Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, she added, remains committed to supporting PhilRice’s mission by providing essential resources to create an environment conducive to agricultural research and development.As part of its anniversary celebration, PhilRice will conduct the SRO Seminar Series, in honor of PhilRice’s first executive director, Dr. Santiago R. Obien, which will feature Dr. Manuel L. Logroño, president and founder of Maize Life and Farming Science. The seminar aims to enhance staff’s management and leadership skills.Employees will also be recognized during the “Dangal ng PhilRice” awards ceremony on Nov. 7 for their contributions to the advancement of rice research, development, and extension services, which have significantly impacted the agricultural sector and improved the livelihoods of Filipino farmers. Additionally, the employees contributed P70,000 to the Bicol residents affected by severe tropical storm Kristine.