PhilRice official recognized

A SUPERVISING science research specialist was conferred the 2017 Civil Service Commission (CSC) Pagasa Award during the Gawad Career Executive Service held at the Malacañan Palace, September 20.

A Pagasa awardee, PhilRice Negros Branch Director Rizal G. Corales received his plaque from President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and CSC Chairperson Alicia Bala. The Pagasa award is one of the highest awards to be given to a government employee for outstanding contribution resulting from an idea or performance, which directly benefited more than one department of the government.

“This award translates to motivation not just for me but also for the Institute to continue its function as a government agency— to help our farmers to be more successful in land cultivation,” Corales said.

Corales leads PhilRice’s Palayamanan Plus program, a rice-based farming systems model that helps increase farmer’s income and profitability. It advocates the adoption of diversification, intensification, and integration of farming activities such as crops, livestock, mushroom, vermicomposting among others.

Palayaman Plus pilot sites were established in Aurora, Pampanga, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Isabela, and Agusan del Norte in 2014. Their activities helped 627 farming households covering 221 ha to reach an average yield of 4.5-6t/ha during the dry and wet seasons.