Order of Sikatuna conferred on outgoing IRRI chief

The Philippine government conferred the Order of Sikatuna on outgoing director general of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) Dr. Robert Stewart Zeigler for his valuable contributions to Philippine agriculture.

Zeigler was conferred the Order of Sikatuna, Grand Cross (Rank of Datu), Gold Distinction (Katangiang Ginto) by Acting Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary, Undersecretary Jesus I. Yabes, on behalf of President Aquino.

The Order of Sikatuna is the national order of diplomatic merit conferred upon individuals who have rendered exceptional and meritorious services to the Philippines, upon diplomats, officials and nationals of foreign states who have rendered conspicuous services in fostering, developing and strengthening relations between their country and the Philippines, or upon personnel of the DFA, both in the Home Office and in the Foreign Service.

The Order of Sikatuna was conferred upon Zeigler “in recognition and tribute to his extraordinary service in nurturing IRRI’s special relations with the Philippines in the 17 years of his residency in the country.”

Under his leadership, the country benefited from IRRI projects that continues to provide long-term food security, rice yield growth and rise in incomes and productivity of Filipino farmers.

In the aftermath of typhoon “Yolanda” in 2013, IRRI donated 13 tons of high-yielding rice seeds to Leyte and Samar provinces, which had been hardest hit by the typhoon.