The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) in Batac, Ilocos Norte and Central Experiment Station in Nueva Ecija, under the Department of Agriculture (DA), paid a courtesy call to the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Bauang, under the leadership of Municipal Mayor Eulogio Clarence Martin P. De Guzman III at the Municipal Mayor’s Office, on February 4, 2025. They were escorted by Mr. Leodivico Verzola, Department Head for Municipal Agriculture Office (MAgO).

The group had a dialogue about current and future collaboration on rice for the benefit of local farmers in Bauang, La Union. Particularly, 534 saline variety of rice have been allocated to Barangays Taberna and Baccuit Sur. “A saline variety is a plant variety that can survive in saline or salty soil. Saline varieties are important for restoring land productivity in areas that are prone to flooding and salinity.”

This is the second year of the Package of Technologies (POT), PhilRice’s rice program, in Bauang. “PhilRice developed the POTs to improve rice farming. These technologies include climate-resilient farming, digital transformation, and farm management apps.”

It can be recalled that PhilRice Batac made courtesy visits to the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Bauang with Hon. Tanya Roberta A. De Guzman on May 23, 2024 and with Mayor Martin De Guzman on October 9, 2024.

“The PhilRice is a government corporate entity under the DA created through Executive Order 1061 on 5 November 1985 (as amended) to help develop high-yielding and cost-reducing technologies so farmers can produce enough rice for all Filipinos.”

LGU Bauang is dedicated to pushing the agenda of food security to Bauang residents. Rice farmers in Bauang are always seen by the LGU as one of the vital sectors of our community.

Written and Photographed by: Korina Esteban-Ma