Having won the award for third time — the first was in 2001 and the second was in 2002 — the PhilRice newsletter joins the roster of PAJ’s Hall of Fame awardees, Noel Reyes, chairman of the 2005-2006 Binhi Awards committee, said.
PhilRice was awarded "for its exemplary performance in informing its personnel, clienteles, and the general public on the agency’s breakthroughs and program initiatives, thus contributing to the overall development of Philippine agriculture".
The award was given during the PAJ’s 30th anniversary celebration on Sept. 27 at the Camelot Hotel, Quezon City. Sen. Ramon Magsaysay Jr., chairman of the Senate committee on agriculture, was the guest speaker.
PhilRice consultant Dr. Sosimo Ma. Pablico also won the Agricultural Journalist on the Year Award (2nd place).
PAJ launched in 1978 the Binhi Awards to give due recognition to agricultural writers, photojournalists, broadcasters, magazines, newsletters, and information campaigns devoted to agriculture.
A publication devoted to rice, the PhilRice newsletter has evolved from an in-house newsletter to an S&T publication.
The publication features success stories of farmers who have adopted rice production technologies, extension workers and other stakeholders who have become the institute’s active partners in disseminating rice S&T information and facilitating technology adoption.
The publication also popularizes scientific information by featuring current activities, methodologies, and techniques that are being applied by scientists in generating various technologies.
Managed by PhilRice’s Development Communication Division, the PhilRice newsletter is published quarterly and has national and international subscribers. For subscriptions, orders, and related inquiries, contact the division at (044) 456 -0285; -0651 loc. 511 or 512 (telefax) or email dev_comm@philrice.gov.ph.