50 writers attend workshop on agri, science reporting

SCIENCE CITY OF MUÑOZ, Nueva Ecija — Over 50 information writers from the government agricultural agencies in Central Luzon and members of the local media, attended a two-day writing workshop on agriculture and science reporting held June 22-23 at the training room of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) here.

The occasion was attended by Dr. Leocadio S. Sebastian, PhilRice executive director and officials of the Central Luzon State University (CLSU) which co-sponsored the journalism seminar-workshop.

In brief remarks during the opening day program, Sanny Galvez of the Manila Bulletin who is also the president of the Philippine Agricultural Journalists (PAJ), underscored the important role of agricultural journalists “in the development of our basically agricultural economy.”

“Perhaps, it may be said that there is less glamour in agricultural journalism as compared to the other types of journalism. However, the contribution of agricultural journalism to the progress not only of agriculture but the economy as a whole, cannot be taken for granted,” he said.

“Sa mga manunulat sa agrikultura, let us bear in mind that no reward could be greater than the thought of having been a party to the progress that has been plowed into the lives of our farmers in the countryside, as well as of having contributed to the advancement of our economy and country,” Galvez said.

The workshop, supervised by Diadem Gonzales, head of PhilRice devcom division, consisted of lectures and participatory learning approach in discussing the major concepts in agricultural journalism.

The resource persons were Rudy A. Fernandez, agriculture writer of The Philippine STAR; Zac Zarian, Manila Bulletin agriculture editor; Melody M. Aguiba, business reporter of the Manila Bulletin; Mike Alunan, former president of PAJ; Anselmo Roque of the Phil. Daily Inquirer; Carlos Marquez of the Business Mirror; and Kath Lopez and Johnny Goloyugo of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI).

The participants came from the Department of Agriculture (DA), PhilRice, CLSU, DENR, Philippine Carabao Center (PCC), National Irrigation Administration (NIA), Tarlac State University, Pampanga Agricultural College, LGU Cabanatuan City, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Bureau of Post Harvest Research and Extension (BPRE), Bulacan Agricultural State College (BASC) Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), Philippine Sino Center for Agricultural Technology (PHISCAT), Aurora State College of Technology.