Gordon keynotes 22nd PhilRice's confab on rice
research development and extension

Independent Senator Richard J. Gordon leads today the joint opening ceremonies of the Philippine Rice Research Institute's (PhilRice) "National Rice Research and Development Conference" and "Farmers' Field Day and Forum".

Gordon, chairman of the Senate government corporations and public enterprises, was invited as guest of honor and speaker for the joint forum to be held at PhilRice Central Experiment Station, Maligaya, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija.

With the theme "Energizing RDE Partnerships for Rice Self-Sufficiency," the forum showcases the results and progress of rice technologies, researches conducted, developed farm implements, harvest and post harvest facilities, and research facilities spearheaded by PhilRice.

Around 700 researchers, farmers and agricultural technologists from various rice-growing provinces, and officials from local government units and regional and national agencies are expected to attend the three-day annual conference.

Gordon said the activity would serve as an evaluation of the nation's capability to produce ample amount of rice and prevent shortage of the country's staple food.

When prices of rice skyrocketed last year, prompting the public to wait in long queues at National Food Authority stations to avail of cheaper rice, Gordon saw the need for the government to provide technical services to the farmers on a national scale to effect positive growth and prevent any food security crisis.

The senator then filed Senate Bill 2238, the Agricultural Cooperative Research Extension Act of 2008, which aims to create a national cooperative extension service to deal with the problem of effective delivery of extension services to our farmers.

Prior to that, Gordon had authored measures that seek to address and/or prevent problems relating to agriculture and food.

He authored SB 1538, An Act Extending the Utilization period of the Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund, and was eventually signed into law as Republic Act 9496.

Gordon also filed SB 150, or the Food Donation Act, which seeks to address the issue of legal liability in the donation of apparently wholesome food for charitable purposes to encourage the donation of surplus food to needy people.