PH, S. Korea reaffirm partnership to strengthen rice supply chain

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines and the Republic of Korea have reaffirmed their partnership to strengthen the country’s rice supply chain, as government officials and development partners reviewed the results of a Korea-funded project and explored future areas of cooperation in the rice sector.

The partnership was highlighted during the Workshop on Project Achievements and Future Directions for Enhancing the Rice Supply Chain in the Philippines, where representatives from the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), the National Food Authority (NFA), and Korean development partners assessed the implementation of an Official Development Assistance (ODA) project aimed at improving rice seed production and buffer stock management.

The workshop was hosted by the Global Agriculture Policy Institute (GAPI), PhilRice, and the NFA, and organized by Orient Integrated Development Consultants, Inc. (OIDCI), with support from the DA and the Korea Rural Community Corporation (KRC).

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According to the DA, the project, “Improving the Rice Supply Chain to Ensure Quality of Seeds and Milled Rice for Distribution and Buffer Stocks in the Philippines,” established modern rice seed processing facilities and cold-storage seed warehouses at PhilRice stations in Muñoz, Nueva Ecija; San Mateo, Isabela; and Batac, Ilocos Norte.

The initiative also supported capacity-building activities and developed information systems to strengthen seed and buffer stock management.

In his keynote address, DA Undersecretary for Rice Industry Development Christopher V. Morales said the project complemented the government’s existing rice development initiatives.

“Beyond developing infrastructure, the project strengthened seed systems, postharvest facilities, information management, and institutional capacities, complementing the government’s initiatives under the Masagana Rice Industry Development Program through the National Rice Program and the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF),” Morales said.

The DA official also said the project’s long-term value extends to continued knowledge sharing between the Philippines and South Korea, including discussions on the proposed Digital Agriculture Transformation through Enhanced Technology (DA-TECH) initiative.

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Meanwhile, GAPI President and Project Manager Dr. Byung Ki Lee said the workshop reflected the longstanding partnership between the Republic of Korea and the Philippines in promoting agricultural innovation, food security, and institutional capacity building.

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According to the DA, Lee also emphasized the role of bilateral cooperation in addressing challenges in the rice supply chain while laying the groundwork for broader agricultural collaboration between the two countries./dl