The Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) Negros in Murcia, Negros Occidental, is now accredited as a farm tourism camp after meeting the national standards for operating such a destination.
The certificate of accreditation granted by the Department of Tourism (DOT)-Western Visayas was received by DA-PhilRice Negros Station Director Ommal Abdulkadil from Municipal Tourism Officer Estela Barbo on Wednesday.
“It’s a privilege for the local government unit (LGU) of Murcia to see PhilRice-Negros included in the accreditation of the DOT. The LGU recognizes the effort and dedication of PhilRice and considers it a great partner in this initiative,” Barbo said in a statement on Thursday.
The DA-PhilRice Negros Station, located in Barangay Cansilayan, has complied with the requirements for regular accreditation pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act 9593, or The Tourism Act of 2009.
In a statement, the DA-PhilRice Negros said the development “further strengthens its role as a center for rice agricultural innovation and public engagement.”
For more than two decades, it has served as “a hub for capacity-building initiatives, demonstration trials and knowledge-sharing activities benefiting rice farmers across Negros Occidental and neighboring provinces.”
“Through the accreditation, these services are strengthened and aligned with tourism standards, allowing the institute to better cater to organized field visits, academic immersions, benchmarking activities, and stakeholder engagements,” it added.
DA-PhilRice Negros Station accepts field tour requests from individuals, schools, LGUs, agencies and organizations.
The tour features research-based rice technologies, science and technology innovations, extension services and on-site field demonstrations that support sustainable and climate-resilient rice production systems.*
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