SANES – Silverio Annex is P1-M grand winner for ‘Be Riceponsible’
By Dr. Nelita F. Belena, PSDS
“We vow to intensify our advocacy and ensure that no more food is wasted on the table for every family of Paranaque.”
San Antonio Elementary School (SANES) – Silverio Annex proved the statement true after having won the grand slate and be the recepient of the one million pesos being held as the 2016 Best Riceponsible Implementer.
Together with Brgy. Capt. Eusebio J. Japlos of Brgy. Silverio, Paranaque City, SANES – Silverio Annex principal Evangeline Malicdem appeared during the Awarding Ceremony on Dec. 26, 2016 at PhilRice Central Experiment Station, Science City of Munoz, Nueva Ecija, to personally receive the award conferred by Dir. Hazel V. Antonio and Dir. Flordeliza H. Bordey of the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice).
“The road to success was not that easy,” said Principal Malicdem, referring to winning the Be Riceponsible campaign search. According to her, it all started with the dream of the school put into a reality. The parents and teachers had brainstormed on their ideas before the campaign was launched and started its roll-out, showing to the community how beneficial it is to them. Indeed it is, as how the teachers and the pupils demonstrated the no wastage of food on their plate, the greening of the school, and the consumption of the brown rice.
“Neither was it a lone battle of the school,” the principal added recalling how everything started, from a series of meetings organized with the teachers and parents and then extended to the community in coordination with the barangay.
The overwhelming involvement of the stakeholders is significant as was manifested when the local government officials pledged their support to disseminate the wide implementation of the Be Riceponsible, a nationwide advocacy initiative of the DA which aims to promote the non-wastage of rice, consumption of healthier rice, and recognize the farmers’ major contribution for the country’s attainment of rice-sufficiency and food security.
Meanwhile, urging all schools to enjoin SANES – Silverio Annex, the Schools Division of Paranaque expressed appreciation to the school through the leadership of Virginia V. Ramos, the previous principal who started the endeavor, and to its current leader, Principal Malicdem, for intensifying and sustaining the implementation of the prolific initiative.
Principal Evangeline Malicdem and Brgy. Capt. Eusebio Japlos of Brgy. San Isidro, Paranaque City sign the MOA for the prize won on Dec. 27, 2016 at PhilRice Central Experiment Station, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija.