By: Celso Cajucom

SCIENCE City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija – AN inbred Dinorado rice variety, once an “unsung hero” for the Philippines with its seeds often overlooked, has clinched a silver medal at the “World’s Best Rice 2025 Awards” held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on November 7–9, 2025.

The rice variety, known formally as “Mabango-3” and developed by the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) since 2009, was celebrated for its aromatic, tender, and flavorful qualities.

This win is a significant source of pride for Filipino farmers and brings a global spotlight to a crop as the award is a testament to the country’s research capabilities which developed the variety in 2009, the PhilRice communication team said.

According to Rowena “Weng” Sadicon, founder and lead convenor of the Philippine Rice Industry Stakeholders Movement (PRISM), the Philippine Dinorado bested entries from several rice-producing nations, including Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, India, and Australia.

As an invited guest speaker, Sadicon submitted the NSIC Rc 218 SR Dinorado and a hybrid rice variety for the competition.

During the competition, some judges including international Chef tested nearly 30 entries of different rice varieties in a double-blind review.

The Philippine Dinorado secured the silver, while Cambodia and Vietnam tied for the gold medal.

The Philippine team was placed 3^rd in 2024.

This victory marks a significant breakthrough against the long-standing dominance of other countries, such as Vietnam and Cambodia, known for their ST25 and Phka Rumdoul rice varieties, according to Rowena Sadicon.

PhilRice officials, however, expressed hope that the global recognition will attract more investment and innovation in the local rice industry, solidifying the country’s’ reputation as a source of world-class rice.

“This affirms that our research program at DA-PhilRice is fully capable of delivering world-class varieties that advance the welfare of our farmers and the Filipino people,” said DA-PhilRice Executive Director Dr. John C. de Leon.

“This is, in fact, our purpose,” said the executive director, noting that the win coincides with the celebration of National Rice Awareness Month. He added, referencing the national slogan, “World-class na bigas, Kaya ng Pinas.”

Over its 40-year history, PhilRice has developed a total of 121 rice varieties, including the award-winning Dinorado. This achievement reinforces the Institute’s commitment to providing high-yielding, quality, and climate-resilient rice for Filipino farmers, particularly in Nueva Ecija.

The Dinorado variety is known for its high yield, producing between 7 and 8 tons, or up to 160 bags, per hectare which was approved by the National Seed Industry Council for commercial cultivation in 2009.

The annual rice competition, hosted by The Rice Trader (TRT) as part of the World Rice Conference, gathers over 400 industry leaders, traders, and policymakers from around the world.

For this year’s award, Sadicon, joining her on stage to represent the Philippines team were officials of International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) included Dr. Yvonne Pinto, Director General and Dr. Alisher Mirzabaeb, Henrick Exconde of Bureau of Plant and Industry (BPI) and Edoard Medalla of Food Terminal Inc, (FTI).