May 15, 2026

The Philippine Rice Information System (PRiSM) has expanded its monitoring coverage in Central Luzon by establishing new field activities in Aurora and Zambales.

In collaboration with Regional Field Office III and its local government units, PRiSM recently held a ground-truthing training workshop in Maria Aurora, Aurora (April 22-23) and in Botolan, Zambales (May 12-13). These efforts aim to improve the accuracy of rice area maps and ensure consistency in data gathering by familiarizing new data collectors with updated PRISM protocols.

With the addition of 10 new monitoring fields each in Zambales and Aurora—areas previously without PRiSM monitoring fields—spatial representation and data reliability for rice monitoring and yield estimation in Central Luzon are expected to improve significantly.

During the training, Aljon King Galletes, Regional Facilitator for Central Luzon, presented ground truth data gathered from previous years of PRISM implementation. He also discussed the data collection protocol and methodology, highlighting both best practices and challenges encountered in the field. Meanwhile, Jade Dorado, Computer Programmer, introduced the PRISM Operational Dashboard—a system designed to serve as a repository, visualization, and accessibility tool for the gathered data.

Through these enhanced monitoring efforts and innovations in data management, farmers, local government units, and other stakeholders can benefit from more accurate information for decision-making, supporting improved rice production strategies and providing greater assistance to the agricultural sector in Central Luzon.