G.A. Viray
What is Bill Gates and Pamela Anderson doing in the Philippines? What business do they have with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in Los Banos, Laguna? That we don’t know yet, but reports say they were there. Sources say, the Microsoft mogul and billionaire philanthropist, and his foundation’s agricultural director was seen in Los Banos, Laguna. Dr. Pamela Anderson, agricultural development director of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has already been visiting the institute and meeting with their officials. Inquirer reports that Bill Gates arrived at the International Rice Research Institute last April 8, 2015 aboard a private helicopter at 8 A.M.
Asked for comments, IRRI spokesman Tony Lambino did not confirm nor deny that Gates really visited the institute. Apparently, his meeting was “confidential”, and according to Rappler, an IRRI employee informed them that social media sites were blocked at the time Bill Gates was in the premises. However, Lambino stated that Anderson has been in the Philippines to get updates on the food and nutrition programs that the foundation is supporting. He also mentioned that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is the largest philantropic donor with an $ 18 million commitment annually.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has long been supporting IRRI for the agricultural development of the Golden Rice. This variety of rice contains beta-carotene which will be converted to Vitamin A in the body. However, the Golden Rice is still under development. The Hellen Keller International (HKI), an international NGO plans to evaluate the efficacy of this rice variety. Once the Golden Rice has been approved by national regulators, it will be made available for human consumption.
It is hoped that Golden Rice will help improve the health of millions of children and adults across the Philippines and Bangladesh.
For more information on the Golden Rice, visit the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Golden Rice official website.
Photo Credit: Tech Times
We expect Bill Gates and his foundation to help our country in whatever ways it deemed it can similar to what this multi billionaire philanthropist has helped other marginalized members of the society throughout the world and his interest interest in uplifting the quality and quantity of world food production make him a pioneer in reinvigorating the IRRI to produce more adverse weather resistant next generation rice varieties to feed the whole world?
Now it can be told. We expect Bill Gates and his foundation to help our country in whatever ways it deemed it can similar to what this multi billionaire philanthropist has helped other marginalized members of the society throughout the world and his interest interest in uplifting the quality and quantity of world food production make him a pioneer in reinvigorating the IRRI to produce more adverse weather resistant next generation rice varieties to feed the whole world?