BAGUIO CITY, Nov. 26 -- Across the Cordillera, rice is more than a crop - it is a living heritage that carries the breath of ancestral rituals, community ties and deep reverence for the land.

And as cultural preservation efforts deepen across the region, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said heirloom rice, an integral part of Cordilleran identity, is firmly part of the movement to protect tradition.

May Ann Tuba-ang, head of the Agribusiness Promotions Section of DA-CAR's Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division, said Cordilleran heirloom rice commands a high value because it is inseparable from the region's culture.

"We can command higher prices because it is tied to our traditions," she said in an interview with the Philippin...