The Philippine Agricultural Journalists, Inc. (PAJ), San Miguel Corporation (SMC), and Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol recently honored the country’s best agriculture and environment journalists at the 2017 PAJ-SMC Binhi Awards. For this year's PAJ-SMC Binhi Awards, Manila Bulletin's Madelaine Miraflor placed second in the prestigious award's 'agribeat reporter of the year' category. She also received the same award last year. For this year's awards, Manila Bulletin's Madelaine Miraflor  placed second in the prestigious award's “agribeat reporter of the year” category. She also received the same award last year. Jasper Arcalas of BusinessMirror was adjudged as the agricultural journalist and agribeat reporter of the year, while Jonathan Mayuga, of the same publication, was  chosen as the environment journalist of the year. The PAJ, in partnership with SMC and other sponsors, has been conducting the contest since 1978 to raise the bar of reportage and coverage of the agriculture, fishery, environment, food and agribusiness sectors. Piñol, in his keynote speech, committed to augment the cash prizes next year by R300,000, as he urged stronger partnership between the DA and the PAJ to speed up the dissemination of agricultural and fishery programs, technology breakthroughs and success stories to small farmers and fishers nationwide, and enable them to increase their productivity and incomes. PAJ vice president and contest chair Noel Reyes said the 2017 PAJ-SMC Binhi Awards attracted more than 150 entries, who vied for 15 categories, with the winners bringing home cash prizes, ranging from R50,000 to R15,000, and respective Binhi trophies.