PDF file - Department of Agriculture

ISSN-0119-2752
2002 PAJ Binhi Awardee
OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE RFU-5
SAN AGUSTIN, PILI, CAM. SUR
October - December 2008
Vol. 17 No. 4
e-mail: darafid5@yahoo.com
website: http://bicol.da.gov.ph
Sec. Yap announces
support to GK
National Gawad Saka achievers pose with president Arroyo and DA Secretary Arthur C. Yap during the
awarding ceremonies at the Manila Hotel. Among them were 3 Bicolanos: Rosita Naje (standing, 1st row, 2nd
from left) Benjamin C. Dimaano (1st row, extreme right) and Engr. Justino Arboleda (last row, extreme right)
PGMA confers national
gawad saka awards
Three Bicolano agricultural achievers recently received their presidential trophies and citations dubbed
as GAWAD SAKA at the
Tent City, Manila Hotel. Her
Excellency President Gloria
Macapagal Arroyo together
with Agriculture Secretary
Arthur C. Yap hand over
the awards and the trophies.
The national achievers
are: For Provincial Agriculture and Fishery Council
(PAFC) Category the PAFC
of Camarines Norte was recognized for its strong partnership with the Provincial
government of Camarines
Norte in the field of agricultural and fisheries mod-
(PGMA / page 5)
CADLAN, PILI, CAMARINES SUR
- Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap
announces that the Department of
Agriculture will lend support to the
Gawad Kalinga (GK) in terms of facilitating technology transfer, providing training to GK beneficiaries
and ensuring that these beneficiaries
will have not only food but also jobs.
The secretary made his commitment as he attended the launching of
the partnership of the Gawad Kalinga
Foundation through its executive director Tony Meloto and the provincial
government of Camarines Sur through
Elementary pupil from Sorsogon
bags top prize in World Food Day
national poster making contest
Actress KC Concepcion, national ambassador against hunger of the
United Nation’s World Food Programme, awards the BEST POSTER
for Luzon trophy to Therese Anne Perez of Sorsogon Pilot Elem.
School during the World Food Day Celebration at the Liwasang Aurora
Quezon Memorial Park in Quezon City.
(Sec. Yap / page 5)
Therese Ann D. Perez,
grade 5 of Sorsogon Pilot Elementary
School,
Bicol’s
representative to the World
Food Day On-the Spot Poster
Making Contest emerged as
one of the eight (8) national
winners in the said contest.
The awarding, led by Agriculture Secretary Arthur C.
Yap and teen actress Kristina
Cassandra “KC” Concepcion,
who is national ambassador
against hunger of the United
Nation’s World Food Programme was held during the
Worldwide Candlelight Vigil
on Food Security held at the
Liwasang Aurora Quezon Me-
(Sorsogon / page 7)
Editorial
Rebuilding the image and transforming the DA bureaucracy
The ugly head of the fertilizer
scam in 2004 once more hogged the
limelight with the re-surfacing of the
principal accused – the alleged “architect” of the scam, former agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn
Bolante, and exacerbated by the
full media coverage of the senate investigation. Like a bad dream this
scam will continue to haunt not only
those directly involved and implicated but even the ordinary DA personnel.
Already, the DA employees and personnel are taking the toll for this scandal which has tainted the image
of the Department of Agriculture as
a government institution mandated to serve the farmers and fishers and
other rural folk, who make up the
greater mass of our underprivileged countrymen. DA employees have to
endure the taunts, snide and insults from the public for the misdeeds of a
few of their officials most of whom
have just served for a short stint,
hence, are just transient members of the DA institution. It is sad and painful to be unjustly labeled and condemned that DA employees are corrupt just because a number of their
officials are involved in this scam.
Whatever significant accomplishments the DA has achieved and great
lengths it has gone so far are threatened to be eclipsed and diminished by this unpleasant and unfortunate incident. We have thus, a great task
Advisers:
Dr. Jose V. Dayao,
Regional Exec. Director
Ms. Marilyn V. Sta. Catalina,
RTD for Operations and
Regulatory;
Dr. Edgar R. Madrid, OIC RTD
for Research and Development
ahead - not only ensuring sufficient
volume of rice, fish, meat, vegetables
and other food items which are safe and
affordable. We also have to work hard to
rebuild the image of our agency, win back
the trust and confidence of our clientele
and redeem ourselves from the stigma
that the fertilizer scam and other scandals
have brought upon the DA institution.
But more than rebuilding the image of our agency, we have to revisit, review our internal policies, systems, fiscal management and
organizational
structures to determine which need improvement and which of these are
vulnerable to corruption. While we conduct an annual performance review to
determine if our physical and financial
targets have been met it would also
be a good idea if our agency would also conduct an Integrity Development Review, like the one being conducted by
the Office of the Ombudsman for other
government agencies. Other agencies
which have undergone the IDR have
noted significant improvements in their
systems of operations, procedures and
fiscal management. According to the report of the Office of the Ombudsman
areas vulnerable to corruption have
been identified and eliminated, red tapes
have been minimized and more efficient
service delivery have also been put in
place. Moreover, measures and mechanisms have been set-in place to ensure
greater accountability and transparency.
There is also a need to conduct adEditor-in-Chief: Emilia B. Bordado
Senior Staff Writer/
Researcher: Ma. Bella R. Ilan
Writers: Lovella P. Guarin, Virginia F.
Idaño, Jayson M. Gonzales,
Jennis I. Nidea
Lay-out Artist: Lovella P. Guarin
Photographer/Liason Officer: Eduardo D.
Collantes, Jr.,
Illustrators: Hermito Antonio T. Privaldos,
Ramon Adversario
Circulation: Blesilda A. Nuñez, Lita V.
Estrella, Soledad C. Dalisay,
Luzel B. Peña, Records Unit
UMAsenso
vocacy campaign and trainings for our officials and personnel oriented towards value re-orientation, moral recovery, conscientization, team-building
review of code of conduct and ethics
of government and updates on antigraft and corruption laws and rules. Employees must be empowered and
embolden to take a deeper involvement in combating corruption. DA officials must also lead by example and
make all efforts to thwart any form of
corruption in all levels of the agency. Likewise, NGO’s must be allowed to take greater participation
in monitoring agricultural programs. Moreover, budget appropriations and
allocations for the agriculture department should be insulated from too
much political interventions by legislators and other politicians. Our
legislators could do better service to
our farmers and fisherfolks by passing bills that are truly-pro farmers
and by enacting laws that would
ensure the continuity and sustainability of agricultural programs and
correct the present system where agricultural programs are co-terminus
with the secretary or the president.
The DA family fully supports Sec.
Yap’s marching order to rebuild the
image of the DA; raise the level of integrity, efficiency and productivity of the
agency and transform it to be a more sound, highly esteemed, functional
and dynamic and pro-active agency.
Published quarterly by the Regional
Agriculture and Fisheries Information
Division of the Department of
Agriculture, Regional Field Unit No. 5,
San Agustin, Pili, Camarines Sur, Tel
No.(054) 361-1858 Fax: 361-1264
E-mail Address: darafid5@yahoo.com
Entered as a Second Class Mail Matter at
the Pili Post Office, Pili, Camarines Sur on
July 30, 1999
October - December 2008
Masbatenos completed FFS on vegetables
Masbate City – Thirty seven (37)
farmers from Asid, Masbate City recently completed the season long
training on Farmers Field School for
vegetables. For sixteen weeks farmers studied and had actual planting
and growing of different vegetables.
They were taught the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) which
is the judicious use of pesticide and
introduced technologies on mulching, organic fertilizer application and
other cultural management practices.
According to city administrator
Isaias T. Bigol, Jr. the Local Government Unit of Masbate is prioritizing
agriculture since it is the solution to
alleviate poverty in the city and at the
same time ensure food security for its
populace. He urged the farmers to continue what they have started and share
their knowledge with other farmers.
He said that LGU Masbate City
has been providing vegetables seeds
to interested farmers. They also distributed fertilizers, plow, garden tools
and sprayers. Aside from this, the LGU
also distributed a total of 1,000 heads
of carabao as draft
animal and several heads of piglets for livelihood. “FFS is an important tool for farmers to be updated
on the technologies
and once applied
in their farms will
create a multiplier
effect” said Bigol.
Adolfo
Galvez, the presi-
dent of the FFS and 2004 Regional
Gawad Saka Awardee said that the
Farmer Field School is a learning process where they can actually observe
the growth of vegetables and conditions in the field. Technologies in-
(Masbatenos / page 4)
Albay Modelong Gulayan sa Eskwelahan 2008 winners bared
Legazpi City-The Albay Central
School (ACS) and the Palanog Elementary School (PES) emerged
as the grand winners of Urban and
Communal Gardening respectively,
in the recently concluded Search for
Modelong Gulayan sa Eskwelahan sa
Segundo Distrito kan Albay. Aimed
at addressing hunger and malnutrition and to serve as models to other
schools, the contest was able to encourage public elementary and high
schools from Legazpi City, Cama-
lig, Daraga, Manito and Rapu-rapu.
All the winners received computer sets, plaques of recognition, trophies, sports equipment and garden
tools. The non-winners received certificates of appreciation and garden tools.
This contest was initiated and supported by Congressman Al Francis C.
Bichara of the 2nd district of Albay,
overwhelmed by the response of the
schools, disclosed that such activity will
be an annual undertaking of his office.
The panel of evaluators were OIC-
RTD for Research Dr. Edgar Madrid, Senior Agriculturist Emiliano
M. Ortiz, Bicol Vegetable Commodity Board Chair Antonio A. Magracia, PAFC Chair Alfredo S. Oben,
Supervising Agriculturist of Albay
Manolo O. Camo and this writer.
The contest is a collaborative activity of the office of Congressman Al
Francis Bichara, the Department
of Agriculture-5 and the Department of Education City and Albay
Divisions. (Jayson M. Gonzales)
WINNERS
Grand Winner (Communal Gardening)
- Palanog Elementary School, Camalig, Albay
Grand Winner (Urban Gardening)
- Albay Central School, Legazpi City
Elem. Level (Urban Gardening):
1st - Albay Central School, Legazpi City
2nd - Manito Central School, Manito, Albay
3rd - Daraga North Central School, Daraga, Albay
High School Level (Urban Gardening):
1st - Daraga National High School, Daraga, Albay
October - December 2008
Landscape Winner
- Albay Central School, Legazpi City
Elem. Level (Communal Gardening):
1st - Palanog Elementary School, Camalig, Albay
2nd - Matanag Elementary School, Legazpi City
3rd - Pawa Elementary School, Manito, Albay
High School Level (Communal Gardening):
1st - Banquerohan National High School, Legazpi City
2nd - Lacag National High School, Daraga Albay
3rd - Pariaan High School, Camalig, Albay
UMAsenso
Special Awards for Communal Gardening
Best Innovative Garden and Best Tech. Adapter
- Baligang Elem. School, Camalig, Albay
- Banquerohan National High School
Best Teacher-Student Gardeners and Highest Producers:
- Palanog Elementary School, Camalig, Albay
- Lacag National High School, Daraga, Albay
Special Awards for Urban Gardening
Best Innovative Garden, Best Tech. Adapter
and Best Teacher-Student Gardeners
- Albay Central School, Legazpi City
- Daraga National High School, Daraga, Albay
Governor Joseph Cua of Catanduanes expresses his
gratitude to the PAFC of the province for initiating the
forum and for the support and cooperation extended to
the agriculture programs in the province. With him are
(L-R) NFA Regional Director Edgar Bentolan, Ms. Marilyn V. Sta. Catalina, PAFC Chairman Ulysses Q. Tabelin.
Catanduanes farmers’
forum held
The Department of Agriculture together with the
Provincial Agriculture and
Fisheries Council of Catanduanes recently conducted
a one-day Farmers’ Forum
on GMA programs at Virac
Sports Center, Virac Catanduanes. Over 800 farmers,
fisherfolk and abaca growers attended the said forum.
After the series of Information Caravan Cum techno
clinic on FIELDS program
in the four provinces of the
region, the PAFC of Catanduanes also initiated a similar
activity this time focusing on
all Ginintuang Masaganang
Ani programs and projects.
DA Regional Technical
Director for Operations and
Regulatory Marilyn V. Sta.
Catalina who represented
RED Jose V. Dayao said
that the forum aims to create
awareness among farmers
and stakeholders about the
different programs and proj-
ects of the agency. Sta. Catalina disclosed that Catanduanes is only 83% sufficient
in rice and it has recorded an
average yield of 3.41 metric tons per hectare. Catanduanes has great potential to
increase production making
the province self sufficient in
rice by 2013. She lauded the
efforts of the local government units for continuously
supporting the different programs and projects of the
DA as they are in the frontline to cater to the needs of
the farmers and fisherfolks.
Meanwhile, Governor
Joseph C. Cua is optimistic
that despite the economic
crisis felt by neighboring
countries, investing in agriculture will certainly save
the country from the crisis.
He said that with the support
of the DA on the different
agricultural programs of the
LGUs, Catanduanes would
(Masbatenos... /from page 3) troduced to them were important to increase their production and obtain quality harvest without harming the
environment. He promised that their group will continue
to support the programs and projects of the Department of Agriculture specially on vegetable production.
Meanwhile, Regional High Value Commercial Crops
coordinator Rosita Imperial who represented Operations and Regulatory Regional Technical Director Marilyn V. Sta. Catalina said that Masbate is a priority
province of the DA in terms of gulayan projects. The
province is considered as one of the food poor provinces in the country. Present during the FFS graduation is Barangay Captain Belen de la Rosa and the City
Agriculturist Rogelio S. Magalang. (Mabelle R. Ilan)
(Catanduanes / page 7)
UMAsenso
October - December 2008
(Sec. Yap...
/ page 1 ) Governor Luis F. Raymund F.
Villafuerte. Camarines Sur has
been designated as the first Designer Province of GK being
the only province with a GK
community established in almost. every municipality and
component city. As a designer
province, “Bed and Breakfast”
facilities will be established in
various GK sites in the province
which would be offered to tourists who wish to immerse and
experience simple life in local
communities while enjoying the
best attractions of Camarines
Sur as part of their tour package.
Sec. Yap who was personally
invited by Governor Villafuerte
expressed his all-out support
to the mission and vision of
GK and shared his personal involvement in the movement
(PGMA.../ from page 1 ) during its early years. He
said that more than providing
ernization. They are actively tino Arboleda of Juboken
shelter for the homeless GK
implementing
Livelihood Enterprises Inc. of Gapo,
is helping transform the FiliEnhancement for Agricul- Camalig, Albay. JUBOpino poor families to regain
tural Development (LEAD) KEN is into processing of
their dignity, to be producprojects in the province ben- coconut by products both
tive and to be self-sufficient
efiting 86 PAFC members. for local and export marand self-reliant. Secretary
For the young farmer kets. His product lines inYap said that he would want
category, Rosita L. Naje is clude decorticated coco-fithe GK sites to be included
a young enterprising lady ber for soil erosion control,
in the extension support
from Bgy. Burabod, Castilla horticultural products and
and services being provided
Sorsogon. She bested oth- for other industrial uses.
by the LGUs and the DA.
er young farmers with her Dr. Arboleda and RosThe DA in Bicol which has
300-layer farm which was ita Naje each received Ps
entered into a Memoraninitially funded by her aunt 120,000 cash prize the bigdum of Agreement with the
and later was expanded with gest cash prize in the history
GK Foundation has been
the Ps 400,000 funding as- of Gawad Saka while PAFC
providing trainings livelisistance from Young Farmhood projects like hog fater Entrepreneur Program,
tening, hito farming, tilapia
jointly implemented by the
production, rice retailing,
DA’s National Agricultural
vegetable production, fruitand Fishery Council and the
bearing trees distribution,
Congressional
Oversight
mushroom production, goat
Committee on Agriculture
production and other support
and Fisheries Modernization.
facilities. (Emily B. Bordado)
Under the Agri-entrepreneur Category is Dr. JusOctober - December 2008
UMAsenso
Agriculture Secretary Arthur
C. Yap announces the
Department of Agriculture’s
support to the Gawad
Kalinga (GK), in terms of
facilitating technology transfer, providing training to GK
beneficiaries and ensuring
that these beneficiaries will
have not only food but also
jobs. The secretary made
his commitment during the
launching of the partnership
of the Gawad Kalinga Foundation thru its executive
director Tony Maloto and
the Provincial Government
of Camarines thru Governor
Luis Raymund F. Villafuerte.
Camarines Norte, represented by its chairperson Benjamin C. Dimaano, received
P250,000 project grant.
Gawad Saka Search is
an annual activity of the
Department of Agriculture since 1970 that gives
recognition to outstanding
farmers and fisherfolk and
their respective organizations for their contributions
in promoting and sustaining agricultural and fishery
production and in sustaining
nation building in general.
Bicol national
Gawad Saka
achievers
organized
San Agustin, Pili, Camarines Sur ... Bicol’s agricultural stakeholders who have
gained recognition as National Gawad Saka winners
because of their outstanding
accomplishment in their agribased undertakings gathered
recently and organized themselves as Bicol National Gawad Saka Achievers. They
will serve as DA’s pool of
experts and resource persons.
They will also help in the
program advocacy and technology transfer of the agency. Their farms will serve as
show windows for improved
agricultural and fisheries
technologies and practices.
Engineer Raul Careras
of Panagan, Tigaon, Camarines Sur, Gawad Saka National winner for sugarcane
production category in 1981
and currently Magsasaka Si-
Officers of the newly organized Bicol
National Gawad Saka Achievers
were sworn to office by RAFC Bicol
Chair David Z. Canet during the AFC
Bicol Summit held recently.
yentista for Corn was elected
president. Twenty-three year
old Rosita Naje of Castilla,
Sorsogon and, this year’s
national Outstanding Young
Farmer is the vice-president.
Erlinda P. Rillo, former PCA
senior researcher and last
year’s Gawad saka Agricultural Scientist and Pro Patria
Awardee is the secretary. Joseph Lumibao of J. Emmanuel pastries, also last year’s
Gawad saka Outstanding
High Value Commercial
Crops processor is the treasurer. Jay Magana , Outstanding young Farmer in 2004
and the country’s representative to the Young Filipino
Farmers Training Program
in Japan is the auditor and
Wilfredo Menor, outstanding fisherfolk for fish capture
category in 2002 is the association’s business manager.
According to Aloha Gigi
I. Bañaria, chief of the Institutional Development Unit
and regional Gawad Saka
Coordinator , the Bicol region has already produced 25
national Gawad saka national
winners since the launching
of this nation- wide national
search in the 70”s. The first
ever Bicolano winner was
rice farmer Ruperto Sabio
of Magarao, Camarines Sur
who is now a staunch advocate for organic farming .
The other national Ga-
wad saka awardess who attended the organizational
meeting held at the DA regional office were Benjamin
C. Dimaano, chairperson of
PAFC Cam. Norte; this year’s
outstanding PAFC; Restituto Basquiñez, outstanding coconut farmer (2002);
Wilfredo Menor outstanding fisherfolk ( fish culture
category ) 2002; Mr. Taclan,
representing MAFC Gubat,
Outstanding MAFC (2002);
Jimmy Cordero, representing MAFC Tigaon, outstanding MAFC (1981); Lydia
Lumibao of J. Emmanuel
Pastries, outstanding HVCC
processor (2007). Ulysses
Salvino , outstanding Young
Farmer (1983) and Mr. Godofredo Ditan representing
PAFC Sorsogon, outstanding
PAFC for three consecutive
years (Emily B. Bordado)
Turning cornhusks and cobs into novelties
The Department of Agriculture
under its Ginintuang Masagana Ani
Corn program recently conducted a
three-day trainer’s training on cornhusk- based handicraft making at RIARS training center DA compound.
The training enhanced the skills,
creativeness and business acumen of
selected rural women and agriculture
technicians in the corn cluster areas.
After acquiring the skills, handicraft
making will be an added source of
income and as alternative livelihood
for rural women. This group of trainers will in turn prepare a re-entry
plan and conduct echo training in their
respective provinces. About 30 selected
women and technicians from the cluster areas of the region
attended the training.
According to RTD
for Operations and Regulatory Marilyn V. Sta.
Catalina, this is one of
the expensive trainings conducted for
corn, as the office has to provide the
materials and the trainers has to come
from region X. But, no matter what
the cost the DA will continue to pursue with trainings like this, because the
UMAsenso
office considers this as an investment.
The handicrafts produced have export
(next page pls.4)
October - December 2008
(Elementary... /from page 1) morial Park in Quezon City.
Also present during the
event were Kazuyuki Tsurumi, Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO) representative to the Philippines;
rcadio Cruz, Assistant FAO
representative; and Stephen
Anderson, country director of the World Food Program of the United Nations.
The national winners received cash prize of P10,000
and a trophy and were treated
to an all-expense 3-day educational tour to Subic. Therese Anne’s poster was chosen during the re-
gional poster-making contest
held previously at the DA
RFU5 Library. Other regional winners were Gelene Kaye
de Jesus of Sorsogon Pilot
Elementary School - second
place; and Al Francis Cariño
of Naga Central School 1,
Naga City - third place. This
contest is sponsored annualy
by the Department of Agriculture, the Food and Agriculture Organization and the
Department of Education.
This year’s theme is
“World
Food
Security:
The Challenges of Climate Change and Bioenergy.”
(Trainer’s... / from page 6) potentials and this would
mean more jobs generated,
more livelihood created. She
added that recycling farm
waste would also mean less
garbage, less pollution additional income. She challenged the participants because as trainers they will
also be future entrepreneurs
who would make it big in
export business by merely
using recycled farm wastes.
Sta. Catalina also lauded the
efforts of the trainers from
region X, by sharing their expertise, talents, and creativeness to the women of Bicol,
this would translate into a
new business opportunity.
The trainers were Mr.
Ric B. Vacalares Regional
Volunteer Leaders Association President and Mr.
May Grale M. Rosalita
Contact Leader of JAEC.
Participants were expected
October - December 2008
to come up with finished
products like dolls, fairies,
Santa Claus, bags and slipper all made from cornhusk.
Meanwhile,
farmers
need not throw or burn farm
wastes like cobs, cornhusk,
as these can be a source of
income for the family. Corn
husk and other corn wastes
can now be made into novelty items like pen holders,
slippers, bags, hats, placemats, topiary, dolls, corsage
and many more. Some rural
women merely collect this
cornhusk, clean, dries them
and sells them to other women venturing into handicrafts
at Ps 50.00 per sack. How
much more if these were
weaved, crafted into dolls,
wall decors and other novelty items, the finished product will command a better
price and would also mean
additional income for the
family. (Mabella R. Ilan)
ON-THE-SPOT POSTER-MAKING CONTEST... A total of 26 elementary
pupils (Grade IV-VI) vied for the top prize in the regional on-the-spot
poster-making contest conducted by the Department of Agriculture in
cooperation with the Food and Agriculture Organization. The activity
was conducted to mark the observance of World Food Day on October 16 which is being celebrated worldwide annually to underscore
the importance of food security. The young artists depicted in their
poster this year’s theme: “Food Security: The Challenges of Climate
Change and Bioenergy.” The top 3 winners (inset) are : Therese Ann
D. Perez of Sorsogon Elementary School, 1st place; Gelene Kaye de
Jesus from the same school (2nd place) and Al Francis Cariño from
Naga Central School I (3rd place) . All three received cash prize And
certificate of recognition. The 1st place winner will be the region’s
entry to the national elimination.
(Catanduanes... / from page 4 ) surely attain increased production and stable food supply in the coming years. Cua
said that NIA has on-going
construction and rehabilitation of communal irrigation
systems in the province and
more CIS is targeted for the
next year. On the part of the
DA construction of farm to
market roads and post harvest facilities are underway
and more of the same projects
will be implemented next
year. Cua greatly appreciated
the efforts of the PAFC for
convening the group and for
the support and cooperation
extended to the agriculture
UMAsenso
programs in the province.
Topics discussed include: GMA programs on
rice, corn, livestock and
high value commercial
crops. Aside from the GMA
programs, the six components in the FIELDS program were also taken up
with the support of the different agencies involved in
the program like, National
Food Authority (NFA); National Irrigation Administration (NIA), Bureau of
Soil and Water Management (BSWM), Agricultural
Training Institute (ATI) and
PhilRice (Mabella R. Ilan)
Bicol rural women’s summit
tackles climate change
RTD Marilyn V.
Sta. Catalina gives the
certificate of
recognition to
Ms. Bernadette
delos Santos,
who was cited for
her extraordinary
achievement as
leader imbued
with creativity.
By Emily B. Bordado
NABUA, CAMARINES
SUR - Some 180 women
leaders and extension workers converged at the Macagang Convention center in
this municipality to define
their roles and deepen their
involvement in addressing the problem on climate
change and to honor outstanding rural women who
have achieved exemplary
accomplishment not only
for themselves but also for
others and the community.
The event which was
sponsored by the Department of Agriculture regional office in coordination
with the Rural Improvement Club (RIC) Regional
Council was held to commemorate Maria Y. Orosa,
founder of the RIC and
celebrate the International
Day of Rural Women’s
Day (actually observed on
October 15th worldwide).
On the same occasion
the three Bicolanas who
were chosen as Outstanding Rural Women for 2008
were conferred awards of
recognition namely: Bernadette B. de los Santos of
Baao, Camarines Sur who
also placed second at the
national level was cited for
her extraordinary achievement as a leader imbued
with creativity and novel
concepts in transforming
and idle agricultural lot into
an agro-tourism destination, a place of learning and
productive undertaking; as
an advocate for safe envi-
ronment and a collaborator
for new technologies; Julie
O. Arboleda of Camalig, Albay, who was also given a
special citation at the national level for her contribution
in the success of the family
business which make use of
indigenous materials, the coconut fiber - generation of
direct employment for over
600 families and thousand
more Filipinos and for per-
also honored and given certificates of appreciation by
the DA thru the Institutional
Development Section headed by Aloha Gigi I. Banaria
who is also the focal person
Mrs. Julie Arboleda was cited for her remarkable contribution in their very successful family business which generates employment for over 600 families.
forming extra ordinarily well
her multiple roles for her
family, business and community; and Lydia P. Lumibao
of Canaman, Camarines Sur
for her remarkable achievement as a woman-entrepreneur who revolutionized the
Bicol delicacy, the pili nut
- from a modest home-based
foodcraft to multi-million
export business enterprise.
Aside from certificates of
appreciation, the awardees
were also given cash prizes.
Retired RIC coordinators, former RIC presidents
and other partners in rural
women development were
on Gender and Development
In her acceptance message
Ms. De los Santos said that
“being outstanding in any
field is never a birth right but a
conscious daily choice.” She
called on her fellow women
to do their share no matter
how little in improving and
nurturing our environment.
Aside from the keynote
speech delivered by Dr.
Irene B. Maramag, national
RIC president, the other topics discussed were: Climate
Change and its Effects on
Agriculture, Laws and ordinances on Environment and
Climate Change; and Maria
UMAsenso
Y. Orosa as a Role Model
in Extension Service. The
resource persons were Atty.
Leni G. Robredo, president, Naga City Council
for Women, Benedicta A.
Dimaranan, National RIC
Coordinator and Robella V.
Naldo, DA technical staff.
Financial assistance for
micro livelihood projects of
rural based women’s group
were likewise awarded ranging from P3,000 to
P30,000. These included
sampaguita
production,
handicraft project, food processing and rice puto project.
DA regional technical director for operations and
regulatory, Marilyn V. Sta.
Catalina acknowledged the
vital role of women in securing food for the country.
Also present in the summit were: Avelina Fernandez, president, national
HEEAP; Jessie Arnel Duran, municipal agriculturist who represented Mayor
Fernando Simbulan and
other DA partners and staff.
The event was capped
by the turn-over ceremonies from out-going regional RIC president Dr.
Lourdes Asence to incoming president Cecilia V. de
Asis followed by the oath-
(next page pls.)
October - December 2008
Ms. Bernadette delos Santos (3rd from right) poses with
KC Concepcion (in white shirt), Sec. Yap and with the other
awardees of DA’s Search for Outstanding Rural Women
Achievers during the awarding ceremony held at the Liwasang Aurora Quezon Memorial Park in Quezon City. The
event was highlighted by worldwide Candlelight Vigil on
food secutiry to mark this year’s celebration of World Food
Day. Ms. delos Santos placed 2nd in the said search.
Bicol’s AFC Summit held
PILI, CAMARINES SUR
- Some 250 officers and
members of the agriculture
and fishery councils (AFC)
of Bicol region convened at
the Training Center of the
Department of Agriculture
(DA)regional office here for
the AFC Bicol Summit on
November 12-13,2008 to redefine their roles and set the
new directions and thrusts of the AFCs in support to the
policy directions of the DA.
The AFCs are privatesector led organizations of
farmers, fisherfolk, traders,
agribusiness entrepreneurs,
community leaders and representatives from government and non-government organizations which serve as partners of the DA
and the LGUs in assessing agricultural
development
conditions, and prospects
in their locality; monitoring agricultural programs,
identifying problems and constraints as well as opportunities and recommending
measures to address them.
DA undersecretary, and
executive director of the National Agriculture and
Fishery Council (NAFC)
Atty. Bernie G. Fondevilla was represented by
Deputy Executive Director
Ma. Luz H. Enriquez. Also
present during the occasion were Mr. Pedro Dumaraus,
Area Coordinator of LSCD,
NAFC; Director Norman
William S. Kraft of the Agricultural Credit & Policy
Council (ACPC); Dr. Eduardo Jimmy Quilang of the
Philippine Rice Research Institute. The summit was highlighted by the awarding of
livelihood projects totalling P265,000.00 to vegetable growers, rural improvement clubs, coops
and farmers’ associations. As an offshoot of the
summit, Bicol’s agricultural stakeholders who have
gained recognition as National Gawad Saka winners organized themselves
as Bicol National Gawad
Saka Achievers. They will
serve as DA’s pool of experts and resource persons.
(Emily
B.
Bordado)
(Bicol rural women... / from page 8 ) taking of the newly elected
officers of the Regional RIC,
Regl. Home Economics@
Extension Association of
the Philippines (HEEAP)
October - December 2008
and its provincial chapters.
The women’s organizations with micro -enterprises
also brought their products for sale and display.
David Z. Canet, RAFC Region 5 chair, addresses the participants of the Agriculture and Fishery Council in Bicol.
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Operations and Reg
DA Chorale...
Tribute to retirees...
10
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October - December 2008
gulatory Division...
Research Division...
Administrative Division...
ORED, Planning and Information Division...
October - December 2008
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11
FEATURE STORY
LGU of Masbate puts its
stake in agriculture
and fisheries
by Emily B. Bordado
M
asbate City just recently celebrated its 8th foundation anniversary as a city but it can
be said that it is one of the fast growing
cities in the Bicol region. It is the center
of trading in the province of Masbate
serving as the intra-distributor of almost
all commodities being traded to other
municipalities in the entire province.
Masbate is the biggest cattle raising province in Bicol. Its main economic activity is agriculture with copra, rice, corn and tobacco as its main
products. Fishing is also a major industry in the province. Despite these,
it is one of the poorest provinces in
the country and with high incidence
of malnutrition. It has been identified
one of the priority provinces to implement the Hunger Mitigation Program.
Fighting poverty has thus, been
the biggest challenge for City Mayor
Socrates M. Tuason when he ascended as city mayor at age 38 upon the
death of Moises Espinosa Jr. in 2001.
Although he is a civil engineer by
profession, Mayor Tuason had not set
his priority on infrastructure unlike
most local chief executives who have
the penchant for infra projects. Mayor
Tuason chose to invest in agriculture and
fisheries. According to City Agriculturist Rogelio S. Magalang, after assuming the position in 2002, Mayor Tuason
would allocate budget for agriculture
- a large portion of which were used for
the purchase of 100 heads carabao yearly. Since then, there are already over
12
1,000 carabaos distributed to the
poor farmers in the city. From 2006
thereafter, the mayor approved a
supplementary budget of P100,000
as “Aid-to-barangay” to sustain
the carabao dispersal program .
In 2003, the good Mayor after
consultation with agriculture stakeholders launched the Agricultural
Intensification Program to combat
poverty, increase farm production
and harness the resources in the
upland and coastal barangays. He
allocated P3.5M for this program.
Animal Dispersal was again the
primary component
of the program but
no longer limited to
carabaos but already
included
swine,
goat, horse and kabir
chicken. But the latter has been stopped
due to poor repayment of beneficiaries due to infestation and disease.
The
dispersal
scheme requires the
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beneficiary to return the original animal
stock to the city government but the offsprings are left with the farmer beneficiary. In case the beneficiary could no longer
afford to maintain the animal stocks or is
in urgent need of cash he has the option
to sell to the city government said stocks.
This year, the Agricultural Intensification Program has been expanded and extended to rice production. Even before the
implementation of DA’s seed and fertilizer
subsidy program this year, the city government had already procured palay seeds and
fertilizers seeds which were distributed to
(next page pls.)
October - December 2008
the farmers. As a parallel scheme to
the DA’s fertilizer subsidy program.
The Masbate City government also
provides P250 worth discount coupons for complete fertilizer with a
maximum of 4 coupons per hectare.
The City government also bought
300 bags Open Pollinated Variety of
white corn and 1,200 packets of BioN fertilizers. It also availed of one unit
4 wheel-drive tractor under the counter - parting scheme where the city
put up P1.2 M or 50% of its total cost.
To mitigate hunger, the Masbate
city government purchased vegetable
seeds worth P424,000 and 100 units
garden tools and 35 units knap sack
sprayers. This, in addition to what
the DA has already been distributing to the province of Masbate under the Gulayan sa Masa Program.
For the Fisheries and Coastal Resource Management Program, the city
government allocated P3M for the establishment and maintenance of the 50hectare Bugsayon Marine Sanctuary in
barangay B. Titong and the 200-hectare Buntod Marine sanctuary as well as
the 300- hectare Pawa Mangrove Park
which won for the city the Regional Saringaya Award given by the DENR for
Coastal Resource Management Program
and the Anvil Award for Excellence for
institutional and corporate programs.
The city also purchased and
distributed to its fisherfolk 200
non-motorized bancas and motor pumps. It also gives honorarium for its deputized fish wardens.
Unlike in most LGUs where agriculture extension workers are highly
demoralized because of the great discrepancy in salary grade compared to
their counterpart in national agencies,
the salary of agriculture personnel of
Masbate City are almost at par with
the national-paid agriculture personnel.
Their salary increase has been fully implemented. But more than that, a new
organizational structure is now in place
where regular 15 plantilla positions
have been created and filled-up to enOctober - December 2008
sure efficient and
effective delivery
of
agricultural
and extension services. Aside from
the City Agriculturist there is a
Supervising Agriculturist, a Senior Agriculturist,
Agriculturist II,
Agriculturist
I,
Farm Supervisor
and Farm Worker.
To further beef
up the agriculture
personnel,
18 casual and
contractual employees are also
hired. For every
farming barangay
there is one assigned technician.
While most
chief executives
are more often
Masbate City mayor Socrates Tuason (in white pants) distributed motor engine
inclined to erect
to fishermen. Non-motorized bancas (lower photo) were also distributed to
non-functional
fisherfolks.
edifices like waiting sheds or tanod
out posts Mayor Tuason invests in hard realities and needs of his constituents
infrastructure projects which have long His efforts are now paying off. Some
term impact and with high economic significant gains in the fight against povreturns. He had established a fish com- erty has been achieved in Masbate City .
plex where refrigeration and storage fa- City Agriculturist Magalang has but
cilities are also set-up. This is located at praises and great respect for his mayor
the reclaimed area where the integrated who’s development thrust is stronglytransport terminal is also located. Under grounded in agriculture. He enthuses:
his leadership farm-to market roads in “Basta gamitin lang sa tama ang pera
7 barangays have already been opened. ng bayan, maraming magagawa.”
His plans for the future include Indeed, public service and local
the construction of day care and governance if rendered with high sense
health centers in every barangay and of integrity, sincerity and commitment
fish ports in every coastal barangay. could make a big difference. And if de His being married to a planning of- velopment programs are anchored on
ficer -Rowena, who happens to be the agriculture which caters to the majorcity’s planning and development offi- ity of our populace then more would
cer (even before he became mayor) is benefit from development. We need
probably one of the reasons why his de- more dynamic, agriculture-oriented lovelopment agenda for the city of Mas- cal chief executives like mayor Tuason.
bate is sound and well -grounded on the
UMAsenso
13
applied complete fertilizer (1414-14) at 250 grams per tree.
He regularly prune to ensure
that the trees don’t grow very
tall for easy harvesting and
to facilitate other farm operations. Likewise, pruning
shoots helps produce more
branches, more flowers and
berries. It also promotes better
by Mabelle R. Ilan
As more and more Filipinos are born, the demand for
coffee also increases. Filipinos
cannot do away with coffee
and drinking coffee is a favorite pastime and an engaging
social activity. Coffee shop
nowadays is a thriving business
and for coffee lovers no coffee
can taste good without sending
a sweet aroma to the nostrils.
Aside from this, many people
could not start their day without
a cup of coffee to perk up their
morning. That’s why Francisco
Aranda “Frank” invested in
coffee production because coffee will never lose its market.
Determined to have a coffee plantation, Mang Frank settled in Sorsogon City in 1984.
He started from scratch. He is
known among the Sorsogueños
as the peddler of vinegar and
soy sauce. Daily he would roam
around the city carrying bottles
of vinegar and soy sauce on his
shoulder. His industry and perseverance paid off. He was able
to buy five hectares farmland in
Bgy. Cabid-an, Sorsogon City. How he started
With the help of his children, Mang Frank cleared the
area and started to make a layout. He brought a sack of coffee berries from their farm in
Batangas and produced his own
seedlings. “Producing seedlings
before quite tedious” says Mang
14
Frank. You have to prepare a
raised seedbed because there
was no plastic bags for use in
propagation. He painstakingly
planted the berries and was able
to produce the seedlings needed
for his farm.T hen removed the
pulp by hand and soaked the
beans for 24 hours to remove
the mucilage. He removed the
floaters as these are not good
ones. He prepared a germination bed with 1 meter width and
of convenient length. He sow
the seeds at ¾ inch deep and
covered with fine soil. After 7
to 8 months he was able to produce thousands of seedlings.
“Kapeng barako”or Liberica
is well adopted in Sorsogon”
says Mang Frank. The berries
are plump, big and rounded. It
is known for its distinct taste,
aroma and flavor. It is tolerant to drought and could be
grown in a varied type of soil.
Planting/Fertilizer Application
Transplanting of seedling
was done during the onset of
the rainy season. He chose
coffee seedlings with six pairs
of leaves. He followed the 3
x 3 meters distance of planting. Mang Frank explains that
he has to dig bigger and wider
holes to accommodate the ball
of soil attached to the seedlings to keep the roots intact.
He also added compost and
chicken manure. After a year he
light penetration and aeration.
Harvesting/Processing
With a total of 4,500 trees he
is now harvesting berries every
8 months. In Sorsogon harvest
starts in October until March.
Coffee is picked / harvested
individually to avoid presence
of pedicels. To maintain quality coffee, berries must be matured. Oftentimes it is colored
red. He harvests an average
of 147 sacks of coffee berries.
Coffee is dried for 8 to 9 days
in concrete drying pavement.
The secret to quality coffee is
the roasting process. Roasting
is the process of applying heat
to transform the chemical and
physical properties of coffee
beans into roasted coffee products. To achieve the desired
flavor from the beans he said
that coffee roasting involves
right heat application. He explains that the lack of insulating materials results to excessive heat loss. Poorly roasted
beans would yield poor tasting
coffee drink. With
the absence of hauler
and roasting equipment in the province
Mang Frank has to
bring dried coffee
beans to Lipa City in
Batangas to have the
outermost cover removed before roasting. He pays P8 per
UMAsenso
kilo for de-hauling and P9 per
kilo for roasting. Likewise,
an added cost is incurred for
transportation of the coffee
berries to Batangas and back.
Marketing
Mang Frank explains that
pricing depends on the quality of the beans and the variety. But he adds coffee always
commands a good price in the
market. A sack of roasted coffee costs Ps 8,900. Mang Frank
sells milled coffee at Ps 260
per kilo. With the help of the
Department of Trade and Industry he already has his brand
name “Uncle Franks roasted
coffee”. His packaging was
improved and he now sells coffee in 250 grams, 500 grams,
and 1 kilogram packaging.
Mang Frank advices those
who want to venture into coffee
production: “ to make sure to get
good quality product to make it
big in business. Once you hit
the market, make sure it attracts
buyers by promoting the products thru participation in exhibits and conduct of field days.”
As president of the Para
Café’ kan Sorsogon City Association, Mang Frank shares
his technologies to its members so that they too could
produce quality coffee. They
envisioned to place Sorsogon
in the map alongside with
other successful coffee producing provinces in the country.
Mang Frank is optimistic
that a brighter future awaits
the coffee growers of Sorsogon “May pera sa kape…. tanim
na!” he urges his fellow farmers.
October - December 2008
RESEARCH
New products from malunggay
The Bicol Integrated Agricultural Research Center
(BIARC), through its food
laboratory, has formulated
new products from malunggay (Moringa oleifera)
leaves such as moringa tea,
moringa powder, polvoron,
cookies and pastillas. When
asked why they have focused
on malunggay, Dr. Elena B.
Delos Santos, manager of
BIARC said that aside from
its nutritional and medicinal
properties, malunggay has
a great agribusinesss potentials. Malunggay leaves
when pulverized can be a
food fortificant, food supplement, and potent medicine.
Fresh leaves are very rich
in vitamin A, calcium, protein, magnesium, potassium,
phosphorus and iron. Dried
(DA...
malungay leaves are even
richer in vitamin A, calcium,
protein, potassium and iron.
One innovation of the
BIARC is the Moringa
Tea from dried malunggay
leaves. Fifteen kilogram
malunggay leaves when
oven-dried or sun-dried can
yield 2 kilograms of dried tea
leaves. There is also the moringa powder which is made
from crushed dried leaves
of malunggay. This powder
can be added to soups and
sauces, bread, biscuits, burgers, hotdogs, instant noodles,
tea bags and other functional
drinks to enhance taste and
nutritional value. Two kilos
dried leaves can be made
into 1.6 kg moringa powder.
Delos Santos said that
they are now into the process of analyzing and identifying the nutrient contents of
each product. (L. Guarin)
(NGOs link... / from
page 16 )
serve also as focal agency
and monitoring units of projects of the office of the agriculture secretary in which
they only see to it that the
projects are delivered to the
concerned parties requesting them and that these are
implemented in accordance
with approved plan of work.
For his part, Patrick
Lim, project manager of
CODE-NGO
explained
that this Budget Monitoring Project will not only
focus on the DA. Other government agencies shall be
monitored by civil society
groups to push for greater
October - December 2008
participation, transparency
and accountability. He said
that based on the comparative data they obtained and
from the COA report the
DA budget allocation “is
highly centralized, with
funding concentrated in the
GMA Commodity programs
with RFUs and attached bureaus receiving a smaller
share of the budget.” He likewise noted that
there is also proliferation
of lump sum appropriation
with no clear indication
for its use or purpose. This
highly centralized budget
allocation Lim said, leads
to greater mismatch of assistance provided with local needs and exacerbates
delays in fund release and
program
implementation.
He added that there is “weak
accountability
mechanisms and weak attempts
to validate LGU implementation of their projects .
Lim and his group
recommend that the DA
should improve mechanism
for monitoring and transparency and participation
by strengthening the role
of agriculture and fishery
councils (AFCs) and involving civil society groups in
UMAsenso
/ page 16 )
ing most of these patients emaciated and detached
from the “real world” - as
if they are only existing but their thoughts operating in a
differrent dimension. Others
are still emotionally scarred as they have not yet recovered from the pain and
trauma in their life which caused their mental faculties to snap. Perhaps most of them could not even understand all the fuss and all the
attention, that were suddenly
being showered upon them. We should not wait for
the next Christmas to remember and care for them.
monitoring its programs and
budget; conduct consultations with stakeholders prior
to submission of proposed
budget; provide details to
lump sum appropriations
and make information more
accessible to the public.
As an output of the said
workshop , the participants
prepared their workplan detailing the activities they
have to undertake in the succeeding months. Lim said
that they would be holding
more workshops and consultations with the DA officials. (Emily B. Bordado)
15
The DA, DOH, DepED,
and the Local Government Unit of Naga City,
jointly celebrated the World
Rabies Day at the Plaza
Quezon, Naga City last
September 29. The activity
was ushered by a funwalk
around the city followed by
vaccination, castration and
deworming of pet dogs,
and Slogan-making Contest
for elementary pupils. This
year’s theme is “Working
together make Rabies
History.”
NGOs link up with DA in budget
planning & monitoring of agri projects
Pili, Camarines Sur - A 12member national network of
non-government organizations recently conducted a
sharing workshop with the
Department of Agriculture
regional field unit here to establish a working partnership
with the DA in budget planning process and monitoring of agricultural projects.
The Caucus for Development NGO networks
(CODE-NGO) and the Coalition for Bicol Development (CBD) requested the
DA regional office here to
brief them on the agency’s
organizational structure, programs and budget process.
The regional forum was
held on November 14, 2008
at the DA’s training center.
Dr. Edgar R. Madrid, regional technical director for research and development discussed the DA planning and
budget process which he said
is formulated in accordance
with the priorities of the Medium-Term
Development
Program. He explained that
DA the regional field units
(RFUs) prepare their own
plans and budget and these
are consolidated later at the
department level and then
integrated into the national
level as part of the president’s
budget before it goes for review and approval in Congress and later in the Senate.
He added that RFUs
(NGOs link up / page 15)
DA personnel Aptly dubbed as “PaKrismas sa mga Kapusgive Christmas ong Pag-iisip,” the DA
personnel consisting of
cheers to
officers of the two assocations and accompanied
mental
by regional director Jose
V.
Dayao entertained
patients
As a simple way of
giving cheers for the patients of the Don Suzano
Rodriguez Memorial Mental Hospital in Pili, Camarines Sur, the Department
of Agriculture personnel,
thru the joint efforts of the
DA Lady Employees Association (DALEA) and the
DA Employees Association and the DA management pooled their humble
contributions in cash and
in kind and distributed
these to the mental patients last December 17th. the patients with Christmas songs before handing
over 150 pairs of slippers, food stuff and used clothings. Dr. Dayao and the
DA group promised to
bring more stuff for the
patients as there are about
389 of them according to
the hospital in-charge. It
was learned that what are
urgent needs of the patients
are personal things like
deodorant, tooth brush,
tooth paste, and soap. It tugs the heart see-
(DA / page 15)
Department of Agriculture
Regional Field Unit No. 5
Reg’l Agriculture and Fisheries Information Division
San Agustin, Pili, Camarines Sur
e-mail: darafid5 @ yahoo.com
Entered as Second Class
Mail Matter at Pili, Post Office,
Pili, Cam. Sur on July 30, 1999
16
PRINTED MATTER
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October - December 2008