bicolano farmers and fisherfolk receive over p53m assistance from da

January - March 2015 Vol. 24 No. 1

by Emily B. Bordado

(Please turn to page 9)

PASAY CITY - The Department of Agriculture gives recognition to top rice performers for 2014 during the 4th Agri-Pinoy Rice Achievers Awards held at the Newport Performing Arts Theater at Resorts World in Pasay City on March 26. Senator Cynthia A. Villar, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Food and Agriculture and DA top officials led by Undersecretary for Administration and Finance Antonio A. Fleta, Undersecretary for Operations, Emerson U. Palad and Assistant Secretary for Operations and National Rice and Corn Program

DA honors national top rice performers

Agriculture secretary Proceso J. Alcala l turned over agricultural facilities and distributed agricultural and fishery goods to farmers, fisherfolk , and Local Government Units and livelihood checks and project grant to rural women organizations amounting to over P53M when he visited Albay and Camarines Sur provinces on February 10 and 11. This was his 15th visit to Bicol and 7th to Camarines Sur since he became secretary. On February 10, he inaugurated and turned-over the Rice Processing Complex (RPC) 2 operated by the Hibiga River Irrigation System Irrigators Association, Inc. (HRSIA) in Barangay

Bicolano farmers and fisherfolk receive over P53M assistance from DA

Balinad Polangui, Albay. This facility worth Ps16M consists of 3 sets Batch re-circulating Mechanical Dryer with 6 tons capacity each; 1 set multi-pass rice mill with minimum output capacity of 1.2 ton/hr. milled rice and has milling recovery of 62 to 65%; portable moisture meter for rice and corn and; weighing scale with 1 ton capacity. According to DA-Bicol regional executive director the association will also be provided with administrative cost/capability building fund worth P500,000 and an initial operating cost of P2M. Alcala who also inaugurated the RPC 1 of San Agustin - San Ramon Farmers

For over 20 years, residents of Brgy. Cuco, Bagong Silang, and Hubo in Pasacao, Camarines Sur held a common lifelong dream—a passable road that will allow easy access not only to motorcycle or “habal-habal” and tricycle, but all types of transport vehicles, a road that will reduce travel time and transport cost of agricultural produce, and a road that will lead to easier and faster access to basic social services. During the 1st World Bank (WB) Supervision Mission Site Visit in Brgy. Cuco on February 3, 2015, the residents were elated to know that they are one step closer to the fulfillment of that dream.

WB funded projects under PRDP to make rural areas accessible and uplift economy

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Mayor Olivia B. Bermilo (2nd from left) holds the trophy and the P1M check their LGU received as one of the outstanding and top performing municipalities. Sharing the stage with her are: (L-R) DA Asec. Edilberto de Luna, Municipal Agriculturist Marilyn M. Quiñonez, Undersecretary Antonio A. Fleta, DA Bicol Regional Executive Director Abelardo R. Bragas, and Undersecretary for Operations Emerson M. Palad.

BULA, CAM. SUR --Agriculture Secretary inaugurated the P6M Rice Processing Complex (RPC) 1 established by the DA for the San Agustin-San Ramon Farmers Coop (SARFC) here.

2 January - March 2015UMAsenso

Advisers: Engr. Abelardo R. Bragas Regional Executive Director Dr. Elena B. Delos Santos RTD for Operations and Extensions Dr. Edgar R. Madrid, RTD for Research and Regulations

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) 477-5113 Fax 477-0381 E-mail Address: [email protected]

EDITORIAL

Re-entered as a Second Class Mail Matter at the Pili Post Office, Pili, Camarines Sur under Permit No. 2014-13 on March 26, 2014.

Editor-in-Chief: Emilia B. Bordado Writers: Lovella P. Guarin Jayson M. Gonzales Blesilda A. Nunez Annielyn L. Baleza Bettina Andrea BelenLay-out Artist: Lovella P. GuarinPhotographer/Liason Officer: Eduardo D. Collantes, Jr. Illustrators: Hermito Antonio T. Privaldos Ramon C. Adversario

Circulation: Blesilda A. Nuñez, Lita V. Estrella, Bernard Enrique Salvacion Gonowon, Records Unit

Towards a more equitable allocation of budget and manpowerfor Bicol

Bicol region has great potential for development with the agriculture and fisheries sector playing the pivotal

role in attaining its full growth potential. Among the regions of the country, Bicol has the biggest agricultural area at 891, 955 hectares. The Philippine Statistics Authority, cited Bicol as one of the top five palay producers in 2014. According to the National Statistics Board (NSCB 2014) the Bicol agriculture sector accounts for 70% of all commodity outflows of the region (food and live animals) and major exporter of coconut products, abaca fibers and pili products. Moreover, the agriculture sector approximately contributes 25.6% to the region’s economic output and absorbs the biggest proportion of the region’s labor force and close to 40% of all families derived their income from the sector. But despite these great potentials of Bicol for growth, the budget released for the agricultural programs by the national government has put Bicol only on the 6th rank. In terms of manpower resources, the approved position for DA technical personnel in the region under the Rationalization scheme is only 38 which is the lowest among the regions.

Cognizant of this disparity the DA management, staff, employees and agri-stakeholders are bringing this matter to the attention of those concerned and are engaging the support of the Bicolano legislators. We hope that this inequitable financial and manpower appropriation for Bicol region is only an oversight and could be rectified by our national policymakers and fiscal managers. Otherwise, a great disservice have been done to the Bicolano farmers and agri-stakeholders. And this could have an adverse and long term effect on the region’s economy. As agriculture is considered one the major drivers of economic growth, infusing the rightful and fair budget allocation as well as the needed manpower complement and resources for Bicol region would ensure that development is really “inclusive”.

UMAsenso 3January - March 2015

Letters

PRISM presents milestones in rice production monitoring

PHILIPPINE RICE INFORMATION SYSTEM

SAN AGUSTIN, PILI, CAMARINES SUR -Maps of actual rice farm areas including those of flooded rice areas during typhoons, and pest and disease prevalence affecting rice farms in the whole country, are just few among the milestones achieved by the Philippine Rice Information System (PRISM) for the wet season of 2014. On February 13, 2015 the PRISM team from IRRI and PhilRice presented the data generated from 80 sites in Bicol – 20 sites each from the four pilot municipalities during the wet season of 2014. Among the achievements of the PRISM were: satellite-generated rice maps showing the start of planting season and planting schedule per municipality; flood maps derived during

(PhilRice), International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), and SAR-MAP. PRISM is currently active in seven regions across the Philippines. Monitoring and field activities are being carried out by regional partners to develop consistent and regular assessments of rice crop production, crop health, and crop losses due to natural calamities such as floods, droughts, and pests and diseases incidence. In Bicol, four municipalities that best represent rice growing sites namely: Pamplona and Minalabac in Camarines Sur; Polangui, Albay and Castilla, Sorsogon were identified as pilot sites. Using their specially programmed cellphones, project field observers input data such as farmers’ name, boundary coordinates, bund height, method of crop establishment, rice variety, date of crop establishment, pesticide and fertilizer input, yield data as well as irrigation information following interview with farmers in their respective areas. Data from the cellphones are directly transmitted to the data bank of IRRI. The project has 2 components. For Component A, 30 field observers composed of selected Agricultural Extension Workers (AEWs) and DA RFO 5 staff conducted series of monitoring activities starting at land preparation, tillering, pre-flowering until harvesting stages. Damage assessment has also been conducted whenever necessary. For Component B, crop health observers composed of DA Regional Crops Protection Center (RCPC) staff led by Dr. Evangeline dela Trinidad, RCPC Chief and focal person for Component B, conducted monitoring activities during the rice booting, flowering and at harvest for the yield data. PRISM will continue to improve the capacity for pest surveillance in the Philippine, characterize production situations and quantify pest risks in farmers’ fields. A relational database will be developed to store information gathered on production situations, pest injuries and yield in the major rice-growing provinces in the Philippines. To know more about PRISM, visit http://philippinericeinfo.ph. (Lovella P. Guarin)

typhoons using the Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR); area planted and yield estimates per province; and pests and diseases incidence all through out the country. Results showed that all over the Philippines, Bakanae disease is prevalent in Minalabac and Castilla; while Sheath Blight Incidence is very dominant in Rizal; Rice Bug is more dominant in Castilla, Minalabac and Polangui as compared to the other six (6) regions, while minimal rat damage had been recorded in Castilla, Minalabac and Polangui. PRISM which is an operational system for monitoring rice is a 4-year R&D collaboration between the Department of Agriculture(DA), Philippine Rice Research Institute

Office of the MayorMunicipality of Capalonga

February 6, 2015

MISS EMILY B. BORDADODA-RFU 5 Reg’l Agriculture and FisheriesInformation DivisionSan Agustin, Pili, Camarines Sur

Dear Madam: Greetings!!! The Local Government of Capalonga, Camarines Norte will be holding a 1st Rice Farmer Congress on March 27, 2015 at Capalonga Gymnasium. This gathering will be attended by more than 100 rice farmers in the municipality. Relative to this, may we respectfully request various IEC materials that we could distribute to the congress participants upon registration as follows;Sistemang Palay Check para sa Pabago-bagong Panahon; Katalogo ng mga Bagong Barayti ng Palay; Paggawa ng Carbonized Rice Hull; Mga Pangunahing insekto at sakit ng Palay; Hand-outs para sa produksyon ng Hybrid Rice at iba pa. Thank you and more power to RAFIS.

(Signed) HON. SENANDRO M. JALGALADOMunicipal Mayor


REGIONAL EVENTS

SORSOGON CITY – The DA-operated Sorsogon Dairy Farm (SDF) now called Dairy Production and Technology Center, in Cabid-an this city has gained a very good reputation among the dairy farm owners in New Zealand and Saudi Arabia. For years now, the SDF has successfully sent trainees and even employees to work in the vast dairy farms in New Zealand and Riyadh in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Dolores Ricafranca, the station superintendent, herself

had a five month training stint in the Netherlands years back. Her experiences abroad help her transform the 77 hectares Sorsogon Dairy Farm into a technologically advanced and competitive dairy center. The SDF has 120 dairy cattle (Holstein Friesian and Sahiwal) and 48 breeders. There are 26 cows in the milking line. It has a milking parlor and milk processing center. The SDF fresh milk has gained popularity in Sorsogon and neighboring provinces that for the year 2014

the SDF has generated a total of P2,158,390.00 from the sales of these fresh milk. The dairy farm’s fertile soil also make various forage grasses thrive abundantly in the area. Other activities of the station include milk feeding program, animal breeding through artificial insemination and livestock dispersal. The sterling performance of the SDF made it a very good training ground for aspiring dairy farm workers who want to get employed overseas. In 2014, ten (10) trainees of SDF passed the trade test conducted by a dairy farm in New Zealand, and they are

now working for a three (3) year contract. For eight (8) hours farm work, they receive an average monthly salary of P120,000. They are entitled for a month of vacation in the Philippines annually. Those who already worked there testified that it is very easy to bring their families there. The children of Filipino workers there are receiving $5,000 educational allowance for the school year. Meanwhile, this March 2015, eight (8) trainees will fly to Riyadh to work at the National Agriculture and Dairy Cooperative (NADEC),


Graham Turner (3rd from left), dairy farm owner from Auckland New Zealand, talks with the trainees of the Sorsogon Dairy Farm. Also in photo is Dolores Ricafranca (right), SDF superintendent.

DA Regional Executive Director Abelardo R. Bragas together with other DA officials inspect the barns at the Sorsogon Dairy Farm.

Pineapple farmers here can now plant other varieties aside from the Queen Pineapple which is known for its very sweet fruit and sturdy leaves that are made into piña cloth. Through a colourful harvest festival conducted on March 26, the DA-operated Camarines Norte Lowland Rainfed Research Station in barangay Calasgasan, Daet has introduced two new varieties of pineapple whose adaptability and yield performance has been tested for more than two years in the said station. Two (2) pineapple varieties namely Ulam

DA ROS introduces 2 new pineapple varietiesin Cam. Norte

and MD-2 hybrid pineapple from Davao and Bukidnon respectively, were tested under the soils and climatic conditions of Camarines Norte using different production methods that included medium density, low fertilizer planting techniques of farmers; the high

density, medium fertilizer best practices for queen pineapple; and the high density, high fertilizer rate of Mindanao growers. The Ulam variety has spiny leaves similar to Queen pineapple and was claimed to produce very sweet fruit with

Harvest Festival. (from right) Engr. Bella Frias, CNLRRS Sup’t;Luz Marcelino, DA Research division chief; Rosita Imperial, DA HVCDP regional coordinator holding MD-2 pineapple fruits.


Sorsogon Dairy Farm trainees now work in New Zealand & Riyadh

edible core. While the MD-2 hybrid variety has similar plant stand with the spineless smooth Cayenne or Hawaiian variety but is said to produce sweeter fruit with no aftertaste when eaten. This variety is now being planted in Honduras and Mexico. More than 100 pineapple growers, representatives from the municipal and provincial local government units in the province, from the DA regional office and the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) in Manila, attended the harvest festival . During the festival, the participants were challenged to various contests such as guessing the weight of the fruits, taste test and agronomic observations on


DA holds consultation with Civil Society Organizations and stakeholders

NAGA CITY - As an effort to cultivate deeper and more meaningful partnership and engagement with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and other stakeholders in the planning and implementation of agricultural development programs in the region, the Department of Agriculture

In her opening message, DA regional Technical Director for Operations and Extension, Dr. Elena B. delos Santos acknowledged the contribution of DA’s partners and stakeholders in the successful implementation of agricultural programs. She enjoined everyone to sustain said

programs and the projects of DA attached Agencies. It was reported that for Rice, Bicol region is among the top 5 highest producing regions in the country as of December 31 and it has achieved 116.68% self sufficiency for the same period. DA was able to assist 102,217 individual farmers

were not a complete package. For example, some flat bed dryers are not provided with shed hence, they are exposed to the elements. Also, it was noted that there is no one monitoring the effectiveness and efficiency of the farm equipment and facilities and other services and assistance being provided

regional office conducted a CSOs and other stakeholders consultation meeting at Villa Caceres Hotel here on January 27. Some 70 participants representing various CSOs from the Bicol provinces and other partner institutions took part in the meeting where the DA Proposed Plans and Budget for 2016 were presented for review and suggestions and recommendations were elicited from the participants. Said activity is also in compliance with the Department of Budget and Management Memorandum No. 109 of 2011 directing government agencies to strengthen democratic institutions, broaden constructive partnership, empower citizens and institutionalize their participation in project planning, implementation and even in budget processes.

partnership as she emphasized that “the candle of partnership should continue burning.” De los Santos also reminded everyone to uphold and be guided by the eight (8) principles of constructive engagement which are: transparency, accountability, integrity, partnership, consultation and mutual empowerment, respect for internal processes, sustainability and national interest. The first part of the consultative meeting was the presentation of the accomplishment and program status and progress of various programs which include the projects and activities under the Rice, Corn, High Value Crops, Livestock, Organic Agriculture, Bottom-Up Budgeting (BUB), PAMANA, Irrigation, Infrastructure and Farm Machineries and Equipment,

and 2,331 groups/associations. Rice industry ‘s production in the region expanded by 1.2%. Corn on the other hand attained 9.26 growth rate as a result of 3.66 increase in area harvested and 5.08% increase in average yield per hectare. The HVCDP and Livestock Sector likewise posted positive growth as a result of the many interventions provided by the DA and other growth drivers. The second part of the consultative meeting was the presentation of Priorities for 2015 and Plans and Budget Proposal for 2016.The third part was the Open Forum where the participants ventilated their views on the presented plans and proposals, raised issues and concerns and presented recommendations. One of the issues raised by the CSO representatives was that some of the post harvest facilities provided by the DA

by the DA to the various beneficiaries. RTD Ellen said that said problems are now being addressed. Flatbed dryers and other facilities are now being provided in a complete package. She also cited that the Regional Agriculture and Fishery Council organized and being assisted by the DA is mandated to help monitor agricultural projects and the new chairperson, Jimmy Cordero had already prepared a memorandum organizing a monitoring team from among the council. DA RTD for Research and Regulations, Dr. Edgar Madrid for his part said that the recommendations should be translated into policies. (Emily B. Bordado).

DA Regional Technical Director for Operations and Extension Elena B. delos Santos addresses the participants


Cooperative (SARFC) in Bula, Camarines Sur. The project cost is Ps6M which consists of 1 set multi-pass mill with minimum output capacity of 1.0 ton per/hr milled rice and has milling recovery of 62-65%, portable moisture meter for rice and corn and weighing scale. It has an administrative cost/capacity building fund of P500,000 and initial operating cost of Ph1M. In addition, the coop was awarded 5 units of handtractor worth P130,000 each. The highlight of the secretary’s visit was his interaction with over 1,700 farmer leaders, municipal/city agriculturists, agricultural extension workers (AEWs) and local chief executives who convened at the Avenue Hotel Tent in Naga City for the Regional Agri & Fishery Stakeholders’ Summit

Bicolano farmers and fisherfolk... (from page 1)

NAGA CITY --Over 1,700 farmer leaders, municipal/city agriculturists, agricultural extension workers (AEWs) and local chief executives convened at the Avenue Plaza Hotel Tent in Naga City during the Regional Agri & Fishery Stakeholders’ Summit and Agricultural Extension Workers Congress on February 10.

and Agricultural Extension Workers’ Congress on February 10. On same occasion 27 AEWs, 5 Local Farmer Technicians, 2 Municipal LGUs of Castilla and Polangui and the Provincial LGU of Albay were recognized and awarded cash prizes of P10,000 each as 2014 Agri-pinoy Rice Achievers Awardees for their outstanding performance in the implementation of the Rice Program. Bicol is among the 5 top rice producing regions in the country for 2014. On the same venue, Alcala also awarded 10 units 4-wheel drive tractors worth Ph2M each to the LGU of Tabaco City, Guinobatan, Lupi, Iriga City, Nabua, Aroroy, Masbate, provincial local government unit of Camarines Norte, Dr. Emilio B. Espinosa Memorial

State College of Agriculture and Technology (DEBESMSCAT) of Mandaon,Masbate , Green PMC of Uson,Masbate and KABACAS Multipurpose Coop of Calabanga, Camarines Sur. Certificates of awards for four units of palay threshers and 4 units hand tractor were also given to the LGU of Virac, Catanduanes The Rinconada Integrated Dev’t. Area was also given certificates of awards for 7 units hand tractors with trailer and 1 unit palay thresher. Attendees to the stakeholders summit and AEWs congress and other project sites visited by the secretary did not only have the opportunity to interact with him but had also the chance to win farm equipment and other agriculture and fishery goods raffled off which include:

hand tractors with trailers, knapsack sprayers; carabaos, module sheep (4 ewes & 1 ram/module); certified seeds, hybrid palay seeds, hybrid corn seeds, garden tools and laminated sacks. For the attending fisherfolk, BFAR raffled off 10 units marine engine with 5.5hp and 30 fishing gears. The secretary also formalized DA’s partnership with other partner institutions as he signs memoranda of agreements with partner institutions on three collaborative undertakings namely: 1) DA-DEBESMSCAT partnership to accelerate agricultural development in the province of Masbate through upgrading of agricultural education, development of applied agriculture and focusing on agri-entrepreneurship; 2) DA-DepEd and BREDC PapaYaman-C para sa Eskwelang Bikolnon, a convergence project of the DA, the DepEd and the Congressional Committee on Bicol Recovery and Development promoting and advocating the importance of papaya and lemon and incorporating them in the feeding programs and diets among children ; 3) DA- AKO Bicol partnership to produce, process and distribute organic fertilizers from chicken manure to lessen its undesirable effects and transform it into useful and safe organic fertilizers which farmers can avail of. Meanwhile, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) on same occasion, handed over certificates of award for the Ps1.0M worth of fisheries project to 10 LGUs who made it to the top 100 finishers in the National Fisherfolk Registration System which include the LGU of Aroroy, Balud, Cataingan and Placer (all of Masbate province), Sorsogon City, Bulan, Sorsogon, Legazpi City and Mercedes of Camarines

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Norte. Present during this event were Albay Governor Joey Salceda, who receive the award for PLGU Albay as outstading province in rice production; Governor Araceli Wong of

Catanduanes; Rep Wimpy Fuentebella of 4th Cam. Sur, 5th Dist Rep Salvio Fortuno; Partylist representatives Rodel Batocabe, Christopher Co and Anthony Bravo, Rep of Coop NATCCO. Also present were

POLANGUI, ALBAY --- Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala turned over to Hibiga River Irrigation System Irrigators Association, (HRSIA), the P16M Rice Processing Complex (RPC) 2 located at Balinad this municipality. Alcala was joined by Albay Governor Joey Salceda (seated left), and Mayor Cherilie Sampal of Polangui (seated beside Gov. Salceda).

PHILMECH Executive Director Rex Bingabing; BAI Director Rubina Cresencio; PRDP South Luzon Project Director Shandy Hubilla; DepEd Regional Director Ramon Abcede; DEBESMSCAT President Erwin Malto; heads of DA attached agencies; DA RFO 5 RED Abelardo Bragas and officials and staff of DA. The secretary also had an interaction with about 40 members of the local media.

On February 11, Alcala led the blessing and inauguration of the renovated DA Regional Soils laboratory located at Del Rosario, Naga City; the newly constructed Coco Water Processing Center funded under the Philippine Rural Development Project located at the DA regional office compound in Pili, and the newly constructed Regional High Value Processing and Value-Adding Center.

2014 Regional Rice Achievers awarded

Provincial LGU of Albay. Governor Joey Salceda

Municipal LGU of Castilla, Sorsogon and Polangui in Albay. Mayors Olivia Bermillo and Cherilie Sampal received the awards.

(2nd from left) received the award from (L-R) DA RED Abelardo R. Bragas, Secretary Alcala, Catanduanes Gov. Araceli Wong, AKB partylist Rep. Rodel Batocabe and Christopher Co, and Rep. Wimpy Fuentebella of 4th district Cam. Sur.

(L-R) Castilla Municipal Agriculturist Marilyn Quiñonez; Polangui Municipal Agriculturist Alfredo Mariscotez, Jr. and Albay OIC provincial agriculturist Ernesto dela Torre received the awards.


MOBO, MASBATE – Municipal Agriculturists, planning and development officers, and municipal environment officers of selected municipalities of Masbate attended a four-day Participatory Mapping Exercises conducted by the DA Information and Technology Center for Agriculture and Fisheries (ITCAF), in cooperation with the ICT Office of the Department of Agriculture RFO 5. The event was held on March 10-13, 2015 at the Umoroy Beach Resort, Mobo Masbate. Dr. Honorio C. Flameño (top photo left),

Participatory mapping exercise Chief of the Network Operations and Management Division of ITCAF and Ronald Pamittan (top photo) also of ITCAF served as resource speakers. Participatory mapping is an interactive approach that draws on local people’s knowledge, enabling participants to create visual and non-visual data to explore social problems, opportunities and questions. Participants work together to create a visual representation of a place using the tools and materials at their disposal. At the same time, while creating their map they also deliberate over how to best represent the place in question.

PILI, CAMARINES SUR -While the mandatory age for retirement for most government personnel is 65, for military personnel it is 56. But what is interesting is that, the Philippine Army prepares its retiring or separating personnel for a smooth transition to civilian life via its “Transition Assistance Program.” Retiring personnel are made to attend a business/livelihood seminar and training where livelihood or business opportunities are presented which they could consider to venture into after retiring from active service. This is to provide them additional source of income other than merely relying on

Phil Army and DA provide transition assistance for retiring personnel

their monthly pensions. Also, being engaged in a productive endeavour will boost their morale and give them a sense of pride as they mainstream into civilian life. For three years now the 9th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army based in barangay Tinangis in this municipality has partnered with the Department of Agriculture in the conduct of livelihood seminars for its retiring personnel. According to LTC Bernardo R. Fortez, Jr. this year 29 of these retiring personnel attended the lectures on various agriculture-based livelihood undertakings. The 3-day training held

on March 17 to 19 inside the military camp was capped with actual visit to the facilities and projects inside the DA compound and the participants had hands-on learning of some of the topics discussed to them. Experts from the Bicol Integrated Agricultural Research Center (BIARC) of the DA served as resource persons. Among the topics discussed and the corresponding resource persons were: rice production - Anacleto Esplana;, organic composting- Angelina Peñaserada;, goat production- Marianito Tesorero; native chicken production- Fortunato Balbis; grafting of fruit trees- Dominica Camposano; cleft plant propagation- Augusto Saldo and mushroom production - Pedro Oliver. The training culminated with the holding of the graduation ceremonies which was graced by Col. Milfredo M. Melegrito, Chief of Staff

of the 9th Infantry Division, Phil. Army. In his message to the participants, he said that Filipinos generally consider a person successful if he is employed. But in other countries a person is considered successful if he runs his own business or enterprise no matter how small. He underscored that the success of the transition program for retiring personnel will ultimately be measured in the number of participants or attendees who have dared to venture into an entrepreneurial undertaking and became true entrepreneur. Also present during the closing ceremony was Corazon A. Orbon, Assistant BIARC Manager, who represented Luz R. Marcelino, the BIARC manage; Emily Bordado, DA regional information officer; Pedro Oliver and Arlene San Buenaventura also of BIARC. (Emily B. Bordado)

Hands on training on mushroom production grafting of different varieties of fruit bearing trees for the military personnel. Left photo shows the military men who completed the course posing with some DA staff after the closing cermonies.


Coordinator, Edilberto M. de Luna graced the occasion. Agriculture secretary Proceso J. Alcala was not able to attend as he was out of the country on an official business. This year’s rice achievers and champions include 10 outstanding provinces, 4 provinces with special citations and 15 outstanding municipalities/cities. The 10 outstanding provinces that topped rice production in terms of production and yield increment and production performance over 2013 over 2013 targets, each received P4M and a trophy. The 15

outstanding municipalities/cities each received P1M each and a trophy. The four provinces with special citation each received P200,000. The Local Government Unit of Castilla, Sorsogon who was also one of the national awardees in the previous year made it again to the top 15 municipalities registering a production increment of 18.46% in 2014 over 2013 production and a yield increment of 17.69% over 2013 yield. The municipality also exceeded its production target of 6,341.66 metric

tons by 273.5% as it attained a production volume of 18,985.77 metric tons. Incremental production is attributed to rehabilitation and repair of irrigation systems and other production interventions. Another criteria considered in the selection of outstanding LGU rice achiever is the percent of Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) disbursed by the LGU for Rice Program. Mayor Olivia B. Bermillo along with municipal agriculturist Marilyn M. Quiñones, received the cash award and trophy . They were accompanied by DA Bicol RED Abelardo R. Bragas,

DA honors national top rice performers... (from page 1)

some DA regional staff and staff of Mayor Bermillo. The top provinces are: Pangasinan, Isabela, Nueva Ecija, Bataan, Bulacan, Tarlac, Bukidnon, Compostela Valley, Davao Oriental and Davao del Sur. The top municipalities aside from Castilla Sorsogon are: San Marcela, Apayao; Vinatr Ilocos Norte; Cabatuan, Isabela; Bustos, Bulacan; Calamba City, Laguna; Calintaan, Occidental Mindoro; San Enrique, Iloilo; Bayawan City, Negros Oriental; Caibiran, Biliran; Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur; Lala, Lanao del Norte; Banaybanay, Davao Oriental; Koronadal City, South Cotabato and Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur. On hand to receive the awards were the governors and mayors and other LGU officials accompanied by their provincial and municipal agriculturists. On same occasion, the DA also awarded five outstanding Irrigators Association (IAs) and three outstanding Small Water Impounding System Association (SWISA). This year Bicol region has no entry for outstanding IA and SWISA. Last Year, the San Antonio Farmers Irrigators Multi-purpose Cooperative in Buhi, Camarines Sur. The awarding of the outstanding Agricultural Extension Workers (AEWs) including the municipal agricul turis ts /agricul tural officers and Local Farmer Technicians will be done in their regions or cluster according to Asec. De Luna. Each AEW will also receive a cash prize of P20,000 as part of an incentive/bonus mechanism for these government technicians who continue to support and assist rice farmers from land preparation, to production to harvest and even post-harvest and marketing. Bicol is being considered as the venue for the awarding of outstanding AEWs in the South Luzon cluster. (Emily B. Bordado)

(Left) Senator Cynthia A. Villar who is also the Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Food and Agriculture delivering the keynote address during the awarding ceremonies.

(Top) DA Assistant Secretary for Operations and concurrently, Rice and Corn Program Coordinator Edilberto de Luna, presenting the rice situationer and updates.

the two pineapple varieties to determine which has better fruit sugar content and good plant characteristics. Majority of the participants have chosen the ULAM variety as the sweetest while MD2 exhibited better plant standing.Also present during the harvest festival were Flor Jarilla and Juanita Calibo of BPI Manila; Luz Marcelino, Chief of DA 5 Research Division and Manager of Bicol Experiment Station; Rosita Imperial, High Value Crops Development Program regional coordinator; former CNLRRS superintendent Emiliano Murillo; and Inocencio Obrero, former Senior Agriculturist and Agricultural Program

Coordinating Officer, who was invited to share the results of the trial. Obrero started the trial in October 2013 with the funding support from the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI). Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala deemed to introduce these new varieties of pineapple from Mindanao in response to the claims that the yield of the Camarines Norte’s Queen pineapple or Formosa is getting smaller as the farmers are planting only one variety. Obrero reported that ULAM and MD-2 variety can be grown under the soil and climatic condition of Camarines Norte using the local farmers practices or the best agricultural

practices for the Queen pineapple. But he said only the MD-2 variety is now ready for commercialization and distribution to farmers as the intellectual property rights of the Ulam variety is still under negotiations. The Ulam variety was developed and registered by Dr. Juan C. Acosta of Bukidnon, whose pineapple plantation is located in Davao. Engr. Bella Frias, the newly installed CNLRRS Superintendent, said the station has been producing suckers of MD-2 variety and interested farmers can avail of the said planting materials from the CNLRRS at a minimum cost. (Lovella P. Guarin)

DA ROS introduces 2 new pineapple... (from page 4)


VIRAC, CATANDUANES – To pay tribute to all women leaders who continue to advance women’s advocacies, the Department of Agriculture in Bicol gathered some 150 women leaders, entrepreneurs and housewives in this island province to celebrate Women’s Month and International Women’s Day. Dubbed as Bicol Rural Women’s Forum which carries the women’s month theme “Juana, Desisyon mo ay Mahalaga sa Kinabukasan ng Bawat Isa, Ikaw Na!” the celebration held at Rakdell Inn, on March 27, was attended by women from volunteer works and farm enterprises, home-based enterprises, members of Rural Improvement Clubs, and women in good governance. The highlight of the event was the awarding of P200,000 worth livelihood checks to twenty (20) rural women under Agrikultura: Kaagapay ng Bayang Pinoy or AKBay). AKBay is a nationwide poverty reduction program helping rural families through

livelihood projects. It is being implemented by the DA through the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fishery, funded under the Japan Grant Assistance for Food Security Project for Underprivileged farmers. The AKBay program provides P10,000 starting capital for each qualified household to finance short-gestating agri-fishery project. To date 440 households all over the region have been recipient. Catanduanes has a total of 121 projects worth P1,210,000 through roll-over scheme. Also during the celebration, 100 laminated sacks, 20 sets garden tools, 20 units knapsack sprayer and 150 packets vegetable seeds were raffled off to the participants. DA Bicol Regional Executive Director Abelardo R. Bragas in his message said that in 2014 about 7.8% of the total budget of the DA regional office or P220.3M went to Gender and Development projects and activities which included production inputs,

DA celebrates women’s monthin Catanduanes

training, fora, farm equipment, postharvest facilities, and livelihood assistance which did not only provide added income for many families but helped Bicolanas to be self-sufficient and ultimately, empowered. Congressman Cesar Sarmiento announced that he has sponsored a bill for the extension of SLEX to Matnog, Sorsogon. He also envisions to provide internet access in public places of 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th class municipalities in the country

For his part, Ako Bikol partylist representative Rodel Batocabe who also graced the forum underscored the advantages of being a woman such as longevity and grace under pressure. He also pledged the congress’ full support to GAD initiatives in Bicol. Governor Araceli Wong disclosed a huge project in the offing, the construction of the friendship bridge that will connect San Anders, Catanduanes and Caramoan, Camarines Sur. (L.Guarin)

Distribution of AKBAY checks to recipients.

the biggest dairy farm in Saudi Arabia as electricians, health technicians, parlor maintenance, silo technician, tractor operator, feeding technician and yard technician. They are an addition to the first batch of 12 feeding technicians and tractor operators who went there in July 2014 and another batch of 18 workers who went there in October 2014 for a two-year contract. There are four (4) farm workers who are

now working at Almarai Dairy Farm also in Riyadh. Employers from these two (2) countries visit the SDF to conduct trade tests and interview prospective employees from among the trainees. These employers also shoulder the air fare and placement fee of the qualified trainees who will pass the screening. In 2014, the SDF has trained a total of 80, mostly men

and some women, who came from as far as Zamboanga, Cebu, Isabela, Cavite, Calamba and the six provinces of the Bicol region. Some of them do not have background in animal husbandry but they said that through the modules used in the training at the SDF they were able to learn what it takes to pass the rigid screening. Alberto Esquivas, the animal breeding incharge and one of the resource persons in

the trainings, said their module has been patterned from the practices in dairy farms in New Zealand through the help of the former employees of SDF who are now working there. The training involves practical/actual practice reinforced with lectures. The trainees were divided into groups to perform different tasks in the farm. The daily chores at the farm start at 3:00

Sorsogon Dairy Farm... (from page 4)



Organic Agri Program reviewNAGA CITY – “The National Organic Agriculture Program (NOAP) will no longer be treated a special program but as a regular program of the Department of Agriculture”. This was announced by Fr. Ian Trillanes, member of the National Organic Agriculture Board (NOAB) during the Organic Agriculture (OA) Program Review and Planning Workshop called by the DA regional Office last March 5 at one of the hotels in this city. Fr. Trillanes, parish priest of St. John the Baptist in Lupi, Camarines Sur and organic agriculture practitioner and advocate is one of the six (6) representatives from the private sector who sit in the NOAB, the policymaking body of the NOAP. He represents the non-government organization. He explained that the

Organic Agriculture program having been mainstreamed into the DA regular program under the Operations means that this program will not be treated as an extra or additional work by the program implementers and it is assured of a regular budget. He also emphasized that organic farmers should aim and work for certification of their farm and products. He also underscored that farmers should not only proposed projects that are eligible but viable. Over 60 participants composed of organic agriculture focal persons from the provinces, cities and municipalities, municipal agriculturists, extension workers, representatives from the academe and farmers groups and organic agriculture advocates attended the

workshop. Two other Bicolanos who are currently sitting at the NOAB also graced the occasion and delivered their messages and updates. They were Dr. Georgina J. Bordado, president of Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (CBSUA) who sits as the representative of the academe in the NOAB and Mariano Racelis, president of the Rinconada Movement for Environment and Sustainable Agriculture (RIMCOMESA) who represents the small organic farmers organizations in the NOAB. They will sit in the board for a period of three years starting last year. For her part ,DA Regional Technical Director Elena B. de los Santos in her message reminded everyone to always be guided by the 4 principles of Organic Agriculture as laid down by the International Federation of Organic agriculture Movements (IFOAM). These are: 1) the principles health - healthy soil, plants, animals and human = healthy planet; 2) principles of ecology- emulating and sustaining natural systems; 3) principle of fairness- equity respect and justice for all living things; 4) principle of care - concern for the generations to come. Bicol Regional OA focal person and currently chief of the DA Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance

Division, Adelina A. Losa discussed the NOAP Major Components which are 1) Institutional Development and strengthening; research and development; production and technology support; extension and capability building. She explained that Bicol region has a great potential for organic agriculture with its total agricultural area 891,955 hectares, five percent ( 5%) of which is targeted to be utilized for organic agriculture is equivalent to 44,597.75 hectares. She thus emphasized the vital role of the LGUs as the front liners in the implementation of the organic agriculture. She enjoined the LGU representatives to start organizing the Municipal Technical committees and urge the Sangguniang Bayan to approve a resolution so that the budget for the organic agriculture program could be released to the LGU. As part of the activity, a representative from the Bureau of Soils and Water Management, Eduardo Alberto and a representative from the Agricultural Training Institute presented their accomplishment and workplans for the OA. Likewise, selected OA focal persons of provinces/municipalities which are already implementing the OA program were requested to report their accomplishments and work plan. (Emily B.

About 20 men and women employees of the Department of Agriculture in Bicol attended the Gender Sensitivity Training on January 21, 2015 at Eurotel, Naga City It was aimed to raise awareness among DA-RFO 5 employees on gender issues affecting full participation of women in the workplace, let the audience understand basic Gender and Development (GAD) Concepts , define and differentiate the terms “ Sex” and “Gender” and appreciate situation of Filipino women and men. Resource Speakers were Lorenza Umali DA-CO GAD Consultant and former Deputy Executive Director of Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) and Dr. Rhea D. Desalesa, GAD Focal Person, DA-BAR. The participants were given various exercises such as group discussions on the issues of women thru time. Filipino women and men in the Philippines and issues of women in Agriculture; had a Role Play on women in pre-colonial and Spanish times; group Presentations and picture analysis. Umali said that Sex is Biological and is born with while Gender is socially constructed and not born with. She discussed the role of women during Japanese and Spanish Occupation which showed the hard facts that there is disparity between men and women. She further noted that on September 15,1937, Filipino women finally won the right to vote and run for public office by virtue of Administrative Act 2711. (Blesilda A Nunez)

DA 5 conducts Gender Sensitivity Training

DA celebrates women’s monthin Catanduanes


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The WB team headed by Carolina V. Figueroa-Geron and 11 other technical experts visited the site and interacted with the key beneficiaries and implementers to validate if the proposed project suits the need of the identified beneficiaries. The team also looked into the pace and progress of the sub-project (SP) as well as identified problems and issues. According to Geron, the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) is currently the biggest World Bank project in the Philippines and is one of the international financial institution’s biggest agricultural and rural development projects worldwide. “We are very glad to

know that in this region, you consider the PRDP as one of your priorities in development initiative. Ang mahalaga po ay ma-implement ninyo ang sub-projects on the ground ng maayos at tama--in a transparent manner within good governance setup and in the most efficient way possible. Let us work together and help achieve our target of increasing household income,” Geron said. According to PRDP Project Support Office (PSO) Luzon B Director Shandy M. Hubilla, Bicol has the biggest share of Intensified Building up of Infrastructure and Logistics for Development (I-BUILD) sub-projects with No Objection

Letter (NOL) in South Luzon with a total project cost worth P638.4 million. These include the P50.67 million-worth Upgrading of Cuco-Bagong Silang farm-to-market road (FMR) in Pasacao, the P131.28 million-worth Concreting of Manangle-Caima FMR in Sipocot, and P44.80 million-worth Rehabilitation of San Isidro to Pag-oring Nuevo Road in Libmanan, Camarines Sur. These FMRs intend to complement the Camarines Sur Coconut Sap Sugar Processing,

the province’s proposed Investments in Rural Enterprises and Agriculture and Fisheries Productivity (I-REAP) SP and the Coco Water Processing Technology Pilot-Testing and Business Incubation Project, a partnership among the Department of Agriculture (DA)-PRDP, Philippine Center for Postharvest Mechanization and Development (PhilMech), Camarines Sur local government unit (LGU), and Central Bicol

WB funded projects... (from page 1)

EXPECTANT. After over 20 years of waiting, residents of Brgy. Cuco in Pasacao, Camarines Sur are one step closer to the fulfillment of their lifelong dream--a passable road through the DA-PRDP's proposed P50.67 million-worth Upgrading of Cuco-Bagong Silang farm-to-market road (FMR).

PSO South Luzon (Luzon B) Project Director Shandy M. Hubilla (center, in powder blue) leads the site visit of the World Bank team at Brgy. Cuco Pasacao, Camarines Sur on February 3, 2015, one of the highlights of the 1st World Bank (WB) Supervision Mission to South Luzon Cluster Site Visit.

World Bank-PRDP Task Team Leader Carolina Figueroa-Geron interacts with the residents of Brgy. Cuco in Pasacao, Camarines Sur to evaluate their readiness for the implementation of the Upgrading of Cuco-Bagong Silang Farm-to-Market Road during the 1st World Bank (WB) Supervision Mission to South Luzon Cluster Site Visit on February 3, 2015.


State University of Agriculture (CBSUA). The objective is to pilot test coco water’s market acceptability, profitability, product characteristics, and machine efficiency prior to full commercial adoption. Meanwhile, Engr. Abelardo R. Bragas, Regional Executive Director of DA Regional Field Office V (DA RFO V), expressed his optimism that the PRDP will transform the rural areas into dynamic and competent growth points for agricultural development. “Ito po ang gustong mangyari ng ating national government, maramdaman sa kanayunan yung paglago ng ekonomiya. Ito po ang tinatawag natin na pag nagawa itong kalsadang ito, gusto ng ating president at ni Secretary Alcala na maramdaman nyo yung sinasabi nilang inclusive growth,” he said. The WB team, along with the National Project Coordination Office (NPCO) officials headed by PRDP National Deputy Project Director Engr. Arnel V. De Mesa also conducted a site inspection and consultation at the Albay Coco Geonets Manufacturing Enterprise, Albay’s I-REAP SP, at Sitio La Medalla Brgy. Bonbon in

WB funded projects... (from page 12)

Libon. They also visited the Coco Water Processing Center at the DA RFO V Compound. Geron lauded the strong political support of the provincial and municipal leaders to the implementation of PRDP. She stated that the dynamism of Bicol Region will be the key to the success of PRDP implementation. Present during the opening program were several provincial and municipal leaders of South Luzon such as Albay Governor Joey. S. Salceda and Camarines Sur Governor Miguel Luis R.

Villafuerte who both expressed their excitement for the PRDP implementation in their respective provinces. Salceda and Villafuerte agreed that the project is a great opportunity to harness the knowledge and experience of the province towards countryside development. Camarines Norte Governor Edgardo A. Tallado and Catanduanes Governor Araceli B. Wong also came to show their commitment and support to the project. PRDP is a six-year rural

development project worth funded through a loan from World Bank amounting to P20.56 billion, and P7 billion counterpart from the Government of the Philippines (GOP) and LGUs. In six years, PRDP aims to raise annual real farm incomes of PRDP household beneficiaries by 5%, increase the value of annual marketed output by 7% and ensure that 20% more farmers and fishers will benefit from DA services. (Annielyn L. Baleza PRDP)

The team of officials from World Bank led by Carolina V. Figueroa-Geron (seated, third from left), PRDP National Deputy Project Director Engr. Arnel V. de Mesa (standing, 7th from left), DA-RFO V RED Abelardo R. Bragas (seated, 1st from left), and PSO Luzon B Project Director Shandy M. Hubilla (seated, 1st from right) together with the political leaders of South Luzon who expressed their support of the Philippine Rural Development Project, Albay Governor Joey S. Salceda (seated, 4th from left), Camarines Sur Governor Miguel Luis R. Villafuerte (seated, 2nd from right) Marinduque Governor Carmencita O. Reyes (standing, 7th from right), Camarines Norte Governor Edgardo A. Tallado (standing, 5th from right) and Guinayangan, Quezon Mayor Cesar J. Isaac III (standing, 4th from right).

am and end at 6:00 pm. At the end of two months training, the trainees were given certificate of training, which is one of the requirements of the employers in New Zealand and KSA. For the first quarter of 2015, the SDF has accepted thirty (30) applicants from among the more than 50 interested applicants for their two months training course on dairy cattle herd management particularly feeding, milking, animal health and sanitation, and pasture management. This year the Department

of Agriculture, under the General Appropriations Act, will infuse funds for the rehabilitation and upgrading of the facilities at SDF to be at par with those in the dairy farms in New Zealand and KSA. A total of P112 million has been allocated for the further improvement of the SDF which will include the purchase of vehicles and new milking machine, fencing, rehabilitation of barns and other facilities, and construction of a training hall. (Lovella P. Guarin)

Sorsogon Dairy Farm... (from page 4)

DA top officials headed by Director Bragas and RTD Ellen delos Santos had a two-day workshop at the Sorsogon Dairy Farm (SDF) to finalize the work and financial plan for the P112 million rehabilitation funds of the SDF.


Bicol Pili Industry Board elects new set of officers Concerned stakeholders of the Bicol’s pili industry gathered here to reorganize and revitalize the Pili Industry Board in the light of the opportunities and challenges brought by the ASEAN Economic Community integration and the growing demand but dwindling supply of pili. The DA Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division initiated the reorganization which was attended by 40 representatives of pili growers, pili producers, processors cooperative, and exporters from Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon and Masbate.

DA, BAFS hold GAP caravan NAGA CITY – The Department of Agriculture RFO 5 and the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards (BAFS) brought together the key players along the food supply chain to increase their appreciation of ensuring food safety from the farm to fork, in a regionwide Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) Caravan towards ASEAN Economic Community 2015. More than a hundred farmer leaders, processors, representatives from the private sector, academe, local government units, DA attached agencies, and DA RFO 5 officials, participated in the said forum, which was held at Villa Caceres Hotel, Naga City. The Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards (BAFS) defines GAP approach as applying available knowledge to addressing environmental,

economic and sustainability dimensions for on-farm production and post-production processes, resulting in safe and quality food and non-food. Through the years, the Philippines has developed its own National GAP Program in harmony with the ASEAN GAP. The Fruits and Vegetable Farming Generic Code was revised in 2011; the GAP for Corn was developed in 2007; GAP for Mango in 2009; GAP for Onion, Banana and Rice all in 2013. In the pipeline this year are the Philippine national standard code of GAP for cassava, coffee and papaya. The contents of these standards include food safety, produce quality, environmental management, workers’ health, safety and welfare. Why do we need GAP? Because food safety is the language of the trade, says

Newly elected officers of the Bicol Pili Industry Board Inc. (BPIBI) were: Chairman : Ms. Rosalina Tan; Vice-chairman : Dr. Rainier Villanueva; Secretary : Ms. Melinda Yee; Treasurer : Mr. Ryan Detera; PIO : Mr. Bertito Laganson; Auditor : Mr. Felomino Villagracia; Board of Director :1. Mr. Jose Arnel A. Endionela (Camarines Norte) 2. Mr. Joseph Lomibao (Camarines Sur)3. Mr. Roni Llageno (Albay) 4. Ms. Lelarni Cardiente (Albay) 5. Ms. Minerva De Jesus (Sorsogon) 6. Mr. Noel R. Mapula (Masbate) 7. Catanduanes Representative c/o of Regional HVCDP. Mr. Arsenio Ella, Scientist

III of the FPRDI at DOST College, Laguna discussed the prospects of the Manila Elemi resin derived from the bark of the pili tree through tapping. He said inflicting wound does not cause death to the pili tree if proper tapping technology is applied. He added that there are more than 10 species of pili in the country, and Canarium Ovatum which is found in Bicol is considered the best or the first class. Years ago, he trained pili farmers in Bulan, Sorsogon. Now, he said there are two (2) blooming buying stations of Manila Elemi resin in Sorsogon – found in Abuyog and Gubat. Ella added that Manila

Elemi from pili is being exported to France due to its limonene content which is used as base of perfumery in said country, and in Germany for its pharmaceutical uses. But Ella said there is the problem of sustainability of resin products. Improper tapping causes death to pili trees because opened wounds in the bark make the tree susceptible to termites. Meanwhile, Rosita Imperial, DA 5 High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) presented the roadmap of the pili industry. She said that DA has been providing full support to the Bicol’s pili as it is the regional flagship commodity of the region. Emerging pili products include confectioneries as pili is now a famous pasalubong from Bicol, and pili oil which is now being used by multi-national companies such as Olay Fragrance, Chanel France and Christian Dior as base for their perfume collections. (Lovella P. Guarin )

Lara Vivas-Navarro, OIC Chief of the BAFS Standards Development Division. We cannot compete in the global market if our products do not pass GAP certification. DA RFO 5 Regional Executive Director Engr. Abelardo R. Bragas, in his welcome remarks, urge the stakeholders, particularly the farmers, to aim for GAP certification by complying with all the needed requirements because this is the only way by which Filipino farmers can

take advantage of the bigger market opportunities brought by the ASEAN Integration. Many retailers and food service buyers now require third party GAP certification as a condition of purchase. Other importing countries such as Indonesia now require proof of GAP certification for our export products like rice and shallots. The GAP Team of the DA regional office in Bicol is headed by the Chief of the



Models & tools for water and Agri knowledge presented in workshop

NAGA CITY---The Department of Agriculture-5 (DA-5) and the University of the Philippines-Los Banos Foundation, Inc. (UPLBFI) in coordination with the Department of Science and Te c h n o l o g y - P h i l i p p i n e Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Service Administration (PAGASA); the International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI); and USAid conducted its 3rd Technical Workshop on Models and Tools for Water, Agriculture and Knowledge Sharing on February 25-27, 2015 at Villa Caceres Hotel in Naga City for water and agricultural planners and decision-makers. This workshop is part of the Bicol Agri-Water Project (BAWP) which is a five-year project since October 2012 with a budget of US$1.5 Million and

In its third year of implementation, the five-year Bicol Agri Water Project (BAWP) reported its major accomplishments towards enhancing food security through climate change adaptation at the launch of the Knowledge Sharing Portal and Maproom held on February 25, 2015 at the Villa Caceres Hotel in Naga City. BAWP is a grant project implemented by the UP Los Banos Foundation, Inc. (UPLBFI) in partnership with the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office V (DA-RFO V) and the U.S. Embassy's United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Among key accomplishments highlighted by BAWP’s Project Director, Dr. Agnes C. Rola of UPLBFI in her presentation include: (a)

Bicol Agri-Water Project highlights mid-term accomplishments at Knowledge Sharing Portal Launch

funded by the USAid. This project aims to enhance the resiliency of farmers and local decision makers to adapt to climate variability and change. This project will improve watershed management strategies within the Buhi-Barit Watershed Reservation of Buhi, Camarines Sur and Quinale A Watershed of Polangui, Albay; and minimize the effects of climate risks on lowland rice farming communities of Nabua, Camarines Sur. According to the Philippine Institute for Development Studies, Rice farming damage in Bicol reached P5.36 billion ($122 million) from 2007 to 2011 leaving the farmers vulnerable to poverty, livelihood and income losses.To reduce such vulnerability, the BAWP launched the Knowledge Sharing Portal and

Maproom (KSPM)---a web-based tool designed to provide access to climate, water and agricultural data by logging to iridl.ldeo.columbia.edu/maproom. The three-day workshop tackled topics on Climate Predictability Tool; Climate-Agriculture Modeling Decision Tools; the Water Evaluation and Planning-Bicol-Lake Buhi and Quinale River Models; and Roadmap Discussion. Speakers were Dr. Amor Ines, Dr. Bradfield Lyon, Remi Cousin, Eunjin Han, and Erica Allis of IRI. This was attended in by 16 engineers, meteorologist,

893 farmers graduating from project-supported Climate Field School (b) demonstration of agricultural technologies such as twelve climate-resilient lines of rice and four integrated farming systems; and (c) establishment of two small farm reservoirs (SFRs) in Polangui (Albay) and three shallow tube wells (STW) in Nabua and Buhi (Camarines Sur) to provide irrigation. All these have contributed to improved capacities of local farmers to adapt to impacts of dryspell and flooding as a result of climate change. Increases in yields have also been observed as a result of improved farming practices. Regional Rice Program Coordinator Tirso O. Perlas, speaking on behalf of DA-RFO’s Executive Director, Abelardo R. Bragas, thanked

partner institutions for bringing the project to Bicol, which is prone to climate-related hazards. The project, according to Mr. Perlas, supports DA’s strategies to help Filipino farmers particularly in increasing their resiliency to hazards caused by climate change. In a message delivered by Municipal Agriculturist Alfredo Mariscotes Jr. representing Polangui, Albay Mayor Cherilie M. Sampal, he recognized that BAWP served as an enabling mechanism that capacitated their local farmers by providing them with technology inputs, training support and other interventions that boosted their farm production and widened agricultural opportunities. In her closing, Dr. Rola acknowledged the support of BAWP’s Bicol partners for their support during the first two years of project implementation. She also called on their continuing

cooperation in BAWP’s remaining years, “The project can only be successful with the full cooperation of the Bicol partners who are willing to learn with us.” BAWP is further supported by the International Research Institute for Climate and Society-Columbia University (IRI-CU), the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Central Bicol State University of Agriculture and Bicol University College of Agriculture and Forestry. Recognizing BAWP’s valuable support to the region, the Regional Development Council 5, chaired by Albay Governor, Jose Clemente “Joey” Salceda, has endorsed the expansion of BAWP’s activities to the four other provinces of Bicol. (Annielyn L. Baleza - PRDP)

educators and agriculturist from the different 11 agency-b e n e f i c i a r i e s - P r o v i n c i a l Governments of Albay and Camarines Norte; Bicol University; Central Bicol State University of Agriculture; Department of Environment and Natural Resources-5; National Irrigation Administration-5; National Power Corporation; LGUs of Buhi, Nabua, and Polangui; and UPLB. The project director is Dr. Agnes Rola of UPLBFI and assisted by co-project director Dr. Elena B. De Los Santos, DA-5 RTD for Operations and Extension. (jmgonzales & albaleza)

The workshop participants.


By Emily B. Bordado

Nowadays more and more kids are getting addicted to eating

chicken because they find this food so yummy and crunchy with its golden color and smell so appealing especially when breaded and fried or as nuggets. No wonder chickens are the among the best selling stuff in food chains, restaurants and even among street peddlers and vendors. They are also the usual “baon”of schoolchildren and even office workers because they are not so messy to tote along. Because of these great demand for chicken, commercial poultry raisers have found ways to hasten the growth of chicken using biologics or growth hormones. Where before chicken broilers were harvested after 49 days, today, with modern technology chicken are harvested 28 to 30 days which is also about the same time of withdrawal of vaccines for said fowls. That is why there is a growing number of consumers who are now turning to native chicken as they believe these are more healthy to eat. Despite their not-so-tender meat (especially the matured ones), they have distinct and more savory taste, aroma, texture and health

Rediscovering the potentials of native chicken

benefits than commercial broilers. Despite their slow growth and small size they are more costly because there is scarcity of supply for native chicken in the market. There is thus, a need to develop and increase the production of native chicken to provide an option and alternative to commercial chicken which now proliferate the market. The Department of Agriculture Bicol is thus, embarking on a native chicken production and multiplication project jointly undertaken by the Central Bicol Experiment Station (formerly Bicol Experiment Station) and the AgriPinoy Livestock Program. According to DA Regional Executive Director, Abelardo R. Bragas, the ultimate objective is to distribute breeder stocks to the provincial research outreach stations and rural-based organizations in Bicol then make this a commercial scale enterprise. Bragas adds that the National Capital Region and Calabarzon, where he came from, have 10 million population and they can be potential buyers of native chicken from Bicol. The project is initially confined in a small portion of its 70-hectare compound of

the DA regional office in San Agustin, Pili, Camarines Sur. At present there are 502 heads with breeder stocks population of 98 heads, 62 grower and 342 chicks. The monthly egg production is 957 pcs. and its hatchability is 60%. Each Research Outreach Stations (ROS) in the six provinces will be provided with 150 breeder stocks for the start-up project. Some 600 heads of these native chicken have already been distributed to Rural Improvement Clubs and Rural-based organizations since the late part of 2013. This will complement the project funded by the Bureau of Agricultural Research which is on purifying native chicken strain in particular the “Camarines” Strain. The “Camarines” Strain has a red single comb and very prominent large white earlobes and the Organic Native Chicken production under semi/open range management systems. As of December last year there were 100 native chicken in the station which have shown dominant Camarines Strain. According to Mrs. Marcelino, this project developed organic production protocol which include organic feeding system, growth

performance and production of local strains, evaluate meat and egg production quality of local strains and optimize utilization of waste materials from chicken. The “Camarines” Strain has a red single comb and very prominent large white earlobes. The plumage pattern consists of alternate barrings of white and orange. The hackles, breast and saddle feathers have orange tint. The shanks are pale yellow. The male in particular, have legs with alternating patches of black and white scales. The males have mottled coloration of legs and feet, white and well-formed toes, and short tail feathers. The female is short-legged and has grayish black tail feathers. This Camarines strain is noted for the vise-like grip of its beak. Among the native strains, the Camarines strain matures the earliest with an age at first egg of about 144 days only. Aside from being a healthy food, native chickens are resilient. They have adapted themselves to adverse conditions in small farms – poor and scanty feeds, inadequate shelter, sudden changes of weather and various diseases. According to studies they have natural resistance against pests and diseases. These range chicken sometimes referred to as “galang manok” are usually left to fend for themselves and have acquired unusual hardiness, hence they are not much of a burden to small and marginal farmers. In fact in remote areas many small and marginal farmers raise native in their backyards for domestic consumption and served as special dish on special occasions or given as gift, offering or token for special people. According to Luz Marcelino, chief of the Research Division and concurrently OIC of CBES, native chicken can also survive


best in our local conditiom and can be grown with other agricultural production systems like rice, other crops and other livestock. In fact native chicken at the CBES are being reared alongside with mallard ducks. Native chicken raising has actually been part of Filipino families and of our culture and tradition. Majority of rural families have at least three to five heads of chicken which are their source of eggs and meat. But over the years native chicken production has been relegated to the sidelines because of the introduction of new strains of chicken which became more appealing to commercial poultry raisers because of the shorter time these new breed require to reach maturity or harvestable age. With the growing health concern and increasing demand for native chicken, small and micro agri-entrepreneurs see the potential of native chicken production as a profitable enterprise since it is endemic in our locality, adapted to our extreme climate, can consume locally available feed stuffs and farm wastes and requires less management and supervision than other agricultural enterprises. Moreover, native chicken have great market opportunity since the demand is relatively high and they have three (3) main products: 1) live chicken either as, hardened

chicks and pullets or breeders; 2)as meat (dressed) and; 3) eggs. Live chicken is sold at P150 to P180/kilo while the price of dressed chicken ranges from P220 to P240 per kilo. Hardened chicks can be sold at P50 per head . According to Marianito Tesorero, the livestock technician assigned to the project , the 10 hen and 2 rooster native chicken production module is good enough for micro and small entrepreneurs, farmers and growers. The production system for breeder

native chicken flock could either be semi-range or free range. He says native chicken starts laying eggs at 18-20 weeks of age. The optimum proportion for 1 packet native chicken production module consists of 10 heads pullets and 2 heads cockerels. A raiser could have a return on investment of 31.39% after 2 years. The CBES has now purchased five (5) incubators. Chicken houses have been

constructed along with an incubation house. Already, some LGUs and rural-based organizations have expressed their interest to also go into native chicken production. This undertaking will not only provide added income to farm households but will provide meat and eggs to the rural family, thus, contributing to the effort of combating malnutrition.

Ceremonial turn over of native chicken and mallard ducks to households in the 3rd district of Cam. Sur was received by Jonas Soltes in behalf of Rep. Leni Robredo. The DA will provide 1,700 heads of native chickens and 1,700 heads mallard ducks to 16 districts of the region. These chicken and ducks were likewise distributed to beneficiary families (photo below).

18 January - March 2015UMAsenso18 January - March 2013UMAsenso

Series of training on Outbreak Investigation and Management held

STANDZ RABIES PROJECT

The DA 5 in coordination with the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), Australian Aid, Global Alliance for Rabies Control, and the Office International des Epizooties (OIE) conducted the Training Course on Outbreak Investigation and Management (OIM) for veterinarians, meat inspectors, and livestock inspectors since December 2014-February 2015 in different venues in the Bicol Region. According to the Regional Animal Health Coordinator Dr. Rona P. Bernales, this training is essential in the investigation, management and development of contingency plan for infectious disease outbreaks in livestock. Topics include Basic Animal Disease Recognition; Disease Outbreak Investigation; Implementation of Emergency Measures; Communicating Information Risk and Crisis Information; and Assessment. Speakers were Drs.

DA PRDP to boost coconut farmers... DARAGA, ALBAY---“A first in the whole country!” This is the declaration of the Regional Animal Health Coordinator Dr. Rona Bernales of the Department of Agriculture-5 during the Training Course on Dog Vaccination on March 25, 2015, Cagsawa Resort, Busay, Daraga, Albay. This is the first time in the country that members of the Tau Gamma Phi, Tau Gamma Sigma-Daraga Municipal Executive Council, and Daraga Municipal Triskelion Alumni Organization were trained as Dog Vaccinators.Participated in by more than 50 fratmembers, the training course included topics on Rabies in Animals, Republic Act 9482-Anti-Rabies Act, Rabies Situations in Bicol and Albay, Rabies Vaccination, P V M A - S TA N D Z - R a b i e s Project with Veterinarians

Bernales, Erlinda Tabinas, Rosebelle Gamal, Marissa Guillermo, Ronaldo Diezmo, Venus Escarda and Florencio Adonay. National Coordinator of BAI-Philippine Animal Health Information System Marites Gealone discussed the current Reporting System and Data Recording and Reporting Analysis. The training courses were held on Dec. 1-3, 2014 with 37 Provincial and Municipal veterinarians; Feb. 2-4, 2015 with 50 participants from Sorsogon and Cam Norte; Feb. 4-6, 2015 with 40 participants from Albay and Sorsogon; Feb. 23-24, 2015 with 55 participants from Camarines Sur; and Feb. 25-27, 2015 with 60 participants from Catanduanes and Masbate. This is part of the Stop Transboundary Animal Diseases and Zoonoses (STANDZ) Programme funded by the Australian Government which was launched in Legazpi City last September 2014. (Jayson M. Gonzales)

DA trains Tau Gamma fratmenas dog vaccinators Bernales, Joy Lagayan (BAI-

project coordinator), and Florencio Adonay. Dr. Lagayan emphasized that during vaccination, never look straight in the eyes of the dogs because they felt that they are threatened. Dogs are considered territorial animals just like the wolves--their predecessors. Lagayan reminded the participants to ask the present health situation of the dogs before vaccination because sick or weak dogs should not be vaccinated to avoid stress and waste of the vaccines. This activity is part of the celebration of the month of March as Rabies Awareness Month with the theme “ Aso’t Pusang Bakunado sa Rabis Protektado-Together Against Rabies” which is gearing up towards 2016-Rabies-Free Philippines. (Jayson M. Gonzales)

PILI, CAMARINES SUR---The Department of Agriculture in Bicol is conducting a series of trainings, meetings and dog vaccinations in observance of the National Rabies Awareness Month this March. According to the Regional Rabies Coordinator Dr. Rona P. Bernales, the Philippines is targetting 100,000 dogs to be vaccinated with 10% from the Bicol Region this coming March 6-7, 2015 during the simultaneous Dog Vaccination nationwide. Each municipality will have one barangay representative during this activity. This March 3-4 and 17-18, 2015, a Training on Dog

National Rabies Awareness month observedVaccination will be conducted at Avenue Plaza Hotel, Naga City to over a hundred vaccinators and agricultural technicians from the province of Camarines Sur. In Polangui, Albay, the pilot-municipality for Bicol---dog vaccination will be conducted on the first and second weeks of March. The municipality will also be hiring Barangay Animal Health Workers. This March 11-12, 2015, the Regional Meeting of Rabies Task Force will be held at the Department of Health-Center for Health Development-Bicol, Daraga, Albay. The Department of

Agriculture-Regulatory Division already distributed 450 vials of Rabies Vaccines in Masbate; 430 in Camarines Norte; 1300 in Camarines Sur; 100 in Catanduanes; and 1000 in Albay. In 2014, Bicol Region has a total of 329,522 dogs with 193,028 dogs vaccinated. (Jayson M. Gonzales)

Healthy soil is the basis of a healthy food production


Keeping & staying fit in a Great Filipino workout programSAN AGUSTIN, PILI, CAMARINES SUR---“All work and no play make Juan a dull man.” This was the message of the Regional Technical Director for Operation and Extension Elena De Los Santos during the implementation of the Great Filipino Workout Program of the Department of Agriculture-5 here on Friday the 13th of March 2015 to promote Health, Wellness and Camaraderie. More than 300 employees participated in the program which kicked-off through hataw rice dance exercise. The dance prepared the runners of the Fun-Run of 3K-5K-10K. The fun-run is an opportunity for the runners to see the new production sites, various interventions, and infrastructures in the DA Compound. Leading the 3K male runners were Godofredo Balmeo, Angel Quirante and Rolando Ardinazo while the female runners were Grace

Sinamonon, Phoebe San Buenaventura, and Roxanne Aquino. The winners received Php1,000.00; php700.00 and php500.00 for the first, second, and third place. For the 5K Male Runners, first finisher was Pepito Rosale, followed by Alejo Jumawan, and Allan Pascual. For the 5K Female runners, Lizalyn Villano bested Genevieve Dulce and Emegene Manondo. Finishers for the 5K in both categories received php3,000.00; php2000.00; and php1000.00 for the first, second and third place. For the 10K Run, Jay-Ar Camaing emerged as the male champion followed by Teodorico Ramos and Aldrin

Alvarez. Elaine Castaneda was the first female finisher followed by Ara Nicolas and Elizabeth Hilotin. Each champion received a carabao while the first and second runners-up have a goat and three Native Chickens, respectively. After the fun-run, a Clean-Up and Pili Tree Planting at the Research Field Station were held. The employees enjoyed

a boodle-fight breakfast and lunch. The afternoon events include a 5S (Sort-Straighten-Sweep-Standardize-Sustain) Drive in offices and surroundings; and awarding ceremony. The fun-run was coordinated with the Caceres Runners Club under its race director Chuck Florece and supported by LGU-Pili headed by Mayor Alexis San Luis through its Municipal Health Office. (Jayson M. Gonzales)

coconut products. “Yung dating natatapon, ngayon magiging pera,” he said. Camarines Sur Governor Miguel Luis R. Villafuerte agreed saying that the coco water processing technology pilot testing and business incubation project will not only boost the livelihood of coconut farmers in Camarines Sur but will promote coco water as a provincial commodity. He also mentioned an on-going negotiation with Vita Coco, a coco water manufacturing company in the U.S., to establish a coconut water processing plant in the province as well as a sisterhood agreement with island state American Samoa to supply 300,000 coconuts per month from Camarines Sur. DA-PRDP is working closely with PhilMech, DA-Regional Field Office V, Camarines Sur Provincial Local Government Unit (PLGU),

and Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (CBSUA) for the Coco Water Processing Technology Pilot-Testing and Business Incubation Project which will run for one year. The objective is to pilot test coco water’s market acceptability, profitability, product characteristics, and machine efficiency prior to full commercial adoption. It also aims to establish product and machine protocols as well as engage and train farmer groups as raw material suppliers and eventual operators of the coco water processing facility. The coco water processing facility’s test run results will be used by DA-PRDP in the commercialization of the coco water processing technology by partner LGUs, farmer groups, and product consolidators. (Annielyn L. Baleza, PRPDP)

DA PRDP to boost coconut farmers... (from page 20)

Integrated Laboratories, Dr. Evangeline dela Trinidad, together with Dr. Renato Almonte, Chief of the DA 5 Regulatory Division, Adelina Losa, Chief of the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division, and Eduardo Lomerio, Chief of the Operations Division. They ensure the involvement of all the stakeholders in the implementation, fast track GAP implementation, including conduct of trainings, field validation and compliance monitoring. Another highlight of

the caravan is the sharing of experiences by GAP Certified Farms. The benefits of going into a GAP: a Smallholder Group Certification Experience of the Labo Progressive Multi-purpose Cooperative (LPMPC) of Labo, Camarines Norte was shared by its Chairman, Mario Espeso. The GAP Implementation experience from the perspective of a single proprietorship was shared by Binevenido Gumapos, farm owner of San Ildefonso, Bulacan; and by Antonio Cabrera, farm owner from Pagbilao, Quezon. (Lovella P. Guarin)

DA, BAFS hold GAP caravan... (from page 14)

Healthy soil is the basis of a healthy food production

Department of Agriculture Regional Field Unit No. 5Reg’l Agriculture and Fisheries Information Section e-mail: darafid5 @ yahoo.com

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Coconut farmers are among the poorest farming sector in the Philippines but soon, their lives will be turned upside down. This was announced by Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Proceso J. Alcala during the blessing and inauguration of the P2,600,000-worth Coco Water Processing Technology Pilot Testing and Business Incubation Facility at the DA Regional Technology Commercialization Center Bicol Integrated Agricultural Research Center (DA-RTCC BIARC) Compound in San Agustin Pili, Camarines Sur on February 11, 2015.

DA-PRDP to boost coconut farmers’ livelihood through coco water processing facility –DA Sec. Alcala

The blessing and inauguration jumpstarts the operation of the coco water processing facility for the Coco Water Processing Technology Pilot Testing and Business Incubation Project. “Ang mga magniniyog ang pinakamahirap sa mga magsasaka sa buong bansa, this time, babaliktarin po natin, ang niyog po ay gagamitin natin para baguhin ang buhay ng mga magniniyog at magsasaka sa Pilipinas,” Alcala said. According to Alcala, Camarines Sur is the first province to install the village level coconut water processing

facility, which was developed by the Philippine Center for Postharvest Mechanization and Development (PhilMech) Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija. He added that 85% of coconut water from matured coconuts is being wasted in copra processing. With the facility, around 2,000 mature coconuts can be processed into 600 liters of coco water or 1,600 (350 ml) bottles of coco water daily. The 10 m x 10.5 sq. m. village level coconut water processing facility includes a mini laboratory, dry storage room, as well as space for

pre-processing, cleaning, coco water extraction, pasteurization, filling, sealing, and packaging. According to PhilMech Chief Science Research Specialist and Division Chief Dr. Ofero A. Capariño, the coco water processing facility houses about P1.8 million-worth of equipment including a dehusker, three washing tanks, sanitizing cage, coco water extractor, coco water holding tank, and pasteurizer-chiller. PhilMech Director Rex L. Bingabing believes that the coco water processing facility will benefit the coconut farmers and generate more job opportunities for the community. DA Regional Executive Director Abelardo R. Bragas credited it to DA Secretary Alcala’s program for

DA Secretary Proceso J. Alcala and DA RFO V Regional Executive Director Abelardo R. Bragas lead the unveiling of the Coco Water Processing Technology Pilot Testing and Business Incubation Facility’s marker during its blessing and inauguration on February 11, 2015 at the DA-RTCC BIARC Compound in San Agustin Pili, Camarines Sur.


RPCO V launches coco water brand name,

logo design contestSAN AGUSTIN, PILI, CAMARINES SUR - The Regional Project Coordination Office V (RPCO V) launched the brand name and logo design contest for the coco water. The contest is part of the World Bank-funded Coco Water Processing Technology Pilot Testing and Business Incubation Project under the sub-component 3.2 of the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) Investments in Rural Enterprises and Agriculture and Fisheries Productivity (I-REAP). Also known as Mother Nature’s sports drink, coco water will be produced, promoted, and marketed jointly by the Department of Agriculture (DA) PRDP, the Philippine Center for Post-harvest Mechanization (PhilMech), the Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (CBSUA), and the Provincial Government of Camarines Sur. The brand name and logo design entries must be completely original and must capture the project objectives

to strategically position coco water as an alternative all natural drink especially for the health conscious and athletic types and raise farmer’s income by turning the otherwise wasted coco water from mature coconuts into a peso earner thru the Village-level Coconut Water Processing System being pilot tested at the Coco Water Processing Technology Pilot Testing and Business Incubation Facility. The brand name can either be in English, Filipino or Bicolano. A total of 57 entries were submitted by 26 graphic artists nationwide. Pre-judging of the entries for the Coco Water Brand Name and Logo Design Contest was conducted on April 16, 2015. Meanwhile, final judging of the shortlisted entries will be on May 6, 2015. The grand winner will take home P30,000 plus certificate while the 2nd and 3rd prize winners will get P5,000 each plus certificates. All contestants will be given certificates of participation. (Annielyn L. Baleza - PRDP)

PRDP SECTION

bicolano farmers and fisherfolk receive over p53m assistance from da

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