Vol. XXVII No. 5 A monthly publication of the Department of Agriculture May 2012

Metro Manila and suburbswill enjoy more supply andstable prices of fresh and qual-ity fish with the upgrading ofthe 35-year old Navotas FishPort Complex (NFPC).

Agriculture SecretaryProceso J. Alcala said thiswould be the scenario in 2015,when the 47.5-hectare fishport complex would have beenrenovated and modernized.

The upgrading of the NFPC,costing P2.7 billion, is one ofthe f ive big infrastructureprojects recently endorsed andsubmitted by the InvestmentCoordination Committee (ICC)of the National Economic andDevelopment Authority(NEDA) for approval by theNEDA Board, chaired by Presi-dent Benigno S. Aquino.

The project, to be completedin four years, will be super-vised by the DA through thePhilippine Fish DevelopmentAuthority (PFDA).

It will entail three major ac-tivities, namely: upgrading oflanding quay, market halls,piers, parking areas, drainage

The country’s agriculture in-dustry grew by 1.08 percent (%)in the first three months of 2012,bannered by the poultry, live-stock and crop subsectors, whilefishery production contracteddue to conservation measuresand high operating costs.

Agriculture Secretary ProcesoJ. Alcala said the production ofcorn increased by 5.4% to 2.017million metric tons (MMT), whilepalay output declined by 1% to3.99 MMT.

“The first quarter palay produc-tion is not at all a setback, as lastyear’s 1st quarter palay outputwas a record at 4.037 MMT.

President Benigno S. AquinoIII has cited the Department ofAgriculture’s Mindanao RuralDevelopment Program (DA-MRDP) as it continues to pro-mote inclusive growth and goodgovernance in Mindanao.

He made the commendation atthe DA-MRDP People’s Organi-zations (PO) Congress in DavaoCity, May 14, 2012, attended by1,500 farmers, fisherfolk, indig-enous peoples and rural women,who are beneficiaries of theprogram’s Community Fund forAgricultural Development(CFAD).

“Pagdating po sa kaunlaran,walang sinuman ang dapatmaiwan — ‘yan po ang bisyonnatin. Ito ay hindi tinutupad ngisang tao o isang institusyon

Agri industry grows by 1% in Q1 2012“Our palay production target

remains on track, as we expectto harvest 3.846 MMT in the 2nd

quarter based on standing crop,and another 3.413 MMT in the3rd quarter based on planting in-tentions,” said Secretary Alcala,citing estimates of the DA’s Bu-reau of Agricultural Statistics

(BAS).The third quarter palay harvest

may still increase as a result ofthe early planting schemeadopted by farmers served bymajor irrigation systems inLuzon, where at least 150,000hectares are covered, the DAchief added.

In all, the country’s total firstsemester palay production isforecast to reach 7.838 MMT,3.4% more than in 2011, whilethe January to September 2012palay output may top 11.251MMT, 4.7% more than last year’snine-month output of 10.746MMT. (Pls turn to p2)

Navotas fishportto be modernized,

worth P2.7-B

P-Noy: DA-MRDP promotes inclusive growth, good governancelamang; nagbubukal ito samabuting pamamahala, at sapakikiisa ng pamahalaan attaumbayan,” President Aquinosaid.

“Sa tulong ng MRDP,itinataguyod natin angpagkakaroon ng sapat na

pagkain sa hapag ng bawatpamilya, ang pagkakaloob ngdisenteng trabaho, at marangalna pamumuhay,” he added.

For his part, Secretary Alcalasaid the DA is proposing a two-year extension of the MRDP to

DA to help small banana farmersset up packaging houses

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(Pls turn to p2)

President Benigno S. Aquino III, assisted by Agriculture Secretary Proceso J Alcala, presents to MayorMichelle Marie Denise Rabat of Mati City, Davao Oriental a certificate of recognition during the‘Parangal sa mga Bosing ng Kanayunan,’ highlighting the DA-Mindanao Rural Development Pro-gram (DA-MRDP) People’s Organizations Congress, May 14, 2012, in Davao City. Mati City and fiveother LGUs, and a fisherfolk group were honored as the best DA-MRDP project implementers, andreceived P13 million in project grants. Also shown is Davao Oriental Governor Corazon Malanyaon.

The Department of Agriculture(DA) will help modernize andupgrade the packaging facilitiesof small banana growers inMindanao to meet world-classstandards.

Agriculture Secretary ProcesoAlcala said the DA through theBureau of Plant Industry (BPI)

has identified the growers whowill receive the assistance sothey could meet stringent sani-tary and phytosanitary (SPS) re-quirements and comply with in-ternational standards.

The DA will allot up toP500,000 to upgrade each

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2

EditorialMRDP: Modelong programang pangkaunlaran The projected harvests when

realized would be the highest inthe country’s history, said DAAssistant Secretary for policyand planning and BAS DirectorRomeo Recide.

In all, the total value of thecountry’s agriculture output forthe f irst quarter of 2012amounted to P341.1 billion (B)at current prices, 3% less thanlast year for the same three-month period.

Together, the production ofmajor crops, livestock and poul-try commodities expanded by2.26%.

Production of other crops likecoconut, pineapple, coffee andrubber registered respective in-crements.

The crops subsector, whichcontributed 53% to total agricul-tural output, grossed P195.1 Bat current prices, 7.5% less thanlast year.

The livestock subsector re-corded a 3% gain in production.It accounted for 15.5% of totalagricultural output. The growthwas mainly attributed to the 3.4%increase in hog production.

The hog industry comprised85% of the livestock subsector,

Agri industry grows ... (from p1)

whose total value amounted toP49.86 B at current prices.

The poultry subsector, contrib-uting 14% to total agriculturaloutput, expanded by 7%. Thegrowth was boosted by the 7.4%growth in chicken production.

The chicken industry contrib-utes 74% to total poultrysubsector, whose productionamounted to P41.64 B at currentprices.

Finally, the fisheries subsectorrecorded a 4% decline, as con-servation measures were imple-mented, particularly inZamboanga Peninsula, where amoratorium was imposed in De-cember 2011 through February2012 to allow fish species liketamban (sardines) to regenerate.

However, prospects are brightfor the rest of the year, as theDA-BFAR moratorium has beenlifted, Secretary Alcala said.

Likewise, commercial fisherscan now engage in tuna fishingin the Western Pacific, as theban has been lifted, too.

The total value of fishery har-vest, which shared 17.6% to to-tal agriculture output, amountedto P54.53 B at current prices.

pursue additional infrastructureand livelihood projects. The pro-posal has been endorsed by theNational Economic and Develop-ment Authority-Investment Coor-dination Committee (NEDA-ICC)for approval by the NEDA Board,chaired by President Aquino.

The MRDP2 commenced in2007 and should end December2012. Its implementation wasdelayed by 18 months due totechnical problems, said MRDPdeputy director Arnel de Mesa.

During the PO Congress,President Aquino and SecretaryAlcala also honored seven ‘bestMRDP performers and project

PNoy: DA-MRDP promotes ... (from p1)implementers’ — composed ofsix local government units and afisherfolk group — that receivedrespective citations and projectgrants, totaling P13 million.

They were selected fromamong thousands of DA-MRDPproject beneficiaries. They are:

• Salay, Misamis Oriental – forrural infrastructure implementa-tion. The award, along with itsprize of a P5-million project grant,was received by its MayorRomeo L. Gue;

• Mati City, Davao Oriental –for CFAD implementation. Theaward, along with its prize of a

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Nitong buwan ng Mayo mulinating binibigyan ngkaukulang pagpupugay angating mga magsasaka atmangingisda.

Nagkaroon ng mgapalatuntunan sa iba’t-ibangpanig ng bansa napinangunahan ng Kagawaranng Pagsasaka, at isa na ritoang pagtitipon ng mgaPeoples’ Organization (PO) saLungsod ng Davao, nadinaluhan ng PangulongBenigno S. Aquino III bilangpanauhing pandangal.

Sa kanyang mensahe,binigyang-diin ni PangulongAquino ang kahalagahan ngmatatag na samahan atpagkakaisa ng mgamagsasaka at mangingisda,lokal na pamahalaan at ibapang mga katuwang sa sektorng sakahan at pangisdaan. Atito’y ipinakita ng Departmentof Agriculture sa pamamagitanng Mindanao Rural Develop-ment Program (MRDP).

Ani Pangulong Aquino:“Pagdating po sa kaunlaran,walang sinuman ang dapatmaiwan? Iyan po angambisyon natin. Ito ay hinditinutupad ng isang tao o isanginstitusyon lamang;nagbubukal ito sa mabutingpamamahala, at pagkakaisang pamahalaan attaumbayan.”

“Sa tulong ng MRDP,itinataguyod natin angpagkakaroon ng sapat napagkain sa hapag ng bawatpamilya, ang paglikha ngkaragdagan at disentengtrabaho para sa marangal napamumuhay.

“Hindi biro ang inilaki atinilawak ng tagumpay nginyong samahan. Tumaas angkita ng ating mga kababayandito ng halos labimpitongporsyento, buhat nangmagsimula ang programa.Katumbas ito ng mahigitlabing-isang libong piso nakaragdagang kita kada taon.”

Nabanggit din ni PangulongAquino ang mahusay napaggamit ng MRDP ng “geo-tagging” – isang paraan upangmakita sa pamamagitan nglitrato at satellite imagery angmga proyekto kagaya ng mgafarm-to-market road (FMR),upang ang mga proyekto aymatukoy sa mapa na maynakatatak na oras, araw attaon. Ito’y mainam na require-ment upang ang pagpopondosa mga FMR ay hindi maulit omadoble o kaya’y mga-overlap.

Bukod dito pinuri rin niPangulong Aquino ang mganaitayong tulay, patubig, atpost harvest facility — nanagbigay sa taumbayan ngmaaliwalas na pamumuhay atpatuloy na naghahatid ngmagandang oportunidad.

Kaya naman, umangat angproduksyon, kita at antas ngkabuhayan ng mgamagsasaka at mangingisdasa mga lugar na sakop ngMRDP.

Dagdag pa ni PangulongAquino: “Dahil sa nakikitangpag-unlad at pagbabago ngpamumuhay ng mganasasakop na komunidad,nabuhay ang tiwala ng atingmga kababayan sa atingprograma. Tunay pong kapagang pondo ay matuwid naginugugol, aasenso angPilipino. Ganado angtaumbayan na makilahok,itaguyod at ingatan ang mganaisakatuparang proyekto.”

Bilang pang-wakas, sabiniya: “Pangarap ko pongmagpamana ng isang bagongPilipinas sa susunod nasalinlahi. Buo ang aking loobna matutupad ang mga itodahil sa inyo na kabalikat ngpamahalaan sa pagtahak ngmatuwid na daan. Katuwangang mga People’s Organiza-tions, tuloy-tuloy ang atingpaghahatid ng liwanag, pag-asa at masaganang bukas sabawat sulok ng Pilipinas.

“Hindi ko makalimutan angmga nasambit ng aking ama:‘Alam mo iho, bago isipiniyong freedom of assembly,freedom of speech, freedomof the press, at iba-iba pangfreedom, ang unang freedomna kailangan makamtan ayfreedom from hunger.’”

Kaya naman, tuloy-tuloyang pagpapatupad ng mgaprograma kagaya ng MRDP atpagbibigay ng ayuda ngPamahalaang Aquino upangumasenso ang kabuhayan ngating mga kababayan sakanayunan, lalung-lalo na angmga maliliit na magsasaka atmangingisda. Ito’y upanglumaki ang kanilang ani atkita, at magampanan angkanilang gawain nang tayonglahat ay may kakainin saaraw-araw, at walang kakalamna sikmura.

Muli, ating bigyan ng pugayang ating mga magsasaka atmangingisda sa kanilangnapakahalagang ambag namaibsan ang gutom atkahirapan sa buong bansa.Mabuhay!

Writers: Jo Anne Grace B. Pera, Arlhene S. Carro, Bethzaida N. Bustamante, Mc. Bien Saint Garcia, Jay Ilagan, Catherine N. NantaContributors: DA-RFU Info Officers, Public Info Officers and staff of DABureaus, Attached Agencies & Corporations, Foreign-Assisted ProjectsPhotographers: Jose Lucas, Alan Jay Jacalan , Kathrino ResurreccionLay-out Artist: Bethzaida BustamantePrinting & Circulation: Teresita Abejar & PCES Staff

Editor-In-Chief : Noel O. ReyesAssociate Editors: Cheryl C. Suarez and Adora D. Rodriguez

is published monthly by the Department of AgricultureInformation Service, Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City. Tel. nos. 9288762loc 2148, 2150, 2155, 2156 or 2184; 9204080 or tel/fax 9280588. This issueis available in PDF file. For copies, please send requests via email: da_afis@yahoo.com; or download fom DA website www.da.gov.ph

May 2012 3

Siquijor, Negros Oriental getP35-M agri, fishery projects

The Department of Agriculturehas extended a total of P35-mil-lion worth of agricultural and fish-ery assistance to the provincesof Siquijor and Negros Orientalto increase the productivity andincomes of small farmers andfisherfolk.

Secretary Proceso J. Alcalaturned over said assistance dur-ing his three-day visit (April 19-21, 2012), and dialogue withfarmers, fisherfolk, other stake-holders, and local governmentofficials.

He said his regular provincialvisits are part of his commitmentand as instructed by PresidentBenigno S. Aquino III to bringgovernment closer to the peopleand provide speedy assistanceto small farmers and fisherfolk.

“Ako po ay narito dahil ipinag-utos ng ating Pangulo naiparamdam sa inyong lahat namay gobyernong handangtumulong sa inyo,” he said.

In Siquijor, Secretary Alcalahanded over certif icates ofaward to project beneficiaries,including a barangay food termi-nal in the town of San Juan, andfishery projects under the Bureauof Fisheries and Aquatic Re-sources (BFAR), amounting toP4.78 million.

On the other hand, NegrosOriental received a total ofP3.5M-worth of irrigationprojects, hand tractor, and draftanimals with implements.

The two provinces also re-ceived about P27M-worth of vari-ous agricultural and f isheryprojects, equipment and inputsthat were awarded to severalfarmers’groups, irrigators’ asso-ciations and local governmentunits.

The farm machinery andequipment include hand tractors,village-type corn dryers, multi-purpose dryers, palay shed, andcassava graters.

Secretary Alcala also raffledoff farm and fishery implementduring the forum that includemotorized bancas, knapsacksprayers, rice and corn seeds,fish nets, and laminated sacks,among others.

He also met with small farm-ers and fishers to discuss andresolve their specific concernsand requests.

In Siquijor, among the issuesraised is the absence of a doubleA slaughterhouse, and unavail-ability of sea transport to ferry

At least 100,000 houses willbenefit from electricity that willbe generated by about 40mini-hydropower plants thatwill be set up as part of exist-ing irrigation systems of theDA’s National Irrigation Ad-ministration (NIA).

Secretary Alcala said thesetting up of mini hydropowerplants is the DA-NIA’s contri-bution to ease the power cri-sis particularly in Mindanao.

The initiative will be spear-headed by NIA in partnershipwith interested investors andlocal government units.

NIA Administrator AntonioNangel said an irrigation sys-tem could produce at least 20megawatts (MW) of electricitydaily. Hence, the targeted 40power plants could supplyelectricity to more than100,000 houses.

He said they have alreadyidentified 79 irrigation systemsnationwide that could becomplemented withapproprpaite designs of minihydropower plants.

He said the NIA targets toput up the 40 mini hydro powerplants before end of this De-cember this year: 20 in Luzon,and 10 each in the Visayas,and Mindanao.

He also said that each hy-dropower plant will only costP20 million. This will be shoul-dered by interested investorsor local government units.

By May 2013, he said theDA-NIA targets to cover theremaining 39 irrigation sys-tems that are appropriate forthe setting up of a mini-hydropower plant. (Tempo)

DA-NIA mini hydrosto ease power crisis

livestock animals to markets inCebu and nearby provinces.

Siquijor Governor Orlando A.Fua, Jr. said the slaughterhouseis most needed as their livestockproduction is increasing, andfarmers do not have the means

to sell their produce to marketsoutside of the province.

Related to this, SecretaryAlcala said the DA will proposeto the World Bank (WB) a Cen-tral Philippines Rural Develop-ment Program (CPRDP) thataims to empower small farmingand fishing communities, andrespective LGUs by providing

DA Chief visits lapu-lapu fish cage, mangrove projectsin Zamboanga Sibugay. Secretary Alcala (2nd from right)watches lapu-lapu being harvested (inset) at a fish cage project ofthe Kapunungan sa mga Gagmayang Mangingisda sa Concepcion(KGMC), in Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay, along with 2nd Dis-trict Representative Jonathan Yambao (3rd from right), and otherDA and local government officials. KGMC chairman RobertoBallon (right) said his group also implements a mangrove reha-bilitation project and a garbage disposal system, in partnership withthe Kabasalan municipal government. Also shown (from left) areDA Region 9 technical dir. (RTD) Constancio Alama, DA-OSECRTD Joaquin Abejar, DA-BFAR Region 9 Dir. Ahadulla Sajili, DA-OSEC technical adviser Teresa Saniano, and DA Assistant Secre-tary Edilberto De Luna. (Photos by Alan Jay Jacalan & Teresa Saniano)

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BFAR installs 25 payaos along Zambales coast

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The DA’s Bureau of Fisheriesand Aquatic Resources (BFAR)has as of end of May installed 25units of payao, a fish aggregat-ing device, in the coastal watersoff Zambales to benefit marginalfishermen affected by the exist-ing fihing ban at the Bajo deMasinloc or Panatag Shoal.

The payaos were deployed 10to 15 kilometers from the shore-line of nine municipalities,namely: Botolan, Cabangan,Narciso, San Felipe, San Anto-

nio, Masinloc, Candelaria, Sta.Cruz and Paluig.

The Bureau’s 60-meter re-search and oceanographic ves-sel, M/V DA-BFAR, was used todeploy the payaos.

BFAR director Atty. Asis G.Perez said the payaos wouldbenefit at least 750 to 1000 fish-ermen, as 30 to 40 fishermen canfish on each unit.

The bureau will install a totalof 150 payaos along municipalwaters at the West Philippine

Sea. The deployment will resumeafter the southwest monsoon or‘habagat’ season.

Perez said in addition to thepayaos, Zambales fishermen willbe given multiple handline fish-ing gears with C-hooks to ensurethat only big species of fish arecaught at the payao.

Unlike the common J-shapedhooks, the C-hook is safe forturtles, which may accidentallyfeed on the bait.

4

The Department of Agriculturehas allotted more than P22 mil-lion of infrastructure projects,processing facilities, and farmequipment and inputs to Cavitefarmers to further prop up theirproduction and incomes.

Secretary Alcala handed oversaid assistance to farmers’groups and local government of-ficials led by Governor JuanitoVictor C. Remulla, Jr., during aprovincial forum, May 18, 2012,in Trece Martirez City, attendedby over 1,000 farmers, fisherfolk,and other stakeholders.

The agricultural projects in-clude: a small water impoundingproject, worth P5 M forPoblacion, Carmona; a P5-Mfarm-to-market road project forBrgy. Kaytambog; a P3.4-Maquasilviculture project forCavite State University; a P3-Mdiversion dam for Tambong Kulit,Indang; a P2.5-M coffee roast-ing facility for Amadeo; a P1.2-M 90-HP 4-wheel drive tractorworth P1.2 M for the provincialgovernment of Cavite; a coffeeprocessing facility worthP500,000 for Silang; and variousfarm implements and inputsworth P492,600.

The DA chief also raffled offseveral farm implements and in-puts.

Secretary Alcala talks to organic agriculture advocates at a nurseryin Amadeo, Cavite, where he also dialogued with over 1,000 farmers,fishers, and stakeholders. He said that Cavite, in spite of prioritizingindustrialization in the past years, has the potential to become self-sufficient in basic commodities like vegetables and coffee. With him(from left) are: Solar Organic Farms, Inc. President Emerito Remulla,William Cheng, and DA Region 4-A Director Vilma Dimaculangan.

Caviteños get P22-M worth agri projectsDuring the forum, Secretary

Alcala encouraged Cavite farm-ers to expand their operationsand increase production of ma-jor crops and vegetables, as theyhave relatively good climate andsoil.

“More importantly the provinceis adjacent to Metro Manila, a

strategic major market,” he said.Currently,Cavite sources its foodrequirements like vegetablesfrom Quezon and as far asBenguet.

He said the province has a lotof potentials in the production ofcorn, coffee, vegetables andother high value crops, livestock,

marine and aquaculture prod-ucts.

In this regard, he instructedconcerned DA officials — direc-tors Jennifer Remoquillo of theHigh Value Crops DevelopmentProgram (HVCDP) and LeandroGazmin of Agribusiness andMarketing Assistance Service(AMAS) — to coordinate withCavite provincial, city and mu-nicipal agriculture officers, andfarmers’ groups to expand theprovince’s vegetable industry,and assist them in marketingtheir produce.

Secretary Alcala also urgedfarmers and local governmentofficials to revive their coffee in-dustry, and regain their distinc-tion as a major producer of qual-ity coffee beans.

He likewise enjoined them toconsider growing cacao, as itcould also thrive well in the prov-ince.

While in Cavite, SecretaryAlcala also visited the Dairy Pro-cessing Center and Pig City (JEFarm) in General Trias, and theUpland Green Farm and CaféAmadeo in Amadeo.

He was accompanied by topDA officials led by assistant sec-retaries Edilberto de Luna andSalvador Salacup, MindaManantan of NMIS, RubinaCresencio of BAI, Asis Perez ofBFAR, and Vilma Dimaculanganof DA Region 4-A, and NIA ad-ministrator Antonio Nangel. (CathNanta, DA-Info. Service)

DA assists religious group produce mangosteen capsules.Secretary Alcala listens as Sister Concordia Pingoy, Superior Gen-eral of the Handmaids of Christ the King or ACR Sisters, in TagumCity, explains the health benefits of mangosteen rind which hercongregation processes into capsules (inset). The DA has providedthe group with a hammermill and a food grade dryer to furtherincrease their production, currently at 100,000 capsules a month,which they sell at P3 each. Also shown are two ACR Sisters andTagum City Coordinator Arturo Mañigo, Jr.

More and more Filipinos arenow favoring natural, organicwellness products. These include

‘Hand-made’ mangosteen capsules, anyone?indigenous vegetables and fruits,like mangosteen, which are saidto contain antioxidants.

There is one group in the coun-try, particularly in Tagum City, inMindanao, that is producing man-gosteen capsules with their ownhands, and coincidentally aremembers of a religious congre-gation, known as Handmaids ofChrist the King or ACR Sisters.ACR stands for Ancillae ChristiRegis.

Two years ago, they startedproducing mangosteen capsules,painstakingly pounding pieces ofdried mangosteen rind into pow-der, using a simple mortar andpestle.

The powdered rind is later putinto biodegradable capsules, andpacked for sale.

The proceeds are ploughedback to sustain the ACR herbalmedicine processing facility andthe rest is used to support theirapostolic and charitable activities.

Sister Concordia Pingoy, ACRSuperior General, said they arecurrently producing 100,000mangosteen capsules a month,which they sell at P3 each, atdesignated outlets in Tagum City.The ACR sisters also churn outmalunggay and yellow ginger or

turmeric capsules.She said the demand for their

herbal capsules are graduallypicking up, as those who hadtried and experienced the ben-ef icial effects, and becamehealthier, serve as their endors-ers and promoters.

Sister Pingoy said her grouphas a pending accreditation withthe Bureau of Food and Drug Ad-ministration. They filed their ap-plication last March 2012.

From the initial production levelof 30,000 capsules a month, oran average of 1,000 capsulesdaily, their output this year hasmore than tripled to 100,000 cap-sules a month, when the DA pro-vided them a hammermill.

Their production is expected tofurther pick up, as SecretaryProceso J. Alcala committed toprovide them a food grade dryer.To ensure their source of raw ma-terials in the succeeding years,the DA Davao region will provide500 mangosteen seedlings forplanting in adjoining areas.(NOR, DA Information Service)

5May 2012

There is a big opportunity forFilipino farmers to transform lo-cal dairying into a profitable andcompetitive enterprise.

Thus said Agriculture Secre-tary Proceso J. Alcala in aspeech, delivered on his behalfby Assistant Secretary for Live-stock Davinio Catbagan, duringthe 15th Dairy Congress, May 16to 18, 2012, in Baguio City.

The DA chief urged farmersand entrepreneurs to take a se-rious look at dairy farming, asthere is a huge market for milkand dairy products.

He said the Philippines con-sumes roughly P65-billion worthof milk and dairy products everyyear, which are mostly imported,and that only one out of fourglasses of fresh milk sold in thecountry is produced locally.

This is the big opportunity thatgovernment through the DA andthe private sector through theDairy Confederation of the Phil-ippines (DairyCon) is capitaliz-ing on to encourage more farmfamilies, entrepreneurs and in-vestors to engage in dairy farm-ing, including milk processingand marketing.

Phl produces first anhydrous ethanol from sweet sorghum

Secretary Alcala said the DAthrough the National Dairy Au-thority (NDA) has been pursuingprograms to prop up the indus-try. These include herd build-up,business enhancement, milkquality assurance and milk feed-ing program for schoolchildren.

NDA Administrator GraceCenas said they have crafted amedium-term, 2011 to 2016Dairy Industry Roadmap thataims to increase the local dairyherd to 55,000 head that wouldsupply 50 percent of thecountry’s fresh milk market.

The six-year program wouldalso generate a total 22,000 jobsin the countryside, and ‘milk-feed’ one million schoolchildren.

During the Congress, theDairyCon, chaired by DaniloFausto, proposed a resolution toimpose a 1% tariff on importedmilk products that will be usedto subsidize local milk productionand develop the industry.

Former Representative MarkCojuangco (5 th District,Pangasinan), who served as thisyear’s Congress Director, saidthe country has to produce anabundant supply of fresh milk,

and make it affordable, so thatdrinking milk will become a habitamong Filipinos, specially chil-dren.

As part of the three-day Con-gress, he hosted a visit to hisdairy farm in Laoac, Pangasinan.

Former Senator LeticiaShahani, who co-authored Re-public Act 7884 or the NationalDairy Development Act of 1995,

urged the media to help govern-ment and the DairyCon to under-take a massive information cam-paign to promote drinking offresh milk.

New Zealand Ambassador tothe Philippines ReubenLevenmore also served as guestand speaker at the event.(Catherine Nanta, DA Info. Serviceand Farina S. Dy, NDA Visayas)

After the successful conduct ofsweet sorghum trials in NegrosOccidental, the commercial pro-duction of sweet sorghum is nowreaping harvest and was able toproduce the first ever anhydrousethanol from sweet sorghum inthe Philippines.

A sugarcane-producing region,Negros Occidental opened itsdoors to commercial scale pro-duction of sweet sorghum with adevoted area of 30 hectares inSagay City, Negros Occidental.

In 2011, the Department of Ag-riculture-Bureau of AgriculturalResearch (DA-BAR) funded thesweet sorghum trials in NegrosOccidental and showed promis-ing result as a viable and comple-mentary feedstock to sugarcaneand prompted the commercialscale production of sweet sor-ghum in the region. This servesas an offshoot activity for the “1stSweet Sorghum Summit andPlantation Showcase” in BacolodCity, Negros Occidental in June2011.

These activities were imple-mented by the University of thePhilippines Los Baños Founda-tion, Incorporated (UPLBFI) toshowcase sweet sorghum’s

complementary potential com-pared to sugarcane as bioethanolfeedstock.

Since 2006, BAR has beenfunding and coordinating differ-ent projectson sweet sor-ghum. Theb u r e a ustarted sup-porting R&Dactivities forsweet sor-ghum from itsinitial produc-tion, itsadaptabil itytestings to itscommercial-i z a t i o n .Sweet sor-ghum isd u b b e d“smart” and “wonder” crop andcan be utilized as food, feed, fuel,and fertilizer.

“This sets another milestone inR&D initiatives of BAR, strength-ened by our collaboration withR&D partner-institutions such asthe state universities and col-leges (SUCs) and other stake-holders,” said BAR DirectorNicomedes P. Eleazar.

The project implemented a par-allel-system with sugarcane har-vesting practices to easily intro-duce, hence, adopt sweet sor-ghum by the farmers. Convinced

withthe promising future of sweet sor-ghum, the local government unitof Sagay and private farm landowners of sugarcane areas triedplanting sweet sorghum.

“The whole production cycleentailed a manpower of 92 work-ers in a day for four days duringthe harvest time that providedincome opportunities,” explained

Prof. Rex Demafelis of the UPLBAlternative Energy Research,Development and Extensionconvenor and chair of the UPLBEnergy Systems Committee.

“Other than the beneficial usesof sweet sorghum, the farmerswere encouraged to plant thecrop which requires less inputs(fertilizer, water, etc.),” added Mr.Anthony B. Obligado head of theTechnology CommercializationDivision (TCD) of BAR. He saidsweet sorghum could be har-vested thrice a year compared to11 months for sugarcane, thusresulting to more production andbigger income.

After harvesting 480 tons ofsweet sorghum cane, OPTIONMuscovado Plant Cooperative(MPC) facilitated the milling toproduce sweet sorghum syrup.The syrup was sent to San CarlosBioenergy Inc. (SCBI) which wasable to produce 15,231 liters ofbioethanol.

Funded by DA-BAR, the pro-duction of sweet sorghum syrupto bioethanol is a collaborativework between UPLBFI, SCBI,and OPTION MPC. (Ma. Eloisa H.Aquino, DA-BAR)

Dairy production is lucrative, profitable

DA Assistant Secretary for livestock Dr. Davinio Catbagan (2nd fromright) represented Secretary Alcala at the 15th National Dairy Con-gress, in Baguio City, May 16, 2011. With him are National DairyAuthority administrator Grace Cenas (right), and (from left) formerPangasinan Representative Mark Cojuangco, National DairyConchairman Danilo V. Fausto, USDA agricultural counsellor PhillipSchull, former Senator Leticia Ramos-Shahani, and DairyCon vice-chair Antonio G. Manikan. (Photo by NDA)

6

Kaisa ng sambayanang Pilipino, binabati koang Kagawaran ng Pagsasaka at ang ating mgakampeon sa kanayunan – ang ating mgamagsasaka at maningisda – sa pagdiriwang ngFarmers and Fisherfolks Month.

Kaakibat ng adhikaing makapagbigay ngdisenteng hanapbuhay sa mga Pilipino,isinusulong natin ang pagkakaroon ng sapat atabot-kayang pagkain sa hapag ng bawat pamilya.Ang tagumpay ng layuning ito ay tiyak namaghahatid ng mas maraming oportunidad parasa mga komunidad ng magsasaka at maningisda;ito ang magbibigay sa kanila ng pagkakataong panghawakan ang sarilingkinabukasan at tumulay mula kahirapan tungo sa pag-asenso. Sapangunguna ng Kagawaran ng Pagsasaka, itinataguyod natin ang kapakananat mga pangangailangan ng sektor ng agrikultura. Tuloy-tuloy angpagsasaayos natin ng imprastraktura upang maging mas masagana ang ani.

Nais na po natin ang positibong resulta ng ating mga mabutingpamamahala: mas mataas na produksiyon ng palay, mas matatag nakompiyansa ng mga negosyante, at mas maraming agri-business opportuni-ties para sa lahat. Sino nga po bang mag-aakalang sa susunod na taon aymaari na tayong maging net exporter ng bigas? Patunay ito sa umuunlad nasektor ng agrikultura, at sa mas maliwanag na bukas para sa ating mgamagsasaka at mangingisda.

Paigtingin natin ang ating bayanihan upang higit pa nating mapaglingkuranang ating mga mamayan. Sama-sama nating pagyamanin sa ating mga pusoang binhi ng katapatan, dangal, at pananagutan, tungo sa pagpapatotoo sapanata nating patas at masaganang bayan.

MGA MENSAHE

Benigno S. Aquino IIIPresident, Republic of the Philippines

Malugod akong bumabati sa ating mga magsasaka atmangingisda sa pagdiriwang ng Farmers’ andFisherfolks’ Month ngayong buwan ng Mayo.

Naaangkop ang tema ng pagdiriwang na “Sapat napagkain, sama-sama nating kamtin!” bunsod ngmaraming pagbabago sa agrikultura - isa sapinakamahalagang sektor ng bayan.

Todo ang aksyon ng ating gobyerno sa pamamagitanng Kagawaran ng Pagsasaka. Sinisikap nating punuanang mga pangangailangang teknikal at imprastrakturapara sa mga magsasaka, mangingisda at agri-entrepre-neur. Kasama dito ang pagsasaayos ng mga

irigasyon, pamimigay ng mga solar dryers at pagpapagawa ng mga farm-to-market roads.

Nguni’t hindi lang ang Kagawaran ang mag-isa sa pagkamit ng sapat napagkain. Kaakibat natin ang lahat nang mamamayan - mga negosyante, mgasiyentista at mananaliksik, mga lider at kasapi ng NGOs at lalung-lalo na angmga magsasaka at mangingisda – na nagsasaliksik at gumagamit ng bagongterknolohiya na siyang nagpapataas ng produksyon at nagpapababa nggastusin sa pagsasaka.

Kaya naman, ipinaaabot natin ang mas maigting na pagsuporta at pagsisikappara higit kayong matulungan. Handa tayong makinig at umaksyon sa inyongmga hinaing at pangangailangan, nang mapaunlad narin ang sektor ngagrikultura. Ito ay hindi lamang sa pagpapataas ng produksyon, kundi higit sapagtulong para umasenso ang magsasaka. Pangunahin nating layon na sahinaharap, mula sa pagiging magsasaka, kayo ay maging agri-entrepreneur.

Ito ang aming panata – ibigay ang karampatang tulong at suporta sa inyonang makapagdala ng higit na asenso sa magsasaka, mangingisda at mgaagri-entrepreneur.

Mabuhay ang mga mangingisda at magsasaka!

Proceso J. AlcalaSecretary, Department of Agriculture

Mannalon, Mag-uuma, Magbabaul,Magsasaka – four dialects, one meaning.

“Known for many terms depending on thegeographical location and cultural influence,one thing remains to be the commondetermination when we talk about farmers –they are our silent and unrecognized heroes”said Provincial Governor Erlpe John M. Amantein his message during his welcome remarks atthe P4MP (Pambansang Mannalon, Mag-uuma,Magbabaul at Magsasaka ng Pilipinas) NationalConvention.

The activity, led by the Agricultural TrainingInstitute (ATI) with the support of the DA – RFUXIII was held at Butuan City – Caraga region,last May 2 to 4.

ATI has also partnered with other governmentagencies, LGUs, NGOs, and the private sectorsto make the convention successful.

The activity was participated in by more than150 farmers and fisherfolk from the differentregions of the Philippines.

This reflects farmers’ interests to be partnersin the transformation of the nation’s agriculturallandscape with the theme “Pagkakaisa ngMagsasaka Tugon sa Kaunlaran ng Kabuhayanat Kalikasan”, the activity also offeredsubstantive information of the Agri – PinoyFramework as a vehicle to propel agriculturaldevelopment.

For his part, DA Asst. Secretary Dante S.Delima said the department wants to strengthenall the more the relationship of the farmers andthe government.

Farming contributed in creating jobs for therural communities with combined efforts tomake farming profitable, targeting the younggenerations’ interest in agriculture. Developingfarmers’ capabilities as leaders and help themto value commitment for their work is the toppriority of the current administration”, says Asec.Delima. He also acknowledged the bigcontribution of the farmers in the country’seconomy.

The highlights of the three-day affair includeseries of lectures-discussions, updates onsustainable agriculture and farmers’ bestpractices.

There was also a press conferenceparticipated in by Asec. Delima, P4MP nationaland regional presidents, and the local media.

During the 3rd day, they had project visitationsto the following agricultural sites in Butuan:Provincial Demonstration Farm of Agusan delNorte, ATI and PhilRice-Agusan. Through this,farmers’ potentials were strengthened as newlearning was acquired.

P4MP plays a vital role in the realization ofDA’s goals. As government’s partner, theopportunity to attend conventions and trainings,to be taught, to be guided, and to be preparedfor what is to come is truly a right and not aprivilege for the farmers.

Also present during the convention were:Hon. Maria Angelica M. Amante – Matba,Representative for the 2nd District of Agusan delNorte, Hon. Jose Aquino III, Representative 1st

District of Butuan City & Las Nieves and Hon.Joseph Victor Ejercito of San Juan District,Metro Manila. (DA-RAFID XIII)

‘Silent, unrecognized heroes’

7May 2012

The Department of Agriculture(DA) once again spearheads thenationwide observance of Mayas “Farmers’ and Fisherfolk’sMonth” with the theme: ‘Sapat napagkain, Sama-sama natingkamtin!’

Agriculture Secretary ProcesoJ. Alcala said the theme for thisyear’s celebration is apt andtimely as the DA is frontloadingits resources and focusing effortsto attain self-sufficiency in riceand major staples by end of2013.

He said “let us continue to paytribute to the country’s farmersand fisherfolk, and at the sametime provide them needed assis-tance so we could jointly attainnational sufficiency in rice andmajor staples by end of 2013.”

“Kaya naman, sa pagdiriwangng buwan ng mga magsasaka atmangingisda, samahan atbigyan natin ng kaukulang tulongat ayuda upang makamit natinang pambansang kasapatan sabigas at iba pang pangunahingpagkain sa katapusan ng taong2013,” Secretary Alcala said.

For his part, DAUndersecretary for operationsJoel Rudinas, who chairs thenational steering committee ofthe 2012 Farmers’ andFisherfolk’s month celebration,said the DA family — that in-cludes the regional field units(RFUs), bureaus, and attachedagencies and corporations na-tionwide — had lined several ac-tivities, starting with a nationalconvention of PambansangMannalon, Mag-uuma,Magbabaul at Magsasaka ng

‘Sapat na pagkain, sama-sama nating kamtin!’

Pilipinas (P4MP), May 2-4, 2012,in Butuan City. Spearheaded bythe DA’s Agricultural Training In-stitute, the event was attendedby more than 300 leaders offarmers’ and fishers’ groups.

The Bureau of Fisheries andAquatic Resources (BFAR) com-menced on May 2, 2012its‘Fisherfolk Director’s Pro-gram,’ where fisherman-leadersserve as BFAR regional and na-tional directors for one month,according to BFAR national di-rector Asis Perez.

From May 14 to 18, Under-secretary Rudinas said severalactivities had been lined up at

Agriculture Undersecretaries Antonio Fleta (left) and Joel Rudinas open the 2012 Farmers’ andFisherfolk’s Month celebration, on May 14, 2012 , at the DA central office lobby, which was replicatedin other DA family offices nationwide. Also shown is Deputy Executive Director Felix Valenzuela ofthe DA’s Livestock Development Council.

the DA central office, which in-cluded an agri trade fair and‘tiangge,’ a forum on farmers’and fisherfolk’s best practices, amass in honor of patron saint ofpeasants San Isido Labrador,and cooking demonstrations,among others.

At the latter part of the month,a national convention of 4-Hclubs and young farmers’ orga-

nizations was held in Aklan.And to continuously address

the needs and concerns of farm-ers, fisherfolk and local officials,Secretary Alcala continues tovisit and dialogue with farmers,fisherfolk and local governmentofficials and agri-fishery industrystakeholders to provide themneeded assistance to increasetheir productivity and incomes..

This year’s Mangingisdang(Fisherman) Direktor for EasternVisayas, Enriqueto R. Galerio isspending the entire month ofMay going around the region, ex-horting his fellow-fishermen hereto help ensure food security.

Galero, 52, a fisherfolk leaderfrom Pambujan, NorthernSamar, was chosen as one of thefisherfolk director for one monthunder the Department of Agricul-ture-Bureau of Fisheries andAquatic Resources’ (DA-BFAR)Mangingisdang Direktor pro-gram in connection with the an-nual observance of Farmers’ andFisherfolk’s Month.

On May 4, Galero was at anaquasilviculture project orienta-tion organized by BFAR.Aquasilviculture involves grow-ing fishes and other aquatic or-ganisms in a mangrove area.

According to BFAR, the sys-tem is an environment-friendlyapproach to enhance fisheriesproduction in the wild, while re-habilitating mangrove habitat

Fisherfolk official promotes food security

Secretary Alcala said the Philippines is set to sell fancy, upland andaromatic next year, during the National Convergence Initiative(NCI) for Sustainable Rural Development Summit, May 17, 2012,at the DA-Bureau of Soils Convention Hall, in Quezon City. Duringthe event, he led the signing of continued commitment on a Philip-pine map showing the major NCI projects nationwide. Joining himare Environment and Natural Resources Assistant Sec. MarloMendoza (center) and Agrarian Reform Sec. Virgilio delos Reyes(right). The summit is part of the Farmers’ and Fisherfolk’s monthcelebration, attended by more than 500 farmers and stakeholders.

which currently represents lessthan a quarter of what used tobe a 550,000-hectare mangrovecover in the 1950s.

Among the projects Galero vis-ited around Eastern Visayaswere mussel projects in Jiabong;Hinunangan, Hinundayan, SanJuan, Macrohon and Liloan inSouthern Leyte.

He participated in tilapia seed-ing in North Leyte, mangroveplanting in Inopacan and ob-served the Ormoc Hatchery inOrmoc City.

He also visited the Pearl-Is-land in Guiuan, the Lawaan FishSanctuary and the BoronganHatchery, all in Eastern Samar.

Last May 16, Galero partici-pated in a public consultation onthe United Nation’s Resolution197-1 regarding Draft Food andAgricultural Organizations whichconcerns the conservation andsustainable use of genetic re-sources for food and agriculture.(Manila Bulletin)

8

The Department of Agricul-ture recently inaugurated twoonion storage facilities, worthP2.6 million (M), in Bone Northand Darapidap, Aritao, NuevaVizcaya.

The facilities were fundedby the DA through the HighValue Crops DevelopmentProgram (HVCDP).

DA HVCDP National Pro-gram Coordinator Jennifer E.Remoquillo graced the simpleinauguration ceremony.

She said the two Aritao fa-cilities are part of the 15 unitsconstructed in 2011, with a to-tal cost of P19.5 M. Theywere put up in selected onion-growing municipalities inIlocos Norte, Ilocos Sur,Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecijaand Occidental Mindoro.

The two facilities in Aritaowere turned over to the farm-ers’ cooperative and its Munici-pal Mayor, Guillermo M. Peros.

The onion hanger-type stor-age building in Aritao is a two-storey shed structure, and hasa capacity of 2,000 to 4,000bags (25 kgs each).

The facility will benefit 902onion farmers, who till a totalarea of 403 hectares.

The DA is eyeing an expan-sion of 50 hectares in nearbySta. Fe, Nueva Vizcaya,Remoquillo said.

During the inauguration andturnover ceremonies, DA re-gion 2 Director Lucrecio R.Alviar, Jr. enjoined the Aritaofarmers to make optimum useof the facility to further in-crease their productivity andincome. He also urged themto establish direct marketingagreements with institutionalbuyers.

He said the onion hangerstorage will be replicated at theDA Cagayan Valley HillylandResearch Outreach Station,headed by Celerina T.Miranda.

For his part, DA region 2HVCDP coordinator RobertOlinares said with the facilities,more Aritao farmers will be en-couraged to plant onions,which are considered of goodquality and preferred by buy-ers and traders. (DA-HVCDP)

DA sets up 2onion storagefacilities in NV

The Department of Agricultureawarded a total of P2-million (M)worth of agri-fishery farm equip-ment and inputs was distributedto 23 cooperatives and four Lo-cal Government Units (LGUs)during the visit of SecretaryProceso J. Alcala in Marawi Cityand Lanao del Sur on May 8,2012.

He awarded the respectivecertificates of turn-over and ac-ceptance to the cooperativesand LGUs, at a farmers’ andfishermen’s forum in Lanao delSur. Also present were GovernorMamintal Adiong, Jr., DAF-ARMM Secretary Sangkula A.Tindick, Assistant SecretaryPendatun Disimban and BFAR-ARMM Director JaniceDesamito-Musali.

“Sa nakita kong init ngpagtanggap po ninyo sa amin, sabuong grupo, buong pamilya ngKagawaran ng Agrikultura,babalik po ako dito at tutulongako sa inyo. Nakita ko po namarami po tayong pwedengpagsamahan, marami po tayongpagpartneran at palagay ko Gov-ernor kapag ito pong atingpinagpartneran kasama angmga Mayors, mas mabilis ponating mapagbago ang buhay ngmga taga Lanao del Sur,” Sec-retary Alcala said before a hugecrowd of farmers, fisherfolk andlocal executives.

Governor Adiong expressedhis gratitude to Secretary Alcalafor coming over to see for him-self the situation of farmers andfishermen, and respond to their

Marawi, Lanao Sur get P23-M support needs and concerns.

Governor Adiong said “mahinaat di sapat na produksiyon dalang kakulangan ng suporta,pasilidad at irrigation system angpangunahing suliranin ng mgamagsasaka dito.

“Ang pagbisita ni SecretaryAlcala ang unang hakbang tungosa kaunlaran ng agriculture ditosa Lanao del Sur. Kung kaya’tnananawagan ako sa civil soci-ety na magtulungan tayo.Hangad namin ang tagumpay ngAquino Administration, ang DAat mga kapatid na umaasa saagrikultura bilangpangkabuhayan,” he added.

The 23 farmers’ groups andcooperatives received variousfarm equipment and inputs, in-cluding 330 bags of certified riceseeds, 40 bags of organic fertil-izers, abaca stripping machines,rice threshers, and shallow tubewells with engine pump sets.

Secretary Alcala also commit-ted to provide three units of cornmill for the corn-producingtowns, and 20 head of carabaowith plow and harrow.

The DA-BFAR also turned-over 12 units of motorized fish-ing banca and eight units fish ag-gregate devices, worth P1.38 M,to six f isherfolk’s groups inMarawi City and Lanao del Sur,and LGUs of Balabagan,Kapatagan, Malabang andPicong.

Secretary Alcala also led thedispersal of 100,000 tilapia fin-gerlings at Lake Lanao.

At a forum, he instructed NIA

DA allots P6-M for Compostela Valley. Secretary Alcala andCompostela Valley Governor Arturo T. Uy ride on a power tiller,which is part of more than P6-million worth of agricultural projects,farm machinery and equipment, inputs and fruit tree seedlingsprovided by the DA as its counterpart with the Provincial Govern-ment of Compostela Valley to increase the productivity and incomesof small farmers and fisherfolk. The DA is eyeing to develop a6,000-hectare cluster in Compostela into a production area forfancy and upland rice, and other high value crops.

Administrator Antonio Nangel toallocate additional funds for therehabilitation of Kamanga Dam.It can irrigate more than 2,000hectares in Ramain, Bubong andBuadiposo.

He also instructed BFAR-ARMM Director Desamito-Musalito conduct a study on the feasi-bility of establishing a hatcheryproject near Lanao Lake.

“Malaki ang potential ng lawasubalit hindi ito napapansin ngpamahalan,” the DA chief said.

He said Lanao del Sur shouldactively participate in thegovernment’s national greeningprogram, prioritizing rubber, cof-fee and cacao. (RAFID-ARMM)

The Bureau of Fisheries andAquatic Resources has re-is-sued a ban on the export of elv-ers (young eel) to stop its exploi-tation.

Fishermen excessively gath-ered elvers as price shoot upmore than 10-fold from P2,500last year to P28,000, from Janu-ary to March this year.

Locally known as ‘dalara, ’elver fry are gathered along riverbanks and sea shore using nets(tanggar) and push nets (dusdus).

They are shipped to Manila forexport to other Asian countries.

Eels are a delicacy in Japan,China and Korea. Eel’s blood isbelieved as energy-giving andsource of ‘strength’ for men.

“If we don’t impose the banthen there is a high chance thateels will suffer the same fate asludong,” said Dir. Jovita Ayson,of DA-BFAR region 2.

She said they will work withrespective local governmentunits in Cagayan to enjoin themto craft ordinance to manage andprotect not only eels but other in-digenous fish species.

The export ban on elvers isembodied under Fisheries Ad-ministrative Order No. 242,signed by Sec. Proceso Alcalalast April 10, 2012. The ban tookeffect starting May 2012.

Violators will be imprisoned foreight years, and required to paya fine equivalent to double theexport value of elvers theycaught. (DA-BFAR Regn 2)

BFAR bans exportof young eels

9May 2012

The Department of Agriculturehas allotted P13 million (M) forvarious agriculture and fisheryprojects, equipment and inputsto further spur the productivityand incomes of Basilan farmersand fisherfolk.

Agriculture Secretary ProcesoJ. Alcala led the turnover of saidprojects during a forum atBasilan’s provincial capitol inIsabela City, where he dialoguedwith hundreds of farmers,fisherfolk and local governmentofficials led by Governor JumJainuddin-Akbar, on April 27,2012.

The total allotment initially con-sisted of fishery and seaweedproduction projects worth P5-M,from the DA’s Bureau of Fisher-ies and Aquatic Resources(BFAR); P5-M from the DA’s HighValue Crops Development Pro-gram (HVCDP) for a rubber nurs-ery to produce quality plantingmaterials; P2.9-M for coconutseedlings, and salt fertilizationand coconut planting projects,from the DA’s Philippine Coco-nut Authority (PCA); rubber andgrafted fruit tree seedlings worthP440,000, and 400,000 piecesof polyethylene bags; and as-sorted vegetable seeds for aBarangay Food Terminal project.

Secretary Alcala also in-structed DA-HVCDP nationalcoordinator Jennifer Remoquilloto provide Basilan farmers withcacao and coffee seedlings fortrial planting.

During the forum, he listenedand addressed the various con-cerns raised by farmers,fisherfolk, and LGU officials. Heencouraged the farmers andfishers to organize themselves

DA allots P13-M fishery, agri projects in Basilan

Secretary Alcala (middle) inspects grafted rubber seedlings readyfor distribution in Basilan to further spur the productivity and in-comes of farmers and fisherfolk. Also in photo is DA-High ValueCrops Development Program National Coordinator JenniferRemoquillo (2nd from left, partly hidden). (Photo by Ramil Sotto, DA-9 Info Div.)

into cooperative so they couldqualify and apply for loans andcredit assistance with the LandBank of the Philippines.

He likewise encouragedBasilan local government offi-cials, farmers and fisherfolk, andother agri-fishery industry stake-holders to craft a five-year agri-cultural and fishery developmentplan.

He said the DA will assist themin crafting said plan, and com-mitted to visit the province again.

The DA Chief raffled off tolucky participants various farm

and f ishery equipment andimplements that include fishingboat engines, several sets ofcassava grater with presser, draftanimals with implements, and gillnets, among others.

Secretary Alcala was accom-panied by several top DA officialsin Basilan, among them were DAAssistant Secretary and nationalcorn program coordinatorEdilberto De Luna, DA-9 Dir.Eduardo Holoyohoy, DA-ARMMSecretary Sangkula Tindick, DA-BFAR Director Asis Perez, andDA-HVCDP Director Remoquillo.

The DA’s Bureau of Fisheriesand Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) and the Laguna LakeDevelopment Authority (LLDA)are joining hands with the lake’sfisherfolk and local governmentofficials to resolve recurring ‘fishkill’ and emergence of knife fish.

BFAR director Asis G. Perezand LLDA general managerNeric Acosta, who is also con-current Presidential Adviser forEnvironmental Protection, metinitially with Calamba fisherfolkand local officials and discussedareas of cooperation and strate-gies to sustain the livelihood offisherfolk and sustain supply oftilapia, bangus and other fishspecies raised in Laguna Lake.

Perez said the DA-BFAR hasinitially deployed three of patrolboats manned by members ofthe agency’s Fish Health andQuick Response Team. They willassist a multi-agency team thatwill respond to fish kill situations,undertake water quality monitor-ing, and provide early warningadvise or bulletin.

During the dialogue, lake fish-ermen said ‘fish kills’ occur dur-ing the end of summer and on-set of the rainy season. And re-cently, the situation is worsenedby the emergence of ‘knife fish,’a carnivorous species, which hasbecome a menace and predator.

This was confirmed by labora-tory tests conducted by the DA-BFAR’s National Inland Fisher-ies Technology Center whichshowed stomach of knife fishescaught had in their stomach partsof kanduli (a native catfish), smallf ishes, shrimps and shells,among others.

Fishermen thus blame knifefish for the reduction of their dailycatch and income from commer-cial fish species like tilapia,bangus, carp, kanduli, ayunginand shrimps. They said knife fishnow comprises up to 30 percentof their daily catch. Some knifefish caught even as much as 10to 20 kilos.

The DA-BFAR said knife fishspawn and lay their eggs, whichare seen attached to bamboostakes and poles (known astulos) in fish pens and cages.

Hence, Director Perez advisedfisherfolk to collect and destroythe eggs before they hatch, andat the same time harvest asmany knife fish as possible toreduce the population in the lake.

DA-BFAR, LLDAto resolve LagunaLake’s concerns

The reopening of the so-called‘pockets 1 and 2’ of the PacificOcean to Philippine fishing ves-sels is expected to yield an ad-ditional catch of 90,000 metrictons of tuna.

“Several companies have al-ready approached our office toseek international fishing per-mits,” said Ambutong Pautong,BFAR Region 12 acting director.

The DA-BFAR is set to publishthe Fisheries Administrative Or-der on the matter, he said.

The Western and Central Pa-cif ic Fisheries Commission(WCPFC) approved the lifting ofthe purse seine fishing ban inpackets 1 and 2 of the PacificOcean until February 2013.

Pacific tuna ban lifting to yield 90,000 MT

(Pls turn to p10)

With the ban’s lifting, 36 Phil-ippine fishing vessels have beengiven limited access to the tunafishing ground.

But the probability of Philippinevessel deployment may comeafter September since theWCPFC is due to close for threemonths, starting July, the highseas of the Pacific Ocean as partof the yearly conservation mea-sure, Pautong said.

Thus, by October 2012 theproduction of tuna canneries inGeneral Santos City, consideredas the “Tuna Capital of the Phil-ippines,” will pick up. Six of theseven tuna canneries in thecountry are based there.

Their production went down

due to the two-year fishing banin the Pacific Ocean imposed bythe WCPFC.

Secretary Luwalhati Antonino,chairperson of the Mindanao De-velopment Authority, whoheaded the Philippine delegationduring the WCPFC meeting inGuam last April 2012, said whilethe country is granted with ac-cess, “efforts must also be ex-erted to prevent abuse.”

Pautong said that part of thepossible guidelines, in consulta-tion with the Tuna Council of thePhilippines, is assigning a spe-cific catching ground to fishingcompanies included in the 36-vessel allocation.

10

The Department of Agriculturehas provided Tawi-Tawi fisher-men, farmers and their respec-tive local government units withvarious fishery and farm equip-ment and inputs worth P6.5 mil-lion (M) to prop up their produc-tion and income.

Agriculture Secretary ProcesoJ. Alcala also committed to con-struct irrigation systems and es-tablish agri-fishery trading post,during his visit on April 26, 2012,the first time since he assumedthe DA post in July 2010.

He met and dialogued withTawi-Tawi fisherfolk, farmers,other stakeholders, and localgovernment officials led by Gov-ernor Sadikul Sahali, at a ‘Com-munity Stakeholder’s Meeting,’ inthe town of Panglima Sugala.

During the forum, he led thedistribution of various agricultureand fishery inputs amounting toP3.5-M from the Bureau of Fish-eries and Aquatic Resources(BFAR) and the Agri-Pinoy na-tional corn program. These in-clude 10 sets of cassava graterand presser; 100 sets of sea-weed farming paraphernaliasuch as nylon, styro floaters andplastic tie; 100 sets of gill nets;and five units of 13-horsepower(HP) banca engines.

The DA-BFAR will also providean additional 55 units of 13-HPboat engines for distribution tothe 11 island-municipalities inTawi-Tawi through the respective

DA grants P6.5-M fishery, farm projects in Tawi-Tawi

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Visit AFMIS Website @ http://afmis.da.gov.phto get updated information on .....

The MDC is composed of Information Technology Center for Agricul-ture and Fisheries (ITCAF); Agribusiness and Marketing AssistanceService (AMAS), Agriculture and Fisheries Information Service (AFIS),Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS); and National Agricultural andFishery Council (NAFC).

Agriculture and Fisheries Market Information System (AFMIS) is aweb-based system that integrates various information resources ofthe Market Development Cluster (MDC) agencies into a single database and application system. It caters to the needs of farmers/fisherfolk, traders, and other users of market information.

local government units that willundertake joint fishery law en-forcement or ‘Bantay-Dagat’ ini-tiatives with the DA-BFAR underthe ‘Fish for Peace’ program inthe Autonomous Region in Mus-lim Mindanao (ARMM).

The DA also committed to pro-vide 50 units cassava grater withpresser worth P3 million as partof the Aquino administration’sFood Staples Sufficiency Pro-gram (FSSP), during a meetingwith farmer and fisherfolk lead-ers, and local officials led byGovernor Sahali, at the provin-

cial capitol in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi.Secretary Alcala also dis-

cussed with ARMM Agricultureand Fisheries Regional Secre-tary Sangkula A. Tindick the pro-posed construction of irrigationprojects that will benefit 500hectares planted to rice in threemunicipalities (Tandubas,Panglima Sugala andLanguyan).

Capping his Tawi-Tawi visit,the DA chief also inspected agri-fishery projects like a mariculturepark and seaweed farm inPanglima Sugala, and a multi-species marine fish hatchery andpayao project, in Lato-Lato,Bongao. (DAF-ARMM RAFID)

Secretary Alcala (2ndfrom left) discusses agri-fishery initiatives withTawi-Tawi Governor Sadikul Sahali (left), during the DA chief’s firstvisit in the country’s southernmost province, where he committed aninitial P6.5-million worth of fishery and farm projects, equipment andinputs to further prop up the productivity and incomes of fisherfolk,farmers and other ruralfolk. (Photo by DAF-ARMM Info Group)

In a series of special odersrecently signed by AgricultureChief Proceso J. Alcala, fourlead positions for four DA bu-reaus and one service werefilled up.

Assistant Secretary Salva-dor Salacup was designatedOIC-Executive Director of Bu-reau of Agriculture and Fisher-ies Product Standards, whileDr. Rubina Cresencio, Plan-ning Officer of the Bureau ofAnimal Industry, was ap-pointed as OIC-Director of BAIreplacing Efren Nuestro, whowill retire soon.

On the other hand, DeputyExecutive Director MindaManantan is designated asNational Meat InspectionService’s (NMIS) OIC-Execu-tive Director following the res-ignation of former DirectorJane Bacayo.

Likewise, Rex Bingabingtook oath recently as the newExecutive Director of Philip-pine Center for PostharvestDevelopment and Mechaniza-tion and Eduardo M. Chu asthe new General Manager ofthe Philippine Fisheries Devel-opment Authority.

Five DA posts filled

BFAR installs ... (from p3)A total of 1,500 units of mul-

tiple handline fishing gears will beprovided by the bureau to allZambales coastal municipalities.

Perez said P2.4M has beenearmarked for the planting of400,000 mangrove propagules inZambales. Under the program,affected fishermen could earn asmuch as P6 for each survivingmangrove propagule planted.

He said a fisherman could earnas much as P10,500 for plantingmangrove propagules, and anadditional P7,500 after a year,when all the mangrovepropagules have survived.

Said projected income is sev-eral times more than the averageincome of Zambales fishermen,at P2,800 a month.

At least 800 displaced fisher-men could be given supplemen-tal livelihood under the scheme.(BFAR Information Group)

Tuna fishing companies haveagreed to impose penalties asmuch as P1 million to a violator,he said.

The WCPFC banned commer-cial fishing in pockets 1 and 2 ofthe high seas with the issuanceof a “Conservation and Manage-ment Measure” or CMM in 2008to mitigate overfishing of big-eyeand yellow-fin tuna in the West-ern and Central Pacific Ocean.The ban took effect in 2010.

The Philippines is among the25 WCPFC member-countries.

For his part, BFAR DirectorAsis Perez said the Philippines“must satisfactorily comply withthe provisions of the CMM if wewant to continue fishing in pock-ets 1 and 2 beyond 2013.”

Tuna remains as one of the topexports of the Philippines, val-ued at more than US$ 300 mil-lion in 2010.

The tuna industry employs atleast 100,000 people, from fish-ing, canning, processing andother auxiliary services.

The US, Europe and Japan arethe main buyers of Philippinetuna products. (PNA)

Tuna Pacific ... (from p9)

11May 2012

P2.5-M project grant, was re-ceived by Mayor Michelle MarieDenise Rabat;

• Nasipit, Agusan del Norte –for agro-forestry project. Theaward, along with its prize of aP1.5-M project grant, was re-ceived by Mayor RoscoeDemocrito Plaza;

• Roseller T. Lim, ZamboangaSibugay – for fish sanctuary man-agement. The award, along withits prize of a P1.5-M project grant,and a special citation for rural in-frastructure implementation, wasreceived by Mayor Michael A.Piodena;

• Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat– for mangrove rehabilitation.,The award, along with its prizeof a P1.5-M project grant, wasreceived by Mayor Rolando P.Garcia;

• Libungan, North Cotabato –special citation for overall sus-tainable CFAD management.The award was received byMayor Manuel T. de la Cerna; and

• Doyos Eastern Coast Fisher-men Consumers’ Cooperative, ofCarrascal, Surigao del Sur – asthe best performing PO imple-menting a CFAD project. Theaward, along with a P1-M projectgrant, was received by chairper-son Tito T. Garcia.

Secretary Alcala said the DA-MRDP has to date earmarked atotal of P6.3 billion for 4,320 in-frastructure, livelihood, and natu-ral resources managementprojects, benefiting more than125,000 POs, LGUs, and farm-ing and fishing families in 225cities and towns, across 26Mindanao provinces.

Of the total, the infrastructurecomponent got the biggest allot-ment of P4.885 billion (B) for 514infrastructure projects that in-cluded 386 farm-to-marketroads, 29 bridges, 31 communalirrigation systems, 51 potablewater supply, and 17 solar dry-ers with warehouses.

The DA-MRDP also allottedP1.26 B for 3,716 CFAD agri-f ishery projects, benef iting124,816 households.

Some 90 natural resourcesmanagement projects, worthP167.9 million (M), were alsofunded. These include mangroverehabilitation, agro-forestry, fishsanctuary and riverbank stabili-zation projects.

The DA-MRDP also helpedpackaged 1,929 Barangay De-velopment Plans (BDPs) that areused in project prioritization andapproval. (DA-MRDP and DA Info.Service)

DA to help ... (from p1)

Phl, Kuwait firm up trade of bananas, fancy rice. Secre-tary Alcala and Kuwaiti Ambassador Waleed Amad Al-Kandari dis-cuss increased trade of farm products, particularly bananas andbasmati rice, during the latter’s May 17, 2012 visit at the DA Cen-tral Office in Quezon City. Ambassador Al-Kandari said Kuwait willcontinue to buy fresh Philippine bananas, and in fact a Kuwaiticompany which invested in a Davao banana farm plans to expandits hectarage to satisfy increasing demand. Secretary Alcala alsooffered to export to Kuwait fancy, aromatic rice like Basmati, whichthe Philippines will soon produce. The DA is eyeing some 6,000hectares in Compostela Valley, in Mindanao, to develop as a pos-sible production area for fancy and upland rice varieities and otherhigh value crops.

PNoy: DA-MRDPpromotes ... (from p2)

them needed agri-fishery infra-structure, livelihood and capac-ity-building projects, and othersupport services. The CPRDP ispatterned after the WB-fundedMindanao Rural DevelopmentProgram (MRDP.

Unlike the MRDP which fol-lows a 50-40-10 counterpartingscheme from WB, DA and theLGUs, respectively, the CPRDPproposes to adopt an 80-20scheme, where the DA and theLGUs will each shoulder 10% ofthe project cost, and the balanceby the program funds.

Among the CPRDP projectsthat will be undertaken are theconstruction of FMRs, ports, irri-gation and potable water sys-tems, and postharvest and mar-keting facilities.

Secretary Alcala urged Gover-nor Fua and other Siquijor localgovernment officials to registeras soon as the CPRDP is ap-proved for funding by the WorldBank. (Adora Rodriguez, DA Info.Service)

P35-M from DA...(from p3)

packaging facility that would alsoenable small banana growerstap more export markets.

Secretary Alcala said the ba-nana farmers may also receivef inancial aid through thegovernment’s cash for work orthe Pantawid-Buhay programunder the Department of SocialWelfare and Development(DSWD).

As instructed by PresidentAquino, the DA is exploring otherexport markets for PhilippineCavendish banana which in-clude Cambodia, Singapore andthe Middle East.

China has imposed strict in-spection of Philippine bananas,after it found scale insects insome container vans last March2012.

This prompted SecretaryAlcala to send a team to Chinaled by BPI Director Clarito Barronto join their Chinese counterpartsin inspecting container vans al-legedly infested with scale in-sects, scientifically known asAonidiella comperei.

“We wanted to assure themthat our bananas are of higheststandards and quality,” SecretaryAlcala said.

As of third of week May 2012,Barron reported that 170 40-footer vans with fresh Philippinebananas previously held havebeen cleared by Chinese quar-antine officials.

Secretary Alcala said China hasnot imposed a ban on Philippinebananas.

“Actually, our products werenever banned. Our Chinesecounterparts are merely conduct-ing a more thorough and ex-tended inspection of our fruit ex-ports,” the DA chief said.

“This episode should serve asa wake-up call for all us,” he said,“as we may have been lenient incomplying with internationalquarantine protocols.

“From here on, we will imposea zero-tolerance policy with re-spect to insect and other con-taminants. We have to keep acloser watch at our proceduresand assure that these are strictlyfollowed,” he said.

Barron said his team has metwith their Chinese quarantine of-ficials to consolidate mutualagreements and measures toprevent similar cases from hap-pening.

Meanwhile, Secretary Alcalasaid “our offer still stands,” refer-ring to an invitation to Chinesequarantine experts to visit thePhilippines, particularly Davao,“to see first-hand how rigid ourprotocols and procedures are.”(PNA and DA Info. Service)

system and breakwater; con-struction of wharf landing, dredg-ing of harbor basin, and provi-sion of an area for ship repairand other agri-fishery enter-prises; and provision of new fa-cilities like cold storage system,conveyors, fish sorting areas,and waste water treatment plant.

Navotas f ish port is thecountry’s biggest and oldest fishport in the country. It began op-erations in 1977. An average of380 metric tons of various fishspecies is unloaded and tradeddaily at the port.

To finance the project, the gov-ernment will counterpart P137million, and seek a loan worthP2.56 billion from the China Ex-port-Import Bank.

Once the port is renovated,fish unloading and trading wouldincrease by 60 percent from thecurrent annual average of131,934 metric tons (MT) to210,806 MT by 2015; andpostharvest losses would be re-duced considerably, with the newport’s faster sorting, delivery,transport systems, and availabil-ity of cold storage facilities.

The port would directly benefit7,500 fisherfolk, 4,400 fishery-based enterprises and 2,335fishing vessels. It would also cre-ate new jobs for 30,900 individu-als during the construction andoperational phases.

Newly-appointed PFDA Gen-eral Manager Eduardo M. Chusaid the NFPC project is a big

Navotas ... (from p1)

challenge, and acknowledgedthe efforts of past DA and PFDAadministrations in preparing theproject’s groundwork.

He said the benefits will not beconfined among the NFPC cli-ents, but more importantly re-dound to fish consumers in theNational Capital Region (NCR)as 80% of the region’s fish sup-ply comes from Navotas. (DA In-formation Service & PFDA)

The Department of Agricultureis investing an additional P74million (M) in Camarines Norteto further increase crop produc-tion and augment the incomes offarmers and other ruralfolk.

Agriculture Secretary ProcesoJ. Alcala said the bulk of the fundor P60-M will be used to con-struct and rehabilitate various ir-rigation projects, and P13.7-Mworth of assistance that includefarm machinery, planting mate-rials, fishing paraphernalia, po-table water system, and start-upcapital for livelihood projects.

He made the commitment dur-ing his two-day visit (May 4-5,2012) in Daet and other townsin Camarines Norte, where heinaugurated and visited severalagricultural projects, and dia-logued with 1,000 farmers,fisherfolk, local government offi-cials, and other agriculture andfishery stakeholders.

Secretary Alcala also providedtwo hand tractors with trailers,two units of mechanical dryers,and a seed cleaner to irrigators’associations and farmers’groups during a farmers’ forumat the provincial capitol. Hun-dreds of seedlings of pili, ram-butan and jackfruit were also dis-tributed to upland farmers.

The DA through the Bureau of

Secretary Alcala helps load ‘Queen’ pineapples and other farm produce on a tramline carriage, inMatacong, San Lorenzo Ruiz, Camarines Norte. The tramline system, worth P1.6 million, will benefit120 upland farm families. It greatly reduces transport time from two hours to only six minutes, andenables farmers to save up to 60 percent on hauling and transport costs. It was funded by the DAthrough the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech). Joininghim are Camarines Norte Governor Edgar Tallado (3rd from right) and former Representative LiwaywayVinzons Chato. (Photo by DA Region 5 Info Div.)

Fisheries and Aquatic Re-sources Region 5 also providedfunds for aquasilviculture andseaweed projects, mangrove re-habilitation and production ofmangrove propagules, and es-tablishment of community multi-purpose fish hatchery.

In addition, the DA has com-mitted to provide an additionalP5-M fund to repair and improvethe Alawihao Dam, which servesas the only source of water sup-

ply in the municipality of Daet.The DA chief also inaugurated

a P1.6-M tramline system inBarangay Matacong, town ofSan Lorenzo Ruiz, reducing thetransport of various agriculturalproducts from upland farms tothe nearest market, from twohours to only six minutes. Thetramline will benefit 120 farmfamilies in Matacong, who willsave on hauling and transportcosts by as much as 60 percent,

Secretary Alcala said.He also instructed DA Region

V Director Jose Dayao to allotfunds to construct access farm-to-market roads from thetramline station to the nearestmunicipal road. “This will enableMatacong farmers and ruralfolkto benefit most from the tramlinefacility,”Secretary Alcala said.

While in Camarines Norte, healso inspected other projects,and dialogued with beneficiariesand local officials that includedthe officers and members of theBasud Coconut and PineappleCooperative (BACOPICO) inBasud, and the Labo Multipur-pose Cooperative (MPC) in thetown of Labo.

BACOPICO is into processingof coco husk into coir, while LaboMPC transforms queen pine-apple leaves and fruits into fiberand packed juices, respectively.

Secretary Alcala’s visit wascapped by a forum at theCamarines Norte Sports Com-plex, where he dialogued with700 farmers, fisherfolk, localgovernment officials and otherstakeholders. During the forum, he raffled offfarm inputs and implements tolucky attendees.

In his concluding message,Secretary Alcala urged farmersto be proud of their noble work,saying: “Kung wala po kayo,kahit yung mga nasa ForbesPark ay magugutom. Kaya sasusunod na tanungin kayo kungano ang hanapbuhay nyo, angsasabihin nyo: Magsasaka,bakit?” (Emily B. Bordado, DARegion 5 Info Div.)

DA-NIA to pursue P1.5-B irrigation projects in Davao Region. Secretary Alcala (3rd from left)said the DA through the National Irrigation Administration (DA-NIA) will undertake several projects inDavao this year and in 2013, totaling P1.5 billion, that would irrigate an additional 8,250 hectares, andfurther increase the region’s palay production and rice sufficiency level. He made the commitment at aspecial board meeting of the Davao Integrated Development Program (DIDP), composed of four Davaoprovinces and six cities, and chaired by Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo del Rosario (left). Photoshows Secretary Alcala receiving a plaque appreciation after the DIDP board meeting, attended byGovernors Corazon Malanyaon (Davao Oriental) and Arturo Uy (Compostela Valley), and City MayorsRey Uy (Tagum), Jose Silvosa (Panabo), Michelle Rabat (Mati), and Joseph Peñas (Digos). Not shownare other DIDP board members Davao del Sur Governor Douglas Cagas, Davao City Mayor SaraDuterte-Carpio, and Samal Mayor Aniano Antalan.

DA allots P74-M irrigation,agri projects in CamNorte