Vol. XXV No. 10 A monthly publication of the Department of Agriculture October 2010

LBP allots P50-B for food programThe Department of Agriculture,

Department of Finance, and theLand Bank of the Philippineslaunched a food supply chain fi-nancing program in support of thegovernment’s thrusts of attainingfood self-sufficiency and increas-ing agricultural productivity.

An initial P50-billion(B) is allot-ted that will be extended by theLand Bank to prospective farm-ers’ and fishers’ cooperatives,and agribusiness enterprises.

The fund may be increaseddepending on the requirementsof the market and the industry.

The program will finance crop,livestock and fishery production,working capital and acquisition ofprocessing and other fixed as-sets needed to increase agricul-tural productivity and improve ef-ficiency in the food system.

Prospective program borrowersinclude farmers, fisherfolk, ser-vice providers, consolidators, pro-cessors and other market play-ers; market linkages between ag

Agri damage tops P11.5-B

Japan grants DA-BASP60-M for IT project

The Government of Japanthrough its Official Develop-ment Assistance recently ap-proved a P60.69-million(M)project, called “EnhancingFarmers’ Capacity to Access,Analyze and Utilize StatisticalInformation,” under the JapanFood Security Project for Un-derprivileged Farmers, (for-merly known as the 2KR pro-gram).

The project will be imple-mented by the Department ofAgriculture through its Bureauof Agricultural Statistics (DA-BAS).

It aims to improve farmers’productivity, efficiency and in-come through the institution-alization of improved and sus-tainable capacities on opera-tional and financial farm man-agement and planning.

These will be achieved bysetting up farmer-based agri-business information service

President Benigno S. Aquino III (right) and Agriculture SecretaryProceso J. Alcala (2nd from left) lead a ceremonial corn harvestduring the 7th National Corn Congress, in Reina Mercedes, Isabela,where the President inaugurated a P500-million corn processingcenter. Also shown are DA ass’t. secretary and national rice andcorn program coordinator Dennis Araullo (left) and PhilMaizePresident Roger Navarro (2nd from right).

DA launches KAANIBcoco program

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President Aquino opens P500-MIsabela corn processing plant

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President Aquino started hispost-100 days in office, on Octo-ber 8, by visiting Reina Mercedestown in Isabela where he led theinauguration of a P500-millioncorn processing plant, touted asthe biggest in Southeast Asia.

The President was accompa-nied by Agriculture SecretaryProceso Alcala, DA ass’t. secre-tary Dennis Araullo, Isabela Gov.Faustino Dy III, Dr. Alfonso Uy,chairman of Mindanao GrainsProcessing Co., Roger Navarro,president of Philippine MaizeFederation Inc., other DA and pro-vincial officials, and farmer-lead-ers.

The plant is a joint initiative ofMindanao Grains and Phil.Maize.

President Aquino thanked Dr.

Uy and Mr. Navarro, and othersinvolved in the project.

“This would surely help us inimproving the living conditions ofour corn farmers and the(country’s) corn industry in gen-eral,” said President Aquino, whodelivered his message entirely inFilipino.

He added that the corn indus-try plays a crucial role in pump-priming the economy.

The facility is expected to fur-ther boost corn production inIsabela, currently the country’stop producer.

Dr. Uy said they will buy corn-on-the-cob from farmers at anagreed price, of up to 100,000metric tons at any given time,

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The Department of Agricul-ture through the PhilippineCrop Insurance Corporation(DA-PCIC) will pay P161.4million(M) in indemnities to17,200 farmers whose insuredcrops were damaged by ty-phoon ‘Juan.’

Agriculture SecretaryProceso J. Alcala said the DAwill also provide farmerswhose rice crops were totallydamaged with an initial onebag (40 kilos) of certified palayseeds per hectare.

Typhoon ‘Juan’ (interna-tional name: ‘Megi’)—whichcut across Isabela, Cordialleraand Pangasinan October 18—

DA-PCIC to pay farmersP161-M crop insurance

The Department of Agriculturelaunched on October 9 asustainable coconut productionand livelihood program, dubbedas “Kasaganaan sa Niyugan ayKaunlaran ng Bayan’”or KAANIB.

Representing agriculturesecretary Proceso J. Alcala,ass’t. sec. for field operationsEdilberto de Luna launchedKAANIB in Tupi, South Cotabato.

To be implemented in nineother pilot sites nationwide, theprogram aims to increasecoconut productivity and farmers’incomes, and thus uplift themfrom poverty. It also aims togenerate additional employmentin the 10 pilot sites.

In addition to Barangay Palianin Tupi, the nine other sites are:in Luzon - Happy Valley, Roxas,

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Writers: Adora D. Rodriguez, Jo Anne Grace B. Pera, Arlhene S. Carro,

Bethzaida Bustamante, Mc. Bien Saint Garcia, Jay Ilagan, Catherine Nanta

Contributors: DA-RFU Info Officers, Public Info Officers and Staff of DA

Bureaus, Attached Agencies & Corporations, Foreign-Assisted Projects

is published monthly by the Department of Agriculture InformationService, Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City. Tel. nos. 9288741 loc 2148,2150, 2155, 2156 or 2184; 9204080 or tel/fax 9280588. This issue is availablein PDF file. For copies, please send requests via email: da_afis@yahoo.com.

Editor-In-Chief : Noel O. Reyes

Associate Editors: Karenina Salazar & Cheryl C. Suarez

Photographers: Jose Lucas, Alan Jay Jacalan, & Kathrino Resurreccion

Lay-out Artist: Bethzaida Bustamante

Printing & Circulation: Teresita Abejar & PCES Staff

Editorial

GutomHindi nagbabago ang

estado ng mahihirap: Gutompa rin sila.

Kulang na kulang angkanilang kinakain, lalo na sasustansya.

Mula sa apat na milyongpamilya noong panahon nidating Pangulong Arroyo,bumaba sa tatlong milyongpamilya na lamang o 15.9%ng buong populasyon ngbansa ang tinatayangnagugutom — nakaramdamng ‘involuntary hunger’ owalang makain kahit isangbeses sa loob ng nakaraangtatlong buwan — ayon sasurvey ng Social WeatherStation (SWS) nitongSetyembre 2010.

Bukod sa bahay atedukasyon, gutom angpinakamalaking problema ngmga pamilyang Pilipino, sakalunsuran man okanayunan.

Ang isa pang malakingproblema ay kung sino paang walang trabaho o maliitang kinikita, sila pa ang masmaraming anak.

Hindi lang sa sapat napagkain, ang dapat na tanongay kung may hanap-buhay namaayos para may maibili ngkakainin.

Nakakatuwa naman at angmga problemang ito angnapagtutuunan ngadministrasyong Aquinongayon, lalo na angprogramang ‘conditional cashtransfer’ at usapin tungkol sa‘Reproductive Health Bill.’

Ang dalawang isyung ito,sa aming pananaw, aymagkakabit at inaasahangmakakatulong upangmaibsan ang paghihirap ngating mga kababayangmahihirap.

Ang usapin tungkol sa pag-kontrol ng populasyon aykaugnay din sa produksyonng pagkain. Kasama na ritoang usapin tungkol sa mgalupaing sakahan at ‘conver-sion.’

Ganumpaman, ang papelng Department of Agricultureay tiyakin na may sapat atabot-kayang pagkain sa

hapag-kainan ng bawatpamilyang Filipino.

Kaya naman patuloy tayongnagpupursigi upang palawiginpa ang irigasyon, atpagpapatayo ng post-harvestfacilities at pamilihan, atpagsasagawa ng marami pangkalsada sa kanayunan.

Lahat ng ito ay nakatuonupang makamit natin angkasapatan sa pagkain, lalung-lalo na sa bigas sa 2013.

Tama lamang at naglagay ngdeadline si Pangulong‘Noynoy’ Aquino at Kalihim‘Procy’ Alcala, paramagtrabaho at mag-focusnang mabuti ang lahat.

At hindi lamang tayo sa DAang dapat abala, kung hindiang iba pa nating ‘kasangga’sa sektor ng sakahan atpangisdaan — ang mgasamahan ng mga magsasakaat mangingisda, mgapinunong-lokal, NGOs, atpribadong sektor.

Kaya naman akmang-akmaang tema ng ‘World Food Day’(WFD) selebrasyon nitongtaon: “United Against Hunger.”

Kasama natin sa paggunitang WFD ang iba’t-ibang bansasa buong daigdig, sapangunguna ng Food andAgriculture Organization of theUnited Nations (FAO).

Tinataya ng FAO na isangbilyong tao, bata atmatatanda, ang nagugutom sabuong mundo.

At nawa’y sa ating sama-samang pagtutulungan,patuloy nating mabawasanang bilang ng mga pamilyangPinoy na nagugutom.

Kaya naman atingpanindigan ang atingsinumpaang ‘WFD Pledge’:

“Gamit ang amingkasanayan, talino at panahon,kami’y maghahatid ng walang-humpay na tulong upangmaitaas ang ani ng mgasakahan at pangisdaan, nangmay pag-iingat sa kalikasan atInang-Bayan,

“At patuloy na maiangat angkabuhayan at kita ng lahat naumaasa sa pagsasaka atpangingisda, at makapag-hatidng sapat at ligtas na pagkainpara sa lahat.”

and then dry and mill these intoquality grains.

Dr. Uy is also the national presi-dent of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerceand Industry.

He said similar state-of-the-artcorn post-harvest facilities willalso be put up in other corn-pro-ducing areas in Isabela such asTumauini and Solana, and inCagayan.

Teach farmers modern ways

While in Isabela, PresidentAquino also graced the closingceremony of the three-day 7thCorn National Congress partici-

Pres. Aquino ... (from p1)

Thai Food Firm Eyes Investing in the Philippines. Agriculture Secre-tary Proceso J. Alcala (left) thanks Thailand Ambassador to the Phil-ippines Kulkumut Singhara Na Ayudhaya during the latter’s recentcourtesy call at the DA central office in Quezon City. AmbassadorAyudhaya was joined by top officials of Chareon Pokphand Foods(CPF), Thailand’s leading agro-industrial and food conglomerate,who expressed keen interest in investing in the country particularlyon feedmill, poultry and piggery operations. Sec. Alcala immediatelytasked concerned DA officials and agencies to assist CPF officials torealize their planned investment. Last year, total trade between thePhilippines and Thailand amounted to US$3.7 billion. The country’stop agricultural exports to Thailand include tuna, cigars and ciga-rettes, and cereal products, while top agricultural imports includeThai rice, corn seeds and cassava starch or tapioca.

pated in by corn farmers from allover the country.

He urged the DA andall state universities and colleges(SUCs) to help agriculture profes-sionals and farmers use moderntechnology to produce high qual-ity seeds.

He also encouraged the privatesector and NGOs to supportgovernment’s effort to develop theagriculture sector, especially thecorn industry.

“Ang ating pagtutulungan poang magiging puhunan natinupang matiyak angpangmatagalang food security, atmas matatag na ekonomiya ngbansa,” the President said.

He expects the 7th corn con-(Pls turn to p11)

October 2010 3

P50-billion food supply chain financing program. Secretary Alcala (seated, 1st from left), Finance Secre-tary Cesar Purisima (middle) and Land Bank of the Philippines president Gilda Pico join hands as theylaunch a “Food Supply Chain Program,” where an initial P50 billion will be lent to farmers’ and fisherfolk’scooperatives, and agribusiness enterprises, in support of President Aquino’s twin thrust of attaining foodself-sufficiency, and increasing farmers’ and fisherfok’s productivity and incomes. Nine enterprises andcooperatives (their respective president, CEO, and chairperson shown at the background) have initiallyqualified under the program for integrated corn production and hog fattening, integrated broiler produc-tion, banana production for local and export markets, oil palm production and palm oil refining, veg-etable production, and fish production for local and export markets.

LBP allots ... (from p1)

ricultural producers and pro-cessors; and capacity-building tostrengthen farmers’ cooperatives.

Initial projects identified includeintegrated corn production andhog fattening to be undertaken byBiotech Farms, Inc., MarcelaFarms, Inc., Sorosoro Develop-ment Coop., Limcoma Multi-Pur-pose Coop. and Catmon Multi-Purpose Coop.

Altogether, the proponents re-quire an investment of at leastP550 million(M), which is ex-pected to benefit more than3,000 corn farmers and 8,000 hogfarmers.

Another project involves inte-grated broiler production ofAnakciano, Inc., which requiresP242.5-M for broiler and corn pro-duction, with more than 1,000 con-tract growers expected to partici-pate.

A third project is banana pro-duction and export, which needsP940 million, of Sagrex Food Cor-poration and Fermon Corpora-tion.

For oil palm production andpalm oil refining, of Agumil Phil-ippines, Inc., P1.5-B is required.The project will benefit more than6,000 farmers and workers.

Agrinurture, Inc. will engage invegetable production for local andexport markets. It requires an ini-tial P20 million.

Other projects are fish produc-tion of Sta. Cruz Seafoods, Gen-eral Tuna Corp/Century PacificGroup and APAMI, requiringP45M. (LandBank)

Korea grants RP$790,000 cornproject in Isabela

The Korean government isgranting the Department ofAgriculture $790,000 to fund acorn development project inIsabela.

“The project will address theneeds for agricultural and ruraldevelopment through increasedagricultural output and enhancedlocal community capacity,” DAUndersecretary Berna Romulo-Puyat said.

She signed on October 27,2010 the project’s Records forDiscussion, along with Dr. KimYong-Taek, team leader of theKorea Rural Economic Institute(KREI).

The project will be implementedby the DA’s Philippine Center forPostharvest Development andMechanization (PhilMech).

It entails the establishment ofa village-type corn center that willcover two seasons, using postproduction and bulk handlingsystems and facilit ies fromKorea; two multi-purposewarehouses, as machinery shedand grain storage; and acommunity center for trainingand other project-related

Organic Act IRR is now with Congress for approval. Secretary Alcala(2nd from left) shows his endorsement letter of the Implementing Rulesand Regulations (IRR) of the Organic Act of 2010 (RA 10068) asapproved by the National Organic Agriculture Board (NOAB) fortransmittal to the Congressional Oversight Committee on Agricul-tural and Fisheries Modernization (COCAFM). RA 10068 aims topromote, propagate, and further develop organic farming practicesand technologies in the Philippines. Others in photo (from left) are:DA-BAFPS director Dr. Gilberto Layese, Jose Pepito of NationwideAssociation of Consumers, Inc., Roland Cabigas of La Liga PolicyInstitute, DA Undersecretary Berna Romulo-Puyat, Dr. Rodolfo Ilaoof DOST-PCARRD, Anna Liza F. Bonagua of DILG-Bureau of LocalGovernment, and Leilani Limpin of Organic Certification Center ofthe Philippines.

activities.A three-hectare pilot area will

be used for the project, of whichtwo hectares will serve asproduction site, and the rest assite for the facilities.

Farmer-participants will begiven inputs such as seeds,fertilizers and pesticides for twocroppings.

Korean technical experts willsupervise and provide necessaryguidance and advice to ensurethe success of the project.

Senior citizens can now buymore food and basic items at fivepercent (%) discount, as providedfor under the Expanded SeniorCitizens Act of 2010 or RepublicAct No. 9994.

Agriculture Secretary Procesoand Trade and Industry SecretaryGregory Domingo signed a jointDA-DTI administrative order, Oc-tober 15, 2010, to implement theprovisions of RA 9994.

More than 20 items were addedin the original list under the oldlaw (RA 9257 of 2003), which pre-viously covered basic items likerice, corn, fresh and dried fish,fresh eggs, fresh vegetables, rootcrops, salt, firewood, charcoal,and candles.

The additional prime commodi-ties under RA 9994 are freshfruits, flour, dairy products, on-ions, garlic, geriatric diapers, her-bicides; poultry, swine, and cattlefeed; veterinary products for poul-try, swine and cattle; construc-tion materials such as nipashingles, plyboards, nails, steelwires, electrical supplies, lightbulbs, and batteries.

Each senior citizen can enjoythe 5% discount on said food andprime commodities, which how-ever are not exempted from thevalue-added tax (VAT).

Each senior citizen is alloteda purchase of P1,300 per week,and the entire amount should bespent on at least four items, and

Senior citizens enjoymore goods at 5%discount

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Agriculture Assistant Secretary for Livestock, Davinio Catbagan (seated, 3rd from left) and Acting Execu-tive Director of the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) Atty. Jane Bacayo (next to Catbagan) signa Memorandum of Agreement on the Meat Establishment Improvement Program along with mayors ofrecipient municipalities on October 18, 2010. The MoA, which aims to strengthen counterparting betweenthe National and Local Government, grants a total of P18-M for the rehabilitation and completion oflocally operated slaughterhouses and poultry dressing plants. The activity is part of NMIS’ 38th Anniver-sary and the 18th Meat Safety Consciousness Week which runs from October 18-22. Also in photo are:(seated L-R) Hon. Madelaine Alfelor-Gazmen, Iriga, Camarines Sur; Hon. Alicia Paulican-Resus, Maramag,Bukidnon; Hon. Voltaire Anthony Villarosa, Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro, and Hon. Nerito L. Santos,Talavera, Nueva Ecija.

SPJA swears in new officials

DA launches ... (from p1)

Oriental Mindoro; Brgy. SanFrancisco, Tagkawayan,Quezon; and Brgy. San Rafael,Catilla, Sorsogon;

In Visayas - Brgy. Quia-Anan,San Joaquin, Iloilo; Brgy.Campanga, Barili, Cebu; andBrgy. Burabod, Biliran, Biliran;and

In Mindanao - Brgy. Upper Ulip,

Monkayo, Compostela Valley;Brgy. San Roque, Panaon,Misamis Oriental; and Limpapain Zamboanga City.

The program entails theformation of Community-BasedOrganizations (CBOs) andtransform the members intovillage-level entrepreneurs, andnot merely producers of coconutand copra.

Thus, the DA through theAgricultural Training Institute(ATI) and the Philippine CoconutAuthority (PCA) will teachfarmers and rural women village-level processing technologies sothey could produce more value-added quality coconut productsand by-products.

The DA will also provide theCBOs technical support andmarketing assistance.

The CBOs will be trained toestablish and maintain theirrespective coconut nurseries sothey can produce their ownseedlings.

Secondly, they will be taughtto intercrop coconut with high-value cash crops, and raiselivestock, too, as additionalincome. The DA’s LivestockDevelopment Council will betapped to help CBOs in theirlivestock project.

Agriculture Secretary ProcesoJ. Alcala has sworn in twobatches of new and reappointedofficials for September and Oc-tober with total of 45 officials ofthe Department of Agriculture(DA) and other DA bureaus andattached agencies, who were re-cently appointed by PresidentBenigno S. Aquino III.

Sec. Alcala said they will formpart of the DA team who will con-tribute their respective share toserving the small farmers andfisherfolk, and help attain the foodself-sufficiency and securitygoals of the Aquino administra-tion.

“I expect them to render theirexpertise in their respective fieldsand assist the Aquino govern-ment in achieving our major goalsof uplifting the lives of small farm-ers and fisherfolk, attaining self-sufficiency in rice, white corn andother basic commodities, andproducing sufficient and afford-able food for the entire nation,”the DA chief noted.

Of the 45 officials, 20 are new,while 25 are re-appointees. Sixof them are DA regional directors(RDs); seven, head of bureausand attached agencies; five, DA-Office of the Secretary (OSEC)directors; 22 assistant DA-RDs,agency deputies, and BFAR re-gional director; and five boardmembers of the DA-PhilippineCoconut Authority.

DA Regional Directors (RDs):. Jose V. Dayao, Region 5(re-appointee). Larry P. Nacionales, Region6 (re-appointee)

. Lealyn Abellanosa-Ramos,Region 10 (re-appointee). Pedro Jerry D. Baliang, Re-gion 3. Abelardo R. Bragas, Region4-A. Lucrecio R. Alviar, Jr., Cor-dillera Administrative Region

Heads of Bureaus and AttachedAgencies:. Malcolm I. Sarmiento, Jr.,Bureau of Fisheries and AquaticResources (re-appointee). Efren Nuestro, Director, Bu-reau of Animal Industry (re-ap-pointee). Jovy C. Bernabe, President,Phil. Crop Insurance Corp. (re-appointee). Jane C. Bacayo, Exec. Di-rector, National Meat InspectionService. Grace J. Cenas, Adminis-trator, National Dairy Authority. Edgardo D. Zaragoza, Ad-ministrator, National TobaccoAdministration. Manuel R. Jarmin, Exec.Director, Livestock DevelopmentCouncil (LDC)

DA-OSEC Directors:. Ophelia D. Agawin, financeservice (re-appointee). Agnes Catherine T. Miranda,planning service (re-appointee). Gary Glenn B. Fantastico,information technology center foragriculture and fisheries (ITCAF). Noel O. Reyes, informationservice (AFIS). Rudy Santos, administra-tive service

DA assistant RDs, attachedagency deputies, and BFAR re-gional directors:. Crispulo G. Bautista, Re-gion 1 (re-appointee). Paz L. Mones, Region 1 (re-appointee). Bernadette F. San Juan,Region 4-A. Edgar Madrid, Region 5 (re-appointee). Marilyn Sta. Catalina, Re-gion 5. Constancio C. MaghanoyJr. – DA Region 10 (re-appointee). Engr. Eduardo M. Gonzales– DA Region 3 (re-appointee). Felix G. Valenzuela, deputyexec. dir. (DED), LDC. Noel A. Juliano, DED, Na-tional Agriculture and FisheryCouncil. Augusto L. Canlas, DED,Fertilizer and Pesticide Author-ity. Antonio Galvez, seniordeputy administrator, NIA (re-ap-pointee). Elizabeth R. Tortosa, deputyadministrator, Fiber Industry De-velopment Authority (FIDA) (re-appointee). Josephine B. Regalado ,deputy administrator, (FIDA) (re-appointee)

. Drusila Esther E. Bayate,BFAR regional director, Region 6(re-appointee). Andres M. Bojos, BFAR re-gional director, Region 7 (re-ap-pointee). Juan D. Abaledejo, BFARregional director, Region 8 (re-appointee). Ahadulla S. Sajili, Al-Haj,BFAR regional director, Region 9(re-appointee). Dennis V. Del Socorro,BFAR regional director, Region 5(re-appointee) vice Clemencio A.Reciproco. Nerio G. Casil, BFAR re-gional director, Region 13 (re-ap-pointee). Vicente Lasam, deputy ad-ministrator, (NTA) (re-appointee). Ricardo L. Cachuela – Phil-ippine Center for Post- HarvestDevelopment and Mechanization(re-appointee). Dr. Felomino V. Mamuad –Philippine Carabao Center (PCC)(re-appointee)

PCA Board Members:. Oscar G. Garin. Ponciano A. Batugal. Cesar C. Villariba, Jr.. Rafael P. Sarucam. Marcos M. Dumandan

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This year’s theme was chosen to recognize the efforts made

in the fight against world hunger at national, regional and

international levels.

Uniting against hunger becomes real when state and civil

society organizations and the private sector work in partnership

at all levels to defeat hunger, extreme poverty and malnutrition.

On October 16 2010, World Food Day enters its 30th year,

and also marks the 65th anniversary of the Food and Agriculture

Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

In 2009, the critical threshold of one billion hungry people in

the world was reached in part due to soaring food prices and

the financial crisis, a “tragic achievement in these modern days”,

according to FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf. On the eve

of the hunger summit, Dr Diouf launched an online petition to

reflect the moral outrage of the situation. The “1 billion hungry

project” reaches out to people through online social media to

invite them to sign the anti-hunger petition at

www.1billionhungry.org.

On this World Food Day 2010, when there have never been

so many hungry people in the world, let us reflect on the future.

With willpower, courage and persistence – and many players

working together and helping each other – more food can be

produced, more sustainably, and get into the mouths of those

who need it most. (FAO)

‘United against Hunger’

October 2010

MessagesMessagesMessagesMessagesMessages

My warmest greetings to the officialsof the Department of Agriculture, theFood and Agriculture Organization, andthe many other stakeholders of theagriculture and fisheries sector, onyour celebration of the 30th World FoodDay.

Food security has gone beyond theproduction of sufficient food; itsaccessibility, affordability, andnutritional value have also come intoplay. We commend your department’sefforts to address the needs of everyFilipino family and to ensure that theyhave healthy and affordable food on their tables.

As part of our administration, you are at the frontlines in our fightnot only versus hunger, but also versus corruption and poverty. Alwaysbear in mind that we are to promote the welfare of our people, to lookafter their interests, and to fulfill their mandate for transformation.

Our administration’s mandate symbolizes the people’s pressingdesire for change. And as we work towards the realization of a changedand better nation, we continue to draw our strength from the people– and from institutions like yours, who have expressed solidaritywith our transformation agenda, and whom we are fortunate enoughto have as allies in the quest for equitable progress.

Rest assured that our administration will continue to serve underthe banner of reform, transparency, and hope. May we all rally beneaththis banner as we strive to stay on course in the straight and righteouspath.

As we commemorate this year’sWorld Food Day, and mark the 65thAnniversary of the UN Food andAgriculture Organization, we arereminded that the fight againsthunger rages on, and winning itrequires the commitment ofeveryone, from the governments,policy makers, and stakeholders.Hence the celebration theme,“United Against Hunger.”

The UN FAO estimates that one ofevery six individuals worldwide –composed mostly of children and theold – lack access to nutritious, safe and affordable food, under thecombined effect of high food prices and the global financialmeltdown. On the home front, a recent report by the UN and theAsian Development Bank revealed that the Philippines is faringbadly in eradicating hunger, among the 21 sub-indicators of the so-called Millennium Development Goals.

Kaya naman, pangunahin sa ating pagsisikap ang mai-angatang bansa mula sa kahirapan at kagutuman. At ito’y sapamamagitan ng pagpapairal ng katapatan at mabutingpamamalakad sa pamahalaan, lalo sa sektor ng agrikultura.

Naniniwala tayo na ang tapat at bukas na paglilingkod angtamang hakbang tungo sa layuning ihatid at ipadama ang kalingang Kagawaran ng Pagsasaka sa mga magsasaka, mangingisdaat iba pang taga-nayon. Ang isang malakas na sektor ngagrikultura ay mahalaga para sa pagsugpo sa kahirapan atkagutuman sa bawat sulok ng bansa.

Nawa’ y ang pagdiriwang na ito ay maging pagkakataon parasa higit na pagkakaisa ng bawat sektor na kalahok sapagpapaunlad. Mabuhay!

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The theme of this year’s World Food Dayis “United Against Hunger” or in Filipino,“Nagkakaisa Laban Sa Gutom”, which waschosen to recognize the efforts made in thefight against world hunger at national,regional and international levels. Unitingagainst hunger becomes real when stateand civil society organizations and theprivate sector work in partnership at all levelsto defeat hunger, extreme poverty andmalnutrition. FAO estimates that there are now almost 1 billionmalnourished people in the world, which means that almost one/sixth of all humanity is suffering from hunger.

To reflect the moral outrage of this situation, the FAO DirectorGeneral Jacques Diouf launched on November 2009 the 1 BillionHungry project, an online anti-hunger petition, which works insynergy with this year’s WFD programme.

The FAO recommends to have an agricultural revolution to feedthe future and produce all that extra food. Through partnershipswith governments, research institutes and universities, farmers’associations and pressure groups, the UN system, civil society,and the private sector working together it can be done.

On this World Food Day 2010, when there have never been somany hungry people in the world, let us reflect on the future. Withwillpower, courage and persistence – and many players workingtogether and helping each other –more food can be produced,more sustainably, and get into the mouths of those who need itmost.

I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate our gratitude to theGovernment of the Philippines for its commitment to the activitiesof FAO, and look forward to the further collaboration with theGovernment and Filipino people towards the achievement of foodsecurity.

Maraming salamat po!

Kazuyuki Tsurumi

FAO Representative in the PhilippinesProceso J. AlcalaSecretary, Department of Agriculture

Benigno S. Aquino IIIPresident, Republic of the Philippines

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Sa gitna ng patuloy na paglaki ng populasyon,pabagu-bagong panahon at klimaat pagkaubos ng likas na yaman

Kaming mga kawani ng Kagawaran ng Pagsasakakasama ang mga magsasaka, mangingisda

at iba pang katuwangsa larangan ng agrikultura at pangisdaan,

Ay naninindigang itataguyodang isang bansang malaya sa kagutuman at hirap,

kung saan abot-kamayang sapat at masustansyang pagkain para sa lahat,

Gamit ang aming kasanayan, talino at panahon,kami’y maghahatid ng walang-humpay na tulong

upang maitaas ang aning mga sakahan at pangisdaan,

nang may pag-iingat sa kalikasan at Inang-Bayan,

At patuloy na maiangat ang kabuhayan at kitang lahat na umaasa sa pagsasaka at pangingisda,

at makapag-hatid ng sapatat ligtas na pagkain para sa lahat.

Sa pamamagitan ng programang Agri-Pinoyat iba pang makabuluhang proyekto at polisiya,

sama-sama naming aabutin ang mga layuninng Millenium Development Goals

na maibsan ang kahirapan at kagutumansa mga darating na taon.

Kaya, sama-sama naming lalabanan ang kagutumannang buong puso at walang pag-iimbot,

tungo sa mas maunlad na Pilipinas.

Sa adhikaing ito,patnubayan nawa kami

ng Poong Maykapal.

2010 World Food Day Pledge

Opening

Milkfeeding in

Sariaya, Quezon

Regional On-the-Spot Poster

Making Contest

Candle lighting ceremony and reading of the 2010 WFD Pledge at the

Quezon Memorial Circle

National On-the-Spot Poster Making Contest, BSWM, Quezon City

8

2010 Theme: ‘United Against Hunger’

The Department of Agriculture,in tandem with the UnitedNation’s Food and AgricultureOrganization, led this year’scelebration of the World Food Day(WFD) with the theme: “UnitedAgainst Hunger.”

Agriculture Secretary ProcesoJ. Alcala said this year’s themeis in consonance with PresidentAquino’s goal of achieving foodself-sufficiency and security inprime commodities, particularlyrice, corn, fruits, vegetables,chicken, pork and fisheryproducts.

To achieve said goal, Alcalastressed that the DA needs thecooperation of all concernedsectors, particularly localgovernment officials, privatesector, farmers’ and fishers’groups, NGOs, academe, andother government agencies.

“Kaya naman ako mismo angnakikipagpulong sa mga lokal naopisyal, mga Gubernador,Punong Bayan at Kongresista, atmga magsasaka at mangingisda,upang pag-usapan ang mgaparaan upang lalong mapalagoang produksyon at kita ng mgamagsasaka at mangingisda, atmaibsan ang kahirapan sakanayunan,” noted Alcala, whohas visited to date seven regionssince he assumed office in July2010.

Several activities for the week-long WFD celebration wereundertaken, starting off with amilk feeding program on October11, spearheaded by the DA’sNational Dairy Authority (NDA),benefiting 50 students of Palcon

DA, FAO lead World Food Daycelebration

DA Undersecretary Antonio Fleta (left) and Mr. Kazuyuki Tsurumi,FAO Rep. in the Philippines open the week-long WFD celebration.

Elementary School in Sariaya,Quezon.

Simultaneously, AgricultureUndersecretary Antonio Fleta,chairman of the national WFDsteering committee, and FAORepresentatitve in the PhilippinesMr. Kazuyuki Tsurumi, opened aphoto and product exhibit, cumtiangge, at the DA lobby.

The following day, a schoolvegetable gardening or ‘Gulayansa Paaralan’ project waslaunched at Aurora ElementarySchool, in Sta. Ana, Manila, ledby the DA’s Bureau of PlantIndustry (BPI).

The students received from theDA-BPI packets of assortedvegetable seeds and garden toolsfor their project.

The agency also conducted alecture on urban gardening forstudents, teachers and parents.

On October 13, a ‘PangisdaanPangkabuhayan’ program wasimplemented by the DA’s Bureauof Fisheries and AquaticResources (BFAR) in two sites:first at Barangay San Roque,Sariaya, Quezon, where 20,000propagules were planted in twohectares of mangrove; and in SanPedro, Laguna, where about60,000 tilapia fingerlings werestocked in Yambo Lake.

Simultaneously, the DA andFAO sponsored a national on-the-spot poster-making contest at theDA’s Bureau of Soils and WaterManagement convention hall,participated in by 17 regionalcontestants, mostly grade 6elementary pupils. (Please seerelated story.)

Five pupils win poster contest

The week-long WFDcelebration culminated in acandle lighting ceremony andreading of the ‘2010 World FoodDay Pledge’ at the Quezon CityMemorial Circle, participated inby officials and staff of DAbureaus and attached agencieswithin Metro Manila, FAO and UNofficials, and guests.

Part of the program included

the awarding of the winners of the‘Outstanding Rural Women for

2010’ and the five national winnersof the 2010 WFD on-the-spot

poster making contest.The crowd was entertained by

popular composer-singer NoelCabangon.

This year’s WFD poster winners are (from left): Cecille Gragasin ofIsabela, Joshua Noel Bonifacio of Bulacan, Angelene Navarro ofIloilo City, Daryll Clark Castillo of Calbayog City, and Trisha Reyesof Manila.

Five elementary pupils fromRegions 2, 3, 6, 8 and Metro Manila(NCR) won this year’s nationalWorld Food Day (WFD) on-the-spotmaking contest, one of thehighlights of the annual WFDcelebration spearheaded by the DAand FAO, in cooperation with theDepartment of Education.

They received their respectiveprize of P15,000 cash and plaqueduring the WFD culminatingceremonies at the Quezon CityMemorial Circle, October 15. Theirrespective schools also receiveda plaque of appreciation.

The five were chosen from 17regional winners, who made theirrespective posters depicting the2010 WFD theme, ‘United againsthunger,’ during an on-the-spotcontest, October 13, at the DA-Bureau of Soils and WaterManagement convention hall.

They made use of various farmand fishery materials such asseeds of palay, corn, vegetables,and seashells as part of theirposter design.

They are: Cecille Gragasin ofQuimalabasa Norte ElementarySchool, Isabela (Region 2);Joshua Noel Bonifacio, Sta. MonicaElem. School, Hagonoy, Bulacan(Region 3); Angelene Navarro ofTicud Elem. School, La Paz, Iloilo

City (Region 6); Daryll ClarkCastillo of Calbayog City SPEDCenter, (Region 8); and TrishaReyes of St. Stephen’s HighSchool, Manila.

An all-expense, three-dayeducational tour within MetroManila, Subic and Angono, Rizalwas part of their prize, sponsoredby the DA’s National Agriculturaland Fishery Council (NAFC).

The WFD poster making contestwas open to all Grade 6elementary pupils enrolled in anypublic and DepED-accreditedprivate elementary schoolsnationwide. Eliminations weredone at the school, district,division, and regional levels.

The five-man board of judgeswas chaired Dr. Cynthia Loza,dean of the University of SantoTomas College of Fine Arts andDesign.

The other judges were: ArchitectLorelie DC de Viana, acting dean,FEU-Institute of Architecture andFine Arts; Leo Gerardo Leonardo,Philippine High School for the Arts,National Arts Center, Los Baños,Laguna; Orville D.R. Tiamson,freelance artist; and Christina Jade“CJ” de Silva, freelance artist, andformer national winner of WFDposter making contest 10 yearsago.

9October 2010

Palawan farmer is nation’s best ‘rural woman’Rice farmer and organic

agriculture advocate AmeliaGresones of Aborlan, Palawan isthis year’s national awardeeunder the search for 2010‘Outstanding Rural Women.’

She was joined by PreciosaMaturan and ZenaidaMansiliohan as Visayas andMindanao winners, respectively.

The three were recognizedOctober 15, in simpleceremonies in celebration of theWorld Rural Women’s Day, atthe DA-Bureau of Soils WaterManagement convention hall.

They received their respectiveawards from DA undersecretaryBerna Romula Puyat, who chairsthe DA Gender and DevelopmentFocal System.

Gresones has inspired womenand men alike by uplifting thestatus of rice farming in Aborlan,where she also shared innovativeapproaches in vegetableproduction, using environment-friendly and sustainableagriculture technologies.

For her feat, she received acash prize of P70,000 and aplaque of recognition.

More importantly, she willrepresent the Philippines at theWomen’s World SummitFoundation, that will give her achance to win the coveted Prizefor Women’s Creativity in RuralLife award.

Ms. Maturan and Ms.Mansiliohan are likewise model

rural women in their own right.Maturan has contributed her

share in enhancing sugarcaneproduction, conduct ofcommunity developmentprojects, which altogethergenerated additional livelihoodand employment for farm familiesand residents in Bayawan City,Negros Oriental.

Mansiliohan has done her partin uplifting the socio-economic

status of fellow ruralfolk in SanLuis, Agusan del Sur.

They both received P20,000 incash and a plaque of recognition.

The annual search foroutstanding rural women is ledby the Phil. Commission onWomen through the inter-agencycommittee on rural womencomposed of the DA, DA-Bureauof Fisheries and AquaticResources, and departments ofenvironment and naturalresources, agrarian reform,social welfare and development,health, labor and employment,interior and local government,National Anti-Poverty

The DA's Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) cel-ebrated its 47th fish conservation week with the theme, ‘Fish is Life,’at SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City, featuring product andtechnolofy exhibits and livelihood seminars, and launch of a book,‘Field Guide on the Mangroves of the Philippines,’ funded by theAgencia Española Cooperacion International para el Desarollo(AECID). Shown with BFAR Dir. Sarmiento is book author RaulRoldan, who co-wrote the book with Jessica Muñoz and Jose RazonIII. With them are BFAR ass’t. dirs. Benjamin Tabios and Gil Adora.

Commission, and PambansangKoalisyon ng Kababaihan saKanayunan.

The celebration of World RuralWomen’s Day started inSeptember 1995, at a UNconference for women in Beijing,China.

In the Philippines, thecelebration started in 1997 withthe issuance of PresidentialProclamation No. 1105, whichrecognizes and supports themultiple roles of Filipino ruralwomen. It also seeks to createworldwide awareness on thecrucial yet unrecognized rolesthey play.

Top awardee, Amelia Gresones (4th from left) is shown with DA Undersecretary Berna Romulo Puyat(5th from left) and other 2010 ‘Outstanding Rural Women,’ namely: Edita Dacuycuy (Pasuquin, IlocosNorte), Beniflor Guittap (Centro, Sta. Ana, Cagayan), Gloria Gutlay (San Miguel, Bulacan), YolandaElbancol (Baco, Oriental Mindoro), Rocaiya Kasan (Tupi, South Cotabato), Wenita F. Espartero(Dujali, Davao del Norte), and Annie E. Sitjar (Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur).

De Luna said to ensure thesustainability of the livelihoodprojects, nothing will be providedfor free, except the training andcapacity-building activities thatwill be conducted by the ATI andPCA.

He said the inputs to be usedfor each component should berepaid by the CBO participantsthrough a microcredit system,which will serve as a revolving fundto support the income-generatingactivities and coconut seedlingnurseries.

The microcredit system will bemanaged by designated CBOofficers.

The project will be supported

DA launches ... (from p4) by a market survey to determinesaleable coconut products andexplore opportunities.

The PCA and DA will link theCBOs with interested privatefirms and with the Department ofTrade and Industry to help theCBOs in product packaging andexport marketing.

“Each CBO member will betasked to plant at least 15seedlings per year for a period ofthree years to replace agingcoconut palms to conserve andpropagate high-value or high-yielding varieties in thecommunity,” said De Luna.

The KAANIB project will employthe farmer participatory approachwhere CBO members will decideon what crops to plant andfarming technologies to practice.

10

Secretary Alcala (2nd from right) congratulates Director JeffreyWillnow, of the US Dep’t. of Agriculture-Animal and Plant HealthInspection Service, during the launch of a joint RP-US goat produc-tion project, at the 2010 Agrilink, October 7, at the World TradeCenter, in Manila.

Philippine singer Lea Salonga accepts her appointment as ‘FAOGoodwill Ambassador’ from FAO director general Jacques Dioufduring the World Food Day ceremony, at FAO headquarters, in Rome.(Photo by FAO/Giulio Napolitano)

Popular Filipina singer andstage actress Lea Salonga wasnamed by the United Nations’Food and Agriculture Organiza-tion as ‘Goodwill Ambassador,’along with American actress Su-san Sarandon, Italian actor RaoulBova and Canadian singer CelineDion.

She received her appointmentfrom FAO director generalJacques Diouf, October 16, dur-ing the World Food Day celebra-tion at the FAO, in Rome.

During the program, Lea per-formed John Lennon’s popularsong, “Imagine.”

“I performed the song in thecontext of dreaming and imagin-ing a world without hunger. Giventhat there are almost one billionpeople suffering from chronic hun-ger and malnutrition all over theworld (many of whom are from thePhilippines), singing it took awhole different meaning for me,”said Salonga.

Diouf said the four ‘goodwillambassadors’ had committedthemselves to address the uni-versal, humanitarian goals thatunderpin FAO’s mission: to builda food-secure world for presentand future generations.

Apart from being a goodwill am-bassador, Salonga will also actas advocate for the FAO-ledYouth and UN Global Alliance ini-tiative.

“There is work to be done inthe effort to alleviate world hun-ger. I’d like to focus on our coun-try to see what solutions we can

UN taps Leah SalongaUN taps Leah SalongaUN taps Leah SalongaUN taps Leah SalongaUN taps Leah Salongaas goodwill ambassadoras goodwill ambassadoras goodwill ambassadoras goodwill ambassadoras goodwill ambassador

come up with,” Lea said.If she had a chance to sit down

with President Benigno Aquino,ending hunger in the countrywould be top on her agenda,Salonga said.

“I’d love to pick the President’sbrains on how the governmentintends to solve this problem. Onhow we can perhaps keep farm-ing communities intact to avoidmass migrations to the urbancenters. On how to control thepopulation (we’ll have more toconsume if we control how manymouths there are to feed).

“And on what’s being donenow, what will be done during histerm and what are being startedthat can be continued after histerm ends... sustainable pro-grams that can be carried on bythe next president,” she said.

Ending hunger is an advocacythat is particularly close toSalonga’s heart because her ownmother, Ligaya, had suffered it.

“My mom was a small childduring World War II. She told methat her older brothers had toscrounge around for food for therest of the family,” she said. “Ilearned where her major survivalskills came from, but more im-portantly, I learned of her resil-ience to live.”

Her mother’s story continuesto serve as inspiration in her life—and now, in her work as UN good-will ambassador.

“As a Filipino, a mother, a wifeand a woman, I have a responsi-bility to join this fight against hun-

ger. It’s important because of mymother who knows what it’s liketo be hungry, and for my daugh-ter who I pray will never have toknow,” she said.

“As UN goodwill ambassadorand in spreading FAO’s mes-sage, I hope that no member ofthe future generation will have togo through this either,” she said.

She would like her four-year-old daughter Nicole to grow upaware of this pressing issue.

“I always remind her to bethankful for the food that we haveand that we are lucky to have thefood that we have, as there arekids her age that go without, ev-ery single day,” she said. (Phil.

Daily Inquirer)

FA

O N

ews

not on just a couple of goods.The unused amount per week

cannot be carried over to the fol-lowing week’s purchase.

As previously practiced, seniorcitizens can only avail of dis-counts if they present their re-spective purchase booklet (PB)issued by the Office of SeniorCitizens Affairs (OSCA).

In case the senior citizen can-not personally go to store due tophysical ailment or illness, his/her representative should presenta valid government issued identi-fication, the senior citizen’s PB,and an authorization letter.

Retailers exempted from grant-ing the 5% discount are stalls infood courts, food carts, food ven-dors, and sari-sari stores with acapitalization of less thanP100,000, public and private wetmarkets, “talipapa” and coopera-tive stores.

Senior citizens ... (from p3)

The National Food Authority(NFA) has to date issued 7,532bags of rice to government reliefagencies (Philippine NationalRed Cross and the Departmentof Social Welfare and Develop-ment) and LGUs for distributionto typhoon ‘Juan’ victims.

NFA deputy administratorPedro S. Hernando, Jr. said of thetotal, 3,922 bags went to Region1; 2,981 bags to Region 2; 500bags, NCR; and 129 bags, Ori-ental Mindoro.

The recipients in Region 1 werethose in Benguet, Ilocos Norte,Ilocos Sur, La Union and West-ern Pangasinan.

For Region 2, Isabela got themost NFA rice allocation, as ty-phoon ‘Juan’ cut across the prov-ince, incurring huge losses interms of infrastructure and cropdamage.

Kalinga, Quirino and Ifugao alsoreceived NFA rice for their respec-tive typhoon victims.

The NFA rice was either paidin cash or credit under a memo-randum of agreement (MOA) withthe LGUs and relief agencies.

Hernando allayed fears of pos-sible rice shortage in regions af-fected by the typhoon.

In Region 1, even after the ty-phoon, the NFA still has a totalof 3 million bags in stock goodfor 56 days.

For Region 2, the NFA has 1million bags sufficient for 28days.

Hernando said overall thecountry’s rice inventory is stillhigh at 51 days.

Typhoon ‘Juan’ victims,LGUs get NFA rice

11October 2010

including the training of farm-ers and personnel of farmers’ or-ganizations in the various com-ponents of an operational datasystem.

The project will be implementedfor three years and intends toundertake various activities suchas: designing a farmer-based in-formation service; provision oftraining for farmers; installationof necessary IT infrastructure;forging partnerships between gov-

Japan grants ... (from p1)

DA-PCIC ... (from p1)

has caused an estimated dam-age to agriculture, fishery and in-frastructure totaling P11.53 billion(B), as of October 28, 2010.

It affected 21 provinces in fourregions (Cagayan Valley, Cordil-lera, Ilocos and Central Luzon),inflicting the biggest damage onthe palay (unmilled rice) sector,at P8.93-B, as more than425,000 hectares were affectedwith an opportunity loss of morethan 523,000 metric tons (MT).Of the total area, about 9,000hectares have no chance of re-covery, while the rest (more than416,000 hectares) could still besalvaged.

As of October 28, 2010, about9,000 hectares planted to ricehave no chance of recovery,based on reports submitted byprovincial and municipal officersof affected Local GovernmentUnits (LGUs).

Some P660-M worth of veg-etables, mango and banana weredestroyed planted in some 6,370hectares.

A total of 18,048 hectares ofcorn were affected, with an esti-mated loss of 27,000 MT worthP368-M.

The fishery sector also lostsome P212.5-M worth of fish,cages and pens, while the live-stock and poultry sector sufferedP10.6-M.

Several agricultural, fishery and

Farm Equipment for Palawan. Secretary Alcala (insert, 3rd from left)hands over a symbolic key to Palawan Gov. Abraham Kahlil Mitra(inset, left), commencing the turnover of various farm equipment—consisting of a 4-wheel tractor, water pump engine sets for shallowtube wells (foreground), and shredders for organic fertilizer produc-tion—under the DA’s counterparting program with Palawan localgovernment units (LGUs), and farmers’ and fishers’ cooperatives. Itwas part of a ‘Provincial Agriculture Summit,’ held October 1 at theprovincial capitol, where Sec. Alcala held a four-hour ‘town hall’consultation with 500 farmers, fishers, provincial and municipal ag-riculturists and extension workers, provincial board members, mu-nicipal mayors, and officials and staff of DA agencies in Region 4B(MIMAROPA). Also shown (inset, from left) are Palawan provincialagriculturist engineer Teresita Guian, provincial board member GilAcosta, DA-4B regional technical director Yvonne Vinas, and direc-tor Silvino Tejada of the DA-Bureau of Soils and Water Management.

DA vows support to Cordillera farmers, LGUs. Secretary Alcala joinshands with four representatives of the Cordillera Autonomous Region(CAR) -- (from left) Mt. Province Rep. Maximo Dalog, Benguet Rep.Ronald Cosalan, Abra Rep. Ma. Jocelyn Bernos and Ifugao Rep.Teddy Brawner Baguilat -- as a pledge to sustain agriculturaldevelopment programs in the region and uplift the economiccondition of the Cordillerans. The four legislators called on Sec.Alcala, October 4, 2010 at the DA central office. Sec. Alcala assuredthem the DA will continue to pursue worthy projects such asestablishment of trading posts and tramlines, construction of farm-to-market roads and small water impounding projects, and settingup of centralized seed banks, and fish (pangasius and tilapia)hatcheries.

rural infrastructure—including DAfacilities—were also damaged,such as: irrigation and FMRs,P1.27-B; fishery, livestock andDA facilities, P77.46-M.

Three provinces—Pangasinan(P2.4-B), Nueva Ecija (P2.1-B)and Isabela (P1.6-B)—sufferedthe biggest losses, mainly palay.

Impact on 4th Qtr productionTotal rice area affected

(425,134 hectares) represents22.85% of the 1.86Mhectares pro-jected to be harvested nation-wide, from October to December.

The estimated loss of 523,013MT is roughly 7.5% of the fore-cast production of about 7 mil-lion MT in the 4th quarter 2010.

As for corn, the area affected(18,048 hectares) is only 2.8% ofthe 645,695 hectares to be har-vested in the 4th quarter. Esti-mated loss (26,986 MT) is merely1.7% of the 1.6M MT projectedproduction for the period.

Meanwhile, PCIC presidentJovy Bernabe said the indemnitychecks will be distributed to in-sured rice and corn farmers inCentral Luzon, totaling P86.729-M, Cagayan Valley (region 2)farmers will receive a total ofP45.714-M, while Ilocos (region1) farmers will get P25.046-M.

Bernabe said the farmers willreceive their respective checkswithin 15 to 20 days.

This will enable them to recouptheir losses, buy seeds and in-puts, and replant again.

gress will serve as a venue for allstakeholders to unite and furtherenhance the agricultural sector.

“Wala pong duda: ang mgabinhi ng pagbabago na atingitinanim ngayon ay magbubungang magandang kinabukasan, naaanihin at ipapamana natin sasusunod na henerasyon.Napakaganda na po ng atingnasimulan; ituloy po natin angsama-samang pagtahak sa tuwidna landas,” he noted.

The corn congress was held inconjunction with the celebrationof World Food Day.

The Corn Congress is an an-nual gathering of more than 3,000small corn farmers and leaders,government and private sectoragricultural technicians, andother private sector industrystakeholders. (Phil. Star / OP)

Pres. Aquino ... (from p2)

ernment and NGOs; and estab-lishment of economic classifica-tion system for Filipino farmers.

The project will cover initially12 provinces: Benguet, Ifugao,Mt. Province, Nueva Vizcaya,Palawan, Iloilo, Capiz, Cebu,Negros Oriental, Leyte, MisamisOriental and Bukidnon.

Three areas in Central Visayasand CARAGA regions will beadded for the project’s expansion.

It is expected that the produc-tion and marketing analysis ser-vice component of the project willenhance service delivery to farm-ers in the target areas.

The project aims to providefarmers adequate informationsuch as situational analysis, pro-duction, planning and marketing-- and enable them to achievehigher productivity and income,and thus empower them.

For the past thirty years, the2KR Program has made a posi-tive impact on the livelihood ofFilipino farmers.

The project reaffirms Japan‘scommitment, as the top donor ofthe Official Development Assis-tance to the Philippines, to sup-port the efforts of the Governmentof the Philippines to alleviate pov-erty and achieve food self-suffi-ciency.

The project also serves as acontinuing testimony of strategicpartnership between Japan andthe Philippines towards the future.(Japanese Embassy, Philippines)

DA to help expand Iwahig rice areas. Secretary Alcala (right) in-structs NIA 4B regional officer Conrado Cardenas, Jr. (left) to vali-date potential expansion areas at the Iwahig Penal Farm in Palawan,and speed up the restoration and repair of irrigation systems thatwill double rice hectarage.

DA Chief Meets APEC Counterparts in Japan. Secretary Alcala (extreme right) answers a query on theeffects of La Niña and climate change in the Philippines during a press conference at the ‘First Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministerial Meeting on Food Security,’ October 16-17, 2010, inNiagata, Japan, attended by agriculture, forestry and fisheries ministers from 21 APEC member-countries.After the meeting, they agreed to share experiences and cooperate on several imperatives, such as:expanding food supply, enhancing disaster preparedness, developing rural communities, confrontingchallenges in climate change and natural resources management, promoting investments, facilitatingtrade in food and agricultural products, strengthening confidence in agricultural markets, and improvingagribusiness environment and food safety practices. Shown with Sec. Alcala at the front row are agricultureministers (from left) of Malaysia, Mexico, Japan, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Peru.

Iwahig rice hectarageto double via irrigation

The Department of Agriculturethrough the Philippine Center forPostharvest Development andMechanization (PhilMech) will putup 106 tramlines in 10 regionsthis year and 2011.

In a report to Agriculture Sec-retary Proceso J. Alcala,PhilMech executive directorRicardo Cachuela said they planto construct the tramlines in theCordillera Autonomous Region ofMuslim Mindanao (ARMM), andeight other regions (3, 4-A and 4-B, 5, 7, 9, 10 and 12).

He said the DA has P300-mil-lion, earmarked by various agen-cies for postharvest-related initia-tives which the DA could use toconstruct more tramlines.

A tramline is a cable systemused to transport products frominaccessible mountainous areas,traversing ravines or rivers. It isoperated by a farmers’ group,which collects agreed fees tomaintain the system.

Cachuela said the constructionof the tramlines will be under-taken in partnership with the DARegional Field Units (DA-RFUs),farmers’ groups and respectivelocal government units.

Of the 106 tramlines, two werecompleted in Quezon andBacolod; while four are underconstruction (three in Mindanao,and one in Bacolod).

To date, Philmech said thereare 27 existing tramlines in

DDDDDA to put up morA to put up morA to put up morA to put up morA to put up more e e e e ‘tr‘tr‘tr‘tr‘tramlinesamlinesamlinesamlinesamlinesBenguet, Nueva Vizcaya, Mt.Province, Laguna, Cebu andIloilo. These were built since2000.

“The agricultural tramline sys-tem (ATS) is applicable to largeclusters of farms located eitherin mountainous areas or vastplains that traverse rivers or ra-vines. Its main benefit is reduc-ing transport costs and post har-vest losses, at the same time en-suring speedy and timely deliv-ery of farm products,” Cachuelasaid.

A tramline system with an av-erage span of 500 meters costsP1.6 million. The project can befinanced jointly by farmers’ group,DA-PhilMech and concernedLGU, Cachuela said. (DA / Busi-ness Mirror)

The Department of Agriculturerecently forged a partnership withthe Iwahig Penal Colony that willrestore and repair irrigation sys-tems to double existing rice ar-eas to about 700 hectares, andthus produce additional rice sup-ply for Palawan.

Agriculture Secretary ProcesoJ. Alcala and Iwahig Penal ColonySuperintendent Mario Trasmonteforged the agreement, and wit-nessed by Palawan Governor

Abraham Kahlil Mitra and Na-tional Irrigation Administration(NIA) region 4B managerConrado Cardenas, Jr.

Cardenas said there are stillsome 1,500 hectares of rainfedareas that could be irrigated andprovide additional rice harvest tosupply the demand of Palawanand nearby provinces.

To which, Sec. Alcala in-structed Cardenas to validate thepotential expansion areas andsubmit his recommendationssoonest to speed up the restora-

tion and repair of irrigation sys-tems.

For his part, Transmonte saidIwahig farm has the manpower totransform idle lands into produc-tive rice farms, and all it needsare funding support and techni-cal supervision from the DA andNIA.

“These efforts will contribute inpart to attaining thegovernment’s target of rice self-sufficiency by 2013,” Alcala said.

While in Palawan, Sec. Alcaladistributed more than P2-millionworth of farm machinery andequipment—a four-wheel drivehand tractor, low lift pumps, shal-low tube wells, and shredders—to farmers’ groups and Palawanmunicipal LGUs.

Incentives were also given tofarmers under the ParticipatoryCoconut Planting program, whilecertificates of entitlement underthe Salt Fertilization Program ofthe Philippine Coconut Authoritywere distributed.

Alcala assured the farmers andfishers that the DA will continueto craft policies and implementsustainable programs to enhancePalawan’s agri-fishery sector.

“We have to work together toattain the goal of rice self-sufficiency”, he added urgingeveryone to take part in the mainagenda of the Aquino governmentgeared at sustainable foodproduction.

Alcala said the DA will also putup community seed banks inPalawan, and in other parts of thecountry, to empower rice seedgrowers and enable them to pro-duce quality seeds in a sustain-able basis.