VII
July 2009
(Rolando Mailo-OPS/NIB-Photo)
in infrastructure, a strong education system, housing for the poor, food security and increased incomes for farmers and fisherfolk, increased Internal Revenue Allotment for local government units, increased resources for social welfare, and increase in the salary of state workers, among many others. Agriculture front On the agriculture sector, she said due to the bold fiscal and economic reforms, government was able to invest in food security initiatives, anticipating an President Arroyo has approved unexpected global food crisis. an additional budget of P1 billion (Pls turn to p2) for the fisheries sector to help fisherfolk shift to fish farming. In her SONA, the President said: We will help more fisherfolk shift to fishfarming with a budget of P1 billion. Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap proposed the additional budget to bankroll the establishment of additional integrated mariculture parks (MPs) in selected areas nationwide that would ensure regular supply of fish and stable source of income for fishermen and their families. The initiative is governments longterm and sustainale strategy to cushion off adverse effects of Agriculture Sec. Arthur Yap and world boxing champion climate change on the fisheries Manny Pacquiao show ampalaya at the latters farm in sector. Malungon, Sarangani, during the 7th National Vegetable It will be undertaken by the DAs Congress. (Pls. see related story on p12) Bureau of Aquatic Resources
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo gestures as she delivers her 9th SONA, at Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City. Flanking her are Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile (left) and House Speaker Prospero Nograles.
Editorial
Agri-fishery sector
is published monthly by the Department of Agriculture Information Service, Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City. Tel. nos. 9288741 loc 2148, 2150, 2155, 2156 or 2184; 9204080 or tel/fax 9280588. This issue is now available in PDF file. For copies, please send requests. via email da_afis@yahoo.com.
Editor-In-Chief : Noel O. Reyes Associate Editors: Karenina Salazar, Joan Grace Pera, Cheryl C. Suarez Writers: Adora D. Rodriguez, Arlhene S. Carro, Mc. Bien Saint Garcia Contributors: Info Officers of DA-RFUs, Bureaus, Attached Agencies & Corporations, Foreign Assisted Projects Photograhers: Jose Lucas, Alan Jay Jacalan & Alarico Nuestro Lay-out Artists: Almie Erlano, Alan Jay Jacalan & Bethzaida Bustamante Circulation: Teresita Abejar & PCES Staff Printing: Oscar Barlaan & Romulo Joseco 2
$3.8 billion, added Salacup at the sidelines of the First Food Summit in Makati City. The countrys top 10 farm exports last year were coconut oil, fresh bananas, tuna, pineapple and pineapple products, desiccated coconut, milk and cream products, manufactured tobacco, seaweeds and carrageenan, shrimps and prawns, and sugar. Meanwhile, the top 12 farm exports from January to May 2009 have so far totaled $840 million, figures from the National Statistical Coordination Board show. These include: coconut oil ($140M), fresh bananas ($165M), pineapple and pineapple products ($104M), processed tropical fruits ($54M), dessicated coconut ($68M), shrimps and prawns ($18M), tuna ($144M), seaweeds and carageenan ($37M), manufactured fertilizers ($45M), copra PGMA allots ... (from p1) oil cake or meal ($13M), unmanuPart of the fund, added DA- factured tobacco ($23M), and sugar ($31M). (Excerpted from BFAR Director Malcolm The Philippine Star, Philippine Sarmiento, Jr., will also go into Daily Inquirer and BusinessWorld) modernizing and expanding existing mariculture parks worthy of Dahil sa ating mga developing into a fully integrated reporma, nakaya nating operation. mamuhunan sa pagkain The DA-BFAR will select from ..., nakagawa ng libuthe existing 30 MPs nationwide, libong kilometro ng farmwhich will be provided with addito-market roads, ... tional facilities such as hatcher natubigan ang dalawang ies, fish landing and handling armilyong ektarya ... eas, fish cages, ice plants, cold -President Arroyo storage, processing plants and SONA 2009 reefer vans.
Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap (center) presides over the NAFC meeting held at the BSWM convention hall. Flanking him are DA undersecretary and NAFC Executive Director Bernie Fondevilla (left) and COCAFM Executive Director Charito Sebastian.
assistance; human resource development; rural non-farm employment and basic needs assistance; and agriculture and fishery regulation. These AFMA programs/components aim to achieve food security, alleviate poverty and attain social equity, empower people, protect from unfair competition, ensure global competitiveness, sustain development, and use resources in a rational manner. Correspondingly, eight technical working groups were formed to tackle concerns with regard to the consolidation of the AFMA budget of implementing agencies. Secretary Yap is also pushing for the steadfast implementation the Strategic Agriculture and Fishery Development Zones (SAFDZs) by utilizing latest technologies on Geographic Information System (GIS) and Remote Sensing. These technologies through the SAFDZ approach will provide valuable inputs to the governments planning and decision-making processes in various areas such as crop protection, disaster preparedness and other critical concerns in agriculture and fisheries The Council reconvened on July 9, 2009 for the presentation of the enhanced proposed 2010 AFMA Budget and the creation of the Steering and Technical Working Committees. These committees which are composed of stakeholders from the government and private sector stakeholders will serve as the processing centers through which the Council shall perform its integrative and consultative role by orchestrating inter-agency and inter-sectoral collaboration on, among others, programs and budgets for the development of the agrarian, agriculture, and natural resources (AANR) sector. The Council approved the creation of the said committees while the proposed budget was set for further review. (NAFC Info Group)
okays for DA-RFU6 employ PGMA oka ys housing f or DA-RFU6 emplo y ees
President Arroyo recently approved the proposed housing site for some 300 DA employees in Region 6 (Western Visayas). Dr. Joyce S. Weldam, DA-RFU 6 regional technical director, said the housing site is five-hectare area within the West Visayas Integrated Agricultural Research Center, in Barangay Hamungaya, Jaro, Iloilo City. Qualified beneficiaries will be entitled to a 100-square-meter homelot. They may opt to avail of the Pag-Ibig Fund housing loan. The housing project was conceptualized as early as 1998, following the initiative spearheaded by the DAEA Office of the Secretary. The DAEA RFU VI at the time was led by Wendam and, in no time, prepared all the necessary papers, documentation, and requirements for the said housing project. It needs determination and patience to accomplish all the requirements, she narrated over the phone. The process of getting clearances from concerned agencies has consumed much of our time, she added. These include the Housing Urban Land Regulatory Board (HULRB), National Housing Authority (NHA), and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH); a certification from the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) for its eligibility for a housing project, stating that the parcel of land is unproductive because of lack of water and an irrigation system; a clearance from the Department of Health, certifying that the area has no hazardous effects on the employees; and from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for a survey of its environmental concerns and in-charge of the final approval of endorsement for the Proclamation. In addition to the said process, the DA-RFU 6 employees association has also secured a Barangay Resolution, and attended a series of sessions of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Iloilo City, which deliberated lengthily on the impact of such housing development in Barangay Hamungaya, Jaro. It likewise prepared a vicinity plan and a subdivision plan to complete the requirements for the housing project. Meantime, the DA and the employees union are meeting to finalize the implementing guidelines and the schedule for the groundbreaking ceremony, with Secretary Arthur Yap as invited guest. (Jo Ann Grace B.
Pera / DA-Info Service)
President Arroyo listens intently as Sentrong Pamilihan market administrator Ariel Maalac explains the Centers operations, as Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap and Congressman Proceso Alcala look on.
Mangalang Tulo-Tulo in Sariaya, who borrowed P70,000-worth of tomato seedlings and farm inputs from SPPAQ. Combining his diligence and learned farm technologies, he was able to gross more than P160,000. Dahil sa Sentro, nakapagpatayo sya ng maayos na bahay. Ngayon may sari-sari store pa sya, Maalac boasts of Helis accomplishment as a farmer-trader. (Because of the Center, Mr. Heli was able to put up a decent house. Now, he also has a sari-sari store.) In the years to come, SPPAQ and Congressman Alcala commit to help more Quezonians in their quest for a better life. Tuloy-tuloy lang po itong mga proyekto nating ganito (We will continue to pursue similar projects), Alcala said. Likewise, he expressed his gratitude for the firm support and assistance extended by Secretary Arthur C. Yap and the Department of Agriculture, as the agency has helped linked the SPPAQ farmers directly with markets and bagsakan centers in Metro Manila. In addition, the DA has provided Sentrong Pamilihan a cold storage facility and a refrigerated truck. Napakalaki na po ng ipinagbago ng industriya ng paggugulay sa lalawigan ng Quezon, at malaking bahagi po nito ay dahil sa tulong ng DA at ng national government (The industry of vegetable farming in the province of Quezon has developed and improved dramatically because of the assistance of the DA and national government.) Congressman Alcala said with a smile.
Ramon Tamayo navigates through the Balingasag Mariculture Park on his new banca, he acquired from the net income of the DA-BFAR rent-to-own fish cage project.
Nevertheless, he is thankful to the government and the DABFAR because through the project, coupled with hardwork and sacrifice, he was able to earn more, solved his familys financial problems, thus he simply stopped borrowing money. Altogether, the project provided him and his family a brighter future.(DA-BFAR 10)
Angel Bangcawayan at his fishponds, along the Bayduan River, in Bila, Bauko, Mt. Province.
July 2009
Rice is the staple food of more than half of the world population.
10
against us even by government agencies. We have been saying repeatedly that our applications are safe, as ascertained, certified and approved, not only by the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority, but also by international bodies like the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, he said. He added that our markets, especially Japan, have a very strict requirement that even a very small residue can cause them to reject our shipment. He said big banana growers have been shipping 180,000 boxes thrice weekly. Each box contains 13.5 kilos of the Cavendish variety. Average-sized growers ship at least once a week. (Business Mirror)
The Department of Agriculture (DA) is pushing the use of natural fiber-based packaging materials like abaca to help fight global warming and reduce the risks of environmental degradation. In a report to DA Secretary Arthur Yap, the Fiber Industry Development Authority (FIDA) recommended that abaca be promoted locally and internationally as an environment-friendly packaging material as this fiber is not Dr. Golez ... (from p10) only recyclable but biodegradable as well. Key player in enabling the FIDA Administrator Cecilia country to export fresh mangoes Gloria Soriano said that the to China, and Davao del Sur mangoes to Australia. agency has started promoting the Among his numerous awards use of abaca-based packaging and recognition are: materials among local govern* 23rd Philippine-American ment units and local business Exposition, Award of Recognileaders. tion in the field of Science and With the strong global advoTechnology, Los Angeles, cacy on going natural, it becomes California, USA (2008) more significant and relevant for * UPAA Outstanding Alumnus us to go back to using abacaAward for Science and Technol- based packaging materials for ogy (2008) bags, boxes, a wrapping papers * The Outstanding Filipino and the like, Soriano said. (TOFIL) Award. JCI Senate of Plastics or synthetic harm our the Philippines and Insular Life environment as these do not de(2007) compose. * Most Outstanding Scientist of Abaca fiber is the strongest the Decade. Lions international among natural fibers, being three (2004) times stronger than cotton and * PANTAS Award, Most Oustanding Scientist PCARRD, two times stronger than sisal, she said. 2001 * Lingkod Bayan Award: Civil Soriano proposed that Service Commission (2001) sinamay bags, for one, be subDr. Golez is survived by wife stituted for plastic shopping bags Neema and children Michelle in high-end specialty shops or big-name department stores. Isabel and Rafael Val.
countrys three major abaca-producing regions. In 2008, the Philippines produced some 77,000 metric tons of abaca fiber, 27.5% higher than in 2007. The country supplies about 85% of the world requirements for abaca while only about 15% is supplied by Ecuador , the only other commercial producer in the world.
July 2009
11
Secretary Arthur C. Yap (2nd from left) visits Nestles coffee nursery in Tagum City, Davao. With him is company president and CEO Nandu Nandkishore.