PIA Dispatch - Thursday, February 25, 2010

El Niño Dispatch

DA orders speedy distribution of aid package to farmers reeling from El Niño attack

Agriculture Acting Secretary Bernie Fondevilla has ordered field officials of the Department of Agriculture (DA) to work with local government units (LGUs) on the speedy distribution of a package of assistance to palay and corn farmers in Isabela, Cagayan and other provinces already reeling from the crippling effects of the latest El Niño attack, which is projected to last longer than usual until July this year.

Fondevilla directed officials of the DA’s regional field units (RFUs) to ensure that this aid package that includes seeds, open source pumps and fuel subsidies for water pumps, do reach the intended farmer-beneficiarie s soon enough, and to step up their monitoring developments so the Department can get an accurate picture of the situation and carry out all needed intervention programs for the actual number of farmer-victims.

“Our RFUs have been directed to coordinate with LGU executives the distribution of the government’s aid package to affected palay an corn farmers in the drought-stricken provinces and, more importantly, to ensure that such assistance do reach the intended beneficiaries as soon as possible,” Fondevilla said.

“They should also intensify their monitoring activities so the DA can get an accurate picture of the El Niño-related damage and then be able to determine what other intervention measures are needed and for exactly how many affected farmers,” he added.

Given the extent of the damage, he said, a state of calamity has already been declared by the provincial governments of Isabela and Cagayan in their respective provinces.

“The Department started its mitigation measures as early as September 16, 2009 as we have already supported early planting of rice,” Undersecretary Joel Rudinas said, who heads the DA Task Force El Nino.

As earlier ordered by Fondevilla, who chairs the task force on mitigation measures against this latest El Niño attack, RFUs started carrying out intervention measures in January, including cloud-seeding operations with the help of Aboitiz Corp. covering the Magat Dam, and the distribution of an initial 115 units of Open Source Pumps (CPS) through RFU Region II and the National Irrigation Administration- Magat River Integrated Irrigation System (NIA-MARIIS).

Villacorta reported that as early as December last year, the RFU in the region already purchased rodenticides and insecticides and has, since then, treated 10,000 hectares as a preemptive measure against possible outbreaks of rodents and other pests/diseases that could be triggered by the dry spell.

He said the RFU is set to distribute 25,000 packets of assorted vegetable seeds to affected farmers and has already bidded out the contract for the supply of another P10 million-worth of assorted vegetable seeds for distribution to farmers with totally damaged crops.

Also, the RFU is negotiating for the acquisition of OSPs and has started providing fuel subsidies to farmers with water pumps, he said.

This fuel subsidy program has been piloted in two municipalities under a counterparting scheme with the concerned local governments, he said, and this project will be expanded to eventually cover all towns in the region where affected farmers own water pumps.

Villacorta said water conservation is being promoted in the affected areas through rotational irrigation by NIA and the launching of a public information blitz through local radio and print outlets and dialogues with Irrigators’ Associations (IAs).

He has also proposed additional intervention measures like livelihood projects, emergency food assistance and emergency employment to affected farmers.

Anticipating such farmers’ woes, Fondevilla earlier ordered a realignment of the DA national budget for this year to raise P1.71 billion for assorted intervention measures aimed at mitigating potential production losses of P8 billion to P20 billion in the agriculture sector arising from an El Niño attack.

Fondevilla said the array of mitigation measures include cloud-seeding operations in watershed areas; construction of shallow tube wells; provision of fishcages, vegetable seeds, building of small scale irrigation facilities; and provision of livelihood assistance.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) reported in 2009 that this year’s El Niño would likely be moderate but could possibly last till July instead of the usual May or June.

Fondevilla said the DA’s El Niño task force will focus its mitigation program this year on “vulnerable” areas in the country.

These areas considered vulnerable provinces to an onslaught of El Niño or a dry spell are Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, La Union, Pangasinan, Cagayan, Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, Cavite , Rizal, Occidental Mindoro, Palawan, Capiz, Iloilo , Negros Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Zamboanga City , Sarangani and South Cotabato .

Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Mt Province, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Batangas, Laguna, Quezon, Romblon, Sorsogon, Aklan, Antique, Bohol, Samar, Zamboanga Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga Sur, Bukidnon, Davao Oriental, Davao Sur and Davao City. (DA Press Office)

PIA Dispatch - Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Yap cites animal bureau’s efforts to boost livestock, poultry productivity & profitability

Secretary Arthur Yap of the Department of Agriculture (DA) has commended the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) for its sustained efforts to boost the productivity and profitability of the domestic livestock and poultry subsectors, which account for a fourth of the country’s total farm output, despite the major challenges these industries have faced over the years.

In a message of Yap read by Undersecretary Bernie Fondevilla during the recent 80th BAI anniversary celebration, Yap noted that on the watch of Director Davinio Catbagan, total livestock and poultry industry production increased by 1.49% in 2009 compared to 2008, which is no mean feat given the bureau’s tasks in keeping the Philippines free of the dreaded avian influenza (AI) or bird flu virus, foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and other threats to the animal industry. 

In 2009, livestock production increased by 1.20% from 2,327 thousand metric tons to 2,354 TMT, while poultry output increased by 1.82% from 1,713 TMT to 1744 TMT.  For broiler production, supply is projected to be higher that the demand in the first semester of 2010.

Yap noted that on his watch as DA secretary, he had witnessed how the BAI  “efficiently marshal all resources to prevail over the huge difficulties of two El Niño episodes; the series of powerful tropical cyclones; and the reemergence of diseases such as the Ebola Reston Virus.”

“Moreover, the BAI has successfully kept the Philippines bird flu-free, which has allowed the Philippines to export poultry meat and poultry products to Japan, Hong Kong and the Middle East; as well as breeder chicks to Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Nepal and the Middle East,” said Yap in a speech that was read for him by DA Undersecretary Bernie Fondevilla.

He said the BAI also maintained the internationally recognized freedom of Mindanao, Visayas, Palawan and Masbate from the FMD since 2001 & 2002 respectively, and the forthcoming declaration of Luzon as FMD-free by the Office Internationale des Epizooties (OIE) or World Organization for Animal Health, which will add to the country’s attractiveness as a reliable source of high-quality livestock products, notably for the global Halal market that the DA is trying to develop.

Yap also cited BAI’s efforts in successfully eradicating the Rinderpest disease that threatened to decimate the country’s animal population; striking the right balance between local production and importation in ensuring ample food supplies for the people; and helping ensure the safety and quality of production inputs such as animal feeds, biologics/vaccines and veterinary drugs under its Comprehensive Enhancement and Production Support Program.

“We in the DA family take pride from this Bureau’s long history of meaningful service to the nation,” Yap said. “The Bureau deserves credit for steering the Filipino livestock industry into greater profitability and productivity over these years, supporting the livelihood of small livestock and poultry keepers, traders and laborers throughout the country.”

Yap pointed out that BAI was also able to: 

1) eliminate non-effective imported drugs and biologics from the local market through field-testing and validation;

2) develop technologies on the production of local diagnostic antigens as alternative to expensive imported antigens;

3) implement a successful disease monitoring and surveillance system resulting in the non-entry of exotic animal diseases into the country;

4) develop and standardize practical diagnostic tests and protocols for the prompt and accurate diagnosis of disease outbreaks;

5) formulate and validate several cost effective control measures against several parasitic disease problems; and

6)  transfer diagnostic technologies to upgrade the capabilities of the DA-Regional Diagnostic Laboratories.

“Today, on your 80th year, the men and women of the BAI must stand tall as a frontline agency of the DA, proud of the remarkably consistent growth and stability the livestock and poultry industry has achieved, even during the agriculture sector’s most critical periods,” Yap said.

Yap called on the BAI to continue in vigorously pursuing its commitment of  keeping the animal industry “disease-free, productive and ready to compete globally,” by stepping up its timely delivery of quality services and stronger collaboration with industry stakeholders, notably the local government units that directly supervise over the bureau’s  veterinarians.

He said the DA fully supports the bureau’s current and future thrusts and the initiatives, which include undertaking an intensified livestock genetic improvement through the PL 480 – because animal genetic resources are the primary biological capital for livestock and poultry development, and are vital to food security and sustainable rural development.

It also supports other BAI projects like the Male Breeder Loan Program; its continuous upgrade of laboratories and personnel capabilities; and the development and implementation of specific technologies on breeding selection, improved feed resources and nutrition, animal waste management and improved utilization of meat, edible and non-edible meat products, he said.

“Such initiatives substantially contribute to the DA family’s efforts to mitigate hunger, bring progress in rural communities and build a climate change-resilient agriculture sector,” Yap said.

He said the DA will also continue to support BAI’s National Animal Disease Control Programs for Hog Cholera/Classical Swine Fever, Newcastle Disease, Rabies, Hemorrhagic Septicemia and other priority animal diseases of the bureau as well as its information drive on various aspects of livestock and poultry growing and keeping them disease-free.  (DA Press Office)

PIA Dispatch - Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Yap cites animal bureau’s efforts to boost livestock, poultry productivity & profitability

Secretary Arthur Yap of the Department of Agriculture (DA) has commended the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) for its sustained efforts to boost the productivity and profitability of the domestic livestock and poultry subsectors, which account for a fourth of the country’s total farm output, despite the major challenges these industries have faced over the years.

In a message of Yap read by Undersecretary Bernie Fondevilla during the recent 80th BAI anniversary celebration, Yap noted that on the watch of Director Davinio Catbagan, total livestock and poultry industry production increased by 1.49% in 2009 compared to 2008, which is no mean feat given the bureau’s tasks in keeping the Philippines free of the dreaded avian influenza (AI) or bird flu virus, foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and other threats to the animal industry. 

In 2009, livestock production increased by 1.20% from 2,327 thousand metric tons to 2,354 TMT, while poultry output increased by 1.82% from 1,713 TMT to 1744 TMT.  For broiler production, supply is projected to be higher that the demand in the first semester of 2010.

Yap noted that on his watch as DA secretary, he had witnessed how the BAI  “efficiently marshal all resources to prevail over the huge difficulties of two El Niño episodes; the series of powerful tropical cyclones; and the reemergence of diseases such as the Ebola Reston Virus.”

“Moreover, the BAI has successfully kept the Philippines bird flu-free, which has allowed the Philippines to export poultry meat and poultry products to Japan, Hong Kong and the Middle East; as well as breeder chicks to Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Nepal and the Middle East,” said Yap in a speech that was read for him by DA Undersecretary Bernie Fondevilla.

He said the BAI also maintained the internationally recognized freedom of Mindanao, Visayas, Palawan and Masbate from the FMD since 2001 & 2002 respectively, and the forthcoming declaration of Luzon as FMD-free by the Office Internationale des Epizooties (OIE) or World Organization for Animal Health, which will add to the country’s attractiveness as a reliable source of high-quality livestock products, notably for the global Halal market that the DA is trying to develop.

Yap also cited BAI’s efforts in successfully eradicating the Rinderpest disease that threatened to decimate the country’s animal population; striking the right balance between local production and importation in ensuring ample food supplies for the people; and helping ensure the safety and quality of production inputs such as animal feeds, biologics/vaccines and veterinary drugs under its Comprehensive Enhancement and Production Support Program.

“We in the DA family take pride from this Bureau’s long history of meaningful service to the nation,” Yap said. “The Bureau deserves credit for steering the Filipino livestock industry into greater profitability and productivity over these years, supporting the livelihood of small livestock and poultry keepers, traders and laborers throughout the country.”

Yap pointed out that BAI was also able to: 

1) eliminate non-effective imported drugs and biologics from the local market through field-testing and validation;

2) develop technologies on the production of local diagnostic antigens as alternative to expensive imported antigens;

3) implement a successful disease monitoring and surveillance system resulting in the non-entry of exotic animal diseases into the country;

4) develop and standardize practical diagnostic tests and protocols for the prompt and accurate diagnosis of disease outbreaks;

5) formulate and validate several cost effective control measures against several parasitic disease problems; and

6)  transfer diagnostic technologies to upgrade the capabilities of the DA-Regional Diagnostic Laboratories.

“Today, on your 80th year, the men and women of the BAI must stand tall as a frontline agency of the DA, proud of the remarkably consistent growth and stability the livestock and poultry industry has achieved, even during the agriculture sector’s most critical periods,” Yap said.

Yap called on the BAI to continue in vigorously pursuing its commitment of  keeping the animal industry “disease-free, productive and ready to compete globally,” by stepping up its timely delivery of quality services and stronger collaboration with industry stakeholders, notably the local government units that directly supervise over the bureau’s  veterinarians.

He said the DA fully supports the bureau’s current and future thrusts and the initiatives, which include undertaking an intensified livestock genetic improvement through the PL 480 – because animal genetic resources are the primary biological capital for livestock and poultry development, and are vital to food security and sustainable rural development.

It also supports other BAI projects like the Male Breeder Loan Program; its continuous upgrade of laboratories and personnel capabilities; and the development and implementation of specific technologies on breeding selection, improved feed resources and nutrition, animal waste management and improved utilization of meat, edible and non-edible meat products, he said.

“Such initiatives substantially contribute to the DA family’s efforts to mitigate hunger, bring progress in rural communities and build a climate change-resilient agriculture sector,” Yap said.

He said the DA will also continue to support BAI’s National Animal Disease Control Programs for Hog Cholera/Classical Swine Fever, Newcastle Disease, Rabies, Hemorrhagic Septicemia and other priority animal diseases of the bureau as well as its information drive on various aspects of livestock and poultry growing and keeping them disease-free.  (DA Press Office)

PIA Dispatch - Sunday, February 21, 2010

El Niño Dispatch

NIA assures sufficient irrigation water in Nueva Ecija

Officials of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) have assured farmers in the country’s top palay-producing province of Nueva Ecija of sufficient irrigation water from the Pantabangan Dam despite a looming El Nino dry spell that is projected to last till the middle of the year.

In a recent consultative meeting with farmer leaders and heads of the NIA plus other agencies attached to the Department of Agriculture (DA), Antonio Nangel, the department manager of the NIA-Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation Systems (UPRIIS) allayed fears of an impending drought, saying that Pantabangan Dam can sufficiently sustain the water requirements of the standing crop and can even accommodate the quick turnaround cropping or third cropping and “ratooning” farming.

Rice ratooning is the ability of standing crops to regenerate new tillers after harvest.  

In a report to Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, Nangel said the UPRIIS is strongly pushing for rice ratooning because it has low irrigation requirement, lower production cost, and higher yield per unit area in less time.

“The Pantabangan dam water level of 207 meters, as of February 9 is still above the operation rule curve,” he said.  “Given the 102,550 hectares we programmed this dry crop in 2010 and its total water requirement of 1,283.71 MCM until harvest time in April, Pantabangan Dam is still at the ideal or safe level of 194.00 meters. With this water elevation, UPRIIS can still program around 25,000 hectares for third cropping or Quick Turnaround (QTA) or Ratooning or both at the same time.”

Present during the consultative meeting were DA Region 3 Director Redentor Gatus and Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) Director Ronilo Beronio, both of whom lauded the efforts of UPRIIS to mitigate the adverse effects of El Niño on rice production in Central Luzon.

Gatus assured farmers during the meeting that seed and fertilizer subsidies would be made available to those adopting the QTA, while Beronio said PhilRice is preparing flyers to disseminate information on rice ratooning.

The meeting was also attended by representatives from the National Food Authority (NFA), Land Bank of the Philippines, Bureau of Post Harvest and Research Extension (BPRE), National Seed Quality Control Service (NSQCS), DA officials at the local level, and federation presidents of Irrigators Associations (IA) comprising the Board of Directors of the UPRIIS Confederation of Farmer Irrigators Associations (UCFIA).

UCFIA has 380 IAs as members within the service area of UPRIIS in Nueva Ecija, parts of Bulacan, Pampanga and Tarlac.  It has 76,000 farmer-members who actively participate in the operation and management of irrigation systems covered by UPRIIS as well as in the collection of irrigation service fees.

The bold move of UPRIIS in programming 25,000 hectares for QTA and ratooning this year is supported by different intervention programs with farmers as direct beneficiaries.

Owing to the well-observed procedure in water releases from Pantabangan dam during typhoons, the UPRIIS was able to program 100% of its firmed up service area equivalent to 102,550 hectares.

By April or when the standing crops shall have been harvested, the dam elevation is projected at 194.00 meters.

Earlier, the DA said it is rationalizing the use of irrigation water by scheduling their use in farming communities as part of the conservation measures it is currently implementing to ease the impact of the El Niño dry spell on the agriculture and fisheries sector.

DA Undersecretary Bernie Fondevilla said that while water in irrigation facilities and dams remain adequate, it is better to conserve this precious commodity while the country is experiencing a moderate but prolonged El Nino attack.

Citing the assessment by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), Fondevilla said in media interviews that while the latest onslaught of El Niño appears to be a mild or moderate one, it could be longer than usual, though, and could possibly last till July instead of only in May or June.

“We are rationalizing the use of irrigation water but that doesn’t mean that it is not enough,” Fondevilla, who chairs the task force, said. “Water supply remains adequate for our farms and we are just resorting to conservation in the face of a Pagasa-forecasted prolonged dry spell this year. So what we will do is to provide our farmers with just enough water that they need and schedule its release so that we wouldn’t waste water in irrigating their croplands. “

Fondevilla said the DA would coordinate with local government units (LGUs) so it can maximize the use of irrigation water by scheduling or synchronizing its release in El Niño-affected farms.

He said water conservation measures should be implemented even beyond El Niño’s onslaught as part of the government’s long-term measures to ensure the adequate supply of water to farms. (DA Press Office)

PIA Dispatch - Friday, February 19, 2010

El Niño Dispatch

DA mitigation measures kontra El Nino

Kasunod ng direktiba ni PGMA, personal na binisita ni Acting Agriculture Secretary Bernie Fondevilla, pinuno ng Presidential Task Force ng El Nino and mga apektadong lugar sa Nueva Viscaya, Isabela, Quirino at iba pang lalawigan sa Region 2.

Nasaksihan ni Fondevilla ang actual na cloud seeding operation, pamamahagi ng water pumps at mga seeds. Inatasan ni Fondevilla si Regional Executive Director ng Region 2 Andrew Villacorta na madaliin pagkakaloob ng tulong sa mga naapektuhang magsasaka at mangingisda.

Pinaaabot naman ng mga Local Government Units (LGUs) at mga magsasaka ang mga kailangan pa nilang tulong at nagpapasalamat din sila sa suportang ipinagkaloob ni PGMA at ng Department of Agriculture (DA). Kasama ni Fondevilla sa naturang field visita ay  sina Municipal Mayor ng Villaverde Esmenio Badjo, Municipal Mayor ng Bagabag Nestor Sevillena, National Irrigation Administration Chief of Staff Engineer Bonifacio Labiano,  GMA Rice National Program Coordinator Director Frisco Malabanan at kasama na rin ang mga municipal at provincial agriculturists.

PIA Dispatch - Thursday, February 18, 2010

El Niño Dispatch

El Niño task force has P880 m aid package for farmers, fisherfolk in 5 regions

DAVAO CITY — A Department of Agriculture (DA) task force dealing with the latest El Niño onslaught has earmarked an initial P882.18 million for the accelerated implementation of mitigation measures for farmers and fisherfolk in 14 provinces in Luzon and the Visayas, where the dry spell that is expected to last till July has already damaged over 200,000 metric tons (MT) of palay, corn and other crops with an aggregate value of P2.84 billion.

Agriculture Undersecretary Joel Rudinas said yesterday in a briefing here that the slew of mitigation measures that have already been initiated or are set for implementation by the various DA-attached agencies range from cloudseeding to the provision of shallow tube wells (STWs) and open source pump irrigation systems to close monitoring of a possible drought-triggered outbreak of pests and diseases.

Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap said the DA’s regional field units (RFUs) in the five El Niño-hit regions are already drawing up with local government units (LGUs) their respective master lists of affected farmers eligible for food aid under the Emergency Food Assistance Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Separate master lists are also being prepared by RFUs and LGUs, he said, for farmer-victims qualified to enroll in skills training programs of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) or for possible emergency employment for the construction or repair of farm-to-market roads (FMRs) and irrigation facilities.

The cloudseeding in two regions are being supervised by the Bureau of Soil and Water Management (BWSM) in cooperation with the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Service Administration (PAGASA) and the Philippine Air Force (PAF).

“The task force is stepping up the implementation of mitigation measures in compliance with the latest directive from President Arroyo for the DA and other government agencies concerned to speed up and even expand the delivery of intervention programs that would help our small farmers and fisherfolk cope with the devastating effects of the latest El Niño attack,” Rudinas said.

Rudinas gave a briefing not only on the aid package in the drought-stricken regions but also on the measures being undertaken by RFUs elsewhere, following President Arroyo’s interaction the other day with local media people. These journalists had asked her about the measures being taken by Government in the affected provinces as well as in Mindanao in the wake of the prolonged dry spell as projected by PAGASA.

The 14 affected provinces are Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino in Northern Luzon; Bulacan and Nueva Ecija in Central Luzon; Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque and Romblon in the MIMAROPA area or Region 4-B; Masbate in Bicol; and Antique, Guimaras and Negros Occidental in Western Visayas.

According to the Feb. 16 situationer report by the DA Central Action Center (DACAC), crops planted in 10,533 hectares have zero chance of recovery while those planted in another 147,633 ha can still recover from the dry spell—or a total of 158,166 ha of affected farmland with 201,237 MT of assorted crops valued at P2.84 billion combined.

Of these affected farms, 35,360 ha are palay fields with 56,696 MT of damaged crops valued at P963.84 million, while 122,748 ha are corn fields with 144,359 MT of damaged crops worth P1.88 billion, said DACAC chief Marites Bernardo in her situationer report.

Worst hit among the 14 provinces is Isabela, which has absorbed palay losses amounting to P1.85 billion from 144,359 MT of damaged crops in a total of 87,850 ha, and corn losses valued at P1.85 billion from 101,609 MT of destroyed crops in 72,157 ha combined, Bernardo said in her report.

The damaged palay fields represent 3.39% of the one million hectares for harvesting over the January-March period while the volume account for 1.5% of the production forecast of 3.79 million MT for the quarter.

The damaged cornfields make up 18.21% of 673,995 ha to be harvested   and the volume is 7.27% of the production estimate of 1.99 million MT for the January-March period.

As a result of such farm production losses, Yap said the task force has set aside P52 million for its ongoing cloudseeding in Northern Luzon and Western Visayas and for the planned or requested cloudseeding in Central and Southern Luzon, Bicol Region, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region and SOCCSKSARGEN (South Cotabato-Cotabato- Sultan Kudarat-Saranggani- General Santos).

Some P260 million will be spent on optimizing water delivery and rescheduling by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), P398,930 for the purchase and distribution of 1,500 units of pump and engine sets by the Bureau of Social and Water Management (BWSM) and another 1,000 units of  pump and engine sets by the DA-RFU in Northern Luzon.

Another P25 million is earmarked for pests and disease management; P1.149 million for the acquisition of veterinary drugs and biologics; P35 million for mobile diagnostic laboratories, P104 million for fishery inputs and livelihood; and P5.9 million for crop shifting projects.

The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) has already delivered 54,500 bags of salt or sodium chloride worth P19 million for the benefit of 13,625 coconut growers tilling a total of 13,625 ha.

It is also due to bid out the supply of another 300,000 bags of salt worth P150 million for 75,000 coconut farmers tilling 75,000 ha.

The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) has also started its own cloudseeding with a budget of P2.2 million, and has recommended to the DA the use of 250 units of STWs in heavily affected areas with sources of water to cover 50% of the sugarcane fields in Negros.

As directed by Yap, the RFUs in the affected regions in Luzon and the Visayas have, among others, either been conducting information drives and close monitoring or assessment of the situation in coordination with LGUs to address the concerns of farmers, acquiring and distributing gasoline engine pumps to supply irrigation water, alerting LGUs and farmers on possible occurrence of pests and diseases in their areas, or advising farmers to shift to other crops requiring minimal water.

In Zamboanga Peninsula  the RFU has been closely monitoring the effects of El Niño on palay and corn fields, and started master-listing the affected farmers to be enrolled under the DSWD’s food aid program.

In Northern Mindanao, NIA is closely monitoring water source on a 24-hour basis while the RFU there has instructed all operating units to immediately report areas affected by El Niño.

The RFU in Davao Region has started master-listing corn farmers eligible for the DSWD food assistance program while the RFU in SOCCSKSARGEN has already distributed 800 bags of hybrid corn seeds to affected farmers.

In SOCCSKSARGEN, the RFU is also closely monitoring El Niño, distributing 1,300 bags of certified seeds for flash flood-affected farmers, and awaiting submission by LGUs of their requests for organic follar fertilizer and zinc phosphide.

The others who attended the briefing for the media are NIA OIC Administrator Alex Reuyan, and RED Region 11 Caloy Mendoza. (DA Press Release)

RT Lim gets 1.65M livelihood project from DA’s MRDP

Five barangays in R.T. Lim benefited from the Department of Agriculture’s Mindanao Rural Development Program (DA-MRDP) under its   Community Fund for Agricultural Development (CFAD) component.  The municipality has a total of 1.64 million for their animal raising project.

Some 83 heads carabao and 13 cattle were given to identified People’s Organization (PO) enrolled to the program. Recipients were: Brgy. Balansag for Balansag Samahang ng Magsasaka (BASMAG) and Balansag Multi-Purpose Cooperative ((BALMUCO); Brgy. Gango for Gango Indigenous Farmers Organization (GIFO) and Gango Integrated Development Association (GIDA); Brgy. Silingan for Silingan CARP Beneficiaries Multi-purpose Cooperative (SICARBEMCO) ; Brgy. Tilasan for Pigsalabukan Nog Subanon Association (PIGSA); and Tilasan Small Farmers Association ( TISFA) and Brgy. Pres. Roxas for Samahang Magsasaka ng Barnagay Pres. Roxas (SMBPres).

Since the total number of beneficiaries is 208, the 96 animals are not enough for each beneficiary. It was agreed that the female animals will be in the custody of the organization. These will be rotated among the members for breeding purposes. The offspring will be owned by the concerned member.

Just last week, an ear tagging activity was conducted to identify animals under the CFAD component. A tag is being placed in each ear of the animal indicating the POs they belong, number of animal and under what project component of MRDP.

Of the 83 heads, 67 were tagged. The animals were also dewormed and given vitamins.  This activity was a collaborative effort of Western Mindanao Integrated agricultural Research Center (WESMIARC), DA’s research arm,  Provincial Veterinarian Office  of Zamboanga Sibugay and the Municipal Agriculturist Office of RT. Lim.

BASMAG President, Pascual Pat expressed his heartfelt thanks to the implementation of the project. He also said “with this carabao, our cost of farming operation was reduced since we need not hire working animals to plow our field and transport our produce.”

A formal turnover ceremony is scheduled on February 23-25, 2009. (ytavellaneda/ DA9)

PIA Dispatch - Wednesday, February 17, 2010

El Niño Dispatch

Mindanao has its own bayan-anihan project

Davao City —The Department of Agriculture (DA) and Gawad Kalinga (GK) have blazed another trail in their innovative Bayan-Anihan project in Mindanao with the launching of their joint vegetable growing venture in a low-cost housing project here.

During the formal launching of the local Bayan-Anihan at GK Pueblo Antonio Village in Sitio Habana in Toril District brought to 177 sites of backyard vegetable growing project all over the country.. Each site has 30 family-beneficiarie s.

As initially targeted by DA, GK and their other project partners, Bayan-Anihan aims to put up such hunger mitigation projects in 500 sites nationwide, of which 312 will be in Luzon, another 92 in the Visayas and 96 more in Mindanao.

Bayan-Anihan, which aims to fight hunger by empowering families to produce food for their own consumption, has evolved into a national movement as it spreads to the different parts of the Philippines under the supervision of GK and the DA, through its Ginintuang Masaganang Ani (GMA)—High Value Commercial Crops (HVCC) program.

Present during the formal launch were Mike Dimagiba, executive director of the Bayan-Anihan Foundation; Jose Luis Oquiñena, who is GK executive director; Rene Rafael Espino, the director of the GMA-HVCC program;; Alberto Pitugo, the Kapitbahayan (KB) president in GK Pueblo Antonio; and Nerissa Jala, a KB officer in GK Pueblo Antonio.

The guests and participants were welcomed by Councilor Conde Baluran of Davao City.

Yesterday’s program in Toril was highlighted by the simultaneous ceremonial planting of the guests and the GK Pueblo Antonio residents.

Of the 96 targeted GK sites in Mindanao, 20 sites are in Zamboanga Peninsula (Region IX), 40 in Northern Mindanao (Region X), 10 in Davao Region (Region XI), 16 in SOCCSKSARGEN (South Cotabato-Cotabato- Sultan Kudarat-Sarranggani -General Santos) (Region XII) and 10 in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Since the Bayan Anihan (BA) Mindanao Summit last Sept. 2 at Marco Polo Hotel here, the community training for program participants have already been completed in 71 sites and other beneficiaries have already planted their vegetables in 29 sites.

Through the GMA-HVCC program, the DA has provided the agricultural inputs amounting to at least P8 million while the GK, together with state universities and colleges (SUC) partners, conducted the community trainings.

Inputs include vegetable seeds, seedling trays, organic fertilizers, weighing scales, fruit trees and medicinal/culinary plants.

During the project’s launching in Luzon on March 28, 2009, DA Secretary Arthur Yap said that the cause of feeding the hungry through higher crop yields and widespread food distribution should be the concern not only of Government but also of all other sectors.

These include local government units, nongovernment organizations, people’s organizations, civil society, business groups and other associations that “believe that access to food and freedom from hunger are basic, inalienable rights,” he said.

“These sectors should combine their forces and transform it into a national movement that would work towards “a hunger-free Philippines ,” he said.

Yap also said that the “Bayan-Anihan” recognizes the “fundamental premise that Government alone, cannot be the problem solver but is merely the facilitator and catalyst, in bringing Filipinos face to face with hunger and providing them the support so that ultimately, it is they who will address the injustice of hunger.”

“This is my commitment: To help our local communities break free from hunger…and equally important, to capacitate them beyond basic subsistence to dream big dreams, and afford them the means to bring these dreams to reality,” Yap said. (DA Press Office)

PIA Dispatch - Tuesday, February 16, 2010

El Niño Dispatch

DA prepares measures for El Niño

Should long drought occurs this year, the Department of Agriculture is preparing to mitigate measures so as to arrest its adverse effects on food production.

In response to the call of the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC), DA regional executive director Oscar O. Parawan has organized the DA Quick Response Team (QRT) for El Niño phenomenon.

As chair of the DA QRT, Parawan has called for a QRT meeting on Feb. 19 in Zamboanga City with PAGASA officials and the 24 heads of line and attached agencies of the department like the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), Bureau of Soil and Water Management (BSWM), Bureau of Plant and Animal Industries, among others.

Parawan requested them to bring their respective action plans for El Niño. For his part, the executive director is now collecting data on vulnerable areas of the four banner programs of the department such as rice, corn, high value commercial crops and livestock.

Regional technical director Constancio Alama, in last Monday’s (Feb. 8) office updates and reporting, briefed the personnel and staff of the regional field unit when to believe that El Niño takes place.

Alama said that for rice planting season, dry season is from September to March, although he said we experience very hot temperature nowadays because the ozone layer (protective mantle from the sun) has been damaged.

NIA’s cut-off date for distribution of irrigation supply for dry season is on March 31 and Alama said that farmers are aware of this and it is on their risk to venture on third cropping with no more supply from NIA.

According to the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS), wet planting season comes in March to September. “If there is no rain in April and May, that is the time we consider it an El Niño,” the technical director said.

Alama also cited the PAGASA forecast that Zamboanga Peninsula will be moderately affected by drought. But DA will be monitoring the rainful pattern whether there is a deviation from the past seasons.

For two feared phenomena (El Nino and La Nina) Alama disclosed that there are 16 rice varieties under screening identified as drought resistant and tolerant to submergence with optimum yield.

“Other option, we will advice to farmer to shift crops. We will recommend after-rice crops like legumes (mongo, peanuts) water melon,” he said.

Regional banner coordinator for High Value Commercial Crops (HVCC) Marcial Fantone also recommends vegetable farmers to plant short-termed green leafy vegetables in case of drought. “Never plant annual term vegetables because we don’t know if drought would extend long more months. But they want to plant on a large scale, be sure to plant along the river banks or provide your own water pumps,” he suggests. (Remai S. Alejado/da9)

PIA Dispatch - Monday, February 15, 2010

Power cuts in Mindanao worsen due to critical water level

BUTUAN CITY (February 15) – The power outages in Mindanao worsened due to the critical water level in the Lake Lanao and Pulangi river, source of the Mindanao grid.

It was also learned that the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) on Monday forced hydroelectric power plants located at various areas in the southern island in Mindanao to reduce their power generation by at least 50 percent of their total capacity due to low water inflow of Lake Lanao and Pulangi River because of the onset of the dry spell.

In a statement on Monday, the NGCP said the generating capacity is anticipated to remain insufficient with the unavailability of Agus 5 (Units 1 & 2), the Mindanao Coal Fired Power Plant (Unit 2) and the Iligan Diesel Power Plant.

It was also gathered that the Western Mindanao Power Corporation's power plant in Zamboanga City also decreased its output from 90 to 80 megawatts as of February 9, this year.

This pushed the NGCP, as system operator, to implement power load shedding throughout Mindanao. It will be enforced for the whole month of February as it projects that power supply will remain below comfortable levels.

Eugene Bicar, head of NGCP Mindanao-Systems Operations (SO), urged the execution of some measures to address the situation in the short term, like the completion of the Agus 5 Hydroelectric Plant (HEP) preventive maintenance and trash rack repair; resumption of the operation of Iligan Diesel Power Plant (IDPP) to be expedited by the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM) and the National Power Corporation and the contracting of additional power generation if there's one available from embedded generations.

The NGCP Mindanao head also said the completion of the repair of the Agus 2 - Kibawe 138 KV Lines 1 and 2 and the commissioning of Maramag - Bunawan 230 KV backbone project will also help strengthen the network interconnection of the Mindanao Grid.

NGCP had earlier informed electric cooperatives and consumers that starting February 3, they would request power distributors to begin additional load-shedding at 10 a.m. instead of past 5 p.m. as compared to January, owing to further decrease in the generating capacity due to water inflow constraints.

Three curtailment levels are currently set, first for 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; second for 12:31-5:30 p.m. and third for 5:31 to 9 or 10 p.m. The levels increase to correspond with the continuous upward trend of the grid load between 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Curtailment is automatically lifted as actual system condition improves.

Power distributors each have their assigned load allocation to maintain for each time bracket under the curtailment plan.

NGCP closely monitors the load of each distributor through the SCADA equipment of Area Control Centers (ACC) located in the cities of Butuan, Zamboanga, Cagayan de Oro, Davao and General Santos.

The head of NGCP Mindanao added that the cooperation of the distributors is vital to NGCP's efforts at maintaining the balance of the Mindanao power grid, especially during red alert state. The grid operator is bound by provisions of the Philippine Grid Code.

Meanwhile, Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes is set to visit on February 17-18 key cities in Mindanao to personally assess the worsening power crisis in the southern island where businesses have been badly affected since last month. (PNA)



PGMA to inspect big road projects in Surigao del Sur on Tuesday

LINGIG, Surigao del Sur (February 15) - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is set to inspect on Tuesday the big road project that connects Regions 11 and 13 in Mindanao.
When completed, this road project under the Mindanao Super Region development strategy of the Arroyo administration, will further enhance economic activity in the two progressing southern Mindanao regions.

President Arroyo will be welcomed at the Lingig municipal ground by at least 5,000 students from various schools, teachers, local officials and member beneficiaries of the national government's “Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program” or 4 Ps.

The President, along with some of her Cabinet officials, will also be met by Surigao del Sur Gov. Vicente Pimentel, 2nd District Rep. Florencio Garay and Lingig Mayor Jimmy Luna.

After a short program, the President, accompanied by the media group, will motor to Barangay Union of that same municipality for the briefing on the road project by Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Victor Domingo.

Along with Caraga DPWH Regional Director Dr. Evelyn T. Barroso, Secretary Domingo will brief the Chief Executive on the already completed Bislig-Lingig Section with two bridges last Jan. 25, and the ongoing ground works on the Lingig-Boundary Bolton Section.

The completion of the road project, which is bordering the provinces of Surigao del Sur and Davao Oriental, will complete the close to P2-billion Surigao-Davao Coastal Road under President Arroyo's SONA (State-of-the-Nation Address) projects.

On Tuesday morning, the President will also inaugurate the P50-million feeder port in Socorro town, Surigao del Norte province.

“These big infrastructure projects are a big boost to the economic activity of Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur and Davao Oriental and other neighboring areas in Northeastern and Southern Mindanao regions,” said Director Barroso.

The visit of President Arroyo in Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur on Tuesday is part of her Mindanao Agribusiness Legacy Tour. (PNA)



PGMA starts Mindanao for Agribusiness Legacy Tour in Surigao provinces

SOCORRO, Surigao del Norte (February 15) - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will start her Mindanao Agribusiness Tour in this Pacific Ocean facing town of Surigao del Norte and nearby Lingig town of Surigao del Sur province on Tuesday.

The Chief Executive, along with Mindanao Agribusiness Super Region Champion Secretary Jesus G. Dureza, Public and Highways Secretary Victor Domingo and Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza, will inaugurate and inspect on-going various government projects in Surigao provinces as part of her Legacy Tour accomplishments.

Mrs. Arroyo will personally inspect and evaluate Mindanao Super Region performance and accomplishments, especially her commitments in the State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA) projects.

The Super Regions are informal groupings of provinces and regions with identical economic strength, hence assigned specific development themes.

Agribusiness Mindanao covers Caraga region, Central Mindanao (Region 12), Region 9 to 12 and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

In her Surigao del Norte sortie on Tuesday, the Chief Executive will visit a public school in the city and then will fly via Bell 412 chopper to Socorro town to inaugurate the P50-million Socorro Feeder Port.

President Arroyo will be accompanied during the inauguration and unveiling of marker of the Socorro Feeder Port by Surigao del Norte solon Rep. Francisco T. Matugas (1st district), Socorro Mayor Mamerto D. Galanida, Sec. Mendoza, Sec. Dureza, Port Manager Teodorico Taruc and Barangay Navarro Chairman Christopher Alvino Taruc.

The Socorro Feeder Port is in the center island east of mainland Surigao City port. Its passenger and cargo-handling also serves the mainland of Dapa town in Siargao Island and the fish port of Claver town of that same province.

The opening of the said port will also further enhance the public access, especially tourists both foreign and domestic to various tourism areas in Bucas Grande island where the famous Sohoton cave is located.

“Economic activity, particularly tourism and fishing business, is soaring high with the opening and full operation of cargo and passenger handling operation of Socorro Feeder Port,” said Rep. Matugas.

He added that the opening of this feeder port will also add more employment and livelihood to local folks. (PNA)


El Nino Dispatch

NFA and SRA Release Guidelines on Sugar Importation

Administrators Jessup P. Navarro of National Food Authority (NFA) and Rafael L. Coscolluela of Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) have released the guidelines for the importation of 150,000 metric tons of refined sugar.

The guidelines contain the mechanics of importation, eligibility rules for participants or importers, allocations per sugar end-user sector and arrival deadlines. The guidelines also provide for a protection mechanism for producers as well as consumers.

The Notice of Bidding was published by NFA on February 11, 2010 in a leading newspaper (Philippine Star) announcing that the pre-bid conference will be held on February 16 and the bidding on February 23, 2010.

The arrival period of the first tranche of imported sugar equivalent to 60,000 metric tons is scheduled to arrive not later than May 15 and the second tranche equivalent to 90,000 metric tons not later than July 31.

While the government allows the importation in its bid to stabilize the domestic price of sugar, curtail speculations and provide sufficient buffer stock at the end of the cropping season, Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap and Administrators Coscolluela and Navarro have assured that the country’s local producers and farmers would not be disadvantaged by the importation.

The program is expected to keep retail prices of refined sugar within the P 50.00 to P 52.00 per kilo level, and millgate buying prices between P 1,700 – P1,800 per 50-kilo bag of raw sugar.

In a cabinet meeting held last February 9, 2010 at the Talipapa Barangay Hall in Novaliches, Administrator Coscolluela raised the producers’ concern that during times of low sugar prices and high cost of farm inputs, the sugar industry is left on its own. Now that high prices allow them to recover from two years of difficulty, they are dismayed to hear that government wants to force prices down.

Some cabinet members, however, stressed their concern for the need to protect the consuming public from profiteers. The importation, they opined, would help balance the interest of both sectors.

The President then instructed Secretary Yap and NFA to fast-track the program that would help address the concerns raised. (DA-SRA)



NFA sets bidding for performance bond to import sugar

The National Food Authority is inviting all interested sugar traders and end-users for today’s (Feb. 16, 2010) pre-bidding of the performance bond for the importation of 60,000 metric tons (MT) of refined sugar.

This volume will be the first in the two tranches of the 150,000 MT private sector-financed sugar importation following the government approval to import the commodity using the tax expenditure subsidy of the NFA as provided under Executive Order 857 issued on January 29, 2010.

The second tranche of the importation totaling 90,000 MT will be done through the sugar industry’s export replacement scheme.

EO 857 authorized the NFA to intervene in the sugar market to soften or stabilize the domestic price of sugar and price of the commodity. This is one of the mitigating actions the government has implemented to ease the present tightness in the domestic sugar supply.

Earlier this month, the NFA also started to sell refined sugar through the Institutionalized Bigasan Sa Palengke (IBSP) at a subsidized price of P48 per kilogram.

The Philippine Sugar Millers Association (PSMA) subsidized the balance differential to make the commodity more affordable to consumers.

Under the guidelines issued for sugar importation, only those traders and end-users accredited by the Sugar Regulatory Administration and registered with the SRA in the crop year 2009-2010 will be eligible to participate in the bidding.

For the first tranche, bidding shall be made on a per lot basis. Lot number I totaling 20,000 MT is allocated for industrial users, lot number 2 totaling 6,000 MT for food processors-exporter s, lot number 3 with 12,000 MT for institutions and lot number 4 with a volume of 22,000 MT allotted for repackers-retailers.

All interested accredited sugar traders and end users can participate in the bidding of one or all the lots.

The final bidding for the first tranche of the sugar imports will be on February 23 with the commodity scheduled to arrive by May 15. For the 2nd tranche, expected arrival will be up to July 31 this year.

The bidding will be held at ten in the morning at the Social Hall of the Sugar Regulatory Administration, Philippine Sugar Center Bldg., North Avenue in Diliman Quezon City. For more information on the story, the public may send their inquiries via Text NFA program through mobile number 09176210927.

PIA Dispatch - Sunday, February 14, 2010

EL NINO DISPATCH

Task force crafting emergency food aid for drought-stricken farmers

The Arroyo administration is mulling an emergency food assistance program for the benefit of one million rural families now reeling from an El Niño onslaught that is likely to last till July this year.

Secretary Arthur Yap of the Department of Agriculture (DA) said in media interviews that the task force in charge of the El Niño mitigation program is working on this food aid with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the National Nutrition Council (NNC) as the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has identified an initial 25 provinces that have been experiencing below-normal rainfall since the August-December 2009 period.

These drought-stricken provinces pinpointed by PAGASA are Benguet, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Batangas, Iloilo , Antique, Guimaras, Capiz, Negros Occidental, Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, and Quirino according to PAGASA per El Nino Advisory No. 6.

“Alongside this food aid, the task force is also studying such mitigation programs as livelihood projects and farm input subisidies for farmers who can no longer plant at this point as a result of the prolonged dry spell,” Yap said.

Yap said the DA is fine-tuning the Department’s aid package, which will include livelihood projects along with seed and fertilizer subsidies, so farmers will be able to plant anew for the next cropping season as soon as the dry spell ends in July.

The DA started cloud-seeding operations in January, he said, but it cannot really go full blast on this intervention measure because it can only do so when there are seedable clouds.

“If we go full blast on cloud seeding operations even in the absence of seedable clouds, then the DA will just be wasting precious funds on airplane fuel and salt,” he said.

The DA has also been providing affected farmers with water pumps to help them get water from shallow sources, he said, but this has not been rather successful because most of the sources have already dried up.

The department will continue to monitor critical drought areas as well as provide guidance to the National Disaster Coordinating Council during regional visits while the National Irrigation Administration will optimize water delivery and the scheduling of the national irrigation system.

Earlier, Yap ordered DA field officials to work with local government units (LGUs) on the speedy distribution of a package of assistance to palay and corn farmers in Isabela, Cagayan and other provinces already reeling from the crippling effects of the latest El Niño attack.

Yap directed officials of the DA’s regional field units (RFUs) to ensure that this aid package that includes seeds, open source pumps do reach the intended farmer-beneficiarie s soon enough, and to step up their monitoring of developments so the Department can get an accurate picture of the situation and carry out all needed intervention programs for the actual number of farmer-victims.

Yap had directed RFUs to coordinate with LGU executives the distribution of the government’s aid package to affected palay an corn farmers in the drought-stricken provinces and, more importantly, to ensure that such assistance do reach the intended beneficiaries as soon as possible.

He had also instructed RFU executives to intensify their monitoring activities so the DA can get an accurate picture of the El Niño-related damage and then be able to determine what other intervention measures are needed and for exactly how many affected farmers,” he added.
In a report to Yap, Director Andrew Villacorta of the RFU in Northern Luzon said the worst hit areas in his region are Isabela and Cagayan, where losses have already reached P1.984 billion from projected losses of 180,987 MT from completely and partially damaged palay and corn crops in a total of 147,537 hectares.

As earlier ordered by Yap and Undersecretary Bernie Fondevilla, who chairs the task force on mitigation measures against this latest El Niño attack, RFUs started carrying out intervention measures in January, including cloud-seeding operations with the help of Aboitiz Corp. covering the Magat Dam, and the distribution of an initial 95 units of Open Source Pumps (OSP) through RFU Region II and the National Irrigation Administration- Magat River Integrated Irrigation System (NIA-MARIIS) .

Villacorta reported that as early as December last year, the RFU in the region already purchased rodenticides and insecticides and has, since then, treated 10,523 hectares as a preemptive measure against possible outbreaks of tungro and other diseases that could be triggered by the dry spell.

He said the RFU is set to distribute 25,000 packets of vegetable seedlings to affected farmers and has already bidded out the contract for the supply of another P10 million-worth of vegetable seedlings for distribution to the next batch of farmer-beneficiaries.

Also, the RFU is negotiating for the acquisition of OSPs and has started providing fuel subsidies to farmers with water pumps, he said. (DA Press Office)

PIA Dispatch - Saturday, February 13, 2010

EL NINO DISPATCH

Central Visayas agri sector prepares mitigation measures for El Nino

The Department of Agriculture – Region 7 has prepared a set of measures to mitigate the adverse effects of the El Niño dry spell expected to affect cropping in the first semester of 2010. During the series of consultative meetings with the provincial coordinators for the Ginintuang Masaganang Ani program for Rice, Corn, High Value Commercial Crops and livestock and poultry, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) in Central Visayas bared that El Niño in the equatorial Pacific continues to sustain its moderate strength and is recently in its mature stage. Gradual decrease in sea surface temperature is expected but still within the El Niño threshold and likely to last up to June 2010.

Data taken from PAGASA synoptic stations in Tagbilaran City , Dumaguete City , and Lapulapu City showed that rainfall generally decreased during the period October 2009 to January 2010 compared to the normal rainfall observed during the same period from 1971 to 2000. This year’s El Niño would likely be moderate and the province of Bohol and some parts of Negros Oriental in Central Visayas are included in the areas identified as “moderately vulnerable.”

As early as December last year, the DA Central Office had already created a task force to carry out a program to ensure sustained crop production and farmers’ income in the face of a probable El Niño crisis. This includes:

· Ensuring water availability in production areas through different irrigation technologies and cloud seeding;

· Making available farm inputs appropriate for prolonged dry and drought agro-climatic conditions;

· Providing technologies/ options to enhance farmers’ coping and decision-making mechanisms during adverse conditions; and

· Creating a policy environment for effective and efficient implementation of the El Nino Mitigation Program at the regional and provincial level of possible vulnerable areas.

The El Niño task force, which will implement the DA’s El Nino Mitigation program, have identified 23 “highly vulnerable” provinces and 24 “moderately vulnerable” provinces in the country.

In view of this, the DA Region 7 office has already reactivated the regional task force to initially gather and validate data from the provinces and municipalities in Central Visayas that will most likely be affected by El Niño. Based on the records from the 2002 El Niño episode, there are 28 municipalities in Bohol, 29 municipalities in Cebu , 8 municipalities in Negros Oriental and all 6 towns of Siquijor identified as vulnerable areas.

During the month of February to early March, the regional El Niño task force will be working closely with the attached agencies of NIA, BFAR, BAS, PCA, NDA, NMIS, FIDA, NFA and PAGASA and the local government units in gathering relevant data such as status of standing crop as to commodity and corresponding area planted and/or harvested, rainfall and other agro-meteorological data, status of vegetation (including forage and pasture), incidence of crop damage and farm animal mortality, water level status of national and communal irrigation systems and other small-scale irrigation projects such as small-water impounding (SWIP), small-farm reservoir (SFR) and springs.

These data will be the basis for identifying and prioritizing the appropriate measures to mitigate or cushion El Niño’s adverse effects to crop production in areas most likely to be affected. The four banner commodity programs of DA (Ginintuang Masaganang Ani or GMA program) on Rice, Corn, HVCC, livestock and poultry have tentatively prepared some mitigating measures for El Niño.

The GMA Rice program expects that 3,788 hectares of rice lands might be affected by drought because of El Niño and most of these will be in the province of Bohol . Plans are being set for the establishment of 55 units of shallow tube wells and pump irrigation system open-source (PISOS), restoration or rehabilitation of 7 existing irrigation systems and distribution of drought-resistant varieties such as PSB Rc 68 intended for 125 hectares of affected rice areas.
DA, through the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) is also intensifying its efforts to promote the Water-Saving Technology (Alternate Wet and Dry) in rice areas serviced by national and communal irrigation systems in the region.

In terms of corn production, El Niño is expected to reduce area planted to corn by 2,671 hectares, which might result to an estimated production loss of 6,674 metric tons. Some of the strategies designed by the GMA Corn program to combat the effects of El Niño in the corn-producing areas are to: (1) distribute 6,000 bags of seeds of drought-tolerant corn seed varieties; (2) encourage farmers to plant sweet potato and cassava as corn intercrop by distributing planting materials to be planted in 70 hectares throughout the region; (3) conduct 4 batches of training on corn production for farmers and retooling of corn technicians; and (4) distribute 100,000 trichogramma cards for the control of corn borer for an estimated 2,000 hectares of areas planted to corn in Cebu, Bohol and Negros Oriental.

The GMA Livestock program has also lined up several measures to counter the ill effects of El Niño on the livestock and poultry sector. These consist of the promotion of technologies on silage production, utilization of farm byproducts and other feed resources, mineral and protein supplementation and animal health protection. The above interventions are expected to cover approximately 1 million animal population in threatened areas.

According to the GMA HVCC program, a total of 426 hectares of areas planted to vegetables and other commercial crops throughout the region are considered vulnerable or threatened areas, which if affected by El Niño would result to an estimated production losses of 959 metric tons.
This will include an estimated 240 hectares of prime mango production areas and 20 hectares planted to ubi kinampay in the province of Bohol.As mitigating measures, the GMA HVCC program will be distributing some 1,300 kilograms of assorted vegetable seeds, 160,000 pieces of ubi planting materials and 160 bags of mango flower inducer. These will be complemented with the development or establishment of 25 springs and 40 drip irrigation systems as source for irrigation for vegetable and commercial crops in affected areas. (GRACE LEN C. DAGALA/DA RFU 7)