DA chief cites PGMA’s accomplishment in agri sector
Fondevilla said this was evident in President Arroyo’s “Seeds of Glory” campaign and the flagship program for the agriculture and fisheries sector dubbed as “FIELDS” which stands for the six areas of agriculture where the government has been channeling its support.
FIELDS means Fertilizer; Irrigation and other rural infrastructure; Extension and education services for farmers; Loans; Dryers and other post-harvest facilities; and Seeds and other genetic materials.
Fondevilla said the accomplishments of the Arroyo administration with regard to this flagship program is chronicled in a book titled “Fields Of Glory” which was launched last June 18 at the Department of Agriculture (DA)-Bureau of Soils and Water Management Convention Hall in Quezon City.
This FIELDS book project was tackled by Secretary Bernie Fondevilla during a recent Management Committee or ManCom meeting at the DA central office in
FIELDS was unveiled by the President during the DA-sponsored National Food Summit at the Clark Special Economic Zone in Pampanga in April 2008.
Fondevilla said that among the accomplishments of the Arroyo administration under FIELDS and its various farm programs are the following:
For the fertilizer component, the DA provided 1,380 technology packages on environment- friendly, community-based composting facilities under the Support System for the Tipod Abono Fertilization Program.
Out of the 1,380 packages, 428 or 31 percent were distributed in the Mindanao Agribusiness Super Region, 315 in the North Luzon Agribusiness Quadrangle, 430 in
For irrigation and other rural infrastructure, about P79.7 billion has been released for the restoration and rehabilitation of national and communal irrigation systems nationwide, generating 140,042 hectares of new areas.
A total of 1,480,826 hectares located in the four super regions were also restored and rehabilitated.
For extension, the DA provided a total of 22,941 various agricultural technology trainings and orientations from 2001 to 2009 to 977,713 farmers, agricultural extension workers, and farmer entrepreneurs.
For the loans component, from 2001 to 2009, a total of P 28.8 billion was released under the Agro-Industry Modernization and Credit Financing Program and Quedancor to farmer-beneficiaries.
If palay production loans from the Land Bank and releases from other financial institutions and agencies are included, the total would amount to P 465 billion.
For dryers and other post-harvest facilities, a total of 2,016 units of flatbed dryers were delivered, installed and completed.
Through the mechanical drying system, an estimated 25,724 metric tons of palay valued at P 437 million was saved in 2008. (PNA)
Sec. Limcaoco leads groundbreaking rites for first elevator at PIA Bldg.
MANILA – After 24 years of existence, the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Building along Visayas Avenue in Quezon City is now poised to have its first-ever elevator installed.
In simple ceremonies Monday, outgoing Government Media Organizations Supervising Secretary and concurrent PIA chief Secretary Conrado A. Limcaoco Jr. led the groundbreaking rites for the construction of the facility.
The elevator, which will be constructed by Otis E&M Company, is expected to be operational by September of this year.
The four-story
Once finished, the elevator will greatly convenience the hundreds of employees that serve the government media agencies it houses and the general public that frequents them, especially the old and the handicapped.
In a short speech, Secretary Limcaoco expressed his utmost gratitude to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for the attainment of the project, the last of “firsts” achievements he had accomplished under his watch as PIA head.
Although the project is through the initiatives of Limcaoco and like-minded individuals, like noted election lawyer Atty. Romulo Macalintal among others, the PIA chief said that the facility was made possible through the munificence of President Arroyo, who allotted P10 million for the project.
“President Arroyo is a caring President and the softness of her heart is one of her traits that I admire most,” Limcaoco said.
While First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo has health problems himself, Limcaoco said he was very touched by the President's gesture of calling him and personally asking about his health.
He also took note of the President’s penchant for hard work and discipline, traits that Secretary Limcaoco said had made her the most accomplished President of the Republic.
“Look around you and one can see the many infrastructure and development that she had accomplished throughout the country. It saddens me that despite everything that she has done, she leaves unpopular and unappreciated,” he said.
History would be the judge and would be kind to President Arroyo, he said.
With this, he called on the employees he will leave behind with sweet sorrow to take care of the elevator.
“This facility is from President Arroyo. This is for you. Take good care of it as your own,” Limcaoco said. (PNA)
DA opens BB in Maasin
Another Barangay Bagsakan (BB) was opened last week in Sitio Karagasan, Barangay Maasin,
The bagsakan is situated along the highway of sitio Caragasan, managed by the Caragasan Tabu Multi Purpose Cooperative headed by Mr. Jorge Delos Reyes a retired government official.
Department of Agriculture Regional Field Unit 9 Regional Executive Director Oscar Parawan, graced the opening of the project with Hon. Reynaldo Candido, re-elected councilor and committee chairman on agriculture of
The BB is a barangay – based food depot and distribution system offering affordable, safe and quality food products like meat, poultry, fish, vegetables, fruits. The Department of Agriculture and in coordination with Office of the City Agriculturist provided the technical assistance in terms of site validation & market linkage to prospective suppliers. The DA spearheaded the conduct of management team training involving the key management staff of the coop to equip them with the basic concepts in running the project. Under the memorandum of agreement, the coop provides the site and building while the DA provides facilities such as two (2) chest freezers, two (2) chiller as cold storage, 25 pieces plastic crates and five (5) weighing scales, three (3) styrofoam boxes and two (2) heavy duty calculators. Financial assistance is also provided to enhance its operation.
On the other hand, Ferdinand Gamorot, Chief, DA’s marketing and planning chief briefed the officials, members, including the visitors on the importance and also the achievements of the BB in region 9 since its establishment; the benefits derived from it by the suppliers and the community as a whole. Hon. Rey Candido, reiterated the City government‘s recognition of DA’s continuous support to increase the income of the poor farmers and fisherfolk in Zamboanga City and all over region 9. (WPeñaflor, DA9)
SEARCA study shows F.I.E.L.D.S. benefited farmers
An independent assessment done by a regional research institution on the Arroyo administration’s FIELDS program for agriculture and fisheries shows tangible benefits for farmer-beneficiaries in the form of higher yields, lower production losses and increased profits.
This study done by the Los Baños-based Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) noted that the beneficiaries of FIELDS were convinced of the program’s positive effects.
“The farmers said these benefits include the tangible increases in the family’s net profit and the non-tangible capacity enhancement in the farming systems,” citing the assessment done by SEARCA on the performance of FIELDS since it was launched two years ago.
FIELDS stands for the six areas of agriculture where the government has been channelling its support to on the Arroyo watch—Fertilizer; Irrigation and other rural infrastructure; Extension and education services for farmers; Loans; Dryers and other postharvest facilities; and Seeds and other genetic materials.
The program was unveiled by the President during the Department of Agriculture- sponsored National Food
Agriculture Secretary Bernie Fondevilla said, “The outcome of this SEARCA study proves that the Arroyo government has, through FIELDS, delivered on its commitment to the farm sector, which is to increase not only the yields of farmers and fisherfolk but their incomes as well.
In the province of Albay, for instance, the SEARCA study showed that the net income of farmers increased by P20,528 per hectare for one cropping season.
Another impact assessment done for the Community-Based Participatory Action Research Program of the DA’s Bureau of Agricultural Research showed that the farmer-cooperators, which took part in the initiative were able to have an edge in average income by 45 percent over the farmers in non-CPAR areas.
From P18,313 per hectare, the cooperator’s average incomes in the regions of Cagayan, Calabarzon and
“It should be noted that the increases in average income accrued not only from the increase in profitability, but also from, the decreases in total production costs,” citing the SEARCA study.
He said that for the three regions, the average production cost decreased 14 to 59 percent per hectare due to the use of the cooperators of cost-reducing technologies.
Agriculture Secretary Bernie G. Fondevilla said the accomplishments of the Arroyo administration with regard to this flagship program is chronicled in a book titled “FIELDS OF GLORY,” which was launched in June 18 at the DA-Bureau of Soils and Water Management Convention Hall in
Among the accomplishments of the Arroyo administration under FIELDS and its various farm programs are the following:
For the Fertilizer component, Fondevilla said the DA provided 1,380 technology packages on environment- friendly, community-based composting facilities under the Support System for the Tipid Abono Fertilization Program. Out of the 1,380 packages, 428 or 31 percent were distributed in the Mindanao Agribusiness Super Region, 315 in the North Luzon Agribusiness Quadrangle, 430 in
For Irrigation and other rural infrastructure, he said about P79.7 billion has been released for the restoration and rehabilitation of national and communal irrigation systems nationwide, generating 140,042 hectares of new areas. A total of 1,480,826 hectares located in the four super regions were also restored and rehabilitated.
The government also constructed since 2001, a total of 18,929 kilometers of farm-to-market roads worth P26.77 billion, and established 50 mariculture parks covering a total of 49,073 hectares, he said.
For Extension, Fondevilla said the DA provided a total of 22,941 various agricultural technology trainings and orientations from 2001 to 2009 to 977,713 farmers, agricultural extension workers, and farmer entrepreneurs.
For the Loans component, from 2001 to 2009, a total of P28.8 billion was released under the Agro-Industry Modernization and Credit Financing Program and Quedancor to farmer-beneficiaries. If palay production loans from the Land Bank and releases from other financial institutions and agencies are included, the total would amount to P465 billion, he said.
For Dryers and other postharvest facilities, he said a total of 2,016 units of flatbed dryers were delivered, installed and completed. Through the mechanical drying system, an estimated 25,724 metric tons of palay valued at P437 million was saved in 2008.
Moreover, a total of 39 cold chain facilities were completed and currently operational nationwide, he said.
Fondevilla said that for the Seeds component, the DA provided 1.68 million bags of hybrid and 12.5 million bags of certified palay seeds from 2001 to 2009 to farmers nationwide. The DA also established the development of climate-ready seeds including saline-, drought-, and flood-resistant varieties. (DA Press Office)
P6-M MRDP environment project up in Lanao del Sur
Kapatagan, Lanao del Sur - The Mindanao Rural Development Program’s greening activities are on the roll launching another multimillion environment projects in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
Covering the upland down to its coastal areas, the natural resources management (NRM) component of MRDP in coordination with the local government unit (LGU) here launched recently over P6.4 million worth of projects.
The funding is intended for the establishment of a central nursery which will make planting materials for agro-reforestation activities ready and accessible for the communities. This project allotted over P650 thousand will benefit 15 barangays.
The upland community folk will rehabilitate its forests by implementing a 150-hectare agro-reforestation project amounting P3.8 million.
While, the Budas river bank stabilization project allotted P628 thousand will directly benefit three lowland barangays which have been prone to flooding and soil erosion in recent years.
In the coastal areas, a 20-hectare mangrove rehabilitation amounting close to P600 thousand will be conducted. An MRDP study in coordination with the LGU showed that their coastal areas rear at least nine species of mangroves which needs to be protected.
Also, a 30-heactare fish sanctuary will be put up to regenerate the seafood production in the area. The establishment of the sanctuary is earmarked P679 thousand.
Kapatagan is the second town to have launched its environmental protection and conservation projects among the six covered sites of the NRM year-two implementation. Year-one projects of NRM covering another six towns spent P42 million.
“Our aim is to make our natural resources sustainable,” said program director Lealyn A. Ramos.
Ramos said NRM is purposely implementing projects in the upland, the lowland and the coastal areas as activities in the upland have downstream impact to the coastal areas.
“Aside from cushioning the communities from the impacts of climate change, this interconnectivity has to be maintained ‘as green as possible’ in order to fully support regeneration of our natural resources, the source of food and most livelihoods in rural areas,” she added.
As the projects are rolled out, community empowerment is also promoted as MRDP is using a community-driven development (CDD) approach.
“With the bottom-up approach through CDD, peoples’ organization members will be empowered to procure, implement and manage the projects entrusted to them,” Ramos said.
MRDP, a poverty-alleviation program of the Department of Agriculture jointly funded by the World Bank, and the national and local governments, also implements livelihood projects, infrastructure development and assists LGUs in implementing governance reforms. (Sherwin B. Manual/DA MRDP)
Training on Establishment of Thermal Processes for Canned Foods
The Food Development Center (FDC) of the National Food Authority (NFA) will conduct a training course on the “Establishment of Thermal Processes for Canned Foods” on August 17-20, 2010 at the FDC Compound, FTI Complex,
The training course aims to upgrade the technical capability of participants from the canned food industry in establishing adequate thermal processes for canned foods. It is designed for technical personnel with educational background in food science, food engineering, microbiology and related fields and industry experience in food canning.
The course fee is P7,500 per person inclusive of training manual, lunches, snacks and shuttle bus services from Ayala Center, Makati City to FDC and vice versa. Please make checks payable to
Participants may opt to stay at the FDC Dormitory with air conditioned rooms at P790 per day for double occupancy and P600 for single occupancy.
For further inquiries, please contact Ms. Amelia S. Bautista, FDC-NFA, FTI Complex,
