Wednesday, November 20, 2024

P3.9-M DA facility for plant health to rise in Bukidnon

MALAYBALAY CITY, BUKIDNON – To offer better and more modern services to the farmers, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10) through DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado conducted a groundbreaking ceremony for the establishment of the Plant Health Hub (PHH) at the agency’s Regional Crop Protection Center (RCPC) on August 4, 2023, in barangay Bangcud here in this city

The hub, with a contract amount of P3,929,138.01, is funded by the DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR), which aims to cater to farmers with plant health problems.

RCPC chief Lucille T. Minguez shared, “With the presence of the hub, we can have precise diagnosis, prescriptions, and management options in addressing plant health issues which is aligned to the government’s objective of pushing for growth in the agriculture sector through increased productivity while reducing pest losses.”

Minguez added that the facility will be utilized to improve the lives of the farmers, not just in Bukidnon but in the whole region and even from the neighboring regions.

Meanwhile, Director Collado encouraged RCPC and the other DA stations to request more facilities that are beneficial to the farmers.

“We need to upgrade our current facilities. Propose as many projects as you can, so we can develop our office and improve our services to the farmers, particularly in RCPC, which is the only office of its kind in the entire region,” the regional executive director remarked.

A pre-construction conference among the RCPC, DA-10 Regional Agricultural Engineering Division, and the contractor for the construction of the PHH was also conducted immediately after the groundbreaking ceremony. (DA RFO–10)

DOST brings Silyang Pinoy in Bukidnon

The office of Congress representative Jose Manuel “Joeman” Alba of the 1st District of Bukidnon and the Department of Science and Technology brings Silyang Pinoy in Bukidnon through a series of trainings for local furniture makers in the 1st district of the province

On July 11-16, 53 attendees actively participated and were able to produce engineered bamboo boards, a major component of Silyang Pinoy. On July 24-28, the same participants were further trained in the actual production of Silyang Pinoy at Bamboo Pavilion, Damilag, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon.

Trainees were able to produce Silyang Pinoy with two tables and chairs designed for Elementary students and one table and two Chairs designed for Secondary students after the training. These training outputs are currently at the Bamboo Pavilion, Manolo Fortich.

Silyang Pinoy are multifunctional chairs and tables that can be converted to other furniture. The production of Silyang Pinoy chairs using engineered bamboo aligns with the government’s mandate to promote sustainable and eco-friendly materials. This collaboration of the 1st District of Bukidnon and DOST 10 will be the pilot project of Silyang Pinoy in the region.

It is envisioned that the attendees will soon produce Silyang Pinoy and supply to demand of the Department of Education on their EO 879, which mandates that 25 percent of all desks and tables of public schools shall be made of bamboo.

The activity was made possible through the initiative of Rep. Alba, tapping DOST-Bukidnon to connect local bamboo furniture makers in the first district to the experts from the DOST-Forest Products Research and Development Institute (DOST-FPRDI) to conduct engineered bamboo training.

“Nowadays, there are ongoing issues of tree cutting because we can still see hardwoods. We can see hardwood furniture items not just in a mall but even in rural areas. Hence, we are actively campaigning for engineered bamboo as a solution to halt tree cutting,” the district representative said. “Our advocacy is backyard bamboo processing because we want to create more furniture makers utilizing bamboo as a sustainable alternative to hardwood,” he added.

The attendees have also expressed their intent to continue producing furniture using bamboo.

DOST is committed to fostering innovation and sustainability in the bamboo industry, as it empowers furniture makers to shape a bright future for Bukidnon.

A public hearing in Manolo Fortich will also be conducted on August 11 on the commercialization of Silyang Pinoy. (Junamae O. Digal, GIP Intern /DOST 10)

SP Malaybalay passes MMT Ordinance

The Sangguniang Panlungsod approved Ordinance No. 1021 Series of 2023 – An ordinance institutionalizing the creation of the City Government of Malaybalay Environmental Multi-partite Monitoring Team (CITY MMT)

During the 45th regular session on May 30, 2023, Hon. Alan Ryann O. Legaspi presented the proposed ordinance for the creation of CITY MMT, defining its powers, duties, and responsibilities, declaring certain acts prohibited and providing penalties, allocating funds for the purpose therefor, and other purposes.

The Local Government Units are mandated to ensure the implementation of reasonable and practicable measures to protect, restore, and enhance the quality of the environment in line with the principles of ecologically sustainable development.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources issued an Administrative Order No. 2003-30 acknowledging the role and participation of the Local Government Units, including the community, People’s Organizations, and Non-Government Organizations, in the implementation of the Philippine Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) System. This system was established under Presidential Decree (PD) No. 1586, Presidential Proclamation No. 2146, defining the scope of the EIS System and pursuant to Administrative Order No. 42 issued by the Office of the President on November 2, 2002.

The City Government of Malaybalay is committed to promoting the preservation, protection, and revival of the ecosystem through prevention, control, and abatement of air, water, and land pollution and aims to minimize environmental damage while fostering the sustained development of the city.

The creation of a Multi-partite Monitoring Team is mandated to monitor persons and entities compliance with the Certificate (ECC) granted to them and ensure a rational balance between socio-economic development and environmental protection for the benefit of present and future generations.

After thorough deliberation during the 54th regular sessions of the 9th Sangguniang Panlungsod on August 1, 2023, the said ordinance passed and was approved on the third reading. Hon. City Mayor Jay Warren R. Pabillaran also expressed his support and commitment to implementing the ordinance. (LGU Malaybalay)

DA turns over P7-M village-type dryer to Cabanglasan town coop

CABANGLASAN, BUKIDNON – The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10), under the helm of Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado, turned over a P7 million village-type dryer (VTD) to Cabanglasan Agrarian Reform Cooperative (CARC), of this town

On August 4, 2023, DA-10 Field Operations Division chief Luz I. Guzman, PhD, and Bukidnon Provincial Operations Center chief Janet D. Lopez, DVM, handed over the key of responsibility to CARC president Orlando T. Adaptar.

According to Guzman, the project aims to help corn farmers reduce postharvest losses and improve grain quality for high market prices, thereby increasing farmers’ productivity and profit.

“I’m looking forward to this project being sustained. DA is always here to support and is willing to give more projects through the endorsement of the local government unit,” Guzman conveyed.

Funded under the agency’s corn program, the VTD includes one unit corn on cob dryer with 20 metric tons of capacity; one unit corn sheller with 2.5 metric tons per hour shelling quality; one unit recirculating batch grain dryer with 12 metric tons of holding capacity; and a multi-fuel biomass furnace and bagging bin, among others.

Likewise, the VTD’s shed has a floor area of 375 square meters that can fully accommodate the dryer, sheller, furnace, and other accessories.

Cabanglasan has an estimated area of 7,108 hectares for yellow corn and 274 hectares for white corn, with around 5,000 corn farmers.

Furthermore, Cabanglasan Mayor Lolita N. Bullecer urged the farmers to use the facility with care and continuously maintain it in order to provide development for farmers’ profit and satisfaction.

Also present during the activity is Cabanglasan Municipal Vice Mayor Renante V. Inocando, REE, with local officials and DA-10 staff. (DA RFO–10)

SP Bukidnon declares Pura Luka Vega persona non grata

ILIGAN CITY – The Sangguniang Panlalawigan has passed a resolution declaring Amadeus Fernando Pagente, also known as Pura Luka Vega, a persona non-grata or unacceptable person in the province of Bukidnon

Authored by Vice Gov. Clive D. Quiño and co-authored by all Sangguniang Panlalawigan members, the resolution was approved in the 52nd regular session of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan last August 8 at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan session hall, Malaybalay City.

The resolution stated that the declaration was issued because of the recent viral video of the person in question dancing to a remix of the “Ama Namin” or Lord’s Prayer while donning a Black Nazarene-inspired attire in a bar in Metro Manila.

The resolution said the video is blasphemous, offensive, and insulting to the Christian religion and that Pagente also performed some other material that was said to have mocked sacred Catholic imagery, figures, and practices.

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan quoted Article 201 of the Revised Penal Code, which penalizes, among others, “those who, in theaters, fairs, cinematographers, or any other place exhibit indecent or immoral plays, scenes, acts or shows, whether live or in film, which are prescribed by virtue thereof…” which include those that “offend any race or religion.”

The provincial board also quoted Section 6 of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, which constitutes the offense as a cybercrime if the crime uses cyberspace as a medium and that the act was, according to the resolution, “the pinnacle of the misuse and abuse of our freedom of expression and borders on criminal activity.”

Pagente responded online to these declarations, stating, “Tell me EXACTLY what I did wrong. I’m open to dialogue, yet cities have been declaring persona non grata without even knowing me or understanding the intent of the performance. Drag is art. You judge me, yet you don’t even know me.”

Netizens are divided on whether or not Pagente’s actions were justified in the name of art or a mockery of the Catholic church.

Pagente has also been declared persona non grata in the town of Toboso in Negros Occidental, General Santos City, and the municipality of Floridablanca, Pampanga. (Manila Bulletin)

Agri-10 sets up Onion derby in agency’s research stations

To encourage farmers to venture into Onion production, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) conducts an Allium ceremonial planting in its research stations on August 2-4, 2023

Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado, CPA, said that this marks the first Onion derby in the region and aims to find the best onion varieties in each area, showcase technologies, and expand production areas in the region.

Spearheaded by its High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP), a total of five seed companies will be showcasing their technologies on onion production in DA-10’s research stations, namely: Research Center for Upland Development (RCUD) in Dangcagan, Bukidnon, Research Center for Hillyland Development (RCHD) in Claveria, Misamis Oriental and Northern Mindanao Agricultural Crops and Livestock Research Complex (NMACLRC) in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.

“We support DA-10’s initiative as it is beneficial for consumers and farmers alike since onion is an essential spice that we use daily,” shared Andre Abonitalla, Kaneko Seeds Assistant Manager for Visayas and Mindanao.

Meanwhile, harvesting and Farmers’ Forum to present derby results and recognize best-performing varieties is scheduled on November 7-9, 2023, for RCUD, RCHD, and NMACLRC, respectively. (DA RFO-10)

N. Mindanao dev’t projects priority under DOST ‘iSTART’ program

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Development projects of local government units (LGUs) in Northern Mindanao are the primary targets of the Department of Science and Technology’s (DOST) Innovation, Science and Technology for Accelerating Regional Technology-based Development (iSTART) program

In a statement on August 03, DOST-Region 10 Director Romela Ratilla said iSTART seeks to synergize the government’s efforts to ensure sustainable and inclusive development.

“The iSTART program stands as a shining example of how science, technology, and innovation can transform lives and drive development,” she said.

Ratilla said the program is a DOST-led platform for strategically aligning the agency’s programs and projects with local development plans to support balanced development by accelerating regional growth through science, technology, and innovation (STI).

Among its specific objectives is to assist LGUs in developing a technology-based development plan for agriculture-based, manufacturing, and service sectors by engaging researchers, scientists, and engineers in the planning process.

The program also seeks to attract new technology-based investments per the validated plans in collaboration with the LGUs.

Ratilla said the DOST-10 trained local planning officers in the five provinces and four cities of the region are regularly apprised of the tools and processes for mainstreaming science, technology, and innovation in local development.

The Bukidnon Provincial Planning and Development Office’s representative, Norberto Baltazar said iSTART will provide insight into how the program can bring more value to LGUs.

“Together with DOST, we must pitch this to our local chief executives,” he said. (Nef Luczon/PNA)

PSA-10 urges support for agri, fisheries census

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)-10 called on government agencies and instrumentalities, local government units, and agriculture stakeholders to support the conduct of the 2022 Census on Agriculture and Fisheries (CAF)

PSA-10 Officer-in-Charge Janith Aves said the CAF is a large-scale government undertaking geared towards collecting and compiling basic information on the agricultural and fishery sectors of the country.

Primarily, the census seeks to determine the country’s structural characteristics of the agriculture and fishery sectors. It also aims to provide basic data on agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing characteristics for use in the government’s national and local development planning.

Activities that the 2022 CAF will cover are growing crops, livestock and poultry, aquaculture, and fisheries from January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2022.

Aves said the data collected from the census will constitute the bases from which policymakers and planners formulate their plans and programs for the country’s socioeconomic development.

The 2022 CAF, she added, is the seventh in a series of decennial agricultural censuses and the sixth in the series of decennial censuses of fisheries in the country since 1903.

The nationwide census will commence on September 4, 2023, to coincide with National Agriculture and Fisheries Census Month observance. (APB/PIA-10)

PMNP launched in Bukidnon to combat malnutrition in children

MALAYBALAY CITY – The Department of Health and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), as lead agencies, recently launched the Philippine Multisectoral Nutrition Project (PMNP) in Bukidnon

The PMNP brings together various stakeholders and involved government agencies to address critical health issues focusing on maternal and child healthcare that carries the theme “Sa Healthy Pilipinas, Lahat Malakas! Converging Governance and Empowering Communities Against Maternal and Child Malnutrition.”

“Hindi pwede sila, hindi pwedeng tayo, kundi tayong lahat. Kaya sama-sama nating i-angat ang nutrisyon ng mga kabataan dahil we are chosen, because we can! Kayo ay napili para maging piloto sa ibang lokal na pamahalaan sa Region 10. (None of them can do it, and neither can we alone. If we all come together, we can totally make it happen! Let’s team up and boost the nutrition of the youth because we’ve been chosen for this mission. Let’s make a positive impact together),” Abdullah B. Dumana Jr. Undersecretary for Field Implementation and Coordination Team-Mindanao said.

Among 17 target regions, Northern Mindanao is one of the PMNP recipients.

Lanao del Norte and Bukidnon provinces were identified as implementing sites. Four Bukidnon towns: Talakag, Cabanglasan, Kalilangan, and San Fernando, were identified as pilot areas.

The four-year PMNP seeks to enhance the nutritional status of children aged five and below, including pregnant and lactating women, through a comprehensive approach covering health and nutrition services, food security, livelihood, water, sanitation, hygiene, and behavior change communication.

Bukidnon is one of the recipients of this project geared towards adopting a bold and multisectoral approach to achieve nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions across various barangays in identified areas of the province.

DOH and DSWD, along with NNC, DA, DILG, NEDA, DBM, DOST, NCIP, and National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, jointly urged the LGUs, private sector, and communities to actively participate in addressing the prevalence of childhood stunting and nutritional deficiencies.

DOH Undersecretary Dumama Jr. led the Pledge of Commitment signing that conveyed the active participation of Gov. Rogelio Neil Roque, DILG Regional Director Wilhelm Suyko, and representatives from various partner agencies, all coming together to demonstrate their dedication to the cause. (BGE/PIA-Bukidnon)

CHO distributes permethrin lotion to scabies patients in Malaybalay

On August 02, 2023, the Malaybalay City Health Office (CHO) distributed Permethrin lotion to patients affected by scabies

This initiative took place in New Mexico, Barangay Bangcud.

Scabies, a skin infection caused by mites, can lead to discomfort and itching. Permethrin lotion, recognized as the preferred treatment, was distributed to alleviate symptoms and aid in the healing process.

Among the key figures present during the distribution were Dr. Jude Rey Pagaling, and Leonamie Melliston, RN, Assistant Coordinator for CESU. Also in attendance were April Nicole U. Aurita, RN, representing the Department of Health (DOH-DSO), and Elizabeth Salvanera, RM, DOH Midwife for Barangay Bangcud.

This concerted effort demonstrates healthcare professionals’ dedication to improving the community’s well-being by providing essential treatments and care. (LGU Malaybalay)