Tuesday, July 23, 2024

Bukidnon schools first to orient in agri e-learning upgrades

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (July 12, 2024/PNA) – Schools in the province of Bukidnon are the first in the Northern Mindanao region to re-orient updated course modules of e-learning on agriculture

In an interview Friday, Jan-Ariss Jadaque, technical support focal person of the Agricultural Training Institute in Region 10 (ATI-10), said 60 teachers from 15 schools in Malaybalay City attended the re-orientation.

“One of the objectives we also aim for the briefing is to develop a plan for a possible partnership with the different schools from the (Department of Education’s) Division of Malaybalay City,” he said.

The e-learning briefing for teachers guided them in the new website, which was relaunched in 2023.

Its goal is to promote agriculture and fishery to youth through the integration of an e-learning program into the curriculum of these schools’ Technical- Vocational- Livelihood track at the senior high school level.

Victhor Palarca, ATI-10 Media Production Specialist, said the e-learning program started in 2010, but the agriculture modules are part of the electronic extension program which dates back to 2007. (Nef Luczon/PNA)

800 NorMin families to get food credits under ‘Walang Gutom’

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (July 16, 2024/PNA) – The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Northern Mindanao (DSWD-10) on Tuesday started the implementation of the Walang Gutom Program (WGP), which will initially benefit 800 families

During the launch, DSWD-10 Director Ramel Jamen said the initial beneficiaries were identified as those from Talakag, Bukidnon, and Iligan City.

Each family will receive PHP3,000 worth of food credits monthly through the electronic benefit transfer card that DSWD-10 will issue.

Suppliers who are also beneficiaries of the Sustainable Livelihood Program will accept the food credits.

“We would need constant communication for this program to prosper. If we have a problem in our supply distribution, we can look for alternatives,” Jamen said.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, 1.4 million Filipino families are categorized as food-poor In Northern Mindanao.

The WGP targets to serve over 9,000 beneficiaries in Bukidnon and Lanao del Norte, including Iligan City.

The program aims to reduce involuntary hunger and malnutrition in low-income households and empower them to become productive citizens. (Nef Luczon/PNA)

Fire Insp. Salga gipasidunggan

Gitunol ang pasidungog ngadto kang Fire Inspector Mary Ranilie Ladrillo Salga

Nahigayon ang pagtunol niadtong Mayo 21, 2024 didto sa Sangguniang Panlunsod (SP) Session Hall sa Old City Hall building sa Malaybalay City atol sa 92nd regular session sa SP.

Kaniadtong Abril 16 atol sa 87th regular session sa SP, giduso ni Konsehal Zoltan Dindo D. Dinlayan nga hatagan og Recognition si Salga isip Top six nga nag-graduate sa Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) LAYAG-DIWA Class of 2024.

Si Fire Inspector Salga gikan sa Barangay 10 sa Malaybalay City.

Siya kinamagulangang anak sa kanhing empleyado sa City Government of Malaybalay nga si late Ramon Salga ug Nelly L. Salga.

Produkto siya sa Malaybalay City Central School (MCCS), Bukidnon National High School (BNHS) ug Cagayan de Oro College (COC) sa wala pa siya nisulod sa PNPA. (Diego M. Hidalgo)

Major infra projects underway to link communities across Normin

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (May 28, 2024/PIA) – Engr. Zenaida Tan, the regional director of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-10, unveiled the latest progress on infrastructure flagship projects in northern Mindanao during the premiere episode of “Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas” on May 28

Tan highlighted the completion of the 12.8-kilometer Gusa-Igpit section of the Cagayan de Oro Coastal Road, valued at P3.246 billion, with only final adjustments on the rotunda pending.

The Puerto-Gusa section of the Cagayan de Oro Coastal Road is a four-lane concrete pavement highway spanning 8.95 km with a viaduct that passes over the Baloy Port, Gusa, Cugman, Umalag, and Agusan Rivers, with a combined bridge length of approximately 6,330 linear meters.

“Ang total estimated cost ani nga section is P36.294 billion, ug ang na release pa lang is P1.2 billion. Ang accomplishment ani karon is 6.66 kilometers long, or 660 meters nga rock embankment. Karong tuiga, naay ongoing nga road embankment nga adunay katas-on nga 120 linear meters,” she explained.

(The total estimated cost of this section is P36.294 billion, and only P1.2 billion was released. The accomplishment for this as of today is 6.66 kilometers long, or 660 meters of rock embankment. This year, there is an ongoing road embankment with a height of 120 linear meters.)

According to Tan, once the two sections are connected, travel time, currently ranging from 90 minutes to two hours, is projected to decrease significantly to just 30 minutes.

The regional director said there is also the Cagayan de Oro Diversion Road Extension, costing P3.8 billion. This is a two-lane road that starts at Jct. Sayre Highway Alae in Manolo Fortich continues through Malitbog in Bukidnon and ends at Barangay Lanise, Claveria, in Misamis Oriental. This project entails road opening, road concreting, and the construction of five bridges, which total 49.79 kilometers in length. Currently, 20.89 kilometers of the road is finished, with one bridge under construction.

Tan highlighted that the project will reduce the travel time from Manolo Fortich to Claveria from 90 minutes to just 60 minutes.

Another notable project is the Iligan City Coastal Bypass Project, which has a length of 7.2 kilometers and an estimated cost of P4.784 billion. The project, designed to alleviate congestion on the Misamis Oriental-Maria Cristina Boundary Road, particularly during peak hours, has received a funding allocation of P2.735 billion, with 1.42 kilometers of gravel road/rock embankment completed so far.

The CDO-Opol-El Salvador-Alubijid-Laguindingan Airport Mountain Diversion Road, a P7.852 billion project, is a four-lane route extending from Cagayan de Oro City to the western side of Misamis Oriental, covering 37.6 kilometers. This project involves graveling, concreting, and the construction of nine bridges, with 5.22 kilometers of road already concreted.

Tan underscored that, besides reducing travel time, this project will unlock agri-industrial opportunities for farmers in the upland areas.

The “Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas,” organized by the Presidential Communications Office through the Philippine Information Agency, is a nationwide synchronized weekly media forum to communicate updates on the programs, projects, and services of various national government agencies and departments. (Apipa P. Bagumbaran/PIA-10)

PGB midawat og P50-M cash assistance gikan kang PBBM

Gidawat sa Provincial Government of Bukidnon (PGB), pinaagi ni Provincial Governor Rogelio Neil P. Roque ang cheque balor ₱50-milyones gikan kang President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.

Sumala sa kasayoran sa PAIA, nahatag kini atol sa Presidential Assistance to Farmers, Fisherfolks, and Families sa Pimentel Convention Center, Cagayan de Oro City niadtong Mayo 16, 2024.

Sa maong okasyon, gipadangat ni Presidente Marcos ang ka-mahinungdanon sa pagtimbayayong –ilabi na ning panahon sa kalamidad, nga dala sa taas nga hulaw.

Dinhi gipasabot sa presidente nga gamay’ng kantidad man ang ilang madawat apan malaumon kini nga subling makasugod ug makabangon ang mga apektadong pamilya dala sa ting-init.

Ang nadawat nga kantidad i-ayuda ngadto sa mga mag-uuma ug mangingisda nga labing naapektuhan sa El Niño, subay sa gitakda nga gabayan sa pag-apod-apod sa maong cash assistance.

Ang PGB ug representante sa DA-Regional Field Units (RFUs) mo-determina sa marginalized families alang sa mga mag-uuma ug DSWD alang sa mga mangingisda ug uban pang marginalized sektor nga grabeng naapektuhan sa hulaw, kinsa modawat sa tag-₱10,000.00.

Gawas sa Bukidnon, ang Misamis Orietal nakadawat sab og ₱50 milyones, ₱24.36-M sa Misamis Occidental, ₱13.92-M sa Lanao del Norte, ₱10.54-M sa Iligan City, ug tag-₱10-M sa Cagayan de Oro City ug Camiguin.

Aduna usab gipahigayon nga ceremonial turnover ngadto sa mga beneficiaries sa nagkadaiyang syudad ug probinsya sa Northern Mindanao, nga gisaksihan sa mga mayor, mga kongresista, ug ingon man sa mga department secretaries and officials. (Omar Rashid Z. Abdullah)

One Bukidnon overall champion sa NMRAA 2024

Nahimong overall champion sa gipahigayon nga 2024 Palarong Pampook Northern Mindanao Regional Athletic Association (NMRAA) ang One Bukidnon

Sumala sa kasayoran sa kagamhanag probinsyal sa Bukidnon ang NMRAA gidula niadtong Mayo 9-17, 2024 didto sa munisipyo sa Mambajao, Camiguin Island.

Ang One Bukidnon overall champion sa secondary ug elementary level batok sa contingents gikan sa Cagayan De Oro, Misamis Oriental, Iligan, Lanao Del Norte, Misamis Occidental ug Camiguin.

Sa maong kalihukan mihatag og suporta ang Provincial Government of Bukidnon (PGB), ug nagpadangat kini sa dakong pasalamat sa tanang batan-ong atleta nga midula, dala ang pangalan sa probinsya.

Ang One Bukidnon girepresentahan sa DepEd-Province of Bukidnon, DepEd-Malaybalay City ug DepEd-Valencia City. (Diego M. Hidalgo)

Bukidnon claims top spot as Philippines’ leading agricultural area

Bukidnon is the top agricultural area in the country, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed

Based on the survey of 82 provinces and 17 highly urbanized cities, it reported that Bukidnon had the highest gross value added (GVA) to agriculture, forestry, and fishing (AFF) in 2022 which stood at P125 billion.

 

The province contributed seven percent to the sector’s overall national GVA.

 

GVA is defined as the total of all revenues, from final sales and net subsidies, which are incomes into businesses; these incomes are then used to cover expenses, savings, and taxes.

 

It is also used to adjust gross domestic product, which is a key indicator of the state of a nation’s total economy.

 

Nueva Ecija comes after Bukidnon, with a GVA of P79.74 billion or 4.5 percentage share, followed by Pangasinan with P66.93 billion, Pampanga with P62.71 billion, and Isabela with P58.78 billion.

 

Completing the top 10 provinces outside the National Capital Region (NCR) that had the highest shares of GVA of AFF were Negros Occidental, Iloilo, Davao del Norte, Batangas, and Quezon.

 

On the other hand, the country reached over P1.78 trillion in GVA of AFF.

 

In terms of per capita GDP among provinces and cities outside NCR in 2022, Baguio City shared the highest per capita GDP of over P420 billion.

 

The per capita GDP is a measurement of wealth or poverty through the economic output to a per-person allocation.

 

Also sharing the highest per capita GDP were the cities of Cagayan de Oro (P343 billion), Lapu-Lapu (P313 billion), Iloilo (P306 billion), and Bataan (P297 billion).

 

Rounding out the top 10 wealthiest areas outside NCR were Cebu City, Laguna, Mandaue City, Davao City, and Batanes.

 

The Marcos administration is targeting to achieve an economic growth of 6.5 to 7.5 percent target band this year and 6.5 to 8.0 percent in the next four years.

 

The country’s GDP is already above pre-pandemic levels in peso terms, according to Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort, however, it could be slowed by higher prices and interest rates. (Xander Dave Ceballos/April 2, 2024)

DA-10 backs Bukidnon’s Kadiwa ng Pangulo

MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon (April 01, 2024/PIA) – The Department of Agriculture in Northern Mindanao (DA-NorMin) commits to support the continued rolling out of the Katuwang sa Diwa at Gawa Para sa Masaganang Ani at Mataas na Kita (Kadiwa) ng Pangulo or KNP across Bukidnon province

“As the lead convenor, DA will secure an ample supply of agri-fishery products in every KNP site by engaging local farmers and fisherfolk as sellers,” DA-NorMin Regional Executive Director Carlene Collado said.

 

He emphasized that KNP aims to stimulate consumer spending, assist local farmers in selling agri-produce, provide market opportunities to MSMEs, and ensure accessible and affordable goods.

 

The Kadiwa program adheres to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Memorandum No. 2024-003, as reiterated by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in his State-of-the-Nation Address, citing the KNP as a system to enable the public to buy cheaper goods at cheaper rates and the farmers to sell their crops without having to worry about transportation costs.

 

The agriculture department started rolling out the Kadiwa in July last year, which seeks to empower the farming community by providing a direct and effective farm-to-consumer food supply chain.

 

In addition to ensuring a sufficient supply of agricultural products, DA is tasked with tracking the number of sellers and earnings for each Kadiwa event.

 

Through its Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division, DA-NorMin closely collaborates with the provincial government of the five provinces in Northern Mindanao to ensure a unified approach to KNP across the region.

 

During the recent Bukidnon Provincial Price Coordinating Council (PPCC) first quarter meeting, the DILG outlined the roles of involved government agencies in KNP, including the local government units (LGUs), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), DILG, and DA.

 

The Bukidnon PPCC urged all LGUs to conduct KNP twice a month, preferably on the 15th and 30th, complying with the circular.

 

It also pushed for activating the Local Price Coordinating Council (LPCC) in each town and city, in line with its recently developed action plan. (DA-10/PIA 10/Bukidnon)

Allium derby seen to boost farmers’ productivity, onion supply in NorMin

MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon – Aiming to boost onion production in the region to attain self-sufficiency, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) stages an Allium Derby and Farmers’ Forum on February 22, at the Northern Mindanao Agricultural Crops and Livestock Research Complex (NMACLRC) in Dalwangan here

Spearheaded by DA-10’s High-Value Crops Development Program in coordination with the Research Division, and private seed and chemical companies, the activity gathered 100 farmers and other relevant stakeholders to witness the showcase of different onion varieties and their corresponding farming protocols.

“We can see from the two locations that onion production is viable in Region 10,” shared DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado with the earlier conduct of the same in Tablon, Cagayan de Oro City, held last week.

He also noted that the agency will be procuring onion seeds and likewise, encouraged interested farmers’ cooperatives, and associations to submit their letter requests to avail of the said intervention.

Meanwhile, each seed and chemical company was given time to share their respective onion technologies and also distributed Information, Education, and Communication materials to the attending farmers.

Andre Abonitalla, assistant Sales Manager for Visayas and Mindanao, is thankful to DA for the implementation of the field trials for Onion.

“Currently, our onions in Mindanao are from Luzon and the price per onion increases since there is an additional freight cost, however, if onions are produced locally here in Region 10, this cost will be removed, thus resulting in cheaper onions,” he added.

During the derby cum forum, Allied Botanical, Corp. emerged as champions while Pilipinas Kaneko Seeds, Corp. and Ramgo Seeds are awarded first- and second-runner-up, respectively.

Criteria for judging included the biggest yield volume (in kilogram), best quality, and best economic efficiency.

For her part, Jacqueline Julia A. Lagamon, acting provincial agriculturist for Bukidnon, shared that they will be working closely with DA-10’s Research Division to look for more locations as potential onion-producing sites.

Also supporting the event are DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga, with DA-10’s attached bureaus and agencies: Agricultural Training Institute and Bureau of Plant Industry as well as private chemical companies such as Envireau Pacific, Inc., FMC Agro Philippines, Inc., Aldiz, Inc., and Tropi-Cuke, Inc.

Another round of such events is also slated for DA-10’s Research Center for Hillyland Development in Claveria, Misamis Oriental on March 21, this year. (PR)

P99M student welfare center opens in Bukidnon

MANOLO FORTICH, Bukidnon (Feb. 07, 2024/PIA) – Senate President and Majority Leader Juan Miguel F. Zubiri, together with other Bukidnon leaders, led the inauguration of Northern Bukidnon State College’s (NBSC) P99 million three-story student welfare and development center on February 2 in Sitio Kihare, Barangay Tangkulan

“We’ll make it a premiere state college for our eventual conversion to a state university,” Zubiri said, emphasizing that the only way to solve poverty in Bukidnon is through education. 

 

Ronaldo Pahang, who heads the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 3rd Engineering District of Bukidnon, said the project cost totaled the revised amount of P99 million from its original P92.8 million and was completed in 629 calendar days.

 

Phase two of the project, which includes the provision of a parking area, was completed within 300 calendar days, totaling P49.5 million. The project is funded under the Local Infrastructure Program-Multi-Year Contractual Authority (LIP-MYCA).

 

Zubiri also promised to look into the construction of NSBC’s road networks and asked the DPWH 3rd Engineering District of Bukidnon to do the survey and cost estimates.

 

“As far as Bukidnon is concerned, we are working together to provide whatever is needed for our education sector,” Rep. Jose Manuel Alba said, adding that with the support of Zubiri, NBSC now has an additional P86 million for its 2024 NBSC budget.

 

The NBSC envisions itself as a leading institution in research, innovation, sustainable academic programs, and services that cultivate educational, personal, and professional growth for its learners; thus, NBSC President Dr. Catherine Roween Almaden expressed gratitude to the senator and all the leaders of Bukidnon for the realization of the now-inaugurated facility.

 

“At the core of this facility are the modern amenities that will host various types of student services, one of which is our cultural and creative innovation hub, a space that celebrates and preserves the traditions of our IP communities—a place where creativity and tradition converge, fostering an environment that encourages the exploration and expression of our unique cultural heritage,” Almaden said.

 

Among the amenities is a laboratory for its Fine Arts program, which focuses on product design; a simulation laboratory for teachers; and 21st-century classrooms, which serve as hubs for research addressing unique challenges faced by students and their stakeholders.

 

The NBSC student welfare and development center will house two 300-seater conference halls with state-of-the-art technology. Almaden said that the procurement process is now underway.

 

“Mao gyud na atong gidamgo nga mahatagan nato og edukasyon atong mga kaigsuonan, hilabi na katong naa sa mga hilit nga mga kabarangayan [This has always been our dream to give quality education to our constituents, especially those in the hinterland barangays],” said Manolo Fortich Mayor Rogelio Quiño.

 

He also revealed that the local government of Manolo Fortich has allocated a budget for 300 scholars of the NBSC. 400 senior high school students also benefit from the local government’s P2,500 per semester allowance. With the help of the municipal council, Quiño hopes to raise the number of scholars this year to a total of 1,000 students. 

 

NBSC has emerged as a modern-era academic institution. Its humble beginnings trace back to 2005 as a community college under the municipal ordinance number 368-2005. The institution started opening its classes for AY 2005–2006, leading to its eventual conversion into a state college in 2020 via Republic Act 11284, or An Act Converting the Northern Bukidnon Community College in the Municipality of Manolo Fortich, Province of Bukidnon, into a state college to be known as the Northern Bukidnon State College. (Shaun Alejandrae Y. Uy/PIA-10)