Thursday, November 21, 2024

Tag: Complex

Awareness seminar on food safety, regulations held

Posted on by cmn

MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon — The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10), through its Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD), staged an awareness seminar on food safety and regulations on August 15 at the Northern Mindanao Agricultural Crops and Livestock Research Complex (NMACLRC), in this city

During this time, the agency apprised almost 50 local farmers and agri-enterprises from the provinces of Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, and Lanao del Norte on key concepts and relevant laws on food safety.

On behalf of DA-10 Regional Executive Director Jose Apollo Y. Pacamalan, AMAD Assistant Division Chief Ferdinand F. Caraballe emphasized its importance for local stakeholders engaged in producing agricultural commodities and food products.

“[The DA] conducts this seminar annually because we handle food, and therefore, it is our commitment to our consumers that what we deliver is safe and free from foodborne diseases,” Caraballe said.

Through Republic Act No. 10611, otherwise known as the ‘Food Safety Act of 2013’, the DA and its attached regulatory agencies, bureaus, and corporations are identified as food safety regulatory agencies (FSRAs) responsible for the implementation of laws, standards, and programs on food safety in the primary production and post-harvest stages of the food supply chain.

Said regulatory agencies include the Bureau of Animal Industry, National Meat Inspection Service, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Bureau of Plant Industry, Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority, Philippine Coconut Authority, Sugar Regulatory Administration, and the National Dairy Authority.

Underscoring the role of the local government in the implementation of food safety laws, Andrew M. Calimutan of the Office of the DA Assistant Secretary for Policy and Regulations said that the Department, through the aforementioned regulatory agencies, continues to engage and assist LGUs in the formulation of local ordinances on food safety.

Further, he said that the agency is presently revisiting its regulatory policies to ensure that they are retrofitted to current industry and trade standards and remain in service to consumer and food safety interests.

Under RA 10611, DA conducts training for local producers and food business operators on food safety to ensure their compliance with industry standards, including the Code of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Code of Good Animal Husbandry Practices (GAHP), and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP).

Market Specialist IV Irish O. Ativo from the DA-Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service said that these standards and compliance certifications provide a competitive advantage for food business operators, as they allow for market expansion and build consumer trust and confidence in their products.

During the session, the farmers were also kept abreast of practical food handling practices for agricultural produce, salient information on the Participatory Guarantee System, and a comprehensive review of the activities and services offered by the Food Safety Operations Unit of the BPI-Plant Product Safety Services Division.

They were also briefed on the strategies for marketing GAP-certified products through the Department’s KADIWA marketing program.

In closing, Caraballe urged the participants to apply what they had learned throughout the session to their respective enterprises and agricultural production, highlighting its implications in building public trust, consumer safety, and food quality and nutrition.

The said activity is in line with the Department’s refined thrusts toward a ‘Masaganang Bagong Pilipinas’ under the leadership of Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. and President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. (GDA)

Agri NorMin lauds AMIA villages in first congress

Posted on by cmn

MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon – To showcase the different climate-resilient communities in the region, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) through its Adaptation and Mitigation Initiative in Agriculture (AMIA) conducts an awarding for the AMIA villages during its 1st AMIA-10 Congress on July 11-12, at the Northern Mindanao Agricultural Crops and Livestock Research Complex, in Dalwangan, here

With this year’s theme, “Klima atimana para sa malahutayong pag-uma ug ekonomiya,” the event gathered farmer-beneficiaries, local government units, and other stakeholders to share the success and innovations of the 11 AMIA villages in the region.

Climate Resilient Agriculture Office National Director Alicia G. Ilaga noted that apart from building climate-resilient communities, the AMIA program also seeks to eradicate poverty.

“Mithiin nating mai-level up ang ating mga AMIA village mula sa pagiging maliliit na production units, papunta sa market-oriented climate-resilient enterprises o yung tinatawag nating AMIA Climate-Resilient Agri-Fishery Technology-based Enterprises (AMIA CREATE),” the CRAO director added.

As such, AMIA-10 held a Booth Display contest with the criteria: number of products displayed (30 percent), quality of products displayed (25 percent), landscape and display (25 percent), and question and answer (20 percent).

Of which, Libona AMIA village of Bukidnon emerged as the first placer, followed by Manolo Fortich of Bukidnon and Magsaysay AMIA Village of Misamis Oriental, as second and third placers, respectively.

Meanwhile, select AMIA villages in its Phase 3 level of implementation also presented their best practices and adjudged with the criteria: productivity and income (30 percent), technologies and practices employed (25 percent), readiness to entrepreneurship (20 percent), ability to present (15 percent) and question and answer (10 percent).

Manolo Fortich AMIA village topped for the AMIA village Presenter Award, while Magsaysay, Libona, and Baungon AMIA villages followed as the second, third, and fourth placers, respectively. (AMBM)

RDC-10 economic dev’t committee approves DA-10 2025 proposed budget

Posted on by cmn

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (March 03, 2024/PIA) — The Economic Development Committee of the Regional Development Council (RDC)-10 approved the P20.32 billion proposed budget of the Department of Agriculture (DA)-10 for the year 2025 on February 20

DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado said 24 percent of the said budget is proposed under Tier 1 of the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA), while the remaining 76 percent will be lodged under Tier 2.

 

As part of its priority programs for 2025, DA-10 seeks to fund catalytic projects such as farm-to-market road development; agricultural machinery, equipment, and facilities support services; irrigation network services; production support services; Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD); metropolitan and agri-based products cluster approach; corn processing center expansion; and biosecurity and climate-resilient production facilities.

 

According to Collado, the proposed budget is a product of consultative planning, encompassing the needs and priorities of the agricultural stakeholders in the region.

 

“We craft the budget using a bottom-up approach. The projects we propose are mainly based on the endorsement of the LGUs and the validated intentions we received from farmers’ cooperatives and associations in the region,” Collado said.

 

Statutory appropriation for gender and development, persons with disabilities, the elderly, and the youth, capacity development programs, and capacity building for devolved functions and services (Mandanas-Garcia ruling implementation) are also among the programs proposed for funding by the agency in 2025.

 

Under the proposed budget, DA-10 also seeks to complete the construction of its regional office, upgrade its research facilities, and establish a new integrated laboratory complex in the region.

 

This year, DA-10 secured a 19 percent GAA-approved budget from the RDC-10-endorsed budget proposal. (DA-10/PIA-10)

Malaybalay builds new OSCA building, Women’s center

Posted on by cmn

MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon (February 26, 2024) – The city of Malaybalay has constructed a new multi-purpose building for the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA), as well as another structure to function as a Women’s Center

On the morning of February 23, 2024, the two structures constructed within the city hall complex at Brgy. Casisang were blessed and turned over, according to information from the city government’s official Facebook page.

The multi-purpose facility for which OSCA is the end-user has a project authorization of P8,436,000.00, while the actual project cost is just P7,752,561.19.

Meanwhile, the Women’s Center has a project budget of P4,456,037.40, but its real cost is P4,050,943.09.

City Mayor Jay Warren R. Pabillaran led the turnover ceremony.

Members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP), led by City Vice Mayor Estelito R. Marabe, also attended the event.

Rev. Fr. Andrew T. Boquilon presided over the blessing of the two structures in the presence of senior citizens federation officers, women’s presidents, and the kagawad in charge of each barangay.

In his message, Pabillaran congratulated the groups who had been waiting for these buildings for a long time.

He also stated that there is no need to be concerned about its maintenance because the city government has money set out each year for repair and maintenance, ensuring that it lasts for over 50 years.

In his welcome address, Vice Mayor Marabe expressed his gratitude that the Women’s Federation and the Senior Citizen’s Affairs Federation now have a permanent home that should be maintained by people who utilize it.

He also said that the current structures would serve as local tourism for other cities and municipalities, allowing them to benchmark right here on the city hall site.

The vice mayor is also optimistic that these two federations would expand and become more efficient in their operations. (melbmadera)

Ultramodern sports complex soon to rise in Kibawe

Posted on by cmn

Ultramodern sports complex soon to rise in Kibawe.

Mayor Reynaldo S. Ang Rabanes, in an interview, said this P32 million project features multiple rubberized racing fields, a central pavilion, and dedicated amenities for both players and spectators, which can be used for several other types of sports events requiring multi-purpose fields.

“Grateful thanks are extended to Rep. Manuel ‘Manoy’ F. Zubiri of Bukidnon 3rd District and DPWH Engineer Liberato Tan Jr. for facilitating the construction of this modern sports complex. The Kibaweños envisioned this to serve as a well-equipped facility for athletic activities to encourage and unleash the youth’s potentials and attract more investors,” the mayor said.

Department of Education (DepEd) Bukidnon 3rd District Supervisor Nilo F. Dumapias, meanwhile, described the sports complex as a tournament-quality sports complex that will host hundreds of top youth and amateur events and will attract not only sports tournaments but also showcase training academies.

Located adjacent to Kibawe Central School, the facility’s construction had kicked off early last month. The groundbreaking ceremony was also graced by Project Engr. Isabelita Balba, Resident Engr. Art Leroi Laure, LGU officials, and Kibawe Central Elementary School faculty (DPWH10/PIA Bukidnon).