Sunday, April 21, 2024

Tag: NFA

DA-10 links institutional buyers, F2C2 clusters for potential market

Posted on by cmn

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10), helmed by Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado, through the Farm and Fisheries Clustering and Consolidation (F2C2) Program, conducted a stakeholders meeting on September 7, 2023, in this city

Said meeting aims to link the farmers’ cooperatives and associations (FCAs) from the different provinces in Northern Mindanao to potential institutional buyers who need supplies of various produce.

The institutional buyers include the National Food Authority (NFA), Misamis Oriental – Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, San Miguel Foods, Inc., and BestFriend Goodies.

In her message, DA-10 F2C2 focal person Gay Nanette R. Aleria hopes this activity paves the way for future marketing agreements between the FCAs and the institutional buyers.

“We wanted to provide a solution to one of the problems of our FCAs, which is the lack of market for their produce,” said Aleria.

Also joining the said meeting are representatives from the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division-10, who assisted the buyers and FCAs through market matching and roundtable discussions. (DA RFO-10)

NFA-Bukidnon starts OTRA distribution to gov’t workers

Posted on by cmn

MALAYBALAY CITY – The National Food Authority (NFA) Bukidnon has officially started distributing the One-Time Grant of Rice Assistance (OTRA) to employees of national government agencies (NGAs) and state universities and colleges (SUCs), as well as military and uniformed personnel

This initiative is under Administrative Order No. 2, following the Department of Budget and Management’s (DBM) list of beneficiaries.

Supervising Grains Officer Junrie T. Dumas of NFA Bukidnon said around 26,000 government employee beneficiaries province-wide could receive the allocated NFA rice.

“Our main goal is to prioritize those Bukidnon government workers listed based on the contingent fund released by DBM. We have identified 26,000 beneficiaries who will each receive 25 kilos of NFA rice,” he said.

Meanwhile, NFA-Bukidnon spokesperson Glenn de Otoy said the OTRA is an initiative of the Marcos Administration to recognize the invaluable contribution and participation of every government employee and worker in efficiently delivering public services, especially during the pandemic.

De Otoy clarified that beneficiaries should be legitimate employees from November 30, 2022, to date.

“Sa One-Time Grant of Rice Assistance (OTRA) guidelines, giklaro didto nga ang recipient, dapat legitimate nga empleyado sugod November 30, 2022. Kung na-hire ka after ana nga petsa, dili na ka makaapil aning OTRA,” he explained.

(The OTRA guidelines clearly stated that individuals eligible for rice assistance must have been legitimate employees as of November 30, 2022. You will lose your OTRA eligibility if you are hired after the specified period)

He emphasized that the program grants assistance in the form of 25 kilos of rice to those working in the government to help mitigate the effect of socio-economic challenges in their households and to boost the domestic production of our local farmers by giving opportunities to the agricultural sectors.

The National Food Authority, the government’s arm responsible for implementing the OTRA, urges local Palay farmers to continue supporting the agency’s procurement programs. This support is vital to ensure an optimal level of buffer stock inventory, which in turn helps meet the government’s rice requirements during initiatives such as the OTRA. Moreover, it plays a critical role during times of calamities and emergencies. (BGE/PIA-10/Bukidnon)

CAAP bids out Bukidnon Airport’s P1-B Phase 4

Posted on by cmn

MALAYBALAY CITY – The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines has updated the schedule of the bid submission and opening of the P1-billion Phase IV of the construction of the Bukidnon Airport, based on bid documents as of March 7, 2023

This 900-day phase of the Bukidnon Airport Development Project is expected to start on May 25, 2023, and to be completed on November 10, 2025.

CAAP set the new deadline for submission and opening of bids for the P970.3 million phase on March 30, 2023, according to the bid bulletin issued by Captain Edgardo G. Diaz, Chair, CAAP Bids, and Awards Committee.

The Bukidnon Airport, located in Barangay Maraymaray in Don Carlos, in the southern part of the province, is one of the flagship projects of the government in Northern Mindanao.

The phase covers the site preparation of the land side area; construction of access road and vehicular parking area; industrial lighting and exterior power distribution, nine-storey control tower building; two-story administration building; the communal toilet; waiting area; A and B ticketing booths – A (four units) and B (two units); 10,000-gallons steel water tank A and B; pump house A, B, and C; powerhouse; transform yard (two units); CSIS office building; cargo terminal building; rescue and firefighting facility; STP control room; guardhouse A & B; covered pathway, 13 Units; lifting station with 26 service manholes; water impounding system; and staff house building.

CAAP has reported about 8.26% actual accomplishment in the airport’s Phase 3 or the construction of passenger terminal building, runway strip, and runway Extension, among others as of a status report of February 28, 2023.

CAAP awarded the P958.4 million project phase to Tokwing Construction Corp./Mamsar Construction and Industrial Corporation. The 540-day project started on September 10, 2022, and is due for completion on April 3, 2024, after a revision.

Contractor Jasa Builders completed the construction of the project’s P74.5 million Phase 2 on October 9, 2022, which CAAP inspectors checked on November 16, 2022.

CAAP has reported 48.25% actual accomplishment in the airport construction’s Phase 1, which was awarded to Eddmari Construction and Trading. As of February 28, 2023, this project phase is due for completion on April 20, 2023.

The CAAP project status report, however, showed a number of adjustments in project completion.

Based on the project profile, the Phase 1 project duration was increased from 330 to 440 calendar days due to an approved variation order. The completion was first extended from June 28, 2022, to October 15, 2022. The same duration was adjusted by another approved variation order to April 8, 2023, due to “unworkable/rainy days”. Another extension was given up to April 20, 2023, due again to unfavorable conditions and delayed payments of 1st progress billing.

Although declared complete and inspected as of November 2022, the CAAP status report also cited that the project’s Phase 2, on embankment works, was also extended due to “unworkable/rainy days”.

Based on the CAAP report, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) has downloaded to CAAP a total of P2.816 billion from 2019 to 2022 to the four phases of the project, which is expected to be completed in 2026.

For Phase 1, the DOTr downloaded P200 million of its annual budget to CAAP with a memorandum of agreement approved on April 25, 2019. From the 2019 GAA (General Appropriations Act), DOTr downloaded an additional P430 million.

In Phase 2, the DOTr downloaded P136.8 million of its GAA to CAAP with a MOA signed on January 10, 2019.

In Phase 3, the DOTr downloaded a total of P1.05 billion to CAAP with a MOA approved on June 10, 2021.

Finally, for Phase 4, the DOTr downloaded a total of P1 billion to CAAP with a MOA approved also on June 10, 2021.

In November 2021, then-Senate Majority Leader Zubiri reported construction of the P2 billion (USD39.8 million) Bukidnon Airport project to be fully completed in 2026.

According to the Center for Aviation website, once operational the Bukidnon Airport is expected to accommodate aircraft including the ATR-72 and Bombardier Q400.

When the Bukidnon Airport was being conceptualized, Sen, Zubiri pushed for the project and has since supported its construction. In 2012, Senator Zubiri earmarked a portion of his Priority Development Assistance Fund to start the construction of the airport.

He said he has looked for additional sources from Official Development Assistance and other international aid agencies to fund the bigger portion of the project.

He added that an airport in the province is important as the Laguindingan International Airport is set to operate in 2012. Land travel from Bukidnon to the new airport has taken much longer.

In 2011, then President Benigno Simeon Aquino tasked the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) to conduct a feasibility study for an airport “more central in Mindanao” so that distances to and from various areas will make more economic sense. Aquino had said that most Mindanao airports are located near the coast.

Initially, CAAP inspected three sites for the proposed airport, which were all considered “technically feasible”; the current site, another area in Cabangahan here in Malaybalay, and in Dabongdabong, Valencia City. (BukidnonNews.Net)

Biz chamber’s Bioco is now Acting NFA Chief

Posted on by cmn

MALAYBALAY CITY – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed a Bukidnon-based business leader as the new acting administrator and member of the National Food Authority (NFA) Council as of Jan. 18, 2023.

Roderico R. Bioco, president of the Bukidnon Giant Bamboo (BGB) Resources Corporation, is a former chair of the Bukidnon Kaamulan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. He has replaced Judy Dansal, who Duterte appointed in 2019.

The former governor of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Northern Mindanao took his oath for the NFA top post on Jan. 18 before Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin.

As NFA Acting Administrator, Bioco also sits in the NFA Council as vice chairperson. The council is chaired by the agriculture secretary, which is con-currently held by President Marcos. (BukidnonNews.Net)

12 ka mga FR nakadawat og P360K livelihood kits gikan sa DOLE-10

Posted on by cmn

MALITBOG, Bukidnon (PIA)–Nagdala og bag-ong pagla-um ang bag-ong tuig tungod kay ang 12 ka mga kanhi rebelde ubos sa ‘Hinanaling Tabang’ sa 16th Infantry (Maglilingkod) Battalion nakadawat og livelihood starter kits gikan sa Department of Labor and Employment–Region 10 (DOLE-10) sa pakigtambayayong sa Malitbog local government unit (LGU), Enero 6.

Matag usa kanila nakadawat sa tag P30,000 nga kantidad sa livelihood starter kits para sa Rice Trading nga gihatag pinaagi sa DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP).

Ang DILP usa sa mga programa sa DOLE nga nagsuporta sa pagpatuman sa Executive Order No. 70 (EO 70) sa pag-institutionalize sa Whole-of-Nation Approach nga nagtumong sa pagtabang sa mga ‘marginalized groups’ pinaagi sa paghatag ug malungtarong kita.

Si Gergie Liponhay aka Jayto, kanhi commander sa New People’s Army (NPA) ug usa sa mga nakadawatsa maong tabang, nipadayag sa iyang pasalamat sa gobyerno ug nag-awhag sa iyang kanhing mga kauban nga mobiya na sa armadong pakigbisog ug mopahimulos sa serbisyo nga gikan sa gobyerno.

“Kami nagpasalamat ug dako sa gobyerno tungod kay nagpakabana sila sa amo. Tungod kay naa nay presensya ang gobyerno, dili nami mobalik sa bukid. Gi-awhag namo ang among mga kauban nga naa pa karon sa kabukiran nga mana-og na tungod kay dili kita pasagdan sa atong gobyerno,” panawagan ni Liponhay.

Ang ‘Hinanaling Tabang o Dinalian nga Tabang’ sa 16th Infantry Battalion maoy usa sa labing maayong gawi sa unit nga nagsilbi sa mga kanhi rebelde pinaagi sa paghatag ug kapuy-an ug akomodasyon, sustento sa pagkaon, livelihood packages, ug pagpadali sa ilang pagpalista sa Enhanced-Comprehensive Local Integration Program kon E-CLIP.

Uban sa padayon nga panawagan alang sa kalinaw, ang 16IB padayon nga nakigtambayayong sa lain-laing ahensya sa gobyerno aron matabangan ang mga kanhing rebelde nga magsugod ug mahiusa pag-usab sa katilingban. (BGE/PIA-10/Bukidnon)

105 ka FRs sa Valencia City miyembro na sa PhilHealth

VALENCIA CITY, Bukidnon (PIA)–Siyento singko (105) ka mga kanhi rebelde sa New People’s Army sa syudad sa Valencia, Bukidnon ang miyembro na sa PhilHealth dihang nakadawat sila sa ilang Member’s Data Records (MDRs) ug ID cards niadtong Enero 11.

Si Regional Vice President Delio A. Aseron sa PhilHealth Northern Mindanao miingon nga gusto sa gobyerno nga ipakita ang patas nga serbisyo sa tanang Pilipino.

“Kayo po aming mga kapatid na mga ‘former rebels’ ang importanteng bisita ngayon dahil dito po nais ipakita ng ating pamahalaan na tayo ay iisa—pantay-pantay po tayo. Dahil kung tayo ay magkakasakit pantay tayong makalatag sa banig ng karamdaman,” matud ni Aseron.

Gipasabot ni Aseron sa mga kanhi rebelde nga dako kaayo kini nga tabang tungod kay matud niya “Napakahirap magkasakit. Magkaproblema tayo sa gastusin at diyan po papasok ang tulong pinansyal ng PhilHealth. Bagamat bawat sakit ay may corresponding na halaga, ang importante po ay wala na tayong mga kababayan na mangamba na pumunta sa hospital dahil may programa ang PhilHealth. May katuwang na kayo sa gastusin.”

Samtang si Romulo Lapuz Jr, ang Chief sa PhilHealth Bukidnon, miingon nga ang tanang Pilipino mahimong miyembro sa PhilHealth. Busa gidasig niya ang ubang pang mga kanhi rebelde nga wala pa makaparehistro nga dili magduha-duha sa pag-adto sa ilang buhatan tungod kay andam ang PhilHealth nga mo-giya ug motabang kanila sa pagpa-enrol aron mahimong miyembro sa PhilHealth.

Dako ang pasalamat ni Marestela Bitago ngadto sa PhilHealth. Miingon siya nga makapatambal na sila sa lain-laing hospital gamit ang ilang PhilHealth ID cards.

“Nalipay ko’g dako kay sulod sa pito ka tuig sa akong pagka-aktibista, karon nako napamatud-an nga naa gyud ang tabang sa gobyerno, labi na sa mga kabus. PhilHealth member na ko karon. Dako kaayo ni ug ikatabang sa akong pamilya. Busa nagpasalamat ko’g dako sa Philhealth,” dugang ni Bitago. (BGE/PIA 10-Bukidnon)

NFA Bukidnon intensifies palay procurement

Posted on by cmn

MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon (PIA)- An average daily procurement tallying at 4,711 bags at 50 kg now sets the pace for the National Food Authority (NFA) Bukidnon’s palay procurement as of October 20.

From 1,738 average bags in September, the branch’s accomplishment is increasing as the month is about to end.

The second cropping is considered the main harvest season in Bukidnon. Last year’s 81.66% second-semester branch procurement accomplishment came from its 4th quarter procurement.

NFA Bukidnon, which is among the nation’s top 20 procuring branches, has six buying stations strategically located in Aglayan, Valencia, Musuan, Maramag, Kalilangan, and Wao. For the second semester of 2021, the branch has procured 107,947 bags as of October 20 or 135,349 bags including its first-semester achievement.

Heavy deliveries are in Aglayan, Valencia, and Kalilangan Warehouses. Farmer-sellers are expected to increase in November at Musuan and Maramag Warehouses.

To address the probable surge of palay deliveries, NFA Bukidnon Branch Manager, Joel T. Lim positioned ahead of the needed manpower, logistics, and warehouses in the province. Relatively, Aglayan Warehouse/buying station has operational mechanical dryers where rice farmers can dry their produce to enjoy the maximum palay support price of P19 per kilogram. NFA offers said price to individual and farmer associations for palay with 95% purity and 14% moisture content.

NFA Bukidnon has set a target to procure 275,100 bags this second semester. Lim is positive that the province will reach its target as an average weekly ex-farm price for palay is showing a downward trend, from P18.53 in the first and second weeks, P17.54 in the third and P16.43 in the last week of September further decreasing to P15.27 as of October 15.