Monday, December 16, 2024

DA-10 pours P533-M agri interventions, services to Bukidnon in Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair

MALAYBALAY CITY, BUKIDNON — In consonance with the national government’s efforts to ensure ease of access to government assistance and services in the countryside, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10) participated in the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF) on November 11 to 12, 2023 at the Bukidnon State University, in this city

House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez led the turnover of agricultural interventions and financial support, worth more than P533 million to Bukidnon Governor Rogelio Neil P. Roque and to the farmers and farmers’ cooperatives, and associations (FCAs) in the province during the opening program of the BPSF.
According to DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado, the agency’s participation in the BPSF manifests its commitment to empowering farmers in Northern Mindanao by providing support through its programs and services.

Furthermore, he said that the interventions and financial assistance turned over during the BPSF form part of DA’s thrust towards a ‘Masaganang Agrikultura, Maunlad na Ekonomiya, Tungo sa Bagong Pilipinas’.

Said agri-interventions include funding support for the establishment of an INSPIRE swine production facility and a postharvest facility for corn in San Fernando and Dangcagan towns.

The Department also distributed hybrid rice seeds and fertilizers benefitting a total of 14,198 rice farmers, as well as Open Pollinated Variety (OPV) white corn seeds to 200 corn farmers in the province.

Under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund-Rice Farmers’ Financial Assistance program of the Department, a cash assistance of P5K each was also granted to 18,831 rice farmers in the province, tilling land of less than two hectares.

DA also turned over tractors, harvesters, hauling trucks, plastic crates, and other farming equipment and supplies to select FCAs in the province.

Regional winners of the Young Farmers Challenge 2023 were also awarded financial grants of P150K for the Start-Up category and P300K for the Upscale category.

Moreover, services such as the distribution of vegetable seeds through the agency’s High-Value Crops Development Program, as well as the Kadiwa ng Pangulo spearheaded by the DA-Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division, were also offered to walk-in consumers during the two-day fair.

Also present in support of the event were DA-10 Executive Assistant III Joel S. Rudinas and Bukidnon Provincial Operations Center chief Janet D. Lopez, DVM. (DA RFO – 10)

18th Mindanao Agricultural, Fishery Council Congress fosters food security, support for agri-fishery sector

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Over 149 AFC members in Mindanao convene for the 18th Mindanao Agricultural and Fishery Council (AFC) Congress in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RF0 10) and the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries Council on October 25-26, in this city

Bearing this year’s theme, “AFCs Igniting the Engines of Growth: Achieving Food Security through the Integration of Dependable and Sustainable Food Value Chain System,” the confab aims to improve food security to ensure safe, quality and nutritious food and to promote sustainable farming practices that protect the environment.

According to DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado, the Congress creates more policy resolutions that are seen to benefit the different sectors of society, which include farmers and fishers, women and the youth in the agri-fishery industry, rural development value chains, and other significant endeavors.

In attendance were the AFC members from regions 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and BARMM, who have drafted proposed resolutions, which will later be translated into policies based on the challenges and gaps identified during the staged workshops for further development of the agri-fishery sector in their respective localities.

PCAF OIC-Executive Director Julieta Opulencia said that the output of the said activity is to solicit insights on policy recommendations through resolutions to improve the implementation of the programs and projects of DA and to help address the issues confronting the agri-fishery sector.

Presented topics were the Mindanao Inclusive Agriculture Development Project (MIADP), Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and Prospects and Impacts of Biofuel and Renewable Energy Policies on Agriculture.

Also, Blue Economy: Techniques to Ensure Sustainable Fishing and Long-Term Health of the Ocean Ecosystem and Results of Participatory Monitoring and Tracking in Mindanao were tackled.

AFC acts as DA’s advisory body to ensure the accomplishment of its initiatives and programs to create a private sector-led national network of agricultural, fishery, and sectoral councils. (DA RFO-10)

DA-AMAD 10 agribiz planning workshop refines services delivery in Bukidnon

MALAYBALAY CITY, BUKIDNON — Pushing for synergistic delivery of services in the province, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10) through its Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) staged a planning and coordination workshop for agribusiness coordinators and municipal agriculturists in Bukidnon on October 26 to 27

Representatives from the agriculture offices of 17 towns and two cities in Bukidnon, as well as its provincial agriculture office, were apprised of the agency’s programs, projects, and activities (PPAs) for market information, market linkage and product promotion, agribusiness promotion, and agribusiness development services.

Said offices also presented their respective updates of activities and operational status of agri inputs and infrastructures (food terminals) provided by DA.

According to DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado, the planning workshop aims to foster a more efficient coordination with these agriculture offices to better implement the agency’s PPAs at the local level, as well as to provide the necessary support.

In accordance with the said objective, the workshop’s output is a work plan for CY 2024 that guides the localized conduct of PPAs to effectively address the province’s needs and concerns in agribusiness and marketing.

AMAD Assistant Division chief Ferdinand F. Caraballe said that it also puts a premium on the Enhanced Kadiwa Financial Grant Assistance Program, to which he enjoined the participating offices to link with qualified farmers’ cooperatives, associations (FCAs) in their areas and apply for funding assistance.

Likewise, the division urged the agribiz coordinators to relay the knowledge and information shared during the two-day session to their respective local government units, citing its importance in streamlining project implementation, impact assessment and monitoring, and concerns resolution.

Supporting the activity were DA-10 Provincial Operations Center of Bukidnon chief Janet D. Lopez, DVM, Agribusiness and Industry Support Services section chief Jenny D. Alcobilla, and other AMAD staff. (DA RFO-10)

Bukidnon farmers’ groups, agribiz enterprises registration facilitated

MALAYBALAY CITY, BUKIDNON – To capacitate and enable farmers’ cooperatives, associations (FCAs), and young farmers’ agribusiness enterprises to have greater access to government support, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10) helmed by Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado recently held a facilitation activity in the registration/certification of such individuals and groups

More than 21 attendees, comprising representatives from the FCAs, young farmers and a local government from Bukidnon province attended the activity which was facilitated by DA-10’s Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD).

The activity aims to provide guidance on the legality of running a business to ensure adherence to applicable laws and regulations, optimize administrative procedures, and enhance the capacity of these individuals and groups.

Different partner agencies were invited to discuss, including the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which laid out the specifics of whether said agri enterprises wish to register as a partnership or corporation, and the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) for those applicants who wish to be registered as a cooperative.

Also present were representatives from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA), who discussed the importance and requirements for the registration of one’s Business Name and Product Packaging and Labeling as well as Certificate of Product Registry and Good Manufacturing Practices for Food Operators, respectively.

For DA-10’s part, the requisites for enrollment into the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA), Farmers and Fisherfolk Enterprise Development Information System (FFEDIS), and Civil Society Organization (CSO) accreditation were tackled.

Such information will enable the participants to maximize the agency’s diverse interventions and services while also playing a pivotal role as collaborative development partners with the department in executing agricultural and fisheries projects.

Capping off the activity, DA-10 AMAD Assistant Division chief Ferdinand F. Caraballe encouraged the participants to have their agri enterprises accredited by the government for them to be eligible for more agri-fishery support that they can capitalize on in the future. (DA RFO-10)

DA-10 holds Early Procurement Activity; sets direction for CY 2024 PPAs

DALWANGAN, MALAYBALAY CITY, BUKIDNON – Setting the direction for the implementation of CY 2024 programs, projects, and activities (PPAs), the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 holds an Early Procurement Activity (EPA) at the Northern Mindanao Agricultural Crops and Livestock Research Complex (NMACLRC) on October 9-13 here

DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado emphasized that the activity will beef up the agency’s implementation of PPAs from the previous year.

“We need to review the interventions programmed for next year to have a smooth implementation that will help the department’s performance in terms of execution of projects, financial obligation, and disbursement,” the director said.

He also instructed the attendees to finalize the specifications of different projects, beneficiaries, and locations to jumpstart the procurement process within October, this month.

“This will ensure early deliveries of interventions, which is timely for the planting season that will contribute to increasing of yield and income of the farmers,” RED Collado added.

Citing that Region 10 has a total budget allocation of Php3,678,000,000.00 based on the approved 2024 National Expenditure Program (NEP) across all programs and special projects, DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga reminded the focal persons to review all the specifications of the pipelined projects thoroughly and to fast track the preparation of its enabling documents prior the procurement activities.

Highlighted during the activity are the presentation of the CY 2024 budget of the banner programs and specially funded projects intended for goods and infrastructure under the Rice, Corn, Livestock, and High-Value Crops Development programs.

Attendees include the focal persons of the different DA banner programs and special projects and the chiefs of the different divisions of DA-NorMin. (DA RFO-10)

Exit con for participatory monitoring, tracking of projects conducted in NorMin

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) and the Regional Agricultural and Fishery Council (RAFC) conducted an exit conference for the joint Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF) and AFCs to monitor and track the progress of DA-funded programs and projects on September 1, 2023, in this city

Said conference aims to enhance transparency, accountability, and efficiency in implementing various DA-funded agricultural and fisheries projects.

The provincial AFCs of Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Bukidnon, and Misamis Oriental presented their respective updates.

DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado emphasized the significance of the participatory approach in promoting inclusivity and empowering local communities.

“The joint effort between PCAF and AFCs has allowed us to gather valuable insights directly from the communities that are benefiting from our programs. Feedback enables us [in the agency] to make informed decisions and adjustments to serve better the needs of our farmers and fisherfolk in Northern Mindanao,” said Director Collado.

During the conference, participants reviewed the outcomes of the Participatory Monitoring Process, which involves engaging local communities and stakeholders in assessing the impact and effectiveness of DA-funded initiatives.

This ensures that the interventions provided align with the needs and priorities of target agri-fishery communities.

The body further agreed that DA must revalidate the projects monitored, particularly those with issues and concerns that must be addressed.

Present during the activity are Cyril L. Soliaban, officer-in-charge, deputy executive director of PCAF, RAFC 10 chair Nilda B. Salas and staff, DA-10 officials and programs staff, and other AFCs across NorMin. (DA RFO-10)

Gov. Roque milantaw sa kagahapon sa Bukidnon

“𝑂𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝐹𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝐷𝑎𝑦, 𝑙𝑒𝑡 𝑢𝑠 𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡 𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑝𝑎𝑠𝑡 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑑𝑒, 𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑘 𝑡𝑜 𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑓𝑢𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ ℎ𝑜𝑝𝑒, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡𝑜𝑔𝑒𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑖𝑛 𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑖𝑡𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑓𝑢𝑟𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑢𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑓𝑡 𝐵𝑢𝑘𝑖𝑑𝑛𝑜𝑛”

GIPADANGAT ni Provincial Governor Rogelio Neil P. Roque ang iyang mensahe atol sa ika-109 nga Founding Anniversary sa probinsya sa Bukidnon, kung aha gihatagan niini ug gimbug-aton ang pagpamalandong dungan sa pagpasalamat sa kagahapon, paglantaw uban sa paglaum alang sa kaugmaon ug pagbarug duyog sa pagsalig nga mas mahatagan pa sa kalambuan ug tingusbawan ang lalawigan ug katawhan, Setyembre 1, 2023 sa Centennial Stage, Kaamulan Park, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.

Gituki usab ni Governor Roque ang pagrekognisa sa liderato ug pagdumala sa miagi nga mga lider sa Bukidnon, ilabi na nila former governors Manuel “Manolo” Fortich, Sr. ug Jose Ma. Zubiri, Jr., kinsa kasamtangang representante sa ikatulong distrito sa Bukidnon.

Sa padayong pag-uswag sa Bukidnon, gisiguro sa gobernador nga ang mga lanog sa kasaysayan mogiya sa katawhan paingon sa mas masanag nga ugma – usa nga magpreserbar ug magprotekta sa kinaiyahan, magsaulog sa nagkalain-laing kultura, ug maghatag ug gahum sa matag usa sa mapadayonon nga kasaysayan sa kalampusan.

Gidasig niini ang matag usa nga magtinabanga aron makab-ot ang umaabot nga angayan alang sa gipalangga sa probinsya sa Bukidnon, agig pagpahaom sa tema karong tuig nga “𝐻𝑎𝑟𝑚𝑜𝑛𝑦 𝑖𝑛 𝐷𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦: 𝐶𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑏𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 109 𝑌𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑈𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑖𝑛 𝐵𝑢𝑘𝑖𝑑𝑛𝑜𝑛.”

Sa paghandum sa katukoran sa probinsya sa Bukidnon gipahigayon ang santos nga misa ug tree growing activity kagahapon, Agosto 31, 2023 ug civic parade and short program ang gihimo sayo sa buntag karong adlawa nga gitambungan sa mga representante sa nagkadaiyang distrito sa Bukidnon, 27th Sangguniang Panlalawigan Members nga gipangunahan ni Vice Governor Clive D. Quiňo, city/municipal mayors and councilors, ingon man sa mga department heads and employees sa Provincial Government of Bukidnon, mga nasudnong ahensya ug nagkadaiyang organisasyon. Local Tribal Band Performances ang gilauman nga mohatag ug lingaw karong gabii ug sundan dayon sa fireworks display. (LGU Bukidnon)

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)

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)

ARTA Normin field office to aid in streamlining, digitalizing gov’t services

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — To have a streamlined and digitalized Philippine bureaucracy for more effective and efficient service delivery, the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) opened a new Regional Field Office (RFO) in northern Mindanao June 22, here

“Our regional field office here in Northern Mindanao will be the voice of ARTA in this area of Mindanao, and we are committed to implementing all the major programs in the battle against red tape and corruption in the process,” ARTA Secretary Ernesto V. Perez said.
He added that such an office is essential since policies and processes at both the national and local levels must be aligned. Doing so will enable the government to deliver the services the people expect.
Initially, Perez said ARTA was able to reduce the number of permits required from 13 to just about 6, the documentary requirements from 76 to just about 16, and the processing time from 285 days to just about 30 days.
“With this reduction, we have seen an increase in the issuance of permits. If you are able to replicate this experience, then our dream of having a much-improved economy that will provide business and employment opportunities can be realized nationwide,” he added.
Highlighting compliance with such, Perez recognized the City Government of Cagayan de Oro as the 9th local government unit that received the certificate of commendation for having been able to set up and operationalize an electronic business one-stop-shop (eBOSS).
He added that such a feat and compliance with Republic Act 11032, or the Ease of Doing Business, are essential to attracting foreign and local businessmen and investors. “We will be able to expand business opportunities that will provide livelihood, employment, and income for our people,” Perez said.
Highly supporting the goals of ARTA, Misamis Oriental Gov. Peter Unabia said, “Ang Anti-Red Tape Act before, talagang kailangan ito, kailangang-kailangan ng gobyerno ng mga tao na kailangang maattend kaagad-agad, so we should have the compassion [to serve].”
(Even before, the Anti-Red Tape Act was really needed. The government really needs people who can immediately attend to the needs of their clients; thus, we should have the compassion to serve)
For her part, Civil Service Commission Regional Director Noemi Rabe-Torres said that as a partner agency of ARTA in all service delivery, programs, and initiatives, CSC will help the latter in capacitating government agencies in crafting the citizen’s charter.
“The concrete support that we can give is that for the Civil Service Commission, we already have a unit, the ARTA unit, to hear and decide cases on complaints against red tape, and graft and corruption,” she added.
Other local government units, regional line agencies, local government units, and the private sector, through the Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Inc., also express their support for ARTA by signing the pledge of commitment.
The Northern Mindanao Regional Field Office is the eighth RFO of ARTA in the country. (RTP/PIA-10)