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Neda, Jica ink pact for Metro Davao s dev’t master plan
The National Economic Development Authority (Neda) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) have signed an agreement to develop a master plan for the development of Metropolitan Davao. The signing ceremony, attended by Neda Secretary Arsenio Balisacan and Jica Chief Representative Sakamoto Takema, marks the beginning of the Comprehensive and Sustainable Urban Development Master Plan for Metropolitan Davao. Vice President Sara Duterte expressed her gratitude to the government of Japan and Jica for their assistance in the development projects for Metropolitan Davao. The master plan aims to achieve sustainable and balanced urban planning and development in the region, covering various aspects such as agriculture, commerce, climate resilience, technology, education, transportation, and healthcare. The plan will be formulated by the TCP with the assistance of urban development experts from Japan. The master plan will serve as a roadmap for long-term work and will support the mobilization of resources and the delivery of key services in the region. The plan will ensure sustainable urban development in areas such as land use planning, agri-ecotourism, coastal resource management, and joint service delivery. Jica has been a partner in the development and peace process in Mindanao and will expand its cooperation with the new master plan project for Metropolitan.....»»
Marcos offers Namibia agri boost help
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the Philippines can significantly help Namibia in advancing its agricultural industry's growth, Malacañang said on Friday. In a statement, the Palace said Marcos made the offer during the acceptance of credentials from Namibia's Non-Resident Ambassador to the Philippines, Herman Pule Diamonds, at Malacañan earlier this week. Marcos told Diamonds that the Philippines possesses its own rice institute and educational institutions specializing in agricultural research and development. "We take pride in the fact that many of the agriculturists and agronomists around Southeast Asia trained with us and we can claim credit for some of the success that they are enjoying now. So, I think that is something that we could certainly look into," he added. Marcos also discussed matters of trade and industry and technical cooperation as Namibia and the Philippines try to fortify bilateral ties. "What is left to us now is for us to find those complementarities. Those areas that we can help each other," Marcos said. In response, Diamonds expressed Namibia's interest in broadening its trade and investment portfolio and acknowledged that the Philippines possesses technological advancements that its country still needs to acquire. “So, my task is to see how we can perhaps, maybe turn this around and make most space for us to cooperate [in terms of] trade and investment. So, this is the reason why we are here … So, I was the one saying look here we have to diversify. And that is precisely what I’m looking at coming,” Diamonds said. “So, we are mostly in those areas. We also have the same challenges. As the Philippines [there are] technologies, which we do not have. So, this is also an area where we can see technical cooperation,” he added. The Ambassador also expressed his appreciation for the Philippine government in ensuring the welfare of the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and the Filipino community in Namibia. Responding to Namibia’s observation about Filipino workers abroad, President Marcos took pride in the Filipinos’ hospitality as he emphasized that they are very industrious employees around the world. “We’re very proud of our overseas workers. They do a great deal for our country and they have polished and made our reputation all over the world and again, we’re very proud of them,” Marcos said in response to Diamond’s remarks about the OFWs. The post Marcos offers Namibia agri boost help appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DA readies pathways, tramlines for rice terraces
The Department of Agriculture and the local government of Mountain Province will be building pathways and tramlines toward the province’s rice terraces, a United Nations’ world heritage site, to boost sustainable tourism in the area. Engineer Winston Beyden, officer-in-charge of the DA-Bureau of Agricultural and Fisheries Engineering, said the national government recently created in Mountain Province the Office of the Provincial Agricultural and Biosystems Engineer to provide local officials technical assistance on the construction of pathways and tramlines toward the rice terraces. “In a strategic move to boost local tourism, farm pathways along rice terraces will be developed instead of traditional farm-to-market roads. This approach aims to ensure the safety of tourists visiting the province,” Beyden said. The rice terraces in The Cordillera region consist of five clusters, cover four municipalities, and were built 2,000 years ago by the ethnic group Ifugao to plant rice upland. Separate OPABE Within the region, only Mountain Province has a separate office for agricultural and biosystems engineering or OPABE so far. This was made possible also through Provincial Ordinance 465 which complies with Republic Act 10915 or the Philippine Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Act of 2016. “Mountain Province’s OPABE serves as a template showcasing to other offices in The Cordillera region what the office is capable of accomplishing. This collaboration between Mountain Province and the DA is expected to bring significant improvements in agricultural infrastructure and tourism in the region,” Beyden said. Due to the effects of climate change and migration of farmers to urban areas, the rice terraces started degenerating and were included in the List of World Heritage in Danger in 2001. The DA said the pathways and tramlines will cause minimal soil erosion to the rice terraces and encourage more Filipinos to visit the heritage site to appreciate its beauty and social significance, and help protect it. Geo-Agri mapping Through Geo-Agri mapping, a web-based application, Beyden said engineers will be able to determine the appropriate areas for the pathways and tramlines project, along with irrigation and post-harvest facilities of the mountainous rice farmers. Beyden added the DA will also build diversion dams and canals, and farms for sugarcane, coffee, chickens and goats in Mountain Province. The post DA readies pathways, tramlines for rice terraces appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Agri sector digitalization obtains positive review
Trade association Makati Business Club and research group Stratbase ADR Institute expressed confidence that the Marcos administration can attract more foreign investments in agro-industrial and digitalization through its participation in global economic meetings abroad. “As we have maintained close diplomatic relations with states, the President can use that to strengthen ties with our most beneficial trading and investment partners, such as the United States and Japan, in the areas of manufacturing and agro-industry,” Stratbase founder Dindo Manhit last Friday told the Daily Tribune in a Viber message. “We are confident that this administration will continue to advocate for reforms that will ensure our economic growth to make the country a premiere investment destination,” he added. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will fly to San Francisco in the US in November to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, or APEC, Summit. Through Marcos’ several foreign trips, Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo Pascual said the Philippines secured foreign investments amounting to $ 28.863 billion in manufacturing, renewable energy and information technology. The government plans to reach $70 billion. Low output creates opportunity MBC chairperson Edgar Chua said the country’s low agricultural production and the massive market can lure foreign investors to develop the local agro-industry, boosting agricultural raw materials into higher valued products. The post Agri sector digitalization obtains positive review appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
P130.2-M infra damage, P1B agri losses as ‘Hanna’ exits PHL
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council on Monday reported more than P130.25 million worth of damage to infrastructure due to the southwest monsoon enhanced by Super Typhoon "Goring" and Typhoon "Hanna", affecting a total of 140,101 families or 514,153 persons. In its latest situation report, the NDRRMC accounted for a total of 502 damaged houses in the Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Western Visayas and CAR, with 24 roads and nine bridges remaining impassable. Three areas are still experiencing power interruption while one still has no water supply. Some 79 seaports have canceled operations in Cagayan Valley, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, and Western Visayas amid the continuing inclement weather, while 26 passengers are still stranded in Western Visayas. Authorities said all affected domestic flights have already resumed operations. Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture reported that the amount of damage and losses to crops and other agricultural products has reached P1.07 billion from P898.4 million in the previous days. The DA recorded a production loss of 46,811 metric tons, affecting 42,333 hectares of agricultural land and 31,060 farmers as consolidated from Calabarzon, Western Visayas and Mimaropa reports. The affected commodities include rice, corn, high-value crops, livestock and poultry. Typhoon Hanna exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Monday morning. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said Hanna will continue to enhance the southwest monsoon or habagat while outside PAR. Habagat will bring occasional to monsoon rains over the western portion of Luzon in the next three days. Hanna will slowly move west-northwestward over the Taiwan Strait while gradually weakening. It is forecast to make landfall over the coast of Guangdong or Fujian, China tomorrow morning or afternoon as a severe tropical storm. PAGASA said rapid weakening will ensue as the tropical cyclone moves further inland over Guangdong, China. It added Hanna is set to become a remnant low on late Wednesday or Thursday. The post P130.2-M infra damage, P1B agri losses as ‘Hanna’ exits PHL appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Cultivating innovation, technology transfer and IP
On a recent visit to Pola, Oriental Mindoro, I had the opportunity to sit down with Mr. Modesto A. Landicho, the chair of the Matulatula Agrarian Reform Community Cooperative, or MARCCO. They have recently acquired the technology to effectively eliminate the bitterness of the traditional calamansi juice, leaving only the extract from the pulp. In turn, this technology has greatly improved the sales and ease of labor for the 520 members of the cooperative. To Mr. Landicho, this was a big win for the small cooperative. While there are still ongoing fixes needed to maximize this technology, he can now focus on other priority areas in farming, as the squeezing process has been cut to merely minutes. While this was a short visit to the cooperative, I was reminded of how effective intellectual property sharing, paired with the appropriate technology, greatly improves the work of agri-laborers, especially for the MARCCO population more than half of whom are women. This success story was a result of the Philippines’ long and fruitful partnership with the Korea Intellectual Property Association, or KIPA. Endorsed by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines, or IPOPHL, and assisted by the Department of Trade and Industry Region IV-B, MARCCO was able to receive an IP-sharing incentive from the Korea association. After a series of knowledge-sharing sessions, MARCCO and KIPA settled on a trademark and patent-sharing agreement for a fruit squeezing apparatus fit for the calamansi citrus fruit, one of Oriental Mindoro’s high-value commercial crops. However, KIPA’s project did not stop with IP-sharing. The most crucial part of this cooperation lies in the constant knowledge-sharing seminars where both KIPA and MARCCO identify sustainability matters, thus making sure the technology remains tailor-fit to the demands of calamansi production. While technology transfer is simply a component in the long value chain of agricultural products, it is important to understand how it can affect crop processing that turns raw harvests into marketable products. Technology transfer is the process by which innovations are disseminated from research institutions and private companies to farmers and the broader agricultural community. This industry practice bridges the gap between cutting-edge research and practical on-the-ground implementation. The success of this collaborative IP-sharing project truly depended on its sustainability checks that strengthened the project’s approach to appropriate technology. Appropriate technology refers to innovations that are well-suited to the local conditions and needs of the users. In agriculture, this means developing solutions that are not only effective but also practical for small-scale farmers in diverse environments. For MARCCO, it was when the cooperation ensured that the existing technology from Korea was fabricated and made usable for the small size of the calamansi. By globally sharing their research and technology, innovators can strike a balance between protecting their intellectual property and ensuring widespread access to appropriate technology. Ultimately, this example of public and private coordination facilitating technology transfer is a potential framework for our countless agricultural cooperatives nationwide. Now, MARCCO is soon to be the patent holder for this innovation — an opportunity to manufacture the technology on a larger scale and provide more food manufacturing jobs to the calamansi communities of Pola. Indeed, the future of agriculture depends on our ability to cultivate innovation while ensuring that no one is left behind in the fields of progress. The post Cultivating innovation, technology transfer and IP appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Hanna, Goring and habagat displaces 51,200; agri damages now at P421.2-M
Typhoon Hanna, the former Super Typhoon Goring and the intensified Southwest Monsoon already affected over 408,053 residents in Luzon and certain Visayas areas, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council......»»
More Korean tourists, investors eyed for ‘insurgency-free’ Mindanao areas
Department of National Defense spokesperson Arsenio Andolong on Friday said the Korean government has expressed willingness to further expand their business ventures in Mindanao, following the declaration of some areas in the region as having been freed from the insurgency problem. This development was discussed during the introductory call of the Republic of Korea ambassador to the Philippines Lee Sang-hwa on Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. at the DND headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on 17 August. Andolong said Teodoro and Lee likewise discussed the upcoming” high-level” visit of Korean President Yoon Suk Yeo to Manila, coinciding with the 75th anniversary of Philippines-ROK diplomatic relations. “[This will] be an occasion for our two countries to reaffirm our commitment to strengthen our longstanding relations and further explore ways of building shared opportunities,” he added. During their meeting, Teodoro conveyed the country’s appreciation for Korea’s assistance in addressing the Philippines’ internal security issues and providing aid during calamities. The Defense chief also cited Korea’s assistance in the capacity-building of members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. “The Secretary also recognized the opportunity to diversify defense cooperation with the ROK, which has been among the Philippines' largest partners in terms of defense materiel and logistics,” Andolong said. He added that both officials seek to further improve the “high influx of Korean tourists and investors” in the Philippines. “Recalling the declaration of the Davao region as insurgency-free, Secretary Teodoro shared with Ambassador Lee that he sought to further expand this status of a secure tourism and investment-ready destination across the whole of Mindanao,” Andolong said. The Davao region has maintained its “insurgency-free” status for more than a year now, after a long history of being a place of clashes between the military and communist rebels. In April 2022, Korean delegates, particularly former Ambassador Kim In-Chul, along with other Korean government organizations and private sector companies, held an official business visit in Davao City to assess possible areas of investment opportunities in Mindanao such as infrastructure, telecommunications, connectivity, energy and agri-business for Davao City and Panabo City. The post More Korean tourists, investors eyed for ‘insurgency-free’ Mindanao areas appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DA, Nestlé intensify urban agri efforts
Nestle Philippines and the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Plant Industry on Tuesday announced the sealing of its partnership that will advance efforts to promote urban agriculture as an easy and practical way to help Filipino communities achieve food self-sufficiency while improving their access to and consumption of more plant-based food. Through a memorandum of agreement signed earlier this year, the three-year partnership will enable DA-BPI and Nestle’s brand MAGGI to jointly conduct skills-building activities that demonstrate sustainable ways of growing vegetables in the home, or under-utilized areas of communities, schools, and other urban spaces while enriching families’ abilities to create nutritious, delicious and balanced meals using their own homegrown produce. With the agreement, MAGGI will be responsible for creating programs to engage with communities, which include on-ground and online workshops featuring expert agriculturists from DA-BPI who will teach science-based methods of vegetable crop production in limited spaces. “Nestlé Philippines believes in a collaborative approach to building communities, and we are proud to stand alongside the Department of Agriculture in inspiring a farm-to-fork movement among Filipino families and communities. We believe that food security is key to the health of all and that there’s no better way to build a strong nation than by ensuring that healthy food is accessible to everyone,” said Joey Uy, Corporate Affairs head, Nestlé Philippines. Everyone has a role For his part, DA-BPI director Glenn Panganiban stressed that it is the government’s task alone but everyone has a role to play in food security, and the key to ensuring that Filipinos will always have FAITH — or Food Always in The Home — is to work together. “Through this partnership, we can teach more Filipinos to grow their own food by providing proper mentoring and assistance, as well as other forms of support from the government and private partners like MAGGI,” he said. Also under the agreement, MAGGI will produce and distribute learning materials on vegetable production and affordable plant-based recipes, as well as starter kits that contain planting essentials such as seed trays or basic implements; along with compost and various vegetable seeds produced by DA-BPI. Last July, the 2023 MAGGI Sarap Sustansya Advocacy kicked off as part of the brand’s celebration of Nutrition Month. The various initiatives under the advocacy during this month-long observance were anchored on the theme, “Healthy Diet Gawing Affordable for All.” Accessibility of good nutrition The advocacy emphasized the accessibility of good nutrition, beginning with the Nestlé Kasambuhay for Good Festival at the Quezon City Memorial Circle where DA-BPI conducted a urban gardening lecture and MAGGI held a live cooking demo. MAGGI is also committed to continued cooperation with the Food and Nutrition Research Institute, or FNRI, and the National Dieticians’ Association of the Philippines sharing data resources on the prevailing nutrient deficiencies in the Philippines and working closely with them to enhance fortification of MAGGI products. The post DA, Nestlé intensify urban agri efforts appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Egay’ agri damage hits P2B
Super typhoon “Egay” (international name: “Doksuri”) has destroyed almost P2 billion worth of agricultural goods, a Department of Agriculture official said on Tuesday. DA Assistant Secretary for Operations Arnel de Mesa said in a Palace briefing that the losses and damage caused by “Egay” have gone up from the P1.54 billion reported by the Agriculture Department on 30 July. “As of today, the estimated damage is already at P1.94 billion,” De Mesa said, adding that the affected agricultural commodities include P713 million for corn and rice at P950 million. Damage and losses were reported in the Ilocos area, Cagayan Valley (Region 2), Central Luzon (Region 3), Calabarzon (Region 4), Mimaropa (Region 4-A), Western Visayas (Region 6) and Caraga (Region 13). “All the interventions of the Department of Agriculture are now in place in cooperation with our regional field offices and with the local government units, especially (in) those affected regions,” De Mesa said. The total volume of production loss was pegged at 86,975 metric tons from 147,063 hectares of agricultural areas. Affected commodities include rice, corn, high-value crops, livestock and poultry and fisheries. The post ‘Egay’ agri damage hits P2B appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DA: ‘Egay’ agri damage up to P2B
Super Typhoon "Egay" (international name: Doksuri) has destroyed almost P2 billion worth of agricultural goods, a Department of Agriculture official said on Tuesday. DA Assistant Secretary for Operations Arnel de Mesa said in a Malacanang briefing that the losses and damage caused by Egay have gone up from the P1.54 billion reported by the Agriculture Department on 30 July. "As of to date, the estimated damage is already at P1.94 billion," de Mesa said. He said that the affected agricultural commodities include P713 million for corn and rice at P950 million. Damage and losses have been reported in Ilocos area (Region 1), Cagayan Valley (Region 2), Central Luzon (Region 3), Calabarzon (Region 4), Mimaropa (Region 4-A), Western Visayas (Region 6) and Caraga (Region 13). "All the interventions of the Department of Agriculture are now in place in cooperation with our regional field offices and as well with the local government units, especially (in) those affected regions," De Mesa said. The DA is helping farmers and fishermen by giving them fingerlings and setting up a loan program called Survival and Recovery and a fund called the Quick Response Fund to fix up damaged areas. The post DA: ‘Egay’ agri damage up to P2B appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Agri sector damage due to ‘Egay’ reaches P1.94 billion – DA
The damage to the agricultural sector due to the onslaught of Super Typhoon Egay has now reached P1.94 billion mark, the Department of Agriculture reported on Monday, 31 July. In its Bulletin No.9, the DA said that damage and losses in the agricultural and fishery sector now amounted to P1.94 billion affecting 123,274 farmers and fisherfolk. The data is based on the assessment of DA Regional Field Offices in Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Western Visayas, SOCCSKSARGEN, and Caraga. The total volume of production loss was pegged at 86,975 metric tons (MT) and 147,063 hectares of agricultural areas. The affected commodities include rice, corn, high-value crops, livestock and poultry, and fisheries, as well as farm and fishery infrastructures, and fishing paraphernalia. The DA said additional damage and losses are also expected in areas affected by the continuous rain and strong winds brought by the super typhoon. The post Agri sector damage due to ‘Egay’ reaches P1.94 billion – DA appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Marcos: No importation despite storms affecting agri-production areas
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. declared Saturday that the country “would not import vegetables” despite many agricultural production areas in the country being affected by the recent onslaught of storms. “That will not become a policy. We will not import any agricultural product unless we see that the supply is so low that the prices will become out of reach the ordinary consumers,” Marcos said citing that many vegetable farms in Benguet were affected by Typhoon "Egay". Marcos, who also serves as the concurrent secretary of the Department of Agriculture, said the government will review the local vegetable supply to determine remedial measures to stabilize agricultural prices. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported that "Egay" left with P833.88 million worth of agricultural damage in the country. NDRRMC said some 76,093 fisherfolk and farmers are reeling from the impact of the typhoon as well as the ongoing effects of the southwest monsoon or habagat. The agricultural production loss in volume due to "Egay" was logged at 103,958 metric tons, affecting over 91,651.56 hectares of crop area. The government earlier raised a state of calamity over the Ilocos provinces, Cavite, Sanchez Mira in Cagayan, and Sablayan in Occidental Mindoro due to the tropical cyclone. Hence, an automatic price freeze on basic necessities has been placed in the affected areas. The government said it has already distributed P39.69 million worth of assistance in the form of blankets, family food packs, and financial aid, among others. Marcos led the distribution of various assistance to the affected farmers and fishers such as seeds, medicines, and biologics for livestock and poultry, and fingerlings. The President ordered the DA to prepare the department’s Survival and Recovery Loan Program and the quick response fund to promptly assist the typhoon victims. Marcos said the government will also provide building materials to the affected families. The post Marcos: No importation despite storms affecting agri-production areas appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Egay’s agri damage reached P1-B — DA
The Department of Agriculture on Saturday reported that damages to agri-products now reached the P1-billion mark. On its Bulletin No. 7 issued at 2:00 p.m. on 29 July 2023, the DA said the damage and losses brought by “Egay” have increased from P512.9 million to P1.36 billion with a volume of production loss of 62,259 metric tons, affecting 98,969 hectares of agricultural land and 91,268 farmers. The increase is due to the updated reports from Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Western Visayas, and Central Luzon. The affected commodities include rice, corn, high-value crops, livestock and poultry, and fisheries. Damage was also incurred in agricultural facilities and fishing paraphernalia. The following assistance is available for distribution to affected farmers and fishers: A total of 111,873 bags of rice seeds, 14,426 bags of corn, and 2,582 kilograms of assorted vegetable seeds from the regions affected by "Egay" (CAR, Regions I II, III, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, VI, and XIII); Drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry; fingerlings assistance to affected fisherfolk from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR); Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan Program from the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) with a loanable amount of up to PhP 25,000 payable in three years at zero interest; and Quick Response Fund (QRF) for the rehabilitation of affected areas. The post Egay’s agri damage reached P1-B — DA appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DA: 2k farmers affected by ‘Egay’, over P53M in agri damage
The Department of Agriculture on Thursday reported that damage and losses to agricultural products in regions ravaged by super typhoon "Egay" have already reached over P53 million, with over 2,000 farmers affected as of 27 July 2023. In its Bulletin No. 4, DA said the volume of production loss is at 1,871 metric tons, covering 3,185 hectares of agricultural areas and commodities such as rice, corn, livestock and poultry. The assessment was made by the DA regional field offices in CAR, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA and Region XIII. As of Thursday, the DA said the following assistance is available for distribution to affected farmers and fishers: rice, corn and assorted vegetable seeds; drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry; fingerlings for affected fisherfolk from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources; Survival and Recovery loan program from the Agricultural Credit Policy Council with loanable amount of up to P25,000 payable in three years at zero interest; and Quick Response Fund for the rehabilitation of affected areas. The post DA: 2k farmers affected by ‘Egay’, over P53M in agri damage appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
First border inspection facility for agri to rise in Bulacan
The Department of Agriculture over the weekend said it had partnered with Pacific Roadlink Logistics Inc. (PRLI) for the construction of the country’s first border inspection facility on its property at General Alejo Santos Highway in Angat, Bulacan. On July 20, the DA and PRLI signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the establishment of the Cold Examination Facility in Agriculture (CEFA), which will house state-of-the-art testing laboratories for the examination of all imported animal, fish, plant, and other agricultural commodities. The MOU signing was led by DA Senior Undersecretary Domingo F. Panganiban, Senate Committee on Agriculture Chairperson Senator Cynthia A. Villar, House Committee on Agriculture Mark Enverga, and PRLI President Edgar Dominic Milla. “We must continuously assert our vigilance in protecting the industry from pests and diseases that pose serious threats to agricultural productivity in the country. This partnership is a testament to our commitment,” Panganiban said. The Department allotted P2.3-billion in its 2023 budget for the construction of the said facility, which would include hubs in Cebu and Davao. The CEFA aims to strengthen the country’s capability to conduct first border inspections and improve its examination of containerized agricultural commodities. It also seeks to prevent the proliferation of agricultural smuggling. Under the MOU, the PRLI allows the government to use for a maximum of 25 years, its 10-hectare land for the CEFA, which will include a laboratory, incinerator, container yard, and truck parking, among others. The facility will be operated by the DA’s Food Safety and Regulatory Agencies (FSRA): Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), and National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS). “Consistent with the President’s vision of a prosperous Philippine agricultural sector, we will continue to work to ensure the completion of this project so that we could protect our industry and the many people who depend on it, including the health of our consumers, as the project is deemed to warrant the food safety for the general populace,” Assistant Secretary James Layug said. Meanwhile, BAI and CEFA Project Director Paul Limson said the construction is expected to be finished within 6 to 8 months. The facility will initially function as a 24-hour Off-Dock Custom Facility to handle agricultural importations from the country’s two main ports: Port of Manila and Manila International Container Port. Apart from protecting livelihood and ensuring quality and safe food for Filipinos, the said facility is anticipated to create jobs and bring about economic transformation to the province of Bulacan. Once operational, the facility is expected to employ about 1,500-2,000 unskilled workers in the province. In her message, Senator Villar announced that the national government will set aside budget for the construction of CEFA to other areas particularly in Southern Luzon. The post First border inspection facility for agri to rise in Bulacan appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Extra rice, anyone?
The rice supply in the country has stabilized, enough to provide for the daily food requirements of Filipinos for the next six months, the Department of Agriculture said Thursday. According to DA Undersecretary Leo Sebastian, the supply of the staple grain for the rest of the year has been assured, so much so that the government is already preparing for next summer’s 2024 supply. Sebastian said they are now moving to mitigate the possible “cyclical” effects of the El Niño phenomenon on rice harvests next year. “As the country experienced it (El Niño) in 2016 and 2019, we will now help farmers in areas affected by the phenomenon to plant other crops that do not need much water like mongo and corn.” Sebastian, who heads the DA’s Masagana Rice Industry Program, earlier said that a bountiful harvest from the January-June rice planting season has increased production by around six percent. “This is based on PhilRice PRISM data of 8.153-million metric tons palay production in 2022 to 8.605-MMT of palay or 5.6-MMT of milled rice in 2023,” he explained. Sebastian said the volume, plus the carryover stock of 1.8-MMT milled rice, as augmented by import arrivals of 1.8-MMT, is enough to fill the demand/consumption of 7-MMT from January to June next year. “By the end of June, the available stock will be good for more than two months, in addition to the incoming supply from the new harvest and import arrivals in the coming months,” the DA official said. Imports easing Sebastian pointed out that the high cost of rice production locally and globally has pushed up the price of palay or unmilled rice, as well as milled rice. The vagaries of the global pricing of rice have eased private importation, allowing local farmers to enjoy “good prices” for their produce, he explained. “Global prices of rice are such that private importers are not engaging in importation. Our government (through the National Food Authority), on the other hand, is prohibited by law from importing,” he said. At the same time, the DA, concurrently headed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., said it is in constant communication with rice farmers to lower their prices so that most Filipinos would be able to afford it. “You can buy P25 per kilo of rice in our Kadiwa outlets. And we are also asking some cooperatives that have enough rice supplies to sell their harvest at a lower price,” he said. Well-milled rice is selling in Metro Manila at P40 to P42 a kilo, with some agri-cooperatives selling at P38 per kilo. “This gives us enough rice supply for the next six months,” Sebastian said. The post Extra rice, anyone? appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Data-backed weather warnings for agri workers sought
Farmers are appealing to the Department of Agriculture, headed by no less than President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., to form a committee that would translate scientific weather data into proper warnings for agriculture workers. At a press briefing on Monday, Federation of Free Farmers' Cooperative Inc. National Manager Raul Montemayor said data-based warnings would save farmers from losing millions or even billions worth of produce to weather phenomena such as El Nino. “We have been warned that the country will face El Nino this year, which somehow scared farmers to continue planting. As such, the DA has to translate weather projections to site-specific projections to properly guide farmers,” Montemayor told reporters. “Hopefully, this can be done by mixing science and agriculture. The data from the state-weather bureau should be translated by the DA into something useful for the farmers. We have to have something like this soon,” he said. However, Montemayor lamented that the DA, despite numerous calls for proper dialogue, has yet to fully open its doors to consider farmers’ proposals. “We have to look at history to get an idea about the potential effects of El Nino. When we say El Nino, there will be less rain than normal, which can sometimes be good for some areas with rice plants,” he explained. Ana Solis, chief of the Climate Monitoring and Predictions Section of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration or PAGASA, however, said that the agency continues to get in touch with the DA. “We gave our forecasts to the DA so they can use them for their mitigation measures,” she noted. “Based on our forecasts from July to December, the possible reduction in water is around 22 to 44 percent. It will be difficult to prepare if this El Nino lasts until next year,” Solis explained. Due to fears of El Nino, some farmers in Quezon province notably stopped planting rice. As such, Tugon Kabuhayan convenor Atty. Asis Perez urged rice farmers to keep planting palay even until September —stressing that the El Niño dry weather phenomenon will still occur in October. Perez, who was a former director at the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, said that rice farmers must have clear information about the start of the occurrence of El Niño. "The farmers can still plant in July, August, and September, and by October that's the best time to harvest as it will be hot, no rains,” he explained. Based on the latest PAGASA estimates, 36 provinces in the country may experience dry spells by the end of December, while 2 provinces, namely Camarines Norte and Southern Leyte, may face “meteorological drought.” The post Data-backed weather warnings for agri workers sought appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DA’s Soil Summit ends, eyes improving food production
Hundreds of representatives from farmers’ cooperatives and associations, extension workers, academe, local government units, policymakers, nongovernment organizations and other agri-stakeholders ended the Department of Agriculture's two-day Soil Summit on Thursday. The 1st National Soil Health Summit was jointly organized by the DA-Bureau of Soils and Water Management, Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development, House of Representatives, Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research and Griffith University With the theme, “Securing Food and Nutrition through Healthy Soils,” the summit aimed to bring together different institutions and stakeholders to share, exchange and level expectations regarding soil health strategy and the need to invigorate agricultural productivity in the Philippines. “This summit provided us with comprehensive and science-based strategies on soil resources management from the global and local level to address soil degradation and improve soil health for a revitalizing and resilient Philippine agriculture,” DA Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban said. Recognizing that the country’s soil is under threat, which also affects the country’s food security, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. graced the the Summit's opening program and stressed the need to address the country’s growing problem of soil degradation, acidification and pollution. The President also urged the concerned institutions and stakeholders to work together and make national soil health a top priority to prevent even worse crisis in the future, as he vowed to empower the DA-BSWM by capacitating soil laboratories nationwide to yield better data. “I cannot emphasize enough how significant and influential this 1st National Soil Health Summit is. With the discourse amongst our leaders and the agricultural sector’s brightest minds, I anticipate that this summit will spark more informed decisions and much needed innovations in the coming years,” Marcos said. The government has come up with a five-point priority agenda on soil and water management such as the National Soil Health Program and the implementation of Sustainable Land Management, aimed at ensuring proper soil use and management, addressing land degradation, enhancing crop productivity and improving farmers’ income. Through the DA-BSWM, the government conducts soil and land resources mapping and evaluation process including soil-based and land-based level assessments, soil sample analyses and digital map preparations under the Philippine Soil Land Resources Information Program. The administration also explores water security for climate-resilient rainwater technologies and cloud-seeding operations for agriculture to improve water conditions in production areas, critical watersheds and reservoirs as part of collective efforts to mitigate the effects of El Niño. The post DA’s Soil Summit ends, eyes improving food production appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Farmers get upskilling training and more
The SM Foundation continues to expand the reach of the Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan on Sustainable Agriculture Program to help build empowered farming communities across the Philippines. Joined by its partners Moca Family Farm, government agencies such as TESDA, the Departments of Social Welfare and Development, Agriculture, Science and Technology, Trade and Industry, and Tourism, and SM City Masinag, the program saw launches in multiple locations across Calabarzon and other regions in the country, and most recently in Antipolo, Rizal. The KSK-SAP aims to help produce quality, safe and fresh fruits and vegetables and prepare farmers to become entrepreneurs. Under the program, KSK-SAP trainees undergo a two-phase program. The learning sessions kick off with a 14-week training program covering topics on modern agri-technology, capacity-building, financial literacy, values formation, product development and market opportunities. SMFI also assists farmers in formalizing their respective groups through the assistance of partner government agencies. This phase aims to help increase their learning capacity and enable them to contribute to economic growth. To cap off the first phase, KSK-SAP farmers get to join the SM Sunday Market, an SM Supermalls initiative that helps marginalized farmers. By actively engaging in such market opportunities, they not only receive additional training in the crucial areas of sales and marketing for their agri-businesses but also gain a platform to display their products. This collaborative effort not only empowers them to earn a substantial income but also enables them to showcase their dedication, talent and the exceptional quality of their produce to a broader market. Since its inception in 2007, the KSK-SAP has helped more than 28,500 marginalized farmers from rural and urban areas across the country, fueling their entrepreneurial and farming capabilities. As a result, some of the program's graduates have become seasonal suppliers for the SM group and other local markets, and exhibitors at government-led programs such as DTI’s One Town, One Product. The SM Foundation’s KSK-SAP is conducted in partnership with SM Supermalls, government agencies and partner farm schools. The post Farmers get upskilling training and more appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»