Aggie NorMin personnel upskills on Remote Sensing tech to modernize agri data collection

MALAYBALAY CITY, BUKIDNON — To modernize the agency’s agricultural data collection mechanism, the Department of Agriculture – Northern Mindanao Regional Field Office (Aggie NorMin) personnel from the Research Division, Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation Division, Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA), and Philippine Rice Information System (PRiSM) joined the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development – Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Environment Staff’s (DEPDev-ANRES) Remote Sensing (RS) Technology capacity-building workshop on May 5 to 8.

Held at the Northern Mindanao Agricultural Crops and Livestock Research Complex (NMACLRC) the workshop, “Bridging Agricultural Data Gaps Through Adoption of Remote Sensing (RS) Technology at the Agricultural Level” aimed to equip participants from local government units (LGUs) and regional line agencies with tools and knowledge to integrate satellite and geospatial technologies into agricultural planning and monitoring.

The activity focused on building awareness and technical skills on the use of Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) technologies, with hands-on sessions on Quantum Geographic Information System (QGIS) and Google Earth Engine (GEE).

The training culminated with participants presenting localized action plans designed to institutionalize the use of RS tools in their respective areas. These plans include proposals for policy support, capacity-building activities, and equipment acquisition.

In his message, Aggie NorMin Regional Executive Director Jose Apollo Y. Pacamalan expressed support in leveraging technology to close data gaps in the agri-sector. He affirmed initiatives like this are key to ensuring responsive and evidence-based agricultural programs and interventions.

DEPDev-ANRES OIC-Assistant Director, Ralph Camelo E. Mariano also emphasized the importance of adopting data-driven strategies in agriculture, noting that such approaches empower institutions like DA to make informed decisions and promote sustainable agricultural development.

The training-workshop serves as the implementation platform of a flagship initiative that aims to strengthen the institutional capacity of LGUs and regional offices of the DA and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

DA-Bureau of Animal Industry validates Swine Industry Recovery Project sites in NorMin

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) paid a courtesy call to Department of Agriculture – Region 10 (DA-10) Regional Technical Director for Operations, Carlota S. Madriaga to tackle the conduct of site validation under the Swine Industry Recovery Project (SIRP) on May 8, this city.

The DA through the National Livestock Program (NLP), rolled out the SIRP with the aim of revitalizing the country’s swine sector after the devastating effects of African Swine Fever (ASF).

According to Dr. Aura Lumabas, BAI NLP Coordinator, Region 10 was identified as a key area for SIRP implementation and is poised for breeder-based development validation.

So far, seven members from the Northern Mindanao Hog Raisers have been validated and found qualified for the SIRP, with five more pending validation to be done in the coming weeks.

In addition to the SIRP, the DA is advocating complementary livestock projects, including goat and sheep expansion program and egg industry development project.

As part of the effort in future-proofing the livestock industry, the government will be investing in the establishment of a vaccine production laboratory at the Central Luzon State University (CLSU) in Nueva Ecija by next year, to reduce dependency on imported vaccines.

Following the SIRP implementation, the BAI will be conducting field monitoring and project assessment to ascertain tangible benefits of the SIRP to farmers and consumers alike.

Earlier in the same week, DA-10 Regional Executive Director Jose Apollo Y. Pacamalan has met with DA Undersecretary for Livestock Constante J. Palabrica, for a roundtable discussion on the prospect of swine industry investment in the region.

The government’s investment to develop a robust swine industry is in keeping with President Marcos’ thrust in positioning the agriculture sector as key economic driver of the country. # (NQA)

DA-10, Usec. Palabrica lead site inspection in Bukidnon for possible swine investment

TALAKAG, BUKIDNON – The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10) facilitated a site inspection by the Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF) for a prospect of swine production investment in the province, on May 5, here.

Coordinated by the DA National Livestock Program, the inspection team was led by Undersecretary Constante J. Palabrica, along with DA-10’s Regional Technical Director Cora A. Dumayaca, Talakag local government unit (LGU) representatives, CPF executives, and other DA officials.

The activity involved an on-site assessment and a dialogue on the mechanisms of the public-private partnership in the implementation of swine production projects.

Following the site visit, a coordination meeting was held with DA-10 Regional Executive Director Jose Apollo Y. Pacamalan at the DA-10 compound in El Salvador City. The CPF team laid out their project proposal for the said investment, detailing the investment scope, operational plans, and benefits for the local hog sector. Stakeholders further reviewed the project’s economic, practical implementation and sustainability.

On November 17, 2022, during the visit of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in Bangkok, Thailand for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting, Thai conglomerate Charoen Pokphand Group pledged to make investments in the Philippines.# (BJCE)

Agri-10 supports Tagoloan farmers’ community gardening program

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (Agri-10) turned over an assortment of vegetable seeds to the Sta. Ana Tagoloan Avid Farmers Association (SATAFA) of Tagoloan town, Misamis Oriental on May 7, this city.

The vegetable seeds provided comprise a total of 10 cans of Okra, 2 packs of Kangkong, 6 cans of Pechay, 4 packs of Pole Sitao, 5 cans of Hot Pepper, and 10 cans of squash seeds.

The provision of such intervention seeks to enhance community resilience and bolster food security within the town.

According to Eva Pagtalunan, the person in charge of SATAFA’s vegetable production project, the seeds will be allocated to the 10 barangays of Tagoloan. Each barangay will distribute the seeds to its respective purok as farming inputs for local farmers.

This initiative is consistent with the “Halina’t Magtanim ng Prutas at Gulay” (HAPAG) Home Gardening Program of the government, reinforcing local food systems and promoting sustainable food production practices at the community level. (NQA)

DA-10 swears in newly promoted employee

El Salvador City, Misamis Oriental – The Department of Agriculture – Region 10 (DA-10) welcomed Venus T. Oyao as the newly promoted Project Evaluation Officer II under the Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation Division (PMED).

On May 6, Oyao took her oath of office before DA-10 Regional Executive Director Jose Apollo Pacamalan.

In her new role, she will primarily monitor project activities and progress against targeted outputs, prepare progress reports on projects being implemented, analyze current learnings and future issues in specific sector, and submit corresponding reports and recommendations. She is also tasked to identify challenges encountered in the formulation and implementation of DA plans and programs.

Attending the oath-taking ceremony were DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Operations and Human Resource Merit Promotion and Selection Board Committee (HRMPSBC) chair, Carlota S. Madriaga; Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulations, Cora A. Dumayaca; Administrative and Finance Division (AFD) chief and HRMPSBC vice chair, Patrick Ian F. Pedarse; AFD Supervising Administrative Officer and HRMPSBC member, Sky Love A. Sarmiento; and Human Resource and Management Section (HRMS) chief, Dryan Anthony D. Illana. # (MAC)

DA-10 installs RAFC NorMin chair as Farmer Regional Executive Director

EL SALVADOR CITY – The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) welcomed Nilda B. Salas as its Farmer Regional Executive Director (FRED) in a turnover ceremony held on May 5, here.

As the incumbent chairperson of Northern Mindanao’s Regional Agricultural and Fishery Council (RAFC), Salas is installed as DA-10’s FRED for the entire month of May in celebration of the Farmers’ and Fisherfolk’s Month.

Her installation aligns with the Farmer-Director Program of the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF), an initiative requiring the DA Regional Field Offices to designate the RAFC chairperson as temporary head of office annually in May, since 2017.

During her post, Salas will represent farmers and fishers in policy discussions, assist in the implementation of DA programs, and foster inter-agency and intersectoral collaboration.

“I will prioritize strengthening the participation of local AFCs – the Provincial Agricultural and Fishery Council (PAFC), City Agricultural and Fishery Council (CAFC), Municipal Agricultural and Fishery Council (MAFC) in decision-making and their recognition by the LGUs,” Salas said in an interview sharing her priority agenda.

“I urge the private sector to engage with the government initiatives with commitment, dedication, and a strong spirit of volunteerism to contribute to our progress,” she emphasized.

The FRED program promotes participatory governance by providing farmer-leaders with firsthand insight into government operations. The FREDs can make recommendations on policy and non-policy-related matters, while the authority to sign policy-related documents remains with the DA’s Regional Executive Director (RED).

The RAFCs serve as advisory and consultative bodies within the DA, representing the private sector in agriculture and fisheries-related concerns at the regional level.

DA-10 RED Jose Apollo Y. Pacamalan presided over the ceremony. Also present were DA-10 Regional Technical Director (RTD) for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga, RTD for Research and Regulations Cora A. Dumayaca, and other DA-10 and RAFC officials. # (BJCE)

DA-SAAD NorMin bolsters DA-LGU-FCAs agri dev’t plans interfacing

As a scaling-up mechanism to expand the agricultural livelihood projects granted to smallholding farmers’ associations, cooperatives (FCAs), the Department of Agriculture Special Area for Agricultural Development Program – Northern Mindanao (DA-SAAD NorMin) upholds the streamlining of the DA-LGU-FCAs agricultural development plans.

In the recently concluded DA-SAAD NorMin’s midterm project assessment, the 27 SAAD-assisted FCAs from the provinces of Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte and Camiguin were convened to craft a three-year development plan in alignment with the priority agricultural programs of SAAD and the LGUs.

The plan detailed the agricultural interventions needed by the FCAs to step up their farm production, product processing, and marketing activities geared toward establishing an agricultural enterprise prior to SAAD Program phase 2 culmination in 2028.

The midterm assessment provided the FCAs an opportunity to evaluate the status of their livelihood projects and formulate actionable measures to address the current and impending challenges affecting their project’s growth.

In his message, DA-Region 10 Regional Executive Director and DA-SAAD NorMin Focal Person, Jose Apollo Y. Pacamalan underscored the need for harmonized agricultural development plans from the farmers level up to the local and national governments to rally unilateral and sustainable agricultural programs.

“We need to make sure that our interventions in the next three years will boil down to increasing income. This is an indicator for reduction of poverty. We have to focus on productive projects. We have gone three years for these communities to experience how to do business as a start-up. Now, it’s the time for scaling up,” he stressed.

Now on its third-year phase 2 implementation, the DA-SAAD NorMin has assisted more than 600 marginal farmers in 26 low-income, isolated and conflict communities across the region.

Through their association or cooperative, these farmers were provided crops, livestock or crops-livestock integrated livelihood projects by the DA-SAAD NorMin to augment their means of living.

The SAAD program aims to capacitate the local farmers to go beyond sustenance farming by embracing agricultural entrepreneurship, transforming the farmers to be agripreneurs.# (ATT/Photo Credits: JAS)

Agri-10 NUPAP supports sustainable agriculture initiative for schools and local communities

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – In an effort to promote sustainable agriculture and empower local communities, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10), through its National Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture Program (NUPAP), participated in an initiative focused on hydroponics farming and urban gardening held on April 24 to 25, here.

Serving as the resource person, NUPAP alternate focal person Ronald Allan P. Camaddo led a seminar-workshop on basic food safety, hazard analysis and critical control points, and the Gulayan sa Paaralan Project for SY 2024-2025. The event emphasized hydroponics as a sustainable alternative to conventional farming, highlighting its potential to minimize environmental impact, aid climate resilience (CEA), enhance food security, and improve food safety.

It was conducted in partnership with the Department of Education, which continues to promote the importance of school gardening in fostering environmental awareness and education. The initiative also encouraged the exchange of best practices and innovative approaches among school district supervisors, Gulayan sa Paaralan coordinators, and school nurses, strengthening partnerships and collaborations among stakeholders to support gardening activities.

Also supported by the DA-10 was the urban gardening orientation spearheaded by the City Social Welfare and Development Office. It provided an opportunity for solo parents in learning how to grow their own food in limited urban spaces.

The program given practical techniques and resources toward creating affordable and sustainable gardens, even in confined areas such as balconies, rooftops, or community gardens, to enable solo parents to boost their income, access to fresh and healthy food, contribute to solid waste management, and combat different diseases.

Both of the partner agencies’ initiatives are aligned with the DA-10’s growing movement toward sustainable, local food production and community empowerment in Northern Mindanao, particularly in urban and peri-urban settings.# (MAC)

DA-10 laboratories undergo first surveillance audit for ISO/IEC 1705:2017

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – To ensure sustained adherence to international quality standards, the Integrated Laboratories Division (ILD) of the Department of Agriculture – Region 10 (DA-10) has undergone its first surveillance audit as part of its commitment to maintain ISO-compliant status for testing services, on April 28 to 30 at the agency’s compound, here.

The three-day audit was spearheaded by Emmanuel J. Hernandez, together with Maria Solidad L. Distor and Laarni P. Joya of the Philippine Accreditation Bureau (PAB). During the visit, the PAB evaluated the DA 10’s Regional Soils Laboratory (RSL) and the Feed Chemical Analytical Laboratory (FCAL) operations to ascertain their compliance with quality standards for chemical testing and accuracy and reliability of analytical processes.

The audit reflects the DA-10’s commitment to provide trusted and reliable testing services to support agricultural sustainability and food safety.

The ILD is scheduled for its second surveillance audit after 20 months, in keeping with the goal to continuously improve its laboratory systems and processes to meet evolving laboratory standards and to better serve the agricultural communities in Northern Mindanao. # (MAC/Photo credits: NQA)

Aggie 10 hosts regional training on RSBSA profiling platform for LGUs

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10) hosted a training on the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture Profiling Platform for LGUs (RSBSAPP-LGU) on April 29-30, here.

The training provided Northern Mindanao LGUs a comprehensive overview of the RSBSAPP-LGU system, focusing on its operational mechanisms, data processing flow and data privacy protocols, which include a live demonstration to give participants an in-depth understanding of the platform.

The platform is an electronic database specifically developed to streamline and enhance the timely encoding and validation of large volumes of data collected from farmers, farmworkers, fisherfolk, and agri-youth. It serves as a vital tool for LGUs in efficiently managing and organizing agri-fishery information.

According to Kristelle Lorizz P. Cariño, team leader of the RSBSA – National Program Management Office (RSBSA-NPMO), the said profiling platform capacitated the LGUs in encoding data of farmers who are not yet registered to the RSBSA.

By enabling systematic data input and real-time updates, the platform ensures that each municipality maintains an accurate and up-to-date database.

To uphold confidentiality of stakeholders’ information, Kristina S. Andal, legal compliance officer of RSBSA-NPMO, apprised the participants on data privacy policies.

This initiative aimed to equip LGU personnel with a comprehensive technical guidance on the system’s practical applications through hands-on experience to enhance their technical competence and develop a clearer understanding how to effectively utilize the RSBSAPP-LGU system.

The RSBSA is a primary targeting mechanism for identifying farmers and fisherfolk who are eligible for various government programs, services, and interventions. Apart from supporting data-driven planning and resource allocation, it also strengthens transparency and accountability in delivering government programs and services to rural communities. # (NQA)