IMPASUGONG, Bukidnon – Aiming to boost agri-fisheries production of Impasugong, Bukidnon, the agriculture department in Region 10 turned over the Solar Powered Irrigation System (SPIS) to the local government of the town.

Said irrigation system worth more than P1.86 million will benefit the farmers of said barangay, covering eight hectares of highly elevated farmlands, planted mostly with high value crops.

It has 30 solar modules at 320 Watt Power per module to drive the 7.5 horsepower surface pump with 3 inches diameter.

The water that comes from Kalabugao River will be pumped up into an elevated concreted reservoir with a capacity of 27 cubic meters.

DA- 10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado said, the project is funded under the department’s High Value Crops Development Program, which started on February 17, this year and completed on June 21.

“Amid the ongoing health crisis, DA has worked hard to complete the project as soon as possible to help the Kalabugao farmers conveniently irrigate their vegetable farms. With this, they can utilize their time with other productive activities while coping with the challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic,” he stressed.

The Kalabugao SPIS is DA-10’s 9th small scale water impounding system project in Bukidnon.

According to Impasugong Mayor Anthony A. Uy, DA’s SPIS project is significant to irrigate the farms in the barangay, which is planted mostly with tomatoes, bell pepper, squash and cabbage.

He hopes that DA-10 will continue to assist the town’s farmers and fisherfolk to become more productive, thereby uplift their economic status.

At present, Impasugong has a total of 3 hectares vegetable production area.

“Farmers are starting to plant vegetables in different areas with the availability of water through the SPIS,” said Dianne Jane Gante, the Report Officer of the municipal agriculture office of said town.

Along with the turnover of the SPIS, the town has also received other agri-fishery interventions from DA-10 that will also benefit other barangays.#(EMBentulan)

Amidst looming COVID-19 crisis, the Department of Agriculture in Northern Mindanao flares its agricultural services, reaching out to its clientele in the ground level.

Spearheaded by Regional Executive Director, Carlene C. Collado, DA-10 conducts on Thursday, July 9, 2020, a coordination meeting with the Provincial, City and Municipal Agriculturists of Lanao del Norte at the province’s agriculture office in Tubod, Lanao del Norte.

The meeting was an avenue to brief and consult them on the revised implementing guidelines of the Rice Resiliency Project (RRP), particularly in the granting of fertilizer subsidy to rice farmers in the province.

Similarly, they were re-oriented in the full-blown implementation of the Registry System on Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) in Northern Mindanao/

RED Collado urged the PLGU to register all farmers in their respective areas to the RSBSA.

Other agri-related concerns in the province were also discussed during the said gathering which includes proposed interventions, plans and actions at a consensus of all stakeholders present.

The meeting was attended and facilitated by Lanao del Norte Provincial Agriculturist Letecia Ditucalan together with DA-10 team in the regional and provincial levels.#(Azbie Talib)

Nineteen promoted and newly hired employees of the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) recently took their oath of office before DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado.

Among the newly promoted employees include: Deliza T. Camaro, Engineer IV, Sansen O. Tejano Agricultural Center Chief II, Junel W. Ablanque Engineer III, Romil G. Española Engineer III, Mischelle F. Egama Agriculturist II, Marnelly Ann P. Flores Agriculturist II, Jurrybe J. Lachica Agriculturist II and Alta L. Viña Administrative Officer I.

Meanwhile, 11 new entrants hired for Engineer I position, namely: Sherlyn I. Binayao, Cristina A. Malibog, Bea Khessa Czarina T. May-as, Jullibee V. Montecañas, Marlene B. Naluan, Leslie C. Paano, Rynell Richard U. Pahente, Quinah Marie O. Raiz, Jon James P. Salva, Reggie T. Vivas, and Grace T. Yagonia.

“We greatly appreciate your involvement and participation that developed DA sufficiently, including the direction that you have provided. The years you have worked with DA guiding and inspiring everyone in the office has given us the opportunity to work with your innovation,” RED Collado remarked.

Present during the ceremony were Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulations Carmelita T. Bajarla, who also chairs the Promotion and Selection Board and Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga. #(AMBManto)

The agriculture department (DA) adds another partner to its roster of food security advocates, as the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology – Regional Field Office 10 (BJMP-X) thru its jail facilities is now headed to grow their own food with their received vegetable seeds on July 7, 2020.

Handing over the inputs is Carlota S. Madriaga, regional technical director of DA-Regional Field Office 10 which was then received by Jail Inspector Haidee G Macanoili, officer-in-charge of the Regional Welfare and Development, BJMP-X.

Said start-up provisions, comprising of 30 packets of veggie seeds (okra, ampalaya and pechay) are eyed to make Persons Deprived of Liberty and BJMP-10 personnel more productive amid ongoing lockdown of jail facilities to curb the spread of COVID-19. Of which, has prevented the entry of visitors and all of their service providers temporarily suspended.

The seeds assistance will help in their urban gardening activities, which they regard as a good provider for their own food and source of livelihood and income. #

To ensure unhampered food production, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) orients agri-fishery suppliers on the financial grant assistance under the enhanced “Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita Inclusive Food Supply Chain”.

DA-RFO 10 Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga said, the program aims to capacitate farmers and fisherfolk cooperatives and associations, including community-based organizations by granting them financial assistance to upscale the Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita operations.

The Kadiwa project is part of DA’s efforts in ensuring affordable and available food for all by directly linking suppliers to consumers, bringing their produce in communities, in time for the implementation of the community quarantine due to COVID-19.

Further, participants were introduced to two DA’s information systems, the Kadiwa Agribiz Portal and the Farmers and Fisherfolk Enterprise Development Information System (FFEDIS).

The Kadiwa Agribiz Portal is an online information system where consumers and suppliers may interact for business engagements.

Meanwhile, the FFEDIS, under the Sagip Saka Act, is a registry system that seeks to create a database of registered/accredited farmers and fisherfolk.

As provided in the Memorandum Circular 16, series 2020 of DA, the financial assistance may be accessed in three forms.

Type “A” Grant, the beneficiary may receive P200,000 up to P1 million to finance value-adding activities as assemblers of farmers’ produce such as procurement of produce aggregation and pre-processing (cleaning, sorting, packing, drying, etc.).

Type “B” Grant, the beneficiary may receive P500,000 up to P5 million to finance value-adding activities as consolidators and distributors of farmers’ produce to consumer markets such as assembly, storage, transport, delivery of produce/products to distribution centers or buyers.

Meanwhile, Type “C” Grant, the beneficiary may receive P50,000 up to P150,000 to finance the start-up cost requirement of operating and maintaining Kadiwa retail markets (palengke) or retail stores.

Since the Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita program rolled out in Region 10 on March 30, 2020, there has been a total of 66 assisted agri-fishery suppliers.

To date, the program has generated a total sales of P12.7 million and has served 49,414 households. # (AMBManto, DA-10)

LANTUD, TALAKAG, Bukidnon – A new partnership geared towards the Plant, Plant, Plant Program of the agriculture department in Northern Mindanao and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) Region 10 provided livelihood options of the Maranao-Higaonon Tribe.

Located 1,761 feet above sea level, sitio Kibulag has a potential agricultural area suitable for high value development crops.

IP leader Sultan Abdul Amoran, recounted, “Pasalamat mi sa NICA nga maoy nag link namo sa DA ug nahatagan mi ug mga vegetable seeds.”

The IP community benefitted 150 packs, assorted 5-in-1 vegetable seeds constituting squash, pole sitao, eggplant, okra and ampalaya funded under the High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) of the agency.

DA’s Plant, Plant, Plant Program or the ALPAS COVID-19 or Ahon Lahat, Pagkaing Sapat laban sa COVID-19 eyes to drum up adequacy in food production amid the ongoing health crisis.

NICA 10 Regional Director Manuel M. Orduna requested from DA-RFO 10 to provide vegetable seeds for distribution in the communities that their agency engaged for their community-based dialogue.

As part of their mandate in the implementation of the provision of Executive Order No. 70, instituting the whole-of-nation approach to end local communist armed conflict, their agency is involved in community-based engagements in far flung barangays affected or vulnerable for communist terrorist group.

Sultan Amoran recalled, “Usa ni ka lugar nga hotspot sa una tungod kay usa kini nga political boundary. Dili magkasinabot ang mga tawo. Pero karon malinawon ug kontrolado na.”

NICA has identified the basic needs of the people, and among the requests of the local populace is the provision of vegetable seeds, so that they can plant in their backyard and in their small farms as a form of livelihood.

However, with the distribution of vegetable seeds, he proudly expressed, “Dako ang kausaban sa una ug sa karon nga panahon. Sa una walay mga vegetables diri kung magsuroy ka sa among lugar. Karon, duna na kay makita nga klase klaseng tanom,” said Sultan Amoran.

In a sloping area, Alfredo Amoran, one of the IP community farmer-members, showed his one-fourth hectare farm planted with eggplants.

He recounted, he has harvested nine times already and sold eggplants in major markets in Cagayan de Oro City.

Buyers also flocked in his farm. Lately, he sold around 120 kilograms at P18 per kilogram, to him, that’s far better than having no earned income with the onset of the pandemic.

Joanie A. Buaya of the Canitoan Farmers Association, one of DA-10’s Kadiwa suppliers, directly buys eggplants and other farm produce of said IP community and sells in Kadiwa outlets in Cagayan de Oro .

“Pasalamat mi sa Kadiwa kay nakatabang ko sa mga IP sa Kibulag ug naay merkado sa ilang produkto, kini dako nga tabang alang nila ug sa ubang mga mag-uuma,” said Buaya.

DA-10 OIC Regional Director Carlene C. Collado shared, the Kadiwa project is part of DA’s efforts in ensuring affordable and available food for all by directly linking suppliers to consumers, bringing their produce in communities in time for the implementation of the community quarantine due to COVID-19.

Importantly, NICA’s strategy yields a harmonized and strengthened partnership for agri-fishery development.

“Kung tan-awon nato ang insurgency sa Mindanao, isa ra ang solusyon – ang panginabuhian sa mga tawo. Walay pwedeng mag-anha anang bukid kung tanang tawo nabuhi, walay mag-anha sa bukid nga magkontra sa gobyerno. Ang agriculture maoy solusyon, walay lain,” conveyed Sultan Amoran.#(ATCabig)

TALAKAG, Bukidnon – The Department of Agriculture in Northern Mindanao (DA-10) delivers its agri interventions and commitments worth P1.9 million in support to the Poverty Reduction, Livelihood and Employment Cluster (PRLEC) of the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) launching on June 30 in barangay Lantud of said municipality.

PRLEC is composed of the different line agencies which responded to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s Executive Order (EO) 70, instituting the whole-of-nation approach to end local communist armed conflict.

“The agri-interventions is in response to the needs of the IP community, based on the validation and assessment conducted by DA,” said Carlota S. Madriaga, DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Operations.

Sultan Abdul Amoran, IP leader of the Maranao-Higaonon Tribe received the agri interventions comprising hybrid corn seeds, lowland and inbred rice seeds, garden tools and organic fertilizer worth P425,700.

Moreover, RTD Madriaga handed certificate of commitment to Sultan Amoran amounting to P573,000 which include livestock animals (carabao, goat, cattle), poultry and duck, upland rice seeds, cacao, coffee and fruit trees seedlings.

“Kung unsay itabang sa gobyerno nato, kita maningkamot unsay matabang pud nato,” said Sultan Amoran.

Col Ferdinand T Barandon, INF (GSC) PA, Commander403rd Infantry (Peacemaker) Brigade, 4ID, Philippine Army received the certificate of commitment as an additional support to civil military operations amounting to P649,840.

Commitment contain livestock animals (cattle heifer, bull, native pigs, sheep), free range chicken, inorganic fertilizer, cracked corn and open pollinated variety corn seeds.

Likely, the 8th Infantry Battalion received the certificate of commitment amounting P264,000 comprising of livestock animals (cattle heifer, bull, native pigs, sheep) and free range chicken.

Col Barandon stressed, “Communities will benefit the interventions. Kami ay magiging instrument lang para maihatid sa inyo ang serbisyo. Ito’y hindi para sa amin, para po ito sa inyo.”#(ATCabig)

The agriculture department in Region 10 continues to support the local government and other government agencies in their bid to cushion the socio-economic impact of COVID-19, thru vegetable seeds provision.

With the aim of expanding the household urban gardening project in Cagayan de Oro City, the City Housing and Urban Development Department (CHUDD) obtained its requested 159 packets of assorted veggie seeds from DA-Regional Field Office 10 on July 2, 2020.

According to CHUDD-Social Entrepreneurship Program Section Head Kris S. Buntag, three packets will be given to each homeowners association (HOA) of the 53 relocation sites in CdeO, where 10 among the associations have their own existing communal garden.

She said, currently there are about 764 households in 35 HOAs are already practicing the urban container and household gardening since 2018 in partnership with the City Social Welfare and Development Office.

“DA’s veggie seeds provision is vital to the projects of the local government, especially during this health crisis. Through this, marginalized communities can eat their own harvest and even sell some excess produce as their livelihood,” she exclaimed.

DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulations Carmelita T. Bajarla handed said provisions.# (EMB)

CABANGLASAN, Bukidnon, July 1 – In a bid to contribute in the government’s peacekeeping efforts, the agriculture department in Northern Mindanao (DA-10) accorded farm inputs assistance to the conflict affected areas of sitios Tumbaga, Tagbakan, Katablaran and Saluringan, all of barangay Canangaan.

Held at the town center, a total of 100 bags of hybrid corn seeds worth P500,000 were turned over to select leaders of such communities, as crop production assistance that can cover at least 50 hectares of land.

Lt Sancho S Tomaquin, Charlie Company Commander, 88th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army, said the recipients are among those nearly 200 displaced individuals, who fled from their farmlands and homes brought about an armed confrontation between the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) and the government troops which transpired nearly two weeks ago.

Since June, of this year, the army official reported, that they have set off to the municipality of Cabanglasan to conduct its Community Support Program (CSP), particularly in barangays Paradise, Mandahican, Mandaing, Cabulohan and Canangaan.

Out from the five barangays, they have identified that most of the enemies are in the hinterlands of Canangaan, of whom have set up camps in the sitios.

“From here, we have undertaken our CSP to clear the area from being CPP-NPA infested. After the operations, we need to sustain the peace and order situation for development to come through. Once absent ang basic services, talagang magre-rebelde ang tao,” Tomaquin remarked.

In particular, the CSP aims to bring people back to the fold of the government while empowering communities through a synergy of development efforts among soldiers, government agencies, and the local governments.

Further, he emphasized that such initiative uses the whole-of-nation approach to end the local communist armed conflict in attaining inclusive and sustainable peace, as provided in President Duterte’s Executive Order 70.

“Hindi maganda ang nangyari, but we can turn the negative into positive. Mas nakikita talaga ng gobyerno kung sino talaga ang dapat pagtuunan ng pansin,” he said, recognizing the downpour of agri-interventions from DA-10.

Meanwhile, OIC-Provincial Operations Chief of Bukidnon Janet D. Lopez of DA-10 corroborated the army official’s statement, saying that despite encountering setbacks, a blessing has come thru the additional farm inputs.

“This [100 bags of hybrid corn seeds] is on top of the 300 bags that were previously handed over to Cabanglasan town,” she explained. Such reinforcement is eyed to drum up the municipality’s corn production.

Based from reports of the local agriculture office, as of June 2020, there are 4,408 corn farmers, cultivating 5,937 hectares with an annual average production of 6.4 metric tons, specifically for hybrid corn.

“We, at the department, encourage you to form a group, as this will be instrumental in gaining more access and availing of assistance from the government such as DA,” Lopez added.

Such declaration is also opportune, as the government troops are set to assist the locals in the affected sitios to fully organize and have them registered with DOLE, Lt Tomaquin stated.

“Kini nga grasya na atong nadawat karon bisag simple ug gamay, dakong panghinaot nga kung kana atoang ampingan ug atong itanum ug ipahiluna ang atong umahan, basin mao nani sinugdanan sa pag arang-arang sa atong kahimtang,” Kagawad on Committee on Agriculture Claudio Canillas expressed.

After about a week of taking shelter in schools at barangay San Vicente and Iba, which was realized via the convergence of efforts from the provincial down to the municipal governments, the army official left and posed the affected residents a challenge as they can now return to their homes.

“Nagbigay lang man din tayo ng binhi, sana yung tinatanim natin yung binhi ng kapayapaan…hindi lang sana ito manatiling binhi, magyabong sana ito. Isang binhi lang yan pero kung nagbunga yan, mas marami pang binhi nga maitatanim natin na kakalat ang kapayapaan. Yung itinatamin ngayon nga kapayapaan, alagaan nila, pagyabungin nila hanggang mamunga at itanim ulit nang sa gayon ay dumami,” Lt Tomaquin concluded.

Also witnessing the ceremonial turnover are Cabanglasan Municipal Vice-Mayor Lolita N. Obsioma, Municipal Agriculturist Dr. Anita S. Macabugto and other local officials and employees, DA-10 Regional Corn Focal Person Richan D. Lacanaria, and Provincial Agriculturist Engr. Alson G. Quimba. #