CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – To ensure the health and immunity of the livestock ruminants in Bukidnon and Cagayan de Oro City, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) handed over a total of 70 vials of Hemorrhagic septicemia (HS) bacterin vaccine at the agency grounds on June 24.

The Large Animal Raisers of Mindanao (LARAMIN) received 25 vials; Don Carlos Municipal Agriculture Office of Don Carlos, Bukidnon, 20 vials and CdeO City Veterinary Office, 25 vials at 25 doses per vial, respectively from DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado and Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga.

Hemorrhagic septicemia (HS) bacterin vaccine is used to protect the animals from Pasteurella multocida serotype B that triggers acute disease of livestock animals in tropical countries.

Reportedly, the HS disease is an acute and highly fatal infection, where infected livestock ruminants may be found dead or die less than 24 hours after initial clinical signs.

DA-RFO 10 Livestock Program Coordinator Maria Lourdes M. Sypiecco explained, the vaccine is ideally to be injected to ruminants every year [1 ruminant is to 1 dose] costs Php700 each.

“This is to boost the immunity of the cattle and carabaos that were turned over to the beneficiaries last year, under the Cattle and Carabao Multiplier Farm projects. They aim to increase the production of the livestock industry in the region; thereby augmenting the source of livelihood of local farmers,” she added.

Don Carlos Municipal Agriculturist Merlyn C. Los Baños said, the vaccine will help prevent the cattle and carabao from being infected with the fatal disease, and will help boost profitability in the cattle-carabao industry.

Meanwhile, CdeO City Veterinarian Dr. Lucien Anthony D. Acac stated, the vaccine will not only benefit the beneficiaries of the cattle multiplier farm, but also other raisers of livestock, including goats and horses in the hinterland and coastal areas of the city.# (EMBentulan)

The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) strengthens its call for urban gardening, as it continues to provide 340 packets of assorted vegetable seeds to clients on July 30, 2020 at the agency compound.

Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulations Carmelita T. Bajarla, who handed the vegetable seeds to stakeholders noted, “With food security concerns due to the ongoing health crisis, the department is pushing for urban gardening through its Plant, Plant, Plant program. With this, we can ensure safe, accessible and available food at the comfort of our own homes.”

Receiving 240 packets of Sinigang (radish, kangkong, tomato, pole sitaw, okra) seeds on behalf of Macasadig National High School is Darcy F. Durban, who shared, they will be distributing said vegetable packets during the school’s parents’ orientation for their “My Pet Plant” project.

Said project is a psychosocial initiative from the Department of Education, Division of Cagayan de Oro which aims to give vegetable seeds to children, who will monitor the plant’s growth and development while integrating such activity to the school curriculum.

For his part, Nicasio Opon, Agriculture Committee Chair from Claveria town, who received 100 packets of pinakbet seeds said, they will be distributing them to their residents to encourage them to plant their own vegetables at their backyards during these trying times.

With this, RTD Bajarla urges the public to visit the agency to avail of the free vegetable seeds while local government units and various groups may send a letter of intent to request for the said seeds. # (AMBManto)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The local government of Tangcal, Lanao del Norte receives agri interventions from the Department of Agriculture – Northern Mindanao in partnership with the Philippine Army on July 27 in said town.

DA-RFO 10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado turned over 1 unit four-wheel drive, 95 horsepower farm tractor with implements (disc plow, trailing, harrow and trailer) amounting P2.7 million to the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade, Armor Division thru Col Charlemagne F Batayola Jr MNSA PA, Deputy Brigade Commander, Philippine Army for the civil military operations of the 5th Mechanized Infantry Battalion, Armor Division, PA thru its Commanding Officer, LTC Alfonso DS Matias Jr CAV (GSC) PA.

“This activity is a big accomplishment of the Philippine Army in partnership with DA. With their help, we are assured that all communities, especially the conflict areas will be provided with assistance, letting them know that there is a government who will help them,” RED Collado conveyed to the farmers in Tangcal.

Aside from the provision of tractor, DA-10 provided the 5th and 4th Mechanized Infantry Battalion, each with 50 bags inbred rice seeds at 40 kilograms per bag, 25 bags open pollinated variety (OPV) corn seeds at 20 kg per bag, 150 packets 5-in-1 vegetable seeds and 60 packs forage seeds amounting P238,000 intended for farmers in said town.

The 2nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade as convergence partner in the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), requested said agri interventions for the implementation of agri-based livelihood projects in communities they cover as part of their efforts to reduce poverty and empower communities to end local armed communist conflicts.

Col Batayola shared, “Natutuwa po kami na maging partner ang DA lalo na sa pagsulong ng adhikain ng gobyerno following the Whole-of-Nation Approach (EO No. 70). Hindi po namin kaya kung kami lang, kailangan namin ang lahat ng partners: stakeholders, NGOs, NGAs, private individuals, NGOs para maisulong natin ang AmBisyon Natin 2040, bawat tahanang Pilipino ay matiwasay, payapa at maalwa ang pamumuhay nila.”

Through a Memorandum of Undertaking signed between DA and 2nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade, Armor (Pambato) Division, strengthens the community-based socio-economic programs to reinforce social cohesion and preserve unity of communities.

Importantly, it addresses poverty and peace vulnerability in conflict-affected areas by providing livelihood and infrastructure projects.

Noting said efforts is in line on the operationalization of EO 70 or the Whole-of-Nation Approach signed by President Duterte that addresses the root causes of insurgencies, internal disturbances and tensions and other armed conflicts and threats by prioritizing ad harmonizing the delivery of basic services and social development.

DA-RFO 10 provided farm equipment and machinery they requested as part of the DA and AFP collaborative efforts to bring government services closer to the communities.

LTC Matias stressed, “Peace at development ay hindi lang nakasalalay sa military lang, kailangan ang bawat sangay ng gobyerno ay magtulong tulong para makaabot ang tulong sa mga nangangailangan. Basically, what is important ay matulongan sila at ma sustain ang farming with DA’s help. ”

RED Collado also challenged the LGU to make use of said interventions to improve their lives, plant their own food, especially with the COVID-19 pandemic and to make food available in every household.

Tangcal Mayor Fatima M. Tomawis extended her appreciation, “Nagpapasalamat po kami sa DA na binigyan nga priority nila ang Tangcal para matulongan ang mga magsasaka at mapabuti ang pamumuhay nila.”

Said town is one of the six priority Muslim municipalities in Lanao del Norte identified by DA-10 for agri development with 9,204 hectares agricultural land area and a potential area of 3,482 hectares.

At present, it has 2,632 registered farmers in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) with coconut as the major agri commodity, followed by vegetables, corn, rice and ginger. # (ATCabig/DA-10)

A total of 1,100 packs of assorted vegetables seeds were given by the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) to stakeholders on July 28, 2020 at the agency compound.

DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga handed over the 150 packets of seeds to representatives from Camaman-an National High School, 50 packets to Barangay Nutrition Committee of Pagatpat, Cagayan de Oro City, and 450 packets each of sinigang and chopsuey seeds to the Municipal Agriculture Office of Lantapan, Bukidnon.

Kelvin Kent E. Giron, Secondary School Teacher I of Camaman-an National High School said, the Department of Education Division of Cagayan de Oro has recently launched the ‘My Pet Plant’ project which aims to encourage children to venture into urban gardening as they continue to learn their usual subjects.

“The school plans to distribute the vegetables during the opening of classes this August to prepare students and parents to a learning modality during this health crisis,” he detailed.

Meanwhile, Jhon Ketz L. Gayla, Area Technician of the City Agriculture Office in Cagayan de Oro, who received the seeds on behalf of the Barangay Nutrition Committee in Pagatpat, CdeO, shared, they will be using the seeds as tokens to participants in their Household Container Gardening contest during the culminating activity of their Nutrition Month.

On the other hand, Acting Municipal Agriculture Officer Neptali C. Ambos of Lantapan, Bukidnon stated, they will be distributing the seeds during their “Hatod Serbisyo sa Barangay” program.

“We will be giving out the seeds to the 14 barangays and various schools in our area, as support to their ‘Gulayan sa Paaralan’ endeavor,” he added.

RTD Madriaga revealed that the agency has utilized P3.3 million for the provision of vegetable seeds of which 877.092 kgs or 23,508 packets have been provided to clients as of July 25, 2020.

“In line with the directive of President Rodrigo R. Duterte during his State of the Nation Address, the agency continues to strengthen its efforts in providing vegetable seeds to various stakeholders through the Plant, Plant, Plant program,” she added. # (AMBManto, DA-10)

SULTAN NAGA DIMAPORO, Lanao del Norte – In an effort to reduce post-harvest losses and increase farmers income and production, the Department of Agriculture- Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) turns over P10.4 million worth of projects to the local government of Sultan Naga Dimaporo, Lanao del Norte on July 26.

DA-RFO 10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado led the turnover of pre- and post-harvest projects to the LGU represented by Casan P. Colo, committee chair for agriculture, and to the eight farmer-association beneficiaries.

Skylark Farmers Association of barangay Dableston received the P4.09 million warehouse, a component of the agency’s Rice Program for proper storage of agricultural inputs and machineries of said town.

The 200-square meter warehouse with 195 metric tons capacity supports the buffer stocking and bagged grains and seeds of the farmers.

The LGU also received pre- and post-harvest facilities and equipment in enhancing food productivity amounting P6.3 million, comprising two units rice transplanter, two units four-wheel drive tractor, four units water pump and two units cassava granulator.

SND is the fourth rice producing municipality in Lanao del Norte with a yield of 4.86 metric tons per hectare, next to Lala, Salvador and Kapatagan.

The 1,143 rice farmers will benefit said projects covering 2,728.75 hectare rice area, both for irrigated and rainfed areas.

Dir. Collado challenged the farmer-association beneficiaries to maintain and operate the equipment to provide services to its members.

“Dakong garbo namo mga mag-uuma nga nakadawat sa mga proyekto gikan sa DA diin dako ug matabang kanamo,” said Simplicio G. Calapine, Chair of SND Pandanan Farmers and Fisherfolk Association in said town.#(ATCabig)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY– Amid the ongoing pandemic, schools within the city of Cagayan de Oro, carries on with their health and nutrition as well as environmental preservation advocacies through their ‘Gulayan sa Paaralan’ project.

Now, Cagayan de Oro National High School – Senior High School (CdeO NHS-SHS) and Lapasan National High School (LNHS) have add-on and start up provisions to do such initiative, as they have received their requested assorted vegetable seeds from the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) on July 22 and 23.

Turning over the seeds assistance, comprising 300 packets pinakbet (okra, eggplant, squash, string beans and ampalaya), and 20 packets pinakbet and 5 packets pechay seeds, were DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga and OIC, Operations Division Chief Audy G. Maagad.

The garden inputs were received by school representatives: Administrative Officer II Ellen D. Somosierra of CdeO NHS-SHS and Lovellie C. Neri, a SPED teacher coordinator of LNHS.

“Through the Program, we basically teach our children on how to live. While they are temporarily learning from their homes, they can be more productive by planting vegetables. And, after months or in a few weeks, they can value the essence of such activity, as they can eat their homegrown products,” Somosierra remarked, adding it is opportune, especially this Nutrition Month.

Likewise, the Gulayan aims to strengthen the integration of environmental education in the school curriculum, said its Secondary School Principal III Marlon Francis C. Seriña.

“This will sustain environmental consciousness and action among learners while instilling them the values of unity, teamwork, volunteerism, nationalism, and community service for environmental protection and conservation,” the CdeO NHS-SHS official expressed.

Meanwhile, with the ongoing health crisis, Neri said, the teachers and parents alike are eyed to plant the vegetable seeds in available spaces of their school.

“For now, our focus is on how to abundantly grow vegetables, and eventually, these will be used as supplement to the food being provided in our feeding program activities,” Neri explained.

Since the coronavirus contagion, DA-RFO 10 has intensified and even gained, various group implementers, in drumming up the Plant, Plant, Plant, Program (Agri 4Ps) of the government, to ensure sustained food production, availability, food accessibility and affordability.

As of July 18, 2020, a total of 877.092 kilograms of veggie seeds were already provided to 54 local government units, 32 groups, and individuals. #

The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) continues its collaboration with the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (USTP) for a research on the socio-economic profile of the farmers in Northern Mindanao.

Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulations Carmelita T. Bajarla along with Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Division Chief Cora A. Dumayaca met with Professor Edgar Allan C. Po, PhD of the USTP on July 21, 2020 to critique on the draft of the study entitled ‘Socio-Economic Profiling of Farmers in Northern Mindanao’.

A total of 35,000 respondents from the 175 municipalities and cities of region 10 were surveyed during the study.

Data on their crop/animal being produced, socio-economic profile, cropping practices, farm power preferences, market support and extension services, including the challenges to productivity were gathered.

RTD Bajarla said the collaborative research project will significantly impact the policy directions of the agency, with DA as the funding agency and USTP, as its implementing agency.

“This analysis will be used as a reference tool to help management in deciding priority programs, projects and interventions to stakeholders,” she detailed. # (AMBManto)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, July 20 – The Department of Agriculture in Northern Mindanao provided seed interventions to the 6th Infantry (Kampilan) Division (6ID) of the Philippine Army (PA) to boost military reservations and promote peace and development in conflict affected areas.

DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado handed 100 packets assorted vegetable seeds and 36 packets forage seeds to 6ID-PA thru Assistant Chief of Staff for Logistics, G4, Colonel Ciriaco A Lomas-e, Jr GSC (INF) PA and Major Ralph Vismen D Macasarte, Chief, Division Real Estate Office.

Col. Lomas-e said, they will benefit from the forage seeds (indigofera, flemingia and rensonii) which will serve as forage for their livestock animals such as cattle, horses and goats at their reservation camps, in the provinces of Bukidnon, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, Maguindanao, and Lanao del Sur.

He added, the assorted vegetable seeds (amplaya, eggplant, okra, squash and string beans) will be distributed to all its units for propagation, enabling them to become self-sustaining, especially during emergency lockdowns.

They will also share some packets of vegetable seeds to other communities, especially in the far-flung areas, where local rebels are identified to make them productive.

“We need to make these people understand that the government, under the administration of President Duterte is supporting communities living in remote areas. With this, we can lessen the recruits of the government agitators,” he added.

The troop has also requested agricultural machineries and equipment, livestock and poultry animals to further achieve the command’s goal in developing the camp’s 3,000 hectare potential agricultural land.# (EMBentulan)

Eyeing to elevate the standard of delivering its services toward its clienteles, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) conducted a two-day training on Basic Customer Service Skills on July 9 via teleconferencing.

DA-RFO 10 Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulations Carmelita T. Bajarla, extended her appreciation to the participants and the staff of Human Resource and Management Section, who took part in conducting the training despite the difficulties in holding the activity with health precautionary measures.

RTD Bajarla stressed that it is embodied in RA 6713 that public officials and employees should observe standards of Code of Ethics to honor the principle of “a public office is a public trust.

“The promotion or appointment of employees relies on the consistency of one’s good performance; higher knowledge and proficiency; increase in duties and responsibilities with passion and dedication,” she related.

A customer is anyone internal or external to the organization for whom the work, products or services are produced and intended.

There are various kind of customer treatments cited, of which one is being friendly and caring. With this, people want to feel that their needs are important, and they are treated in a friendly way.

This includes simple things as giving information and answering questions. For the other speakers, participants learned skills in building customer satisfaction; keys to good interpersonal communication, among others.

They likewise shared their insights and personal experiences in dealing with DA’s clients in their respective divisions and sections, which are seen to also help fellow participants in dealing with such situations.

Other speakers who also shared their expertise in customer service skills were, Livestock Program Coordinator Ma. Lourdes M. Sypiecco; OIC Chief of Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Information Section (RAFIS) Angelilah T. Cabig; and General Services Section Chief Lester B. Apag.

In compliance to Republic Act 9485 otherwise known as “Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007, DA uses its “Malasakit Help Desk” as a platform to cater the needs and queries of locals on agri-fishery information and data, including those involving registration and accreditation, among others.

The activity, which was spearheaded by the agency’s Human Resource and Management Section (HRMS) picked 24 regular and Contract Service Worker employees from its nine divisions, Office of the Regional Director (ORD); Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD); Integrated Laboratories Division (ILD); Administrative and Finance Division (AFD); Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Division (PMED); Regional Agricultural Engineering Division (RAED); Field Operations Division (FOD) and the Research Division.# (EMBentulan)

CdeO City, July 20 – The Department of Agriculture in Northern Mindanao strengthens quarantine measures of its borders in preventing the entry of African Swine Fever (ASF) in the region.

DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado said, that the agency will closely coordinate with the provincial governments in the region, particularly in Bukidnon to strictly implement veterinary quarantine measures.

This move is in line with the confirmed ASF cases in three barangays of Magpet, North Cotabato. Magpet is bounded on the North by the provinces of Lanao del Sur and Bukidnon.

Accordingly, an emergency meeting was conducted with the DA-Bureau of Animal Industry-National Veterinary Quarantine Services (DA-BAI-NVQS), City Veterinary Office of Cagayan de Oro, Provincial Veterinary Office of Misamis Oriental and NORMINHOG to initially come up with recommendations in strengthening the protection of the region’s borders.

NORMINHOG President Leon Tan, Jr. said, that stricter implementation of the quarantine checkpoints in Alae, Manolo Fortich, Libona, Talakag, San Fernando, Kalilangan, Damulog in the province of Bukidnon should be enforced.

The group recommended to request Bukidnon Governor Jose Ma.  Zubiri to augment personnel to be stationed at each identified entry points in the province and further request the Philippine National Police to assign its personnel to assist the veterinary quarantine checkpoints.

As of April 1, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported, Northern Mindanao has a total of 1.113 million metric tons of hog inventory.

ASF is a dreaded hog disease that has devastated farms in China and continues to threaten the livestock industry of some European countries.

Collado appeals to the consumers to refrain from bringing in the region pork and meat products from ASF affected areas.# (ATCabig)