DA’s Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita On Wheels and Express has brought farmers’ agricultural commodities closer to the buying public within CdeO. (Photo credits: ATCabig) 

CdeO, April 9 – Making its rounds within the city, the Department of Agriculture – Northern Mindanao’s (DA-10) Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita On Wheels and Express displaying farmers’ produce, has generated about P488,613.00 in sales.

Its operations for the Kadiwa On-Wheels has already served the following barangays: Upper Carmen, Iponan, Kauswagan, Patag, Lumbia and Agusan.

In April 7, the Kadiwa Express alone, staged at the agency grounds in Antonio Luna Street, garnered the highest sales at P171,688.00.

The Kadiwa is being facilitated by the department’s Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD), where they sought supplies of agri-fishery commodities, mostly from farmer-groups across Region 10, and directly link them with the market.

Exhibitors included the Miarayon Highland Farmer’s Association, Farm Grown Association of Claveria, Canitoan Farmer’s Association Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Agusan Barangay Food Terminal, and the National Dairy Authority-assisted Northern Mindanao Federation of Dairy Cooperatives.

Private companies such as True Chef’s Choice, Inc. and Bounty Fresh Chicken, including the local government of Claveria also took part.

As response to the COVID-19 crisis, the said initiative has opened marketing opportunities for the city dwellers and farmers alike.

“We can provide the consuming public healthier and nutritious food options at affordable prices, at the same time allow our farmers a fair return of their respective products,“ Carlota S. Madriaga, regional technical director of DA-10 said.

Faced with a public health threat, she added, that DA-10 has emphasized for everyone involved to follow community quarantine protocols.

“Through our agribiz personnel, both the sellers and buyers are reminded to observe physical distancing, proper hand sanitation, and wearing of masks while marketing,” Madriaga detailed.

Kadiwa, which stands for Katuwang sa Diwa at Gawa para sa Masaganang Ani at Mataas na Kita, is a marketing scheme used by DA which directs farmers to the consumers, removing trading layers; thereby reducing the cost of products.

“As we do not know when this [COVID-19 crisis] will be over, the agency will continue in rolling out our Kadiwa stores to benefit more urban families,” the director relayed.

On the third week of April, the Kadiwa On Wheels will head out to more areas: Macabalan and Cala-anan, Canitoan (April 13); Villa Candida, Bulua and RER Phase I, Kauswagan (April 14); Gusa (April 15); and Indahag and Macasandig (April 16). # (JLO)

DA exec Collado checks the situation on the ground to ensure that cargo trucks containing food supplies and production items are gaining easier access in the checkpoints of Malaybalay City, Don Carlos and Lantapan, Bukidnon through the issued foodlane passes.

CdeO City, April 8 – The Department of Agriculture – Northern Mindanao (DA-10) has issued, as of April 8, some 5,335 foodlane passes to walk-in and online clients across the region since March 19.

This in support to the Food Resiliency Protocol of DA for the entire country amid the different established quarantine checkpoints done by local governments brought about by the COVID-19 outbreak.

“It is put in place to ensure that every Filipino household will have access to safe and affordable food,” said agency head, OIC-Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado, noting the issuance of department memorandum circulars 6, 7 and 9 as its basis.

Taking the lead in handling the issuance of foodlane passes is the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division of DA-10, which is augmented by the Regulatory Division, and the operations centers and research stations in the provinces, as well as from its attached bureaus and agencies.

“Originally done in the regional office, we have branched out the receipt, processing and issuances in our identified processing centers to fast track its releases, at the same time to avoid overcrowding of applicants, which also forms part of our precautionary measures against COVID-19,” the director added.

To speed up processing, the DA exec advised for interested applicants to have their application requirements ready, which includes a photocopy of their Official Receipt of Registration, Certificate of Registration and Business Permit.

Also included in the roster of requirements are duly accomplished Foodlane Accreditation, Foodlane Reference and Statement of Commitment forms.

Of which, a complete list of said requirements can be found at http://agribusiness.da.gov.ph while online submissions may be forwarded to amad1northmin@gmail.com.

For cargoes involving livestock, poultry and by-products, additional requirements listed include a photocopy of their handler’s license and accreditation of transport carriers and accreditation of meat transport vehicle issued by the Bureau of Animal Industry and National Meat Inspection Service, respectively.

Entailing success on the unimpeded transit of agri-fishery commodities and production items, Dir. Collado also underscored the strengthened coordination among the national government agencies – DA, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

“With the foodlane project being a tie-up program, for our part, we will provide a list of DA-accredited foodlane truckers to the DILG and PNP for information, and be relayed to authorized personnel manning the checkpoints. Through this, we can help speed up inspections, as per guidelines,” the DA-10 official said.

The DA exec added that the DILG’s recent directive of dismantling barangay checkpoints in all national highways provincial roads would also reinforce in the easier passage of cargoes and other essentials.

“Only those checkpoints manned by the PNP are allowed and are authorized to inspect cargo trucks,” the agency head noted.  # (JLO)

To ensure available, accessible and affordable food in every locality, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) through its Provincial Operations Center of Misamis Oriental (MisOr) continues its turnover of assorted vegetable seeds to the second district of MisOr.

A total of 150 packets worth P19,500.00, was received by Ma. Socorro A. Fabela from the office of the second district Representative Juliette T. Uy. # (AMBManto)

DA-NorMin eyes for Camiguin residents to start growing their own food in their respective backyards amid the current COVID-19 pandemic. Accordingly, the agency turns over assorted vegetable seeds to the provincial government of Camiguin headed by Governor Jurdin Jesus M. Romualdo.

Mambajao, Camiguin – The agriculture department in Northern Mindanao (DA-10) continues its distribution of vegetable seeds to push Camiguin residents to grow their own food amid the island-province being under community quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Valued at about Php65,000.00, the agency has turned over 500 packets of assorted vegetable seeds, which was received by Camiguin Governor Jurdin Jesus M. Romualdo and the agriculture office of the provincial government.

“Growing one’s own food is the most productive pastime that one can do, especially now that most of us are in our homes,” said DA-NorMin OIC-Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado said.

Said undertaking is aligned with DA’s pending request for its Ahon Lahat, Pagkaing Sapat Kontra sa COVID-19 (ALPAS COVID-19) initiative, otherwise known as the Plant, Plant, Plant program, which eyes to get an additional Php31-billion to speed up the provision of assistance that would ensure food productivity and availability, food accessibility and mobility, and food prices stability.

To date, it awaits for the approval of the president after it has been approved and endorsed by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.
Of the total approved amount, Php1 billion will also be dispensed for a revitalized gulayan project and Php500 million for its urban agriculture project nationwide. #

In a video conference meeting with the Department of Agriculture (DA) – Central Office, the agency heads of the different regional field offices nationwide were instructed to ensure food supply and the implementation of price freeze on agri-fishery products in their respective localities amid the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Presided by DA officials Engr. Ariel T. Cayanan and Assistant Secretary Andrew Villacorta, the DA execs were directed to initiate the reactivation of the Local Price Coordinating Council at the regional, provincial and city/municipal levels.

Accordingly, a thorough data analysis and agreement among concerned agencies were requested to be undertaken in the setting of price freeze on agri-fishery commodities and shall be approved by said council.

Relatedly, weekly submission of food production, including supply and demand data for rice, corn, vegetables, spices, eggs, poultry, pork, beef, tilapia, bangus, and galunggong, is also required.

In particular, the regional directors were asked to further strengthen their coordination with the Bureau of Fisheries of Aquatic Resources in their respective regions to also ensure monitoring and enforcement of the price freeze on fishery products. #

The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) strengthens its coordination with stakeholders regarding price monitoring in a meeting at the DA-10 Conference Room.

Under Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 2020-01 of DA, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Health (DOH) have issued the “Price Freeze Act under a State of Calamity throughout the Philippines due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)”.

Pursuant to the JMC, prices of basic necessities under the jurisdiction of the DTI, DA, and DOH are frozen at their prevailing prices as of March 8, 2020 until May 15, 2020, unless sooner lifted by the President.

Accordingly, DA-RFO 10 Regional Technical Director Carlota S. Madriaga and its Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) called for a meeting with DTI-10, City Price Coordinating Council (CPCC) and City Economic Enterprise Department (CEED) of Cagayan de Oro City and the Misamis Oriental Retailers Association (MISORRA).

The group agreed on crafting a resolution for setting an enhanced price freeze on agricultural products, especially on premium quality bananas sold in the supermarkets.

This resulted after concerns on the apprehension of some banana (lakatan) sellers for allegedly selling overpriced bananas.

Madriaga detailed that the Php40.00 ceiling price is for the 8-10 pieces per kilogram specification only, wherein the basis for the set price was from the monitoring of the Cogon and Carmen markets three months prior to the COVID-19 crisis.

She noted this might have caused confusion regarding the price among enforcers and consumers.

Madriaga shared that the agency has already negotiated with the wholesalers outside Cogon and Carmen market areas to lower their product prices; thereby enabling retailers to follow the price ceiling.

On the other hand, she stressed that DA will closely coordinate with the DA- Bureau of Plant Industry, Plant Quarantine Service (DA-BPI PQS), CPCC and the Criminal Investigation Detection Group-10 (CIDG-10) on the inspection of rice warehouses to prevent rice hoarding.

Meanwhile, the reactivation of the Local Price Coordinating Council (LPCC) is in line with Joint Memorandum Circular No. 77 of DA, DTI and DOH which enables the Local Price Coordinating Councils (LPCCs) of local government offices to help implement price freeze, issue warnings and arrest offenders.

Said initiative is sought to protect consumers against undue price spikes as the nation is under a state of emergency due to the spread of COVID-19. #

DA’s Kadiwa ni Ani store staged at the agency grounds opens marketing opportunities for both farmer-producers and consumers: earning at the same time addressing food requirements while considering one’s safety and health.

Cagayan de Oro, April 6 – The agriculture department here in Northern Mindanao (DA-10) opens its parking space to the public for the opening of its Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita store, early this morning at Antonio Luna Street.

Department of Agriculture-10 OIC-Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado emphasized that said initiative provides farmers and fisherfolk the venue of directly selling their agricultural produce and other processed food to urban dwellers, as the coronavirus-driven quarantines set by local governments have posed a challenge in terms of bringing their goods from production areas to distribution outlets.

Meanwhile, consuming public can avail healthier, nutritious and more affordable food options, which also demands in adopting measures such as wearing of face masks and observing social distancing from them, which is somehow hard to do in major public markets, to help curb the said disease.

Following last Saturday’s stint in barangay Lumbia, DA-10 once again rolls out its Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita store in the agency grounds to ensure the safety and welfare of both farmers and fisherfolk as well as the consumers.

“To ensure everyone’s safety, DA has put up a footbath in the entrance, and imposed the mandatory use of face masks to all sellers and buyers aside from providing them a hand disinfectant station,” Carlota S. Madriaga, regional technical director for operations of DA-10 detailed.

On the other hand, the Kadiwa On-Wheels is also set to head out this afternoon from the office, to some barangays within the city, including Terry Hills and Apovel, targeting an hour per barangay.

“We closely coordinate the Kadiwa on Wheels with the local government of CdeO to widely disseminate the information thru their barangay captains,” the director added, to ensure guaranteed patrons once the Kadiwa will set out in the streets.

Participating in the stationed and mobile Kadiwa stores include the following: Northern Mindanao Federation of Dairy Cooperatives offering dairy products; Miarayon Highland Farmers Association – highland vegetables; Reanes Fishery Products – assorted processed agri-fishery products; Farm Grown Association of Claveria – rootcrops, fruits and vegetables; Truechef Choice – dressed chicken; and Nas Agricom Enterprises selling honey and turmeric powder.

“Through this initiative, we look forward for our farmers and fisherfolk-producers and consumers alike, satisfied aside from earning but in addressing the food requirements of the consuming public while considering one’s safety and health,” Madriaga ended.

Kadiwa, which refers to Katuwang sa Diwa at Gawa para sa Masaganang Ani at Mataas na Kita, is a marketing strategy employed by DA thru Secretary William D. Dar that directly links farmer-producers to its market; thereby reducing the cost of their products. # (JLO)

Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10) executive Carlene C. Collado visits the proposed site for the establishment of 10 units smart greenhouses and two staff houses in one of the agency’s research station, the Northern Mindanao Agricultural Crops and Livestock Research Complex at Dalwangan, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.

Said undertaking will be used by the Korean engineers and consultants, who will be working with the department for the production of quality tomatoes and pepper using Korean technology and expertise.

The Smart Greenhouse Philippine Project is a joint project of DA-KOICA-EPIS which aims to produce high quality tomatoes and pepper at the same time enhance farmers’ productivity. #

With the availability of food supply as important as battling the COVID-19 crisis, DA executive in Region 10 Carlene C. Collado checks the situation on the ground to ensure that cargo trucks containing food supplies and production items are gaining easier access in the quarantine checkpoints of Damulog, Malaybalay City, Don Carlos and Lantapan, Bukidnon through the issued foodlane passes.

This is one among the region’s response on the directives of DA Sec. William D. Dar in addressing priority key areas amid the pandemic such as mobilizing food and production supplies from production to market areas; reviewing the food availability and affordability per province and addressing those with deficits; and strengthening the coordination between the agency and local governments in the implementation of the foodlane.#