Impasug-ong, Bukidnon, February 11 – To drum up the provision of social and economic services in the countryside, especially to the Indigenous Peoples (IPs), the World Bank (WB) Full Blown Mission for Mindanao Inclusive Agriculture Development Project (MIADP) kicked off today.

Said activity which commenced in this town aims to encourage the IPs to assume leadership roles and solicit full participation in the determination of their respective development needs through a series of focused group discussions.

Ultimately, funding institution WB and the national government through DA can provide agri-fishery livelihoods, investment and various support services that are culturally appropriate and responsive to their development needs. #

Purok 3, Cabanglasan, Bukidnon – Farmer-members of the Iba Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Association Multi-Purpose Cooperative (IARBA MPC) are expected to bring to greater heights their farming activities with DA’s package of agri-support.

Funded under the agency’s Bottom-Up Budgeting with the local government’s equity, DA-RFO 10 OIC-Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado officially turned over the completed P1.2-million projects to the proponents.

Package of agri-assistance comprised of construction of warehouse with solar dryer, purchase of cassava chipper, and construction organic fertilizer production facilities.

On behalf of the recipients, Mayor Renante V. Inocando received the symbolic key of turnover and certificate with lARBA MPC Chairman Russell James Demata, in the presence of Municipal Agriculturist Anita S. Macabugto, other local officials and employees, and DA-10 staff.

Around 1,886 Bukidnon farmers receive reference codes for Php5,000 aid under the Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RFFA) program of the Department of Agriculture.

Spearheaded by the Rice Program of DA-RFO 10, the first batch of farmers from the municipalities of Talakag, Kalilangan, Kadingilan, Damulog, Dangcagan, Kibawe, Don Carlos, Quezon, Maramag , Valencia City, San Fernando, Cabanglasan, Malaybalay City, Impasug-ong, Sumilao, Manolo Fortich and Baungon received their reference codes, starting February 10-14, 2020.

With a total of Php9,430,000, the said incentive is given to farmers who are affected by the low buying price of palay due to the implementation of the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL).

In partnership with the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) the said rice farmers may claim the cash assistance through M Lhuiller Kwarta Padala outlets by presenting their reference codes.#

“For the meantime, Region 10 is African Swine Fever (ASF) free”, confirms OIC Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado of the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 10.

However, the region is facing the threat of ASF which will greatly affect the hog industry given with the outbreaks in neighboring Mindanao regions (regions 11 and 12).

In 2018, Region 10 ranks 3rd nationwide with a hog production volume of 196,623 metric tons.

For this, the task force chaired by RED Collado approved four resolutions endorsed by the Regional Advisory Committee for Animal Diseases, Control and Emergency (RAC ADCE) of Region 10.

The resolution comprises the request for Armed Forces of the Philippines/Philippine National Police to deploy staff in the priority identified entry points in five provinces of Northern Mindanao for its 24-hour operation.

Aside from the uniformed personnel, request includes the local government executives to augment personnel to be stationed at each identified entry points in the region.

In keeping Northern Mindanao ASF free, proposed interventions and measures were taken requesting the DA to provide stand-by indemnification funds; additional requirements for border protect –air and sea ports, and sniffing dogs for use by the BAI-NVQS in Northern Mindanao.

The move of the DA has been supported by the inter-agency members, hog industry players in the prevention and control of ASF entry in the region.

Immediate financial support was given by Gingoog City Vice Mayor Peter Unabia, who is also a hog raiser to NORMINHOG thru its President, Mr. Leon Tan for the purchase of ASF reagents.#(ATCabig)

As immediate response to  evade entry of pork and pork products that are affected with African Swine Fever (ASF) that could enter Region 10, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 Regional Technical Director Carlota S. Madriaga guested this week’s Talakayan sa PIA on February 6, 2020 held at SM Downtown, Cagayan de Oro City to discuss Northern Mindanao’s preventive measures on the entry of said disease in the region. It was emphasized that the key in battling ASF is to strengthen our borders in the Northern Mindanao especially NorMin ranks no. 3 hog producers throughout the country.  RTD Madriaga requested the media practitioners  to help in the dissemination on the awareness of ASF to help the swine raisers by protecting our borders from entry of pork and pork products. She was joined by Regional  Technical Director Dr. Angelita Barcelona, National Meat Inspection Services;  Dr. Jake Sepe of the National Veterinary Quarantine Services – Bureau of Animal Industry; and Dr. Julesben Q. Maquiling, Veterinarian II, DA-RFO 10.  ### SVAdecer

DA-RFO 10 thru OIC RED Carlene C. Collado supports the launching of the newly formed Regional Task Force to End Local Communist and Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) in Cagayan de Oro City with the turn over of agri interventions earlier today, February 7, 2020.

6 February – Ongoing Regional Inter-Agency Task Force on African Swine Fever Meeting presided by DA-RFO 10 OIC-Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado in CdeO City.

CdeO, February 5 – The Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) Mindanao Cluster-A paid a courtesy visit to DA-Regional Field Office 10 OIC-Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado earlier today at the DA-RFO 10 Compound.

PhilMech Mindanao Cluster-A, headed by Cluster Head Engr. Edgar B. Testa is composed of regions 9, 10 and 13.

For Region 10, Engr. Anthony M. Alfuente will be the focal person, who will work closely with DA-10 in the implementation of the mechanization component under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund, to further improve rice production in the region.# (EMB)

4 February, CdeO City – DA-RFO 10 OIC RED Carlene C. Collado calls for African Swine Fever (ASF) emergency meeting with the provincial and city vets, BAI-NVQS, NMIS, NORMINHOG, The Oro Vets and other hog raisers of Region 10 to assess the region’s status and preparation after the confirmed ASF incidence in Davao Occidental.

RED Collado emphasized to strenghten the protection of all border points to prevent the region from being affected with ASF in close coordination with the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) and the LGUs.

The preliminary meeting also aims to come up with a doable action plan which will be submitted to Secretary William D. Dar of DA.

Mayor Rey B. Buhisan of Magsaysay, Misamis Oriental, Vice-Mayor Peter M. Unabia of Gingoog City and Councilor Mai Okinlay Gumban of Impasug-ong,Bukidnon signified its support and commitment of the group’s action plan on ASF control strategies.

Further, the meeting was called to support Region 11 thru logistics, supplies and identify other assistance that can be extended to them.#

LGU Kadingilan, Bukidnon under the helm of Mayor Jerry O. Canoy, Sr. who was represented by Councilor Jerry A. Canoy received on February 3, 2020 Php5.8-M Solar-Powered Irrigation System (SPIS) and Php6.9-M worth of Farm-to-Market Roads (FMR) from DA-RFO 10 thru OIC-RED Carlene C. Collado earlier today, February 3, 2020. #