CdeO City, June 3 –Some government agency employees adopting work from home arrangements are now heading to venture in growing vegetables in their respective backyards.

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) – Misamis Oriental and the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development – Region 10 (DHSUD-10) availed their 23 and 50 packets vegetable seeds, respectively, from the Department of Agriculture in Region 10 (DA-10), funded under its High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP).

The agency’s implementation of ALPAS COVID-19 or Ahon Lahat, Pagkaing Sapat kontra sa COVID-19 in the country’s major urban communities aims to scale up food adequacy level in mitigating the effects brought by the coronavirus contagion.

TESDA – MisOr Provincial Director Miraluna N. Baje-Lopez cited that its employees can become food sufficient by engaging in backyard gardening while they are working at their respective homes.

Meanwhile, DHSUD-10 OIC-Regional Director Charito A. Raagas said that provisions would not only provide a productive endeavor for public servants, but also offers a healthier food diet, as soon as they would harvest their homegrown vegetables.

“Recipients would truly reap a bounty of harvested vegetables, as one packet is more than enough for a backyard garden,” said Carlota S. Madriaga, Regional Technical Director for Operations of DA-10 who handed said items to the concerned agencies.

“With the repacked seeds of the department, an individual recipient can plant the set of seeds up to an area of 30-40 square meters,” the assistant agri-executive added.

Receiving the veggie seeds on behalf of said government agencies were TESDA-MisOr Administrative Aide IV Genesis P. Cabrillos and DHSUD-10 Chief Admin Officer Michael P. Bajao.# (EMB)

DALWANGAN, MALAYBALAY CITY, June 4 –The Department of Agriculture in Northern Mindanao turned over agri-equipment to three farmer associations of Talakag, Bukidnon worth P889,811 at DA-10’s Northern Mindanao Agricultural Crops and Livestock Research Complex (NMACLRC).

DA-10 OIC-Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado turned over three units power tiller-riding type, four sets of water pump and engine to Tig-ason Farmers Association, Inc. (TIFA, Inc.), Dominorog Small Farmers Association (DOSFA) and Talakag Irrigators Agro-Producers Coop (TIAPCO).

“Provision of said agri equipment is in support to the thrust of the agency to increase productivity and reduce poverty among the marginalized sectors in agriculture and fishery,” said RED Collado.

The Tig-Ason Farmers Association also received one unit corn sheller funded under the Normalization Program of the agency in addressing poverty reduction and vulnerability in conflict areas and improved governance.

RED Collado added, “The agri equipment will enable the beneficiaries to capacitate themselves and provide more opportunities for meaningful sources of livelihood.”

“Natuman ra ang among damgo pinaagi sa DA nga naka angkon mi sa unang higayon ug ekipo. Dako ang among pasalamat tungod kay dako ni ug ikatabang sa among pang-uma nga maoy among gisaligan nga panginabuhian,” shared Reynaldo C. Verde, Chair of DOSFA.

[Through DA, our dream to own an agri equipment for the first time was realized. We are grateful for this could greatly help us in our farming activities where we depend for a living.]

DA-10’s implementation is undertaken in partnership with the local government of Talakag, Bukidnon thru Mayor Vergeto O. Factura in directing strategic production areas. #(ATCabig)

Committed to being a partner for peace and nation building during this health crisis, the 4th Cavalry “Karangalan” Company (Separate), Armor Division of the Philippine Army supports the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10)’s promotion and adoption of urban agriculture.

DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga handed over the 100 packets of assorted vegetable seeds (ampalaya, okra and pechay), earlier today, June 05, 2020, to ATR NCO SGT Mark Alfe N Esmeña, representing Commanding Officer CPT Michael Edison B Mimay (CAV) PA.

SGT Esmeña said that the vegetable seeds will be utilized for their food production activities.

DA’s Plant, Plant, Plant Program, also known as the Ahon Lahat, Pagkaing Sapat (ALPAS) Laban sa COVID-19 is the agency’s initiative in ensuring and scaling up food availability and affordability for all in these trying times.

The 4th Cavalry “Karangalan” Company (Separate) is among the military units of the Philippine Army who have received assorted veggie seeds, previously, the agency distributed to 58th Infantry Battalion and the 4th Infantry Division. # (AMBManto)

Cagayan de Oro City, June 2 – More communities are being eyed to implement the Agri 4Ps, otherwise known as the Plant, Plant, Plant Program on the ground, as the agriculture department (DA) continues to hand over assorted vegetable seeds to interested groups.

A total of 236 packets of assorted veggie seeds, comprising of okra, ampalaya and pechay were turned over to the Archdiocese of CdeO City – Health Ministry (ACC-HM) with 100 packets; Mahayahay Tribal Farmer’s Association Council (MATFAC) (50); Commission on Population and Development – Region 10 (POPCOM-10) (36); and the Department of Agrarian Reform – Misamis Oriental (DAR-MisOr) with 50 packets.

“We, at the department, need all the help that we can get to ensure food availability and sustained production, especially amid the COVID-19 threat,” DA-10 executive Collado remarked.

He added that requests for the availment of veggie seeds from such groups would mean more partners in intensifying the Region’s thrust of attaining food security not only in one’s abode, but including in the different communities, as well.

“Growing vegetables is also a productive group activity that fosters camaraderie and cooperation among members at the same time meeting their vegetable requirements,” the agency head stated.

With supplemental feeding, livelihood and education being the components of ACC-HMM, the group headed by Luz Antiza P. Denayo targets to distribute the received veggie seeds to residents in barangays Tumpagon, Pigsag-an, Taglimao and Tignapoloan while MATFAC will be dispensing the said provisions to its farmer-members of Brgy. Mahayahay, Magsaysay, Misamis Oriental, as requested by Datu William M. Penaso.

Meanwhile, employees of POPCOM-10 and DAR-MisOr are planning to plant the veggie seeds in vacant areas of their respective offices and homes.

Since the coronavirus contagion, DA-10 has distributed 707.968 kilograms or an equivalent of 19,809 packets of assorted veggie seeds, including the ones mentioned and others such as eggplant, sitao, squash, onions, upo, upland kangkong, bell pepper, lettuce, among others as of June 1.

Receiving the seeds assistance on behalf of the groups is Denayo (ACC-HMM), Marichu T. Balaba of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of MisOr (MATFAC), Roel Calixtro (POPCOM-10), and Betty Jean P. Cal (DAR-MisOr). #

After her town received P3.2 million worth of agricultural assistance from the Department of Agriculture-Region 10 (DA-10) Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD-10) Program in 2018 and 2019, San Fernando, Bukidnon Municipal Agriculturist, Coleen Alva C. Ambos acknowledged SAAD as an instrument to the town’s agricultural development.

“SAAD sparks agricultural development in San Fernando. The program has a great impact on our effort to uplift the living condition of our farmers,” Ambos accounted in an interview during SAAD projects monitoring in the town.

Due to the high poverty incidence rate, San Fernando was among the 13 municipalities in Bukidnon included in the SAAD program of the Department of Agriculture in 2018.

Since then, the LGUs started to receive SAAD interventions and assistance to support the towns’ priority agri-livelihood projects.

SAAD interventions include provisions of hybrid corn seeds with complete fertilizers, provision of high value commercial crops seedlings (cacao and coffee), provision of vegetable seeds with organic fertilizers and garden tools, provision of swine and drugs and biologics and construction of Multi Crop Drying Pavement (MCDP).

“Our SAAD projects have been smoothly implemented. Right now we are looking forward to grow the projects to benefit more of our farming constituents. Our swine recipients are now due to pledge 3 piglets to be handed to our next-in-line beneficiaries. This is our strategy to sustain the project,” Ambos shared disclosing her office is now heightening their efforts to expand the SAAD-funded projects.

The SAAD farmer-beneficiaries in barangay Tugop have organized themselves into a DOLE-registered association.

The group is eager to start their association’s business after the COVID-19 pandemic subsides.

“SAAD projects had helped poor farmers like us to be productive and help our families. Our SAAD drying center (MCDP) will be turned over hopefully in June. We will start its operation soon after so that our association can already start earning out of the project,” said Arlyn Ananangkil, Tugop SAAD Farmers Association’s President.

There were a total of 50 SAAD farmer-beneficiaries in San Fernando.

“Our long term goal is to assist our SAAD farmers to come up with their own product and convert their farms into farm tourism sites. We can provide them training in terms of processing and marketing of the product and link them to other government agencies (for product development),” Ambos vowed.

While calling for the beneficiaries’ unyielding persistence and cooperation, the young and visionary municipal agriculturist commits to provide the farmers the needed technical assistance to make them well-adopted to the agri-livelihood projects of SAAD.

“Along the way, we will encounter tribulation. But this will not stop us to serve our farmers and build them a better community,” Ambos concluded, expressing the LGU’s appreciation of DA’s agricultural assistance to the town.#(ATalib)

Cagayan de Oro City, June 1 – In support to the COVID-19 Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID), the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) provided food assistance to returning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) arriving at the Laguindingan Airport in Misamis Oriental.

DA-RFO 10 OIC-Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado and Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga turned over 31 trays of white chicken eggs to the Department of the Interior and Local Government – Region 10 (DILG) headed by Regional Director Arnel M. Agabe, who also chairs the IATF-MEID, to facilitate the food distribution at the airport.

RTD Madriaga said, the cooked chicken eggs were donated by Ariel G. Tan of True Chef’s Choice which will be shared to the arriving OFWs, who were stranded during the cease order of air flights in the first blast of COVID-19 in the country.

“Through the IATF-MEID and the assistance of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), the OFWs will have something to eat, while thoroughly being checked and evaluated at the airport to ensure their health conditions before heading to their respective provinces,” she added.

Meanwhile, the department has also tapped San Miguel Pure Foods, Inc. (SMPFI) for a free-flowing coffee station to be set at the airport also for the benefit of the frontliners and the OFWs at the terminal.

On the other hand, the DILG-10 and the SMPFI received 100 packets each of assorted vegetable seeds for their respective urban gardening activities in support to DA’s Plant, Plant, Plant Program.

True Chef is one of the exhibitors of the DA-DTI’s Kadiwa at Diskwento Karavan, a platform bringing agri-fishery and basic necessities closer to the consumers in the barangays and subdivisions in Cagayan de Oro City.# (EMB)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, June 1 – The Department of Agriculture in Northern Mindanao (DA-10) activates its Quick Response Team following reported infestation of fall armyworm (FAW) in the region.

OIC-Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado instructed the team to conduct validation on extent of FAW infestation in the provinces of Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, while continuous surveillance and monitoring of its occurence in other provinces.

Through the Regional Crop Protection Center (RCPC) of the Integrated Laboratory Division (ILD) of the agency, provisions of insecticides and biological control agents were given to some affected farmers in Bukidnon.

DA-10’s Regulatory Division, in coordination with the DA-Bureau of Plant Industry (DA-BPI), provincial and municipal local government intensify pest monitoring and surveillance to affected and non-affected areas.

“FAW is an invasive species causing damage to crops, mostly corn. It is an invasive moth and prefers to eat maize specifically the sweet corn and open-pollinated (OPV) corn varieties,” said RED Collado.

In 2019, Collado issued a special order for the composition of DA-10 Personnel to compose the Regional Team for the Intensification of Reporting and Surveillance of Fall Armyworm, outlines proactive responses to the possible adverse impact of pest outbreak caused by FAW.

Prior to its infestation, the agency issued an advisory to all local government units, alerting them on the possible occurrence of the insect pests.

Indicating its life cycle, damaging characteristics, DA-10 thru its Regulatory Division issued pest management recommendations and the protocol of reporting in cases of pest occurrences and detection.

Continuous provision of technical assistance to LGUs, following the FAW management protocol recommended by the DA-BPI for non-infested and infested areas.

Carlota S. Madriaga, Regional Technical Director for Operations of the agency said, “DA-10’s long term measures include capacitating farmers on FAW identification, including its farm management, mobilizing communities where farmers are the ‘bantay peste’ in their respective barangays, monitoring, reporting and early management.”

Collado calls for proactive stand to all LGUs on FAW infestation, to immediately report to its municipal agriculture office or to DA-10 thru its Provincial Operations Center.#(ATCabig)

Cagayan de Oro City, May 29 – Two religious groups obtained vegetable seeds from DA-Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10), in support to the department’s urban gardening program.

Both the churches of Golden City Alliance Fellowship (GCAF) and the Team Jesus Outreach received the assorted vegetable seeds (ampalaya, eggplant, okra and pechay) from DA- 10, thru Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga.

On behalf of DA-10 OIC-Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado, RTD Madriaga urged the representatives of both churches to use recycled materials such as plastic bottles and other indigenous materials that can still be utilized for gardening.

GCAF Youth Minister Faith Ann Rañises, receiving the 50 packets of veggie seeds said, it will be divided among its youth members to encourage them to venture into gardening while staying home during the quarantine period.

Meanwhile, Team Jesus Senior Pastor Elma O. Cañas will also distribute the seeds to its select members. She said, they will have an urban gardening contest using recycled and indigenous materials.

With this, the creativity and ingenuity of its members in urban gardening will be showcased.# (EMB)

KITAOTAO, BUKIDNON, May 28- The Indigenous People of Kitaotao, Bukidnon received livestock worth P346,000 from the Department of Agriculture in Region 10 (DA-10) – Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program.

Bae Merry Anne S. Lindongan, Women Leader of the Lorega Ancestral Management and Development for All Generation (LAMDAG) received 10 heads of carabao and 10 heads of goats for their communal farm, mostly planted with corn.

LAMDAG is composed of Matigsalug and Manobo Tribes in barangay Lorega with 50 SAAD beneficiaries to benefit said livestock, which will serve as draft animals to sustain their food production activities, while 10 heads of goats for production.

“Kini nga mga carabao ug kanding among nadawat gikan sa SAAD dako og ikatabang sa amoang mga miyembro. Amo kining ipalambo aron makadugang sa among panginabuhian. Nalipay mi kay na approved kini nga project labi nga naay COVID-19 karon,” said Bae Lindongan.

[The carabaos and goats we’ve received from SAAD would be big help to all members, which we will develop to augment our livelihood. We’re so happy the project was approved amid the COVID-19.]

DA-SAAD is a locally-funded program of the agency that addresses poverty alleviation among the marginalized sectors in agri-fishery.

Facilitating the turnover were Kitatao OIC-Municipal Agriculture Officer Romeo D. Limbaga, Dr. Janet D. Lopez of DA-RFO 10 and Bukidnon SAAD Area Coordinator Ralph Sabud.#

To improve farmers’ livestock production amid the threat of COVID-19, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) continues to provide forage seeds thru its Livestock Program in Northern Mindanao.

Local government units and walk-in-clients received forage seeds such as Flemengia, Rensonii and Indigofera, known as a good goat feed.

Individual farmers may avail one packet each, good for one hectare, while farmer-associations may avail one pack of forage seeds containing 10 packets each which are produced by the agency’s research stations and funded by the Forage Development Program.

Livestock Program coordinator Ma. Lourdes M. Sypiecco said that the leguminous forage is rich in protein which is vital in the growth and production of livestock.

Interested clients may visit the DA-10 office to avail of the free forage seeds at a first come, first served basis.# (AMBManto)