CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of Agriculture in Northern Mindanao and the Regional Inter-Agency Task Force for African Swine Fever (ASF) harmonizes its operational plan on ASF prevention and preparedness in a meeting on July 28, this city.

Carlene C. Collado, Regional Executive Director of DA-10 and chair of the task force appeals to consumers to refrain from bringing to region 10, pork and its by-products from ASF affected areas.

Collado’s call is in line with the confirmed ASF cases in some areas in Region 11 and 12 which is bounded by the province of Bukidnon.

The increasing online selling of pork by-products which include chorizo, longganisa, kekiam, tocino among others, raises concern among the task force member agencies in ensuring food safety from its origin.

The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) reminded the public to ensure products sold online are coming from registered manufacturers.

Similarly, the National Meat Inspection Services (NMIS) issued a Public Advisory to all consumers buying meat online.

On the other hand, Carmelita T. Bajarla, Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulations of DA-10, said there is a need to prepare on ASF cases, come up with specific guidelines and enabling mechanisms to implement the orders.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Veterinary Offices of Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte, Camiguin, Misamis Oriental and Misamis Occidental provided updates on the status of ASF prevention and preparedness in their respective areas.

Other important topics discussed include, ASF Philippine zoning status, border protection and movement of commodities and biosecurity of swine farms.

Member agencies in attendance comprised of PNP, DA-BAI-NVQS, FDA, NMIS, Provincial, City/Municipal Veterinary Offices and FDA.#(ATCabig)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – In line with the agency’s thrust to deliver effective and efficient services, the Human Resource Management Section of the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 conducted the Basic Orientation Seminar to its 40 newly hired Contract of Service (COS) and Job Order (JO) workers on August 11, this city.

Said activity aims to apprise the newly hired employees to understand the policies and guidelines of the office.

“Under the leadership of Sec. William Dar, we should strive to achieve the department’s battlecry for ‘a food-secure Philippines with prosperous farmers and fisherfolk’,” Carlota S. Madriaga, DA-10 regional technical director for operations remarked.

“DA employees must learn to treat everyone with respect, and create initiatives and strategies in line with our vision and mission, so that we may go beyond what is expected of us,” she added.

Various topics discussed: RA 6713 otherwise known as the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, the guiding principle for establishing work ethics in the government service; including, the Department’s roster of programs, projects and services for agri-development.

Participants coming from the different divisions include: Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance (AMAD), Field Operations (FOD), Research, Integrated Laboratory (ILD), Regulatory, Planning Monitoring and Evaluation (PMED), Regional Agricultural Engineering (RAED) and Administrative and Finance (AFD) divisions, and Regional Agricultural and Fisheries Information Section, Office of the Regional Director (RAFIS-ORD). #(JCGamboa)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – In support to President Duterte’s Executive Order No. 70 (EO No. 70) to institutionalize the whole-of-nation approach in attaining inclusive and sustainable peace, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) turned over agri-interventions to the 6th Infantry Division – Philippine Army (6ID-PA) at Camp Paulino Santos Military Reservation in Almada, Cotabato.

DA-RFO 10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado handed about P3.3 million provisions to 6ID-PA Commander Major General Diosdado C. Carreon, AFP on Thursday, August 13, in support to Camp Paulino Santos Military Reservation.

A Memorandum of Understanding forged between DA-RFO 10 and the 6ID, PA aims to promote peace and order through agricultural development and enhancement of agricultural productivity to address poverty reduction and empowerment of communities to end local armed conflict.

Said interventions include one unit four-wheel drive, 100 horsepower farm tractor with implements (disc plow, trailing harrow and trailer) worth P2.495 million funded under the agency’s Normalization Program.

Further, agri equipment and inputs amounting P560,300 comprised of 1 unit corn sheller, 1 unit hammer mill, 1 set pump and engine, 1 module upgraded goat and native swine, 100 packets of 5-in-1 assorted vegetable seeds, 36 packs forage seeds, and 1 bag sorghum seeds at 20 kilograms.

Meanwhile, a Certificate of Commitment worth P183,000 for 3 heads cattle-heifer, 1 module sheep and 1 module chicken to boost their livestock production.

RED Collado believes, agricultural development can significantly contribute to peace by raising income and employment that can possibly reduce social frustrations that triggers violence.

On the other hand, MGen. Carreon expressed his gratitude to DA’s response to the whole-of-nation approach.

“The intervention is vital and timely, especially in this pressing condition of the COVID-19 pandemic, where food and health is the most concern,” he said.

In addition, the department has also given 2 packs at 1 kilo per pack of sweet corn seeds for food production.

6th DREO Major Ralph Vismen D. Macasarte also said, the interventions will urge nearby communities in its 14 reservation camps to venture into farming instead of going against the government.

Camp Paulino Santos Military Reservation will serve as a model farm, which they plan to develop for replication.

Present during the turnover were North Cotabato 1st District Representative Joel Sacdalan; Almada Mayor Jesus N. Sacdalan; 602nd Brig. General Roberto S. Capulong; Chief of Staff Colonel Michael A. Santos MNSA and staff of 6ID and DA-RFO 10.# (EMBentulan)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, August 11 – Bracing up with challenges to further develop the OA sector, the agriculture department in Northern Mindanao (DA-10) held a consultative meeting on the Implementing Guidelines for the Establishment of Organic Agriculture (OA) Hubs.

Dubbed as Organic Konek, it is seen as a one-stop shop that acts as an integrator for existing trading posts and organic farms; source of organic inputs; access of OA practitioners to production, processing and marketing facilities, equipment and machinery; and a learning site and facility on its operations, maintenance and services, to overall satisfy demand.

“Now on its third draft, the activity is aimed to thoroughly capture the proposed criteria, rules, and procedures for the establishment, operation and monitoring of OA hubs at the regional level, which will be compiled, then consolidated by the National OA Board, before presentation and approval of the agriculture secretary,” Samuel C. Natindim, Jr., OA focal person of DA-10 explained.

Details on the roles and responsibilities of DA together with partner government agencies in collaboration with interested proponents which may include associations, cooperatives or organizations were discussed.

Representatives from concerned offices eyed to be involved in such endeavor participated.

Among them are the operating units of DA-Regional Field Office 10, its attached agencies such as the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), the provincial local government of Misamis Oriental, Department of Tourism (DOT), and the Northern Mindanao OA Association.

“Amid the finalization of the implementing guidelines, DA is eyeing to have its first regional OA hub through its research station in Northern Mindanao Agricultural Crops and Livestock Research Complex, as it is currently a center for farm inputs, planting materials and farming technologies,” Natindim added.

A risk management workshop also ensued to focus on implementation issues which will potentially face OA hubs, including financial, organizational, operational and environmental aspects, to determine its impact and correspondingly craft strategies and find resources on how to assist its growth and success. #

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA – RFO 10) amplifies its continued effort to promote food production in urban areas amidst the COVID-19 pandemic through its Urban Agriculture Program.

DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado handed over 100 packets assorted vegetable seeds to CPT Arcel G Sedurifa (SC) PA, Civil-Military Operations Officer, 4SB, ASR, PA of the 4th Signal Battalion, Army Signal Regiment, PA on August 11, this city.

The 36 grams, 5-in-1 pinakbet packet consisting seeds of eggplant, okra, ampalaya, pole sitao, squash could cover 1,000 square meter area.

CPT Sedurifa stated, they support the implementation of DA’s Plant Plant Plant Program dubbed as the “Ahon Lahat, Pagkaing Sapat Kontra COVID-19 Program (ALPAS COVID-19) to complement their quarterly Tree Planting Program.

“Itatanim po namin ang mga seeds sa loob ng camp at magbibigay din kami sa mga sundalo na may bahay sa labas ng camp since may mga space naman sila sa mga bakuran nila na mapagtatamnan. Very thankful po kami na napagbigyan kami ng DA (We will plant the seeds inside our camp and we will also distribute them among our force, so that their families can also plant in available spaces in their backyards. We are very thankful to DA),” she added.

The said intervention is part of the DA Secretary Dar’s Revitalized Urban Agriculture and Gulayan Project to increase the country’s food adequacy level at the height of COVID-19 crisis.#(IJuntahan)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Carlene C. Collado, Regional Executive Director of the Department of Agriculture in Northern Mindanao has announced, Region 10 is still African Swine Fever (ASF) free and sought to maintain said status.

This, he bared during the Emergency meeting on ASF Situation in Region 10 on Monday, August 10 in Dalwangan, Malaybalay City.

However, Collado appealed to the public to help keep the region, ASF free, by refraining from bringing in the pork meat and its by-products from ASF affected areas.

Monitoring and surveillance on processed meat especially on online sellers has been intensified in ensuring food safety of the consumers, wherein, violators will be penalized under the Food Safety Act.

He stressed, to prepare and impose measures to contain the spread of said disease, and find ways to prevent its entry particularly in Bukidnon.

Reportedly, Arakan Valley in Cotabato has confirmed positive cases of ASF, wherein its boundary is between Davao City, North Cotabato and Bukidnon, particularly, Kitaotao.

Similarly, Talaingod, Davao del Norte has reported positive ASF cases with San Fernando, Bukidnon as its boundary.

The emergency meeting called for DA-10 and concerned agencies, including the local government units and stakeholders to come up with measures against ASF.

“Harmonize and align all our efforts from the LGUs, national government agencies, private sectors and other stakeholders,” said Carlota S. Madriaga, DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Operations.

She added, it is essential to heighten the alert status on ASF control and protection in all borders of Region 10.

In ensuring border protection in Bukidnon, the group has recommended to establish additional two ASF checkpoints in barangays Kabalantian and Porchaco Kwatro in Kalilangan town with PNP personnel.

Barangay Kabalantian is the entry to Arakan Valley while Porchaco Kwatro is the entry to Wao, Lanao del Sur.

DA-10 through its Regulatory and Regional Agricultural Engineering Divisions are in completion of the geo mapping activity which is necessary to come up with a more comprehensive zoning up to the barangay levels.

The Livestock Program of the agency has procured disinfectants and other medical supplies ready for distribution to the LGUs.

NORMINHOG’s logistics support has been in placed in providing assistance to the LGUs also.

The Regional ASF Inter-agency Task Force in Northern Mindanao has intensified its information, education and communication campaigns down to barangay levels in solidifying its efforts on the prevention and control of ASF.# (ATCabig)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – In preparation for the region’s 2021 dry planting season, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10), headed by Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado with Assistant Secretary for BARMM and in concurrent capacity as Director I of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) Midsayap, Dr. Sailila E. Abdula laid plans for next year’s inbred rice distribution.

Of the total 1.7 million bags allocation for 2021 dry season, Region 10 is apportioned with 75,300 bags at 20 kilograms per bag under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Program.

DA has estimated around 30,120 rice farmer-beneficiaries from the provinces of Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Norte and Misamis Occidental.

Jasmine J. Rey, Focal Person of PhilRice Agusan Cluster covering Regions 10, 11 and 13 said, the local governments’ participation in the implementation of the program is significant to avoid over and under allocation of the rice seeds intervention.

Also discussed in the meeting on August 6 includes the consideration of other towns in Bukidnon that were not previously covered by the program such as, Baungon, Kadingilan, Libona and Sumilao, which are also potential rice producing areas.

DA’s provision of certified rice seeds is to compensate the affected rice farmers in the low buying price of palay seeds as an effect of the full implementation of Republic Act No. 11203, otherwise known as the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL).

The recipients of this program are farmers enlisted under the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) that were validated thru the city and municipal agriculture office.# (Edgar M. Bentulan, Jr.)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, August 3 – Schools within the city of Cagayan de Oro (CdeO), including Pagatpat National High School (PNHS), strengthens DA’s advocacy to engage in backyard gardening amid the ongoing pandemic thru the ‘My Pet Plant’ project.

The initiative of the Department of Education – CdeO is seen as a psychosocial activity that students can productively and safely do while integrating it to their school subjects, as they adopt to a modular mode of learning triggered by the COVID-19 health crisis.

In support, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office (DA-RFO 10) thru Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga turned over 150 packets of Sinigang composed of Radish, Kangkong, Tomato, Pole Sitaw, Okra seeds to Jovel P. Flores, Teacher I of PNHS.

The granted request is in time for the distribution of said provisions during the school’s Parents’ Orientation of said Project.

“With the given seeds, children can nurture and monitor the growth and development of plants,” Flores said.

He added, that DA has extended a great help with the provision of free seeds.

Aligned with DA’s Plant, Plant, Plant Program (Agri 4Ps), the ‘My Pet Plant’ project is on track towards contributing a sustained food production, accessibility, and affordability, especially during this trying times.

As of August 3, 2020, a total of 3,608 vegetable seed packets were distributed to various city schools for such Project. #(John Carlo R. Anito)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – In line with the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10’s (DA-RFO 10’s) thrust to increase food sufficiency across the region, the agency dispensed a total of 585 packets of assorted vegetable seeds to the different offices within the city.

DA-RFO 10 Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga, who handed over the seed interventions said, each packet of the veggie seeds, weighing 36 grams can cover up to 1,000 square meter area.

Said intervention is part of DA Secretary Dar’s Plant, Plant, Plant Program, also known as Agri 4Ps.

It targets to increase the country’s food adequacy level, especially amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Recipients are: Tamboboan and Kauswagan barangay councils; Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP); Philippine National Police – Regional Maritime Unit 10 (PNP-RMU 10); and the City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office (CLENRO) received the Pinakbet variant (5-in-1) of veggie seeds, consisting of ampalaya, okra, string beans, squash and eggplant.

Aside from the Pinakbet variant, PCUP has also availed the Sinigang 5-in-1 packet, which consists kangkong, radish, tomato, string beans and okra.

For barangays Tamboboan and Kauswagan, they will hold an urban gardening contest in their respective barangays to showcase the produce of the vegetable seeds obtained from DA.

“Through this activity, the locals will be encourage to start their own vegetable gardens, where they can get nutritious food during the health crisis,” the barangay representatives said.

PCUP-Fields Operations Division for Mindanao Assistant Regional Director Cynthia B. Rosales mentioned, the seeds will be used for their Urban Container Gardening Project in collaboration with the Agricultural Productivity Office (APO).

APO will assist in the provision of technical expertise during trainings in select barangays to pilot the project.

Rosales said, the seeds will be given as start-up seeds to the participants of the training, while PCUP will monitor the commitments of involved barangays who will be engaging the gardening activity.

Meanwhile, PNP-RMU 10 will share the seeds to all its stations for backyard gardening to benefit its personnel and locals nearby.

Further, CLENRO will also distribute the packets of seeds to their beneficiaries in the hinterland barangays of the city, who have their own communal gardens.# (EMBentulan)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Aiming to enrich the students’ mental and social adequacy amid the COVID-19 health threat, more public schools in CdeO City obtained vegetable seeds from the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) on July 27 at the agency compound.

A total of 1,800 packets of assorted vegetable seeds were given to four schools namely: Gusa Regional Science High School (GRSHS); Gusa National High School (GNHS); Bugo Central School (BCS) and Puerto Elementary School (PES).

The Department of Education (DepEd) – Division of CdeO City will conduct mental health and psychosocial support activities to promote school learners, parents and personnel’s well-being.

Through their “My Pet Plant Project”, the students will learn how to grow and appreciate the nature of plants while documenting from planting of the seeds up to its harvest.

According to GRSHS Teacher Shoji-an D. Daradal, all stages in the plants’ growth will relate to the subjects being taught to the students. Meantime, BCS Teacher Elsa Ylanan said, the students will be provided with seeds along with answer sheets, for them to record their observations in the nature of growing vegetables in their respective homes.

Moreover, GNHS Administrative Staff Pio Jaime A. Amigo conveyed, such school activity will uplift the morale and provide psychosocial support for the students and the parents amid the ongoing health crisis.

Overall, more than 5,000 students from these schools are targeted to benefit from the free veggie seeds of DA.# (EMBentulan)