DA-10 empowers IP community through Participatory Rural Appraisal

DAGUMBAAN, MARAMAG – The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10), through its Kabuhayan at Kaunlaran ng Kababayang Katutubo (4K) program, conducted a Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) workshop for the Panalsalan Dagumbaan Talaandig Tribal Association (PADATTA), on June 17-18, here.

The activity is in line with the DA’s thrust to develop ancestral agricultural lands of the Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICCs)/Indigenous Peoples (IPs) to improve their productivity, profitability, and resiliency.

With the PRA, members of the PADATTA were capacitated to identify priority needs and concerns, and determine appropriate interventions for their association, with the guidance and support of the DA through the 4K program.

The workshop focused on the development of community-based livelihood programs while taking into account the customs, traditions, values, beliefs, and interests of the community.

Mainly, it sought to advocate the establishment of sustainable agri-fishery production enterprises to enhance household income, and strengthen community preparedness prior to project implementation.

The activity was participated in by representatives from the Municipal Agriculture Office of Maramag and around 40 households from the tribal community. # (MAC)

DA-10 collaborates with RMFB-10 to strengthen food security among Bukidnon IP groups

In a bid to promote food security and sustainable agriculture, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10) turned over assorted vegetable seeds to the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 10, 1004th Maneuver Company on June 19, at the agency compound.

Agriculturist II Sherafin Simon P. Calacar handed over 42 packets of Chinese cabbage, 3 cans of hot pepper and 1 can of sweet pepper seeds to Police Staff Sergeant Bryan Hope Hilado.

According to Hilado, the said initiative is aligned with the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC)’s efforts toward poverty reduction.

The vegetable seeds will be distributed to Indigenous Peoples groups in Talakag, Bukidnon, specifically to the Kalatungan Farmers United Rise Association and the Paganan Farmers’ Association. # (AMBM)

Aggie NorMin hosts DA regulatory support program’s mid-2025 assessment

Cagayan de Oro City – The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (Aggie NorMin), through its Regulatory Division hosted the 2025 midyear assessment of the Department of Agriculture’s agri-fishery regulatory support program on June 17-20, here.

Convened by the Office of the DA Assistant Secretary for Policy and Regulations, Atty. Paz J. Benavidez II, the assessment is an avenue to gauge the performance of the DA operating units and regulatory agencies in the implementation of their committed Programs, Activities and Projects (PAPs) for the first semester of the year.

Further, the assessment is geared toward the attainment of an integrated and streamlined approach in the delivery of the DA’s regulatory services.

The regulatory cluster team also levelled off on the status of crafting the DA’s regulatory roadmap in line with the department’s goal to scale the country’s up agricultural productivity, profitability and resilience.

The DA’s regulatory functions hinged on the enforcement of government regulations relative to food safety, animal and plant health, and good agricultural practices.

The assessment was attended by regulatory division personnel of 16 DA regional field offices, and DA-attached regulatory agencies:

Bureau of Fishery and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)

Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI)

Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI)

National Tobacco Administration (NTA)

Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA)

Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA)

Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA)

National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS)

Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (PFA)

Bureau of Agriculture and Fishery Standards (BAFS)

Bureau of Agricultural and Fisheries Engineering (BAFE)

Bureau of Soil and Water Management (BSWM)

(ATT/Photos: ATT/EJLG)

Benteng Bigas Meron Na launch in NorMin benefits 3,250 minimum wage earners

Cagayan de Oro City – A total of 3,250 minimum wage earners in Northern Mindanao availed of Php20 rice as the Department of Labor and Employment – Region 10 (DOLE-10), Department of Agriculture – Region 10 (DA-10), National Food Authority – Region 10 (NFA-10) together with the DA’s Food Terminal, Inc. (DA-FTI) formally launched the Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) Na in the region Friday, June 13, here.

As pilot recipients, members of the Del Monte Bugo Cannery Labor Union, Cagayan Corn Product Independent Union, Macajalar Labor Union and Associated Labor Union availed 10 kilos of rice at PhP20 each during the BBM Na roll out.

As an expansion to the government’s PhP20 rice program, the BBM Na aims to provide affordable rice to low-income workers in the country.

DA-10 Regional Executive Director, Jose Apollo Y. Pacamalan said the program is a realization of President Marcos’ vow to make rice affordable, particularly for the vulnerable sectors.

In line with the government’s PhP20 rice campaign, Director Pacamalan bared the DA-10’s amplified effort to develop and promote a farming system that would help farmers reduce rice production cost, to lower rice prices in the market.

“To lower rice prices in the market, we have to reduce production costs on the farm. Right now, we are focused on developing the integrated rice-duck farming system. Through this technology, coupled with mechanization support, and rice seeds and fertilizer subsidy, the DA-10 aims to capacitate our rice farmers to reduce production cost by 40% and increase yield by 5-10% annually,” he said.

NFA-10 Assistant Regional Manager Rejorie R. Onde assured the BBM Na beneficiaries of the quality of NFA rice distributed to them. She also disclosed that the NFA-10 has prepositioned an inventory of 440,000 bags palay (50kg/bag) and 60,000 bags well-milled rice (50kg/bag) across Northern Mindanao as buffer stock for calamities and ready support to the PhP20 rice program.

In view of the BBM Na roll out, DOLE-10 Regional Director, Atty. Joffrey M. Suyao calls for not just whole-of-government approach, but the whole-of-society approach to address high prices and insufficiency of food commodities.

Capitalizing on their network of labor unions and labor management council, he urged for collaborative initiative to help not just the labor sector, but more so the farmers and fishers.

Overall, a total of 32,500kg of PhP20 rice were distributed to the minimum wage earners in Northern Mindanao during the nationwide simultaneous launching of the BBM Na. The rice were co-subsidized by the DA-FTI and the participating labor unions.

Marilyn C. Oba-ob, a member of the Del Monte Bugo Cannery Labor Union is among the thousands of PhP20 rice BBM Na beneficiaries.

“This is a great help for workers like us and our family, especially with downtime at work now. We thank PBBM for making this possible for us,” she said.

For ease of logistics, the DA-10 assisted the labor unions in hauling the rice to their respective institutions.

The BBM Na launch preludes the phase 3 roll out of LGU-subsidized PhP20 rice in Northern Mindanao, slated in September. Areas with high poverty incidence rate are prioritized for the LGU-led PhP20 rice program.

Reflective of President Marcos’s directive to make rice an affordable staple for all Filipinos, the DA-10 continuously championed forefront agricultural services in synergy with other government and private instrumentalities. # (ATT/Photo credits: ATT & EJLG)

LGU Valencia receives corn harvester from DA-10

VALENCIA CITY, BUKIDNON – Consistent with the farm mechanization agenda of the DA, one unit of corn combine harvester was officially turned over by the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10) to the City Local Government Unit (CLGU) of Valencia, on June 10, here.

Funded under the DA-10 Corn Program, the said machinery is valued at Php2.5 million with a 0.55ha/hr capacity.

On behalf of the CLGU, Valencia City Agriculturist Connie L. Dalangan expressed her gratitude for said intervention and look forward to continued collaboration between the local government and the DA.

“Our corn farmers will surely be happy this time because a machinery dedicated to corn is being turned-over to us. We are thankful to DA-10, under the leadership of Regional Executive Director Jose Apollo Y. Pacamalan, for their continued support to our farmers here in the city.”

To be an eligible recipent of the
combine harvester, prospective beneficiary must have a minimum of 200 hectares of corn area.

The turnover ceremony was attended by DA-10 Field Operations Division chief Luz I. Guzman,PhD., together with Bukidnon Provincial Operation Center chief Janet D. Lopez, DVM, and DA-10 Rice Program Focal Person Jurrybe J. Lachica. # (CRS)

DA-AMAS stages Market Linkage Caravan in NorMin

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – To strengthen buyer-farmer connections in Northern Mindanao, the Department of Agriculture – Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (DA-AMAS), through its Marketing Development Division, successfully held the Market Linkage Caravan on June 3 to 6, in this city.

The initiative aimed to create a dynamic platform for sustainable business matching between institutional buyers and Farmers’ Cooperatives and Associations (FCAs). Aligned with the OneDA Reform Agenda and its value chain development strategy, the activity is part of DA-AMAS’s ongoing efforts to empower agri-enterprises and ensure that producers are directly linked to stable and profitable markets.

The Market Linkage Caravan is a proactive response to bridge the gap between production and market access. It not only supports smallholder farmers in reaching broader markets but also encourages long-term supply agreement and fosters a resilient food system.

Among the participating institutional buyers are the Bio Green Processing and Manufacturing Inc. (Bukidnon) Robinsons Supermarket Corporation (Cagayan de Oro) First Community Cooperative (FICCO) K Urgenia Fruits and Vegetables (Cagayan de Oro) Golden Reliance Foods Solution Food Processors’ Association of Northern Mindanao (FOPANORMIN) Blue Macay Food Manufacturing Corp., Centennial Food Corporation Cagayan de Oro Hotel and Restaurant Association (COHARA) Farm to Mayani Inc. (MAYANI) and Oriental Garden Restaurant .

Over 20 FCAs joined the caravan and showcased a variety of agricultural commodities, including highland vegetables, corn, cassava, calamansi, coffee, and other fruits. Among the exhibitors are:

Balugto Hope Agroforestry Association Incorporated
Kibenton High Value Crop Farmers Association
Pagsabwahan Ipalambo sa Association
Mindagat Farmers Small Water Irrigation System Association
Mindulao Agrarian Reform Farmers Cooperative
Liboran Samahang Nayon MPC
Linandang Malagana Farmers Association
Lirongan High Value Vegetables Farmers Association
Miarayon Talakag Higland Farmers Association
Imbatug SN MPC
Bayabason Small Coconut Farmers Organization
Kahugpungan sa mga Mag-uuma nga Agraryo sa Kalawitan Agrarian reform Cooperative (KMAK-ARC)
Poblacion Lantapan Multipurpose Cooperative
Lagonglong Integrated Farmers Turmeric Producers producers and Women Association (LIPATFWA)
Sikap San Roque Farmers Association
Paglingkawas Women Federation (PAWFED)
Catumbalon Farmers Association
Kiapo Umalag Farmers Irrigators Association (KUFIA)
Buhat Pahida Pigsabwahan Bahi ta Besigan Association (BUPAPIBA)
Canitoan Farmers Cooperative
MISAD CARP Beneficiary Coop
Lingating 5Cs Agri. Coop
Oro Integrated Cooperative

The market linkage caravan marks a significant stride in advancing the DA’s goal to connect farmers directly to the markets while building an inclusive and resilient agricultural value chain. The initiative not only empowers local farmers but also reinforces the region’s identity as a producer of quality agricultural products.

Moving forward, the DA-AMAS remains committed to expanding market opportunities, promoting agribusiness development, and strengthening the link between production and demand to enhance market access for local farmers. # (NQA)

Agri-10 launches regular KADIWA at Diskwento Caravan market in El Salvador City

EL SALVADOR CITY, MISAMIS ORIENTAL — In its continuing commitment to bring affordable agricultural goods closer to the public, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10) launched the weekly KADIWA at Diskwento Caravan (KDC) market on Thursday, June 5, at the agency’s new regional office in Barangay Poblacion, this city.

Spearheaded by the agency’s Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD), the KDC initiative aims to strengthen the link between local farmers, fisherfolk, processors, and consumers, thus eliminating unnecessary layers in the supply chain.

The KDC market is set to operate regularly every Thursday at the DA-10 compound, making it a weekly venue for farmers’ cooperatives, associations, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and agripreneurs across Northern Mindanao to showcase and sell their products.

By patronizing the KDC market local consumers may purchase a wide array of agri-fishery products, processed food items, and essential household goods, sold at rates more affordable than the prevailing market prices.

During the KDC launching, the neighboring communities availed of rice, vegetables, spices, fruits, root crops, processed fishery products, fresh milk, flavored milk and yogurt sold by the Miarayon Talakag Highland Farmers Association, RBS Universal Grains, Fisherfolk of Agusan Aquatic Agriculture and the Northern Mindanao Federation of Dairy Cooperatives, respectively.

With its weekly presence in El Salvador City, the DA-10 KDC market is envisioned to help ease food accessibility, boost income opportunities for local producers, and create a more inclusive agri-food marketing ecosystem. # (EJLG/Photos supplied)

Villanueva farmers receive P2.6-M hauling truck from DA-NorMin

VILLANUEVA, MISAMIS ORIENTAL — As part of its continuing commitment to support postharvest operations and improve market logistics, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-NorMin), under the leadership of Regional Executive Director Jose Apollo Y. Pacamalan, turned over a hauling truck to the Villanueva Corn-Cassava Farmers Association (VCCFA) on June 5, in Barangay Looc, this town.

The unit, valued at PhP2.625 million, was funded under the agency’s Corn Program, designed to reduce transport-related losses, increase income for smallholder farmers, and improve the overall efficiency of the corn value chain.

Leading the ceremonial turnover was DA-NorMin Misamis Oriental Provincial Operations Center (MisOr POC) chief Wilson V. Lagdamin, Villanueva Municipal Agriculturist Silvestre L. Gorre, Jr., PhD, local officials and officers of VCCFA.

VCCFA Chairperson Virgilio Durog expressed his gratitude to the agency, emphasizing how the vehicle will support the group’s logistical needs, especially in hauling corn and cassava from production sites to buying stations.

“This hauling truck is a great help for our farmers. It will reduce our transportation expenses and ensure our produce reaches the market faster and in better quality,” Durog said.

For his part, POC chief Lagdamin echoed the department’s strong push for cooperativism and rural mechanization, stressing that timely interventions such as this are key to unlocking higher productivity and ensuring better income for farmer organizations.

As a bonafide farmers’ association, the VCCFA remains actively engaged in the cultivation of staple crops, particularly corn and cassava, catering to both local consumers and institutional buyers in Northern Mindanao.# (EJLG)

Kapatagan town receives P3.8-M climate-controlled finisher facility under DA’s INSPIRE program

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – In a move to revitalize the local swine industry from the impacts of African Swine Fever (ASF), the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) turned over a P3.8 million (M) biosecured, climate-controlled finisher facility to the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte, under the Integrated National Swine Production Initiatives for Recovery and Expansion (INSPIRE) program.

Kapatagan Mayor Barry Y. Baguio received the certificate of turnover from DA-10 Regional Executive Director Jose Apollo Y. Pacamalan during a ceremonial activity on Monday, June 9.

Jamaica L. Docdoc, DA-10”s Livestock Program focal person said, the project will bolster food security, improve farmers’ incomes, and strengthen rural livelihood.

Meanwhille, the Bel-is Farmers Association will serve as the implementing partner, while the LGU will provide technical support and monitoring throughout the project’s implementation.

Aside from the facility, the LGU is set to receive animal stocks, including feeds and biologics to support animal health and productivity in the early phase of operations.

The ceremony was attended by DA-10 and LGU officials, along with representatives from the farmers’ association.

The said development marks another step forward in the government’s efforts to build a resilient, biosecure, and inclusive swine industry in Northern Mindanao.#(ATC/Supplied photos)

Joint strategic planning workshop held to harmonize NRP and RCEF interventions

MAMBAJAO, CAMIGUIN — In a bid to fast-track the harmonization of interventions for rice farmers, the Department of Agriculture’s Masagana Rice Industry Development Program (DA-MRIDP) convened key officials and Rice program implementers for a joint strategic planning workshop held from June 2 to 6, in this town.

DA Undersecretary for Rice Industry Development, Engr. Christopher V. Morales, urged the participants to fully commit to the MRIDP’s vision of increasing yield and cropping intensity while minimizing postharvest losses. He also emphasized the importance of ensuring that rice remains affordable, accessible, available, and safe for all Filipino consumers.

The workshop focused on aligning the core strategies of the National Rice Program (NRP) and the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), ensuring that timely and efficient interventions reach rice farmers. It also served as a platform to assess the farmers’ needs and address implementation gaps across programs.

Participating agencies presented their respective programs, projects, and targets, including:

Agricultural Training Institute (ATI): extension support, education, and training services

Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech): mechanization services

National Irrigation Administration (NIA) and Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM): irrigation services
Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) – financial services
Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) – financial services; and
DA-Project Mangement Office – NRP and RCEF thrusts and interventions

Updates were also provided on production support services such as soil health improvement, pests and disease management, and the distribution of certified and hybrid seeds — implemented through BSWM, the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), and the DA-NRP.

Likewise, the regional field offices mapped out their respective targets and activities in line with the allocation and interventions provided by implementing agencies.

With Northern Mindanao as the host agency for the event, DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga also highlighted Region 10’s flagship project under the Rice program — the Integrated Rice-Duck Farming System Technology — which is currently being piloted in its five provinces. The initiative aims to reduce production costs while promoting the production of safe and affordable rice.

The workshop gathered Rice program coordinators from CAR to Region 13, along with representatives from various DA-attached agencies and bureaus, including ATI, PhilMech, PhilRice, BSWM, NIA, financial institutions such as LBP and DBP, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).# (MGBS)