DA eyes to provide assistance to import-stricken farmers in Region 10.

Malaybalay City – The Department Agriculture is poised to provide agricultural projects to farmers and producers adversely affected by importation through the Competitive Enhancement Measures Fund (CEMF), as provided under RA 8800, also known as the Safeguard Measures Act.

In coordination with the Department of Agriculture-Region 10 (DA-10), the Project Development Service (PDS) of the DA spearheaded an information campaign to apprise Northern Mindanao’s farmers on the CEMF implementing guidelines, Wednesday, October 16 at the Northern Mindanao Agricultural Crops and Livestock Research Complex (NMACLRC).

As provided under RA 8800, 50% of the fees, charges and safeguard duties collected on imports shall be earmarked as competitiveness enhancement measures for industries affected by increased import.

For 2024, more than P4-billion safeguard duties were collected as CEMF, readily accessible for funding agricultural industries most affected by importation – coffee, chicken, onion, bovine (cattle), processed meat and pork industries.

Of the said allocation 59.29% is appropriated for the coffee industry, 40.40% is set aside for the chicken industry while the remaining fund is shared among the other three industries mentioned.

Relatively, the DA is encouraging farmers’ cooperative/associations, and micro, small, and medium-scale enterprises (MSMEs) engaged in the aforesaid industries to propose agricultural projects to enhance their operational capacity and competitiveness.

Depending on their qualification, proponents may be granted a project up to P50-million worth of project either for production, postharvest, processing, marketing and infrastructure, and support equipment and facilities.

On its part, the DA-10 will be endorsing projects proposed by farmers from Northern Mindanao to the DA’s PDS for possible funding under CEMF. The DA-10 will also assist in validating the proposed CEMF projects in the region.

The CEMF projects may be availed by coffee, chicken, onion, bovine (cattle) farmers and producers of processed meat and pork to complement other DA projects to scale up their operations.# (ATT)

Agri-10 features local agri-fishery produce during the observance of this year’s World Food Day through its staged Kadiwa ng Pangulo.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10), under the leadership of Regional Executive Director Jose Apollo Y. Pacamalan, observed the worldwide celebration of the World Food Day (WFD), Wednesday, October 16, by staging the KADIWA ng Pangulo exhibit at the DA compound, in this city.

Consistent with this year’s theme, “Right to Food for a Better Life and a Better Future, Leave No One Behind”, the KADIWA exhibit spearheaded by the agency’s Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) underscored the importance of having ready access to nutritious, safe, and affordable foods.

The KADIWA exhibit showcased fresh and processed fruits, vegetables and fishery products, of farmers’ cooperatives, associations (FCAs) and producers in the region, further recognizing the invaluable contributions of local farmers, fisherfolk, and producers in attaining food security and sufficiency in Northern Mindanao.

Among the exhibitors are the Miarayon Highland Farmers Association, Northern Mindanao Federation of Dairy Cooperatives (NMFDC), Fisherfolk – Agusan Aquatic Agriculture Cooperative (FACO), the Northern Mindanao Agricultural Crops and Livestock Research Complex (NMACLRC), and other vendors who sold their products at economical prices.

As one of the highlight activities of the WFD celebration this year, the DA-10 hosted a Regional Poster Making Contest in early September for elementary students enrolled in public and DepEd-accredited private schools.

In said contest, Esha Cassidy S. Baja from Lourdes College, Inc. – Integrated Basic Education Department emerged as the first placer, while Esia Red Seguisabal from Kong Hua School, and Cyril Jane P. Lamban from Suntingon Elementary School Annex bagged the second and third place, respectively.

DA-10 Administrative and Finance Division (AFD) Chief, Patrick Ian F. Pedarse, Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Assistant Division Chief, Ferdinand F. Caraballe, Regulatory Division Supervising Agriculturist Janniver C. Chua, DVM, led the DA-10 Management and employees in the WFD opening ceremony.

The DA-10 spearheaded the 2024 World Food Day celebration in the region together with the DA-attached agencies and bureaus, in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry.# (MAC)

DA-10 and PLGU Lanao del Norte sign the MOA for the establishment of a KADIWA Trading Post in Tubod town.

TUBOD, LANAO DEL NORTE – The Department of Agriculture – 10 (DA-10), headed by Regional Executive Director Jose Apollo Y. Pacamalan, led the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Provincial Local Government Unit of Lanao del Norte (PLGU Lanao) for the implementation of the KADIWA ni Ani at Kita Program (KADIWA Financial Grant) under FY 2024-Locally Funded Project, here.

As provided in the Agreement, a PhP7-million (M)-worth of KADIWA Trading Post Enterprise will be established here, offering farmers, fishers, and other agripreneurs a platform to directly sell their produce to consumers. Of the said amount, DA-10 will grant PhP5-M, while PLGU Lanao will provide the land, site development, and initial working capital as project counterpart.

Under the agency’s Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD), the program aims to provide financial assistance to eligible individual farmers and fisherfolk, Farmers’ Cooperatives, Associations (FCAs), community-based organizations (CBOs), and partner government agencies, including the local government units, to empower and help producers as reliable food suppliers, increase their participation in KADIWA selling activities, and promote partnerships of the same with the private sector and institutional buyers for sustainable agricultural enterprises.

Present during the MOA signing are Lanao del Norte Governor Imelda Q. Dimaporo, Vice Governor Allan J. Lim, DA-10 AMAD Assistant Division chief Ferdinand F. Caraballe, Provincial Operations Center chief Engr. Abdulharis P. Paporo, and Provincial Agriculturist Engr. Jalandoni B. Pitiilan.# (EJLG)

Agri-10 personnel participate in the Kawayanihan’s simultaneous bamboo planting, attempting to achieve a Guinness World Record.

MALAYBALAY CITY, BUKIDNON – In an attempt to set the world record for Most People Planting Bamboo Simultaneously, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10) participated in the Kawayanihan: A Circular Economy Movement on October 18, at the Northern Mindanao Agricultural Crops and Livestock Research Complex (NMACLRC), in Dalwangan, here.

Kawayanihan: A Circular Economy Movement, led by the 1st congressional district of Bukidnon in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology – 10 (DOST-10), is an initiative to raise awareness on the potentials of bamboo to promote circular economy, climate resilience, and sustainability by starting with a Guinness World Records (GWR) attempt.

With 100 planters assigned to a bamboo each, the DA-10 employees, together with its attached agencies, adhered to the strict guidelines of the GWR, and planted bamboos at exactly 9:00 A.M. (Philippine Standard Time).

Said number forms part of the 19 involved areas from the different parts of Mindanao with more than 4k bamboo planters from the local government units, national government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, educational institutions, and the private sector.

After the attempt, the personnel of DA-10, along with its attached agencies, continued to plant 900 more bamboos in its research centers, bringing to 1k of bamboos planted. These research planting sites include NMACLRC (Malaybalay City) and Research Center for Upland Development (Dangcagan) of Bukidnon, and the Research Center for Hillyland Development, in Claveria town, Misamis Oriental.
The result of the GWR attempt will be announced on November 28, during the 2024 National Science, Technology, and Innovation Week celebration of DOST-10. # (CRS/Photo credits: GDA, BJCE, CRS)

NOAP of DA leads the conduct of an FGD with MACOFA to solicit inputs for profit profile and success stories within the organic agri sector.

MALAYBALAY CITY, BUKIDNON – Geared toward soliciting inputs for profit profile and success stories within the organic agriculture sector, the National Organic Agriculture Program (NOAP) in coordination with its regional counterpart in Northern Mindanao of the Department of Agriculture (DA), leads the conduct of a focus group discussion and field visit on October 18, here.

Facilitated by the DA-NOAP team composed of development management officers, Frances Pamela R. Reyes and Kristine Gabrielle O. Soriano, and the OA program of DA-Regional Field Office 10, the activity sought to draw information on organic rice production as priority scope from the core group of the Malaybalay City Organic Farmers’ Association (MACOFA), an organic certified Farmer-Community Association under the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS).

Discussions centered on the materials used and cost structure of growing organic rice from land preparation until its market, including its sales and returns in engaging the production of such and alternative sources of income, to maximize the returns of their harvests.

The MACOFA-PGS is an association of PGS-certified farmers based in the cities of Malaybalay and Valencia, Bukidnon who are noted producers of certified organic farm products such as rice, herbs and spices, and vegetables. The first in Bukidnon to be accredited by the DA-Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards (BAFS) in 2023, they comply with the requirements, standards, and norms of organic agriculture.# (JLO/Photos supplied: OA program)

DA-PRDP through its Deputy Project Director Madriaga leads the groundbreaking of the more than P309-million FMR project in Cabanglasan, Bukidnon.

CABANGLASAN, BUKIDNON – The Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project 10 (DA-PRDP 10), held a groundbreaking ceremony on October 10 for the Concreting of Iba – Cabulohan – Paradise Farm to Market Road in this town.

The 10.863 km FMR, funded under the PRDP Scale up, is implemented by the Provincial Local Government Unit (PLGU) of Bukidnon and the Municipal LGU of Cabanglasan with a contract cost of Php309,332,908.40.

Bukidnon Governor Rogelio Neil P. Roque expressed gratitude to all involved in securing the approval of the subproject, acknowledging the challenges of the process.

“I salute the technical working group and everyone who contributed to the approval of this subproject by DA-PRDP. This is a collective effort aimed at serving the people of Bukidnon, particularly those in Cabanglasan, “ he stated.

In response to the positive collaboration from the Municipal LGU of Cabanglasan, Governor Roque assured continued support for future subprojects under DA-PRDP.

Cabanglasan mayor Lolita N. Bullecer also shared her enthusiasm for the assistance received by their municipality, especially given that the PLGU Bukidnon covered the required counterpart funding.

“We are a small municipality and cannot afford the 10% counterpart. Therefore, I see this as a tremendous blessing for the people of Cabanglasan, particularly our farmers. This project demonstrates that with unity and teamwork, we can achieve our dreams for community improvement,” she remarked.

Meanwhile, DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Operations and DA-PRDP 10 Deputy Project Director Carlota S. Madriaga praised Bukidnon’s active participation in the DA-PRDP initiatives.

“Bukidnon is one of the provinces in Northern Mindanao benefiting from numerous DA-PRDP subprojects, which are crucial for your residents, especially our farmers. I encourage the province to continue requesting subprojects under DA-PRDP, as we aim to gradually enhance the lives of our farmers,” she said.

The said FMR, which stretches to five barangays namely Iba, Anlugan, Mandaing, Cabulohan, and Paradise, significantly benefits residents and farmers engaged in cassava, banana, coconut, rubber, and oil palm cultivation, among others.#

SAAD confers P2.53-million worth of farming tools and materials to Region 10 farmers. 

Cagayan de Oro City – As part of the livelihood project supported by the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program, some 650 marginal farmers in 26 priority towns across the provinces of Lanao del Norte, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental and Camiguin are set to receive various farming tools and materials in assistance, to scale up their farming activities.

Bonafide SAAD-assisted farmers will receive shovel, weeding bolo, pick mattock, light hoe, garden hose sprinkler, sickle, egg tray, plastic poultry coup, chicken net, waterer, feeder, and plastic crates worth P2.53 million in total. The garden tools and materials will be turned over to their respective associations/cooperative starting October 2024.

The intervention is seen to capacitate the farmers in establishing and managing crops and poultry production livelihood projects provided by SAAD for its phase 2 implementation in Northern Mindanao.

As its end goal, the SAAD program aims to empower farmers in 5th and 6th class municipalities in the region to establish an agricultural enterprise, for which the farmers are capacitated to produce, process and market their own products. #

Agri-10 through its laboratories is deemed compliant with hazardous and nuclear wastes control law.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY— Pursuant to R.A 6969 otherwise known as the Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act of 1990, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau Region 10 (DENR-EMB 10) inspected the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10’s (DA-10), hazardous waste storage facilities inside its compound in this city, on October 10.

The DENR-EMB 10 inspected three (3) laboratories of the DA-10 namely the Feed Chemical Analytical Laboratory (FCAL), Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (RADDL), and the Regional Soils Laboratory (RSL).

In a courtesy meeting with DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulation, Cora A. Dumayaca, DENR-EMB 10 Chemical Waste and Management Unit staff – Farhana A. Pananggilaan, Engineer II and Amalia P. Jayme, Chemist III, disclosed that the DA-10 is found compliant with the requisites for proper processing, handling, storage, use, and disposal of hazardous wastes in its laboratories.

As part of the inspection, the DENR-EMB 10 also visited the DA-10 laboratories for benchmark purposes, being one of the few government offices compliant with the rules and regulations of the RA 6969.

Concomitant with its mandate to provide accurate data for regulations and enforcement, research and development, standards development, production, extension and marketing services, the DA-10’s Integrated Laboratories Division (ILD) continue to ensure safe and proper disposal of hazardous and nuclear wastes incidental to its laboratory services. # (MAC)

Agri-10 through its RAED targets to streamline delivery of fuel assistance to farmers renting or owning functional machinery.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) through its Regional Agricultural Engineering Division (RAED), recently staged the FY 2023 assessment of Fuel Assistance to Farmers Project (FAtFP) and its implementation for the succeeding year, with the provincial, city, and municipal local government units, here.

The said activity served as a channel to continually enhance the dynamism and efficiency among members of the fuel assistance team through updates and takeaways.

Pursuant to Special Provision No. 19 of FY 2023 General Appropriation Act (GAA), PhP510-million (M) was set aside to provide fuel assistance to farmers in the Philippines who own or rent agricultural machinery and are listed in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA). Each farmer-recipient will receive a DA Intervention Monitoring Card with fuel assistance worth PhP3k, excluding the card cost of PhP150.

Based on their 2023 data, the Regional Agricultural Machinery Inventory registered around 12k units of machinery in Northern Mindanao used for crop, livestock, and poultry production.

Approximately 12,990 farmers from the region were validated as targets for FY 2023, apportioning PhP40.91-M worth of fuel subsidy.

Reportedly, nearly half of the targets has been accomplished as of October this year, while the remaining subsidy is set to be released through a series of caravans starting mid October until the following weeks in Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte, and Misamis Oriental in coordination with the Development Bank of the Philippines and Universal Storefront Services, Corp. (USSC).

DA-10 RAED Programs and Projects Management Section chief, Engr. Romil G. Española, emphasized that the meeting also served as a venue to strategize measures to address bottlenecks in the project implementation.

Wherein, the Know-Your-Client (KYC) validation was notably identified, as additional verification is required among farmer-beneficiaries vis-a-vis submitted documentary requirements.

“We’ve assessed our performance in order for us [DA-10 fuel assistance team] to efficiently move forward and accomplish the targets for FY 2023 on or before the end of November 2024,”Española added.

To hasten the implementation, a one-time caravan schedule was recommended to conduct KYC processes in local government units (LGUs) near USSC branches.

The FAtFP will continue with a PhP510-M allocation under Special Provision No. 17 of RA 11975 FY 2024, with a PhP42-M allocation for Northern Mindanao.

The RAED and Field Operations Division of DA-10 will identify the eligible beneficiaries in coordination with the Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering offices of the LGUs or the office of provincial, city, and municipal agriculturists.
Further, DA-10 RAED enjoined the LGUs to submit names of farmers for validation as beneficiaries for the current fiscal year, and to continually coordinate, especially for the KYC processing activities.

In closing, Engr. Bryan R. Cubita, Officer-In-Charge of the Misamis Occidental Provincial Operations Center, reaffirmed that constant collaboration with the LGUs would foster a more harmonious implementation, allowing more recipients to benefit from the subsidy.

The provision of fuel assistance aims to lessen farming operating costs, enhance farmers’ resilience, and help cushion the impact of rising oil prices on the farming sector.# (EJLG)

Agri-10 continues to distribute fuel assistance to farmers owning or renting functional farm machinery.

MALAYBALAY CITY, BUKIDNON – Aiming to help cushion the impact of rising oil prices on the farming sector, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA – RFO 10), through its Regional Agricultural Engineering Division (RAED), led the Fuel Assistance to Farmers Project (FAtFP) caravan on October 14 in Barangay Violeta, here.

In partnership with the Universal Storefront Services Corp., the DA-10 rolled out not less than PhP2.34-million worth of fuel subdisy to some 745 eligible farmers from Malaybalay City, Impasug-ong, and Sumilao, in Bukidnon province, via the DA Intervention Monitoring Card (IMC).

Pursuant to the FY 2023 implementing guidelines of the FAtFP, eligible recipients subsidy are either individual farmer or member of Farmer Cooperative and Associations (FCA) who owns or rents functional farm machinery with proof of ownership or rental agreement, as accounted for in the Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Management Information System (ABEMIS).

The recipient must also be registered with the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) of the DA.

In support of the event, Malaybalay City Vice Mayor Estelito R. Marabe recognized the active cooperation of the city’s local government unit which is instrumental for the realization of the said assistance.

DA-10 RAED chief Engr. Deliza T. Camaro also emphasized that the implementation of FAtFP will continue in the following year, thus, urging other farmers who are yet to register their agricultural machineries to comply with the registration process through their local Agriculture and Biosystems Engineering office.

“[For FY 2023] Malaybalay City is the first within the region and the country to accomplish the registration of machinery and equipment, making it a great example to other regions,” she said.

To roll out the remaining FAtFP subsidy earmarked in 2023, the DA-10 RAED is set to hold a series of distribution caravan where a total of P7.08-M worth of fuel assistance will be rolled out.

The caravan will kick off in Bukidnon starting October 15 in Cabanglasan town with 547 beneficiaries, and October 16 in Kibawe with 446 combined beneficiaries from Dangcagan, Kadilangan, Kibawe, and Kitaotao. Meanwhile, 363 beneficiaries from Valencia City, Kalilangan, and Maramag will receive the fuel assistance in Valencia City on October 17.

The caravan will take place in Lanao del Norte on October 22 with 607 farmer-beneficiaries from Bacolod, Kapatagan, Kauswagan, Kolambugan, Lala, Poona Piagapo, SND, and Tubod.

The last day of the caravan will be held on October 23 in Gitagum, Misamis Oriental with 286 recipients from Gitagum, Initao, Laguindingan, and Libertad will be given their fuel subsidy.

The FAtFP is part of the DA’s continuing effort to ease up farmers’ struggle amid rising farm inputs prices while scaling up their productivity.# (EJLG)