Agri-10 through Corn Program turns over hybrid corn seeds amounting to P1.8-million to the 2nd district of Cagayan de Oro.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) headed by Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado, turned over P1.8 million (M) worth of hybrid yellow corn seeds to the Office of Congressman Rufus B. Rodriguez, 2nd district of Cagayan de Oro City at the Nazareth Barangay Hall on November 22, 2023.

A total of 300 bags were turned over by the agency through Executive Assistant III Joel S. Rudinas to the Office of Congressman Rodriguez represented by Office-in-Charge Lina O. Navarro.

According to Navarro, these will be distributed to 56 barangays in the following weeks, where each farmer is set to receive one bag of corn seeds.

Funded under the Corn program, Dir. Collado said that the department continues to extend interventions to farmers in the region, wherein said agri inputs can cover at least 150 hectares of area to be planted.# (TJTL)

Agri-10 caps off the NRAM celebration with the conduct of an Agri Trivia.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – To officially conclude the celebration of the National Rice Awareness Month (NRAM), the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10) helmed by Director Carlene C. Collado, through the Rice Program and the Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Information Section (RAFIS) conducted an Agri Trivia on November 28, 2023, at the agency compound.

Dubbed as the ‘Grain Brain’, the activity was participated by the different divisions of DA-10 with questions revolving on rice and other related things through different sets, namely: Question and Answer, Visual, Audio, and Audio-Visual.

In his message, DA-10 Executive Assistant III Joel R. Rudinas, emphasized that activities like these are apt for a technical agency, such as DA, especially that it is dealing with rice as a commodity.

“Take this as an opportunity to hone our knowledge about rice while having fun. This is a great time for us to learn more about this commodity.” Rudinas added.

Emerging victorious are the Integrated Laboratory Division, Regulatory Division, and the Field Operations Division, as the champion, first runner-up, and second runner-up, respectively.

Winning divisions earned plaques of recognition and cash prizes, while the rest of the teams have also received consolation prizes.

NRAM is celebrated every November of the year, following Proclamation No. 524, Series of 2004. With “Be RICEponsible” as the battlecry for six years, the movement aims to help the country in its bid for rice sufficiency and strengthened support for local farmers by avoiding rice wastage and providing healthier staple food options for Filipino farmers and consumers alike.# (CRS)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – As part of its continuing commitment to support the government’s reformation projects for rebel returnees, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10), under the leadership of Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado, recently turned over 20 head upgraded goat to the Philippine Army’s 403rd Infantry Brigade and to the Police Regional Office-10’s Regional Mobile Force Battalion.

The intervention worth P231,100 comprised 18 female and 2 male goats granted by DA in support of the police and army’s goat multiplier farm.

Each recipient received 10 breeding stock (9 female and 1 male) as starter kits for goat dispersal project to former rebels.

DA is the lead agency in the Poverty Reduction, Livelihood and Employment (PRLE) Cluster of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) created under Executive Order No. 70, a directive institutionalizing whole-of-nation approach to attaining inclusive and sustainable peace in the country.# (ATT)

Agri-10 supports the outreach program of XUCN through the provision of agricultural inputs.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – To aid in community development projects, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) through Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado turned over assorted vegetable seeds, fertilizers, and garden tools to Xavier University – College of Nursing (XUCN) on November 24, 2023.

DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga and High Value Crops Development Program focal person Kersten S. Pagalan turned over 30 packets each of 5-in-1 Pinakbet and Sinigang seeds, 2 light hoe, 10 seedling tray, 2 shovel, 4 sprinkler, 10 bolo and 5 bags of organic fertilizer to Level 3 Coordinator Jesusa C. Gabule, RN, MN along with the university’s nursing students.

They also received Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials as guides to complement their vegetable planting.

“As part of our Community Health Nursing Duty, the nursing students will be organizing a livelihood program for the residents of Sitio Macapaya, Brgy. Camaman-an, for which we plan to provide livelihood sustenance through eco-organic gardening,” shared Gabule.

She further thanked DA-10 for the support in helping the school advance its endeavors, at the same time extending support to their chosen benefiting community. # (AMBM)

Farmers undergo training on banana insect pests and disease management, spearheaded by DA-RCPC 10.

MALAYBALAY CITY, BUKIDNON – The Regional Crop Protection Center (RCPC) of the Department of Agriculture RFO – 10 through Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado trained farmers on Banana Insect Pests and Diseases Management on Wednesday, November 14-15 in this city.

Eighteen Bukidnon banana farmers finished the two-day training at the Northern Mindanao Crops and Livestock Research Complex (NMACLRC) in Dalwangan, Malaybalay City that immersed them in the field to properly identify friendly and non-friendly insect pests and diseases.

Further, they observed the various Biological Control Agents or Biocon in RCPC to demonstrate the management and production of the technology.

Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulations, Cora A. Dumayaca highlighted the need for banana farmers to be part of associations and cooperatives to access and benefit various DA programs and projects.

Importantly, she added that it will diversify and be certified through Philippine Good Agricultural Practices (PhilGAP) certification, which will potentially be greenlit to market security.

Speakers from DA-RFO 10 focused the discussion on the banana industry roadmap; potential products and market trade and value chain; and, the importance of good agricultural practices, including farmer certification through PhilGap.

Center Chief, Lucille T. Minguez hopes to instill a resilient mindset and commitment among farmers, empowering them to seize every learning opportunity for prosperity and reach their full potential.

RCPC is the arm of DA dedicated to the production and promotion of Biological Control Agents (Biocon) in the region, which are friendly organisms that feed (Earwig, Lacewing, Eocanthecona furcellata) parasitizes (Trichogramma) and infect diseases (Metarhizium anisopliaea, Trichoderma harzianum, Beauvaria bassiana) to insect pest enemies.#

Agri 10 pours P9.3-million for INSPIRE program in San Fernando, Bukidnon.

SAN FERNANDO, BUKIDNON – The Local Government Unit (LGU) of San Fernando is eyed to benefit from the Department of Agriculture – 10’s Integrated National Swine Production Initiatives for Recovery and Expansion (INSPIRE) program worth P9.3 million.

On November 28, DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado together with San Fernando Mayor Rogelio Yeke led the groundbreaking ceremony of the biosecured swine facility amounting to P5.5 million.

RED Collado said that the facility is part of the INSPIRE program along with the drugs and biologics worth 75K turned over on the same occasion.

Likewise, 300 head swine piglets (P2.3-M) and 550 bags of feed (P1.3-M) will be given after the completion of the construction of the said facility.

Collado added that the program focuses on increasing the swine and breeder base, and it provides livelihood assistance to its localities through swine production at the same time.

Meanwhile, DA-10 Livestock focal person Jamaica L. Docdoc said that the provided agri interventions will be managed by the LGU in order to help repopulate the swine industry of the province.

Also present at the event were DA-10 Bukidnon Provincial Operations Center chief Janet D. Lopez, DVM, the staff from the Municipal Agriculture’s Office, and other LGU officials. #(MPMT)

DA-PRDP, World Bank and the European Union visits the Crumb Rubber Processing and Marketing Enterprise subproject of MTAC in Damulog, Bukidnon.

DAMULOG, BUKIDNON – The Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project, together with the World Bank (WB) and the European Union (EU) visited the Crumb Rubber Processing and Marketing Enterprise subproject of the Migcawayan Tribal Agricultural Cooperative (MTAC) on November 16, 2023, as part of the 16th Implementation Support Mission (ISM).

Bukidnon Governor Rogelio Neil Roque welcomed the WB and the EU team to the province of Bukidnon and thanked them for their assistance to MTAC and to the province.

Mio Takada, WB Task Team Leader to PRDP said that the main objective of the mission is to hear from the proponent group on their preparation for the implementation of the given subproject, which includes addressing their apprehensions and constraints and providing direction to the group.

Further, the apprehension about constraints that they are facing so they can address and provide direction for them.

Meanwhile, Mojca Krisper-Figueroa, EU Programme Manager, is glad that the EU was able to join the ISM for the first time and visit the subproject site.

“It’s great that the existing facilities are running, and there is enhanced workforce labor and enhanced price increase in the production, which is actually good. We are happy to be here, learn from you and exchange ideas with you, and of course, if there is something that we can do for the cooperative, we are happy to assist,” Figueroa added.

DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Operations and DA-PRDP Deputy Project Director (DPD) Carlota S. Madriaga affirmed the department’s commitment after noticing the perseverance, dedication, and drive of MTAC towards the success of the subproject.

Funded under DA-PRDP’s second additional financing (AF2) and European Union Co-Financing Grant, the medium enterprise proposed by MTAC has a subproject cost of Php 80,971,551.00 and will benefit greatly from the cooperative members, including a huge number of women, indigenous people, and rubber farmers in the barangay and nearby areas as it provides livelihood for them once the operation starts.

Gracing the activity are the WB team composed of Ning Bondoc, Shubham Singh, Mario Orilla, Cora Dankers, Tomas Sta. Maria, Gomer Tumbali, and Maya Villaluz, with representatives from the PRDP National Project Coordinating Office.

Also present in the activity are the Project Support Office Mindanao team led by DPD Noel Provido, the LGU of Damulog headed by Mayor Melino Buro, the Regional Project Coordinating Office 10 team, Migcawayan barangay officials, and MTAC members. #

F2C2 Regional Cluster underscores the farming and fishing approach in advancing agri development and enhancing local food production.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Intensifying its efforts to bolster farmers’ cooperatives, and associations (FCAs) in the region, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10) staged the first Farm and Fisheries Clustering and Consolidation (F2C2) Regional Cluster on November 20 to 21, 2023, in this city.

In his message, DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado underscored the significance of the regional confab in advancing agricultural development and enhancing local food production.

“The first F2C2 program regional cluster summit in Northern Mindanao is historic and a remarkable achievement, as we unify the management of activities of farmers and fisherfolk that would result in enhanced quality of produce,” the agri exec chief said.

Moreover, RED Collado reiterated the thrust of DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. to modernize agriculture to increase food production and empower farmers and fisherfolk, and enjoined the clusters to align their efforts and activities with the same.

About 60 FCAs from the provinces of Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, Bukidnon, Misamis Occidental, and Lanao del Norte participated in the event, which featured plenary sessions on programs for cluster development offered by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), as well as agri-credit and insurance programs offered by the Development Bank of the Philippines.

In addition, the participants also took part in breakout workshop sessions on cooperative building and improving value chains, market linkage and expansion through digitalization, and credit and finance, with resource speakers from the CDA, DTI, DA-Agricultural Training Institute – Regional Training Center 10 (ATI-RTC 10), Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC), and the DA-10 Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division.

In support of the two-day summit, also present were Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga, Executive Assistant III Joel S. Rudinas, Bukidnon with Provincial Operations Center chiefs, Field Operations Division chief Eduardo N. Pit, PhD., F2C2 focal person Gay Nanette R. Aleria, and F2C2 staff of DA-10.

Pursuant to Administrative Order No. 27, Series of 2020, the F2C2 seeks to advance the interest and condition of Filipino small farmers and fishers by encouraging them to adopt a clustering strategy and consolidation of their production, processing, and marketing activities to benefit from economies of scale in commodity production and ensure greater availability and wider utilization of agri-aqua technologies, farm mechanization, logistic and transport support, and postharvest facilities.

Ultimately, the F2C2 program aims to raise the overall productivity of the agri sector and the incomes of farmers and fishers in the country.#

NorMin farm and fishery clusters pledge to be RICEponsible during its regional cluster summit.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – In time with the observance of National Rice Awareness Month (NRAM), 60 officers of Northern Mindanao’s agri-fishery clusters took a RICEponsible pledge on November 20, in this city.

Led by DA-Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10) Rice Program focal person, Chona H. Nacalaban, the region’s farm and fishery cluster leaders from the five provinces of the region vowed to advocate for rice sufficiency by consuming alternative staple crops and buying locally produced rice, to complement the government’s heightened effort in boosting local rice production.

The leaders of the different clusters pledged during the first NorMin Farm and Fishery Clustering and Consolidation (F2C2) Program Regional Cluster Summit, attended by DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado, Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga and other members of DA-10 management committee.#(ATT)

MARBFC has over the years provided services in terms of agricultural loans and custom services of pre- and post-harvest machineries and equipment. These have helped farmers sustain their farming activities and importantly, ensure economic resilience by commanding fair prices for their corn harvest.  

QUEZON CITY – Two of the assisted farmers’ cooperatives, associations (FCAs) of the Department of Agriculture – Northern Mindanao (DA-10) were honored after being adjudged as the champions in the 2023 Corn and Cassava Cluster Management Excellence Awards on November 17, at the Salvador H. Escudero Hall, National Meat Inspection Service, Visayas Avenue, Diliman here.

Both from Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, the Mantibugao Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Farmers’ Cooperative (MARBFC) and Bliss Lingion Multi-Purpose Cooperative (BLMPC) won the corn and cassava accolades, respectively for being DA’s partners in the production of safe and quality corn and cassava, promotion of value chain approach, development of the corn and cassava industries, as well as the provision of various services by the cluster organizations to their members.

During the awarding ceremony, reading the message on behalf of Senator Cynthia A. Villar, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform, U-Nichols A. Manalo, national corn coordinator and OIC-Director of DA-Field Operations Service relayed how innovation, convergent efforts, and the adoption of farm clustering approach play a pivotal role in advancing the corn and cassava sectors.

“We come together to celebrate the synergy between innovation, dedication, and collaboration among groups, individuals, and agencies,” she expressed.

The senator is also a staunch ally in farm clustering saying that it increases production and ensures a sustainable supply of safe and high-quality agricultural products, and provides an enabling environment for farmers to become more productive, innovative and competitive.

“You have not only met the challenges and expectations posed by the ever-evolving agricultural landscape, but you have surpassed expectations. It resonates in the lives of rural communities and in the sustenance of our nation.” Sen. Villar said, as she lauds the feats of farm clusters, even citing them as the drivers of economic growth and social development.

In her acceptance speech, MARBFC manager Evangeline P. Frasco is grateful that their FCA’s hard work was recognized and rewarded.

“Thank you, DA for the cash award where we can expand our inputs provision to our corn farmers where more funds means more farms to be assisted, and an increase in the volume of production to satisfy our markets,” Frasco said.

On the other hand, Dante M. Dosayco, BLMPC chairperson remarked: “This is a token for our past efforts and also a push for our future endeavors. We assure you (DA) that our future deeds will only just get better.”

For bagging the coveted top spots in said awards, both Manolo farm cluster organizations received P2 million for the purchase of farm inputs, farm equipment and machinery, and postharvest facilities that would help them boost their farming operations, livelihood and income.

Trailing MARBFC for the corn excellence awards are first and second runners-up: Samahang Gumagawa Tungong Tagumpay MPC of Occidental Mindoro and Maningalao-Lingayao Agriculture Cooperative of Agusan del Norte, respectively. Following BLMPC in the cassava awards are first and second runners-up: Zamboanga del Norte Cassava Growers and Processors, Inc. of Zamboanga del Norte and Villa Luna MPC of Isabela, respectively.

“Rest assured that I will continue to pursue legislative mechanisms and policies that will solidify the linkage of production and market access across the rich and diverse commodities in our country,” Sen. Villar’s commitment, as she caps off her message.

Besides the honored farming clusters, the different technical working groups for the corn and cassava clusters at the national and regional levels were also recognized and presented with certificates.

Supporting the winners from the DA-10 delegation is headed by Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado, together with Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga, Corn focal person Richan D. Lacanaria, and Science Research Specialist II Mischelle F. Egama, who is also the former Cassava focal person, DA-Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) – Regional Training Center Ma. Lydia Echavez, and the municipal agriculturist of Manolo Fortich, Gemma G. Cania.

Other national agri officials were also in attendance, including Engr. Remelyn R. Recoter, DA-ATI director and the newly installed Engr. Roger V. Navarro, officer-in-charge for the Office of the Undersecretary for Operations.# (JLO/Photos by: AFID)