Inter-agencies collaborate for the conduct of the first ever Philippine Coffee Quality Competition, held at CMU, Musuan, Maramag, Bukidnon.

MARAMAG, BUKIDNON – In preparation for the annual Philippine Coffee Quality Competition (PCQC), the Northern Mindanao Coffee Council in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project 10 (DA-PRDP 10), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Central Mindanao University (CMU), Peace and Equity Foundation (PEF), ACDI VOCA – PhilCAFE project holds the first Regional Coffee Evaluation on March 14-17, 2023 at Central Mindanao University, Musuan, Maramag, Bukidnon.

The activity opened an avenue for the evaluation of the quality of coffee beans of the farmers and at the same time, provided feedback for improvement in terms of production and postharvest activities.

In order to identify the best quality coffee in the region, the participating farmers have submitted coffee bean samples, underwent a four-day evaluation through coffee Q grading, roasting, calibration and cupping.

DA-10 Regional Executive Director and RPCO 10 Project Director Carlene C. Collado, extended his appreciation to the organizers of the activity, leading the farmers to produce quality coffee in the region that can compete in the global market.

He further said that the agency will continue its mandate to assist the recipients/beneficiaries in their goal of reaching the international market.

Janet D. Lopez, DVM, DA Provincial Operations Center (POC) Chief for Bukidnon said, the activity will enable the stakeholders to converge and improve their quest for increasing production and income.

“DA through the Philippine Rural Development Project and the High Value Crops Development Program has provided different interventions in pursuing high-quality coffee, aside from capacitating the farmers’ cooperatives, associations producing coffee,” said Lopez.

She added that the collaborative effort is a great opportunity for the coffee farmers to brace in the Annual Philippine Coffee Quality Competition.

She noted that Northern Mindanao has competitively engaged at the international level as Bukidnon coffee proves with several breakthroughs with a strengthened collaboration and support both from the government and other organizations.

During the awarding ceremony on March 18, 2023, farmers from the province of Bukidnon dominated both coffee categories as Primitiva Mahumot from Pigtauranan, Pangantucan, Bukidnon was hailed the top spot for the Robusta category while Manolito Garces of New Eden, Pangantucan, Bukidnon placed first under the Arabica category. #

DA-PRDP 10 spearheads a series of project orientation to gain support from interested LGUs for the upcoming PRDP scale-up.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY- In order to gain support from the local government units (LGUs) for the upcoming PRDP scale-up, a series of project orientation is scheduled by the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project 10 (DA-PRDP 10) to the interested local government units in the region.

Recently, the City government of Cagayan de Oro confer with the DA-PRDP 10 team headed by DA-10 Regional Executive Director and Regional Project Coordination Office Director Carlene C. Collado for the project orientation, as the city is eyeing to propose subprojects (SPs) both under the IBUILD and IREAP components which include farm-to-market road and storage facility.

The said orientation focuses on the new and improved innovations and subprojects offered in the enterprise development component and will likewise equip the LGUs with the knowledge on the preparation of project proposals including the documentary requirements needed for SP’s approval.

As earlier reported, the proposed PRDP scale-up aims to introduce a more holistic design to address the gaps in the value chains with a focus on improving the efficiency of the food supply chain.#

A PSI is conducted in Impasug-ong town in the hopes of expanding the reach of the 4Ks program in said locality.

The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10) through the Kabuhayan at Kaunlaran ng Kababayang Katutubo (4Ks) program, visited five sites in Impasug-ong, Bukidnon to conduct a Preliminary Social Investigation (PSI).

With the program focused on serving the Indigenous People (IP) and Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICC), DA-10 OIC-Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado said that the undertaking is in response to the local government of Impasug-ong’s request of broadening the reach of the 4Ks program in their locality.

Sites included are sitios Ananaso, New Imbatug, Paculab, Paganahan, and Ulayanon in barangay Kalabugao, which are all inhabited by the Higaonon tribe.

April Grace M. Racines, DA-10 4Ks focal person, said that the PSI gauges the agricultural needs and identifies the available crops and livestock in an area through interviews, geotagging, site inspection, and validation.

Results of the investigation, she added, will then be used to determine the necessary interventions to be poured out in the identified sites.

On top of the mentioned sitios, Dir. Collado detailed that eight more sites are eyed to be validated soon.

The 4Ks is a three-year special project of DA which aims to aid the IPs through agri-fishery related livelihood projects and to capacitate them through agricultural skills training and workshops to increase their knowledge and productivity. # (CRSeraspe)

A series of project orientation is held to solicit support from LGUs for the upcoming PRDP scale-up.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY- In order to gain support from the local government units (LGUs) for the upcoming PRDP scale-up, a series of project orientation is scheduled by the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project 10 (DA-PRDP 10) to the interested local government units in the region.

Recently, the City government of Cagayan de Oro confer with the DA-PRDP 10 team headed by DA-10 Regional Executive Director and Regional Project Coordination Office Director Carlene C. Collado for the project orientation, as the city is eyeing to propose subprojects (SPs) both under the IBUILD and IREAP components which include farm-to-market road and storage facility.

The said orientation focuses on the new and improved innovations and subprojects offered in the enterprise development component and will likewise equip the LGUs with the knowledge on the preparation of project proposals including the documentary requirements needed for SP’s approval.

As earlier reported, the proposed PRDP scale-up aims to introduce a more holistic design to address the gaps in the value chains with a focus on improving the efficiency of the food supply chain.# (MIACAgawin)

DA-10 meets with the B-SAFE team for potential areas of work to collaborate on for the further development of export commodities.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – In consonance with the efforts to bolster agricultural productivity and the trade of safe, wholesome food and agricultural products, the Department of Agriculture – Northern Mindanao (DA-10) through OIC-Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado, met recently with the Building Safe Agricultural Food Enterprises (B-SAFE) project team to determine potential areas for collaboration to develop export commodities.

With corn and coco sugar of Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental, respectively, as the chosen export commodities, the body was apprised of DA’s implementing programs, projects, and interventions through its Corn program and its attached corporation, through the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), at the same time on B-SAFE project’s strides and deliverables to advance such commodities in said areas.

As the aggie department accords a range of support for a major corn-producing province such as Bukidnon, B-SAFE Private Sector Engagement Advisor Olegario Ayensa initially identified possible collaborative key areas to work on.

It includes their participation in the conduct of corn derbies and technology transfers to priority corn farmer-beneficiaries, in establishing certified Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) corn farms, and in developing a capabuild program for DA.

B-SAFE is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) under its Food for Progress program, implemented by Winrock International. # (JLO)

The Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project 10 (DA-PRDP 10) together with the National Project Coordination Office (NPCO) and the Mindanao Project Support Office (PSO Mindanao) conducted an appraisal to subproject (SP) proposals for the province of Bukidnon on February 7-9, 2023.

DA-10 OIC-Regional Executive Director and Regional PCO-10 Project Director Carlene C. Collado, stressed that the activity is vital to enhance the local government units (LGUs) proposals.

Further, it ensures the completeness of the documents and readiness of the proponent for the Regional Project Advisory Board’s (RPAB) review and approval.

The team evaluated proposals for the completeness, consistency, and correctness of the documents. Additionally, site validations were conducted to determine the feasibility and viability of a project in an area.

The AA Abattoir and 2 Farm-to-Market Roads were subject to validation in the towns of Don Carlos and Lantapan, Bukidnon, respectively.

Specifically, it includes the Construction of a Double “A” Slaughterhouse with Cold Storage in Don Carlos; 6.516-kilometers (km) Concreting of FMR with Drainage at Balila Proper to Sitio Gahub to Purok 5 Kaatuan; and the 9.46-km Concreting of FMR w/ Drainage at Sitio Cacawon, Kulasihan to Purok 2 Kangay, Capitan Juan to Purok 4 to Purok 5 Katiguman to Purok 6 Pinamanguhan, Capitan Road with Drainage at Balila Proper to Sitio Gahub to Purok 5 Kaatuan of Lantapan.

Heading the activity was RPCO-10 IBUILD Component Head, Engr. Deliza T. Camaro and representatives from the region’s IBUILD, SES, and GGU.

Joining the RPCO team was NPCO’s Rural Infrastructure Engineer (RIE) Legario B. David and Economist Harry C. Omaña; PSO Mindanao’s Planning Officer Shiela May Ibasco, Economist Imma Requilme, and RIE Danessa N. Llagas. #

Agri 10 hands over the certificate of accreditation to BMMPC  of Pangantucan, Bukidnon.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) headed by OIC-Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado turned over the Certificate of Accreditation to the Bayanihan Millenium Multi-Purpose Cooperative (BMMPC) on February 10, 2023 at the agency compound, this city.

The certificate was handed over by DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Operations and Regional Technical Committee Chairperson for Accreditation of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) Carlota S. Madriaga and received by BMMPC Treasurer Marel Rose L. Leones.

A Bukidnon-based cooperative, the BMMPC directs its enterprise and livelihood development efforts towards the coffee farmers and indigenous people in Pangantucan town.

Currently, it sells a wide range of products centered on its Robusta and Arabica coffee offerings through the Kape Napalit brand.

Leones said that their accreditation as an implementing and beneficiary civil society organization will help their cooperative to avail more services and assistance from the government in the future.

Further, he bared that BMMPC plans to secure assistance from DA-Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) to construct a centralized processing facility to expand its coffee processing operations.

Also present during the turnover were the head and member of the Regional Technical Secretariat, Assistant Chief Lourdes P. Rudinas and Project Evaluation Officer II Engr. Rona M. Quiao of the Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Division, respectively, and DA-10 Consultant Joel S. Rudinas.# (GDAndres)

DA-10 and PHilMech strengthen support to MisOr rice farmers thru the RPS II project.

BALINGASAG, MISAMIS ORIENTAL – The Department of Agriculture – Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHilMech), Provincial Government of Misamis Oriental, and the First Community Cooperative (FICCO) signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the implementation of the project entitled “Rice Processing System II” under the RCEF-Mechanization Program on February 8, 2023, in barangay San Isidro, Balingasag, Misamis Oriental.

The RPS II targets to serve around 500 hectares of rice area with a total project cost of around P61.7 million (M), consisting of 1 unit multistage rice mill worth P53.7-M with a milling input capacity of 2-3.5 tons per hour and 2 units recirculating dryer amounting to P8-M (12 tons per batch).

DA-Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10) OIC-Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado, said project is funded under the mechanization component of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), as provided under RA 11203, otherwise known as the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL).

The component aims to raise rice farmers’ productivity, profitability, and global competitiveness through strengthened access and use of appropriate production and postproduction mechanization technologies, he added.

In line with the development of a unified and integrated agriculture, DA regional field offices are tasked to issue a certificate that will officially recognize and authorize farmers’ cooperatives, associations (FCAs) as eligible beneficiaries of the DA-RCEF program. # (RDMElloren)

Agri 10 provides MisOr rice farmers with cash aid thru its RFFA program.

The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) kicked off the 3rd Rice Farmers’ Financial Assistance (RFFA-3) for the province of Misamis Oriental, in Gingoog City, Tuesday, February 7.

Some 592 eligible rice farmers from the towns of Magsaysay and Medina, and Gingoog City received P5,000 cash aid during the RFFA distribution.

The RFFA has been rolled out by DA-RFO 10 since 2020. For its third-year implementation, the agency has allocated P15.5-M worth of financial aid to benefit more than 3K eligible rice farmers in Misamis Oriental.

According to DA-RFO 10 OIC-Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado, the RFFA is granted to RSBSA-registered smallholder rice farmers in Northern Mindanao tilling rice areas of not more than 2 hectares.

Being funded through the Rice Tarrification Law, he said the RFFA is intended to compensate for the plunging palay buying price, and increasing prices of farm inputs, particularly fertilizer.

Razel Amparo, RFFA recipient from the town of Medina and secretary of the Cabug Rice Farmers’ Association said the cash assistance from DA comes in handy for rice farmers like her in providing for their farming needs.

“Gamiton nako kining akong nadawat nga tabang para ipalit og abono ug tambal pang-ispray sa among basakan,” she said. (I will use the cash aid I received in buying fertilizer and chemicals for our rice field.)

The RFFA rollout in Misamis Oriental was graced by Gingoog City Mayor, Erick G. Cañosa along with local officials of the City and DA personnel from the Regional Rice Program and Misamis Oriental Provincial Operations Center.

The RFFA will be rolled out to 10 other municipalities and the cities of Cagayan de Oro and El Salvador on February 8-10.

The DA-RFO 10 has earlier capped the RFFA-3 distribution in the provinces of Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte and Misamis Occidental benefitting 42,844 rice farmers. # (ATTalib)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Coast Guard (CG) district in Northern Mindanao led by CG Commodore Geronimo B. Tuvilla, paid a courtesy visit to the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) helmed by OIC-Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado, to discuss border measurement against illegal agri product smuggling on February 9, 2023, at the agency compound, here in this city.

The meeting focused on the programs and potential collaborations between agencies, especially on the enforcement of intensive safeguarding and environmental protection along the borders in Northern Mindanao.

Also present in the event is DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Operation Carlota S. Madriaga and RTD for Research and Regulations Cora A. Dumayaca, along with CG Commander Patrick John S. Cabasag, CG Lieutenant Commander Carina Dayondon and other CG personnel. #(RDMElloren)