In support of the 18-day campaign to end violence against women, DA-10 apprises its employees on ways to discourage gender-based violence and sexual harassment that are likely to occur in an organization.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) through its Gender and Development Unit conducts Advocacy Campaign on Violence against Women and Children, Thursday, November 25 this City.

The activity was staged in support of the “18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women”, a nationwide campaign advocated by the Philippine Commission on Women, in pursuit of VAW-free communities across the country.

Participating male and female employees of the DA-10 were apprised on ways to discourage gender-based violence and sexual harassment that are likely to occur in an organization.

Mr. John Rey P. Catalan, Program Manager and Head of the Gender and Women, Peace and Security Division of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) was invited as resource speaker of the activity.

Attending the activity via an online platform, Mr. Catalan averred that an organization’s approach towards gender-based violence or harassment should be “preventive” in nature.

“An organization should (strictly) adopt the government’s policy on anti-sexual harassment. The conduct of the survey, interview, and common group discussion are helpful to gather data (and identify preventive programs). Men should be engaged and involved as partners to prevent gender-based violence or harassment,” he explained.

In her message, DA-RFO 10 Regional Technical Director for Operations, Carlota S. Madriaga, urged the agency’s employees to uphold healthy relationships among themselves by being sensitive towards each other’s emotions.

“We need to respect our differences and be sensitive to others. At all times we need to be wary of gender-related violations so that we can work peacefully, respecting one another’s personal rights in the office,” she remarked.

In her part, Director Carmelita T. Bajarla, DA-RFO 10 Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulations, reminded the employees to observe good office practices to discourage violation of gender rights.

“You, the young ones, are the future leaders of the DA. Therefore, you should be a model to each other in nurturing harmonious work relationship,” she asserted, supporting the call to cast down gender-based violation and harassment in the entity.# (ATalib)

To capacitate the youth in the agribusiness sector, DA-10 through AMAD conducts an Enterprise and Development Training-Seminar Workshop to about 50 young farmer-leaders and select 4-H club members from MisOr and CdeO City.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – To harness the potential and strength of the youth towards transformed agriculture, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA RFO 10) through its Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) conducted an Enterprise and Development Training-Seminar Workshop on November 25-26, 2021.

About 50 young farmer-leaders and select 4-H club members from the towns of Claveria and Balingasag of Misamis Oriental, and from the city of Cagayan de Oro were convened to apprise the group into the agribusiness sector, and at the same time, hone their entrepreneurial skills.

“It’s very common to see young individuals who’ve taught themselves innovative techniques through social media exposure with the freedom they possess. As today’s generation has grown along with the latest technology, it’s best for their advantage to utilize this knowledge and enhance their entrepreneurial skills in any of their chosen agriculture-based endeavours,” Cleofe O. Ampatin, DA-10 AMAD senior agriculturist remarked.

Topics focused during the activity included Taking Advantage of Digital Marketing for Start-Ups, and Proper Packaging and Labelling of Farm Products.

Likewise, they were introduced to some innovations on the production of banana chips, and business preparation and marketing for banana flour.

DA’s attached agency, the Agricultural Credit Policy Council, bared its different loan portfolios to actively engage the attendees in agriculture and fisheries through the availment of its credit programs. # (RDMElloren)

On November 24, 2021, DA-10 initiates a meeting with concerned agencies to discuss the inflow and outflow of agri commodities which will be used as bases for the region’s agri situationer.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – To validate data on the commodity flow of agri commodities, the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) of DA-10 initiated a meeting with concerned agencies on November 24, 2021.

DA-10 AMAD Agribusiness and Industry Support Section Chief Jenny Alcobilla said that AMAD is regularly conducting data gathering and analysis on agricultural commodities shipped in and out from the region.

The movement or flow of agri commodities captures data carried through air and sea which are inbound or outbound in the region.

The inflow and outflow of agri commodities will be used as bases of the region’s agri situationer.

Data captured includes volume, declared value, description of commodity, origin, and destination.

Banner program coordinators of the agency which includes, livestock, corn, rice, high-value crops development, and organic agriculture with the Philippine Statistics Authority 10, DA-Bureau of Plant Industry Plant Quarantine Services in Region 10 (DA-BPI PQS 10) and DA-Bureau of Animal Industry-Veterinary Quarantine Services 10 were referred as sources of the said data.

The output of the activity will be finalized and presented for another round of validation with other concerned agencies.#(RDMElloren)

On November 25, 2021, DA-NorMin honors Girlie T. Vedra, the 2021 regional outstanding rural woman.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of Agriculture – Region 10 lauded Girlie T. Vedra, an exemplary woman farmer-leader from Cagayan de Oro City as the Regional Outstanding Rural Woman this year.

Ms. Vedra was laurelled in an awarding ceremony held November 25, 2021, in Cagayan de Oro City.

Coming from a humble beginning, Ms. Vedra has come a long way in her plight against poverty through agriculture.

As president of the Rural Improvement Club in their area, she has inspired many people in her community to embrace farming and make it a bankable livelihood for sustainable income.

“As women, we should not limit ourselves. There are many ways for us to help our family. We need to be involved” Ms. Vedra said, suggesting that women should take active roles in deciding for their family’s livelihood today.

“In the midst of this pandemic, one program of the government that women must adopt is digital farming. Housewives can make use of their gadgets to sell their products. In that way they can better help their family financially” she added.

She pointed out that women should act instead of just making plans, urging women to start making moves if they wish to transform their life’s situation.

DA-PhilMech hands over agri-machinery to the FCAs in MisOr to augment their level of farm mechanization; thereby, increasing their productivity and income.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – To increase farmers’ rice production, the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (DA-PhilMech) turned over P7.6 million worth of agri-machinery to the farmers’ cooperatives and associations (FCAs) in Misamis Oriental.

Eight agri-machinery were distributed to the 3 qualified FCAs in the said province: Cogon Farmers Association, Inc. of Balingasag; Gingoog Farmer Irrigators Association, Inc.; and Bal-ason Farmers Producers Cooperative, Inc. both of Gingoog City.

Machinery such as four-wheel tractors, walk-behind transplanters, combine harvesters, and destoner were provided to increase productivity, reduce labor cost and increase the income of rice farmers.

Rice mechanization is one of the components of Republic Act No. 11203 or the Rice Tariffication Law, which stipulates the creation of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) that would be funded from rice tariffs collections, with P10 billion allocation annually from 2019 to 2024 or a period of six years.

DA-PhilMech, Assistant Cluster Head, Mindanao “A”, Engr. Ian D. Madjus, shared that the farmers will be trained on the proper operation of the machinery.

The DA-PhilMech team will be monitoring the utilization of the units every cropping season, plant preparation, and harvesting to ensure its operation and functions.#(MPTablon)

DA-10 caps off its ASF indemnification payments to MisOr affected hog farmers with the recent distribution of P9.11-M.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY- In support to backyard hog raisers stricken by the African Swine Fever (ASF), the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) through DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado paid fully the remaining P9.11 million (M) to complete the set P66.11-M for ASF indemnification assistance in the region.

On November 23-25, 2021, the agency distributed indemnity to some barangays of Cagayan de Oro City and the different municipalities of Misamis Oriental which includes Balingasag, Villanueva, Tagoloan, Manticao, Opol, and El Salvador City for its last batch payment.

In El Salvador City, young hog farmer Archie M. Apus said, “Malaki ang tulong nito [ASF indemnification] sa aming pamilya dahil ang pagbababoy ang inaasahan namin na pangkabuhayan at pangpa-aral. Sa ngayon, ang matitirang pera para sa pangmatrikula ibibigay ko sa aking magulang para puhunan sa maliit na negosyo.”

Meanwhile, DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga assured, that the agency will continue to provide farmers with technical or financial assistance.

Madriaga added that the agency strongly pursues its efforts to contain, manage and regulate the ASF, and afterward, recover the region’s swine industry.

She encouraged hog growers to avail themselves of insurance coverage from the Philippine Crop Insurance, Corp. (PCIC).

As of July 1, 2021, all insurance and indemnification will be covered by PCIC, with a 1.75% premium for fatteners and 3.5 percent for breeders, which are waived as free for backyard raisers.

The insurance covers P10,000 per head for fatteners, P14,500 per head for breeders, and P34,000 per head for parent stocks.

DA-10 ASF focal person Dr. Julesben Caesar Maquiling urged hog raisers to observe biosecurity measures to prevent their hogs from ASF contamination.

He said that its implementation will also help in repopulating hogs in ASF-affected areas.

Repopulation for  ASF-stricken areas from early this year until June will take start in the first quarter of 2022.

Villanueva Mayor Jennie Rosalie T. Uy-Mendez said they will wait for DA’s notice for repopulation which includes the conduct of a series of tests, cleaning, and disinfection to abate disease outbreak, further adding that it will help in reviving the swine industry, not only in our municipality but the whole region, as well.

“To the local government units and the communities, be vigilant in the entry of hogs and swine products and by-products that may cause the spread of the virus,” she added.

In total, 3,294 ASF affected farmers with 13,223 culled hogs were paid completely since April this year, where the agency covers P5,000.00 for each hog depopulated on account of the ASF contagion.

On top of the ASF indemnification, recipients have also received food packs from the Department of Social Welfare and Development. # (JCAnito)

DA-PhilMech turns over farm machinery to FCAs in LDN to drum up their mechanization level; thereby, increasing their productivity and income.

TUBOD, LANAO DEL NORTE – Some 19 Farmers’ Associations, Cooperatives (FCAs) in Lanao del Norte received P44.2 million worth of farm machinery from the DA-Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (DA-PhilMech) at Pigcarangan, Tubod, Lanao del Norte.

The FCAs represent 2,964 rice farmers in the province, entitled to various farm machinery and equipment funded under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), mechanization component.

By virtue of the Rice Tariffication Law, the RCEF will be funded P10 billion annually in a span of six years starting 2019, to mobilize key programs for rice production as the country liberalizes its trade policy on rice importation.

FCAs from the municipalities of Lala, Kapatagan, Baroy, Maigo, Tubod, Salvador, Sapad, and Sultan Naga Dimaporo were granted with 11 units four-wheel tractor, 2 units hand tractor, 4 units floating tiller, 1 unit PTO driven disk plow/harrow, 1 unit walk-behind transplanter, 2 units riding type transplanter, 8 units rice combine harvester, 1 unit recirculating dryer, 1 unit impeller rice mill, 1 unit single pass rice mill and 2 unit de stoner.

Lanao del Norte is the second rice-producing province in Northern Mindanao with a total rice area of 23,045 hectares.

The provision of such machinery is seen to boost the province’s rice production capacity, by mechanizing pre and post-production stages.

The activity was graced by the DA Undersecretary for Regulations and Infrastructure, Engr. Zamzamin L. Ampatuan, DA-RFO 10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado, PhilMech FMFOD Chief, Mr. Joel Dator, and local officials, Governor Imelda Quibranza Dimaporo, Congressman Abdullah Dimaporo, and other local chief executives.#(ATalib)

DA-10 turns over assorted vegetable seeds to MOGCHS in support to their Gulayan sa Tahanan program.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Misamis Oriental General Comprehensive High School (MOGCHS) received 100 packets of assorted vegetable seeds from the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 on November 24, 2021.

Field Operations Division Chief Audy G. Maagad handed the seeds to Merydel Tejano, Grade 7 TLE Teacher of MOGCHS at DA-10 compound.

Tejano shared that the seeds will be used for their Brigada Eskwela 2021 with the theme “Bayanihan Para sa Paaralan.”

She added that the assorted vegetable seeds like sinigang, squash, cabbage, and garden salad, which she has received will support their program, “Gulayan sa Tahanan”.

Parents and teachers will be provided with the said seeds in support to food sufficiency.

DA’s Plant, Plant, Plant program enhances food security amid the COVID-19 pandemic. #(MPTablon)

DA-NorMin convenes the pest surveillance officers in the region to finetune the implementation of its pest surveillance activities

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, November 23 – The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) spearheaded a two-day meeting with the municipal pest surveillance officers on November 23-24, 2021, in this city.

The meeting tackled on the implementation and updating of pest surveillance activities, specifically for rice and corn across the region.

The pest surveillance officers, who are also agricultural technicians (ATs), and the municipal agriculturists (MAs) from the different towns re-tooled on the management and strategies of controlling major insect pests that infest said crops such as the Fall Army Worm (FAW), Asian Corn Borer, Rice Black Bug (RBB), among others.

DA-RFO 10 Regulatory Division OIC-Chief Eduardo N. Pit reported that in Region 10, only 0.04 percent has been infested with FAW of the total 103,805.07 hectares of corn standing crop as of October 2021. In which 100% has been treated already.

Meanwhile, DA-RFO 10 Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulations Carmelita T. Bajarla emphasized the challenges of pest management with the infestation of RBB in other areas of the country.

She further advised them to be vigilant with continuous efforts in monitoring crops to detect early the presence of pests.

Also present in the activity is DA-RFO 10 Field Operations Division Chief Audy G. Maagad, and other DA-10 staff who also shared their expertise in this field.# (EMBentulan)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of Agriculture – Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (DA-PhilMech) hands over various rice machinery to qualified farmer cooperatives, associations (FCAs) of Misamis Occidental.

A total of 18 FCAs from the municipalities of Aloran, Baliangao, Bonifacio, Clarin, Panaon, Plaridel, Tudela, and the cities of Oroquieta, Ozamiz, and Tangub will benefit from the rice machinery worth P37.59 million under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF).

Of the total amount, P25 million is allocated for the 10 FCAs of the first district and P14.5 million is allocated to the second district with eight FCAs as part of the 2021 budget.

The machinery distributed includes 13 units floating tiller, 11 units rice thresher, 8 units 4WD tractor, 3 units each of recirculating dryer and hand tractor; 4 units rice combine harvester; two units for each rice reaper, PTO driven disc plow; and, 1 unit each of walk-behind and riding type transplanter, multi-stage rice mill and de stoner.

The Rice Tariffication Law or Republic Act 11203 allots P10 billion yearly from tariffs of imported rice for six years, from 2019 to 2024, for the RCEF program aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of the Philippine rice industry.#(CRSeraspe)