DA-10 conducts a Orientation/Re-Orientation on GPRA to apprise and revisit said law in view of the updated composition of the agency’s BAC in-charge on the procurement of other goods, infra and services.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – To beef up its procurement activities, the Department of Agriculture – Northern Mindanao (DA-10) staged an Orientation/Re-Orientation on Republic Act 9184 or otherwise known as the Government Procurement Reform Act (GPRA) on December 13-14, 2021, in this city.

GPRA was enacted for the purpose of setting the rules and regulations for the modernization, standardization, and regulation of the procurement activities in the government, including a national government agency such as DA.

Primarily, it aimed to apprise and revisit said law in view of the updated composition of the department’s Bids and Awards Committee – A.2 – Other Goods, Infrastructure and Services, including its members, Technical Working Group, secretariat, regional canvassers and support staff.

In his message, DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado said, that it is timely for the Committee to come up with a refresher on GPRA, as the agency intends to fast track the conduct of its early procurement activities to implement its programs and projects, in light of the coming elections.

Likewise, RED Collado recommended to extend the same activity to the different programs and operating units, to collectively enhance the procurement processes of DA-10.

Overall, the activity was conducted in pursuit of the agency’s continual commitment of adhering to the GPRA towards good governance, accountability, transparency, equity, efficiency and economy in all its procurement activities. # (JLO)

DA-10 caps the conduct of its clustered Hybrid Rice Techno Demo in Valencia City, Bukidnon.

VALENCIA CITY, December 14 – The Department of Agriculture – Northern Mindanao (DA-10) conducted the final leg of the Hybrid Rice Technology Demonstration in Valencia City, Bukidnon.

Valencia is the third cluster of farmers, where the department conducted a hybrid rice techno demo, after Maramag and Kalilangan, Bukidnon, this year.

“Region 10 has targeted three cluster techno demo with a target of at least 6 metric tons per hectare on this dry season,” said DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado.

Dir. Collado noted, that between March and February next year, the demo farms will have their harvest festival to determine the best performing hybrid rice varieties in terms of yield.

In which he said that the top 5 performing varieties will be the basis of the agency’s rice seeds procurement.

“Achieving higher productivity in rice primarily entails the use of high-quality seeds and sufficient fertilization, on top of other important considerations such as sustainable and sufficient water supply, the use of appropriate technology and equipment, and access to credit and financing,” he remarked.

With a farm area of 9.24 hectares in barangay Pinatilan, the different hybrid rice varieties and technologies of SL Agritech, Corp., Seed Works, RAMGO International, Corp., LongPing, Leads Agri, Green and Grow, Inc., Davao Oriental Seed Producers Cooperative, Corteva Agriscience, Bioseed, Bayer, and Amtrac will be showcased.

According to Valencia City Agriculturist Connie L. Dalangan, the clustered hybrid rice techno demo can benefit 5,855 rice farmers in the city.

The activity was conducted in partnership with the provincial and city local government of Bukidnon and Valencia City, respectively through its Provincial Agriculture Office headed by Engr. Alson Quimba and farmer co-operators.  # (EMBentulan)

DA-10 extends cash subsidies through its RCEF-RFFA program to about 653 rice farmers from MisOr and CdeO City.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – About 653 rice farmers from Misamis Oriental and Cagayan de Oro City received cash subsidies under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund – Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RCEF-RFFA) from the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 on December 13, 2021, in this city.

In partnership with Universal Storefront Services, Corp., each rice farmer from the municipalities of Alubijid, Initao, Manticao, Naawan, and Villanueva, and the cities of El Salvador and Cagayan de Oro, received cash assistance of P5,000.

DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado emphasized that the said farmer-beneficiaries till rice areas of two hectares and below and are enrolled in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA).

Misamis Oriental including Cagayan de Oro City has a total of 2,322 eligible rice farmers.

Also gracing said cash distributions is DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga with Rice Program Focal Person Chona H. Nacalaban, and CdeO Mayor Oscar S. Moreno. # (AMBManto)

DA-10 receives ASF equipment and supplies from BAI to boost region 10’s diagnostic capabilities.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) received African Swine Fever (ASF) equipment and supplies from the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) for the development of its Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (RADDL).

Comprising the said items are one unit Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) machine, one box equipment accessories, one unit desktop, one unit monitor, one kit 7500 Chemical Install Kit and three kits Agpath through the National ASF Prevention and Control Program (NASFPCP).

DA-10 Integrated Laboratories Division Chief, Dr. Alanita A. Jumalon, emphasized that the equipment and test kits will be used to further enhance the diagnostic capability of the Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (RADDL) on the detection of ASF, which will be beneficial in safeguarding the region against the threat of ASF.

DA-10 through Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado has been intensifying its disease response against ASF as some areas in Northern Mindanao were affected with the said virus and to prevent its entry in the green zones of the region. #(RDElloren & MPTablon)

DA-10 through its SAAD program hands over agri inputs and equipment to FAs in Kalilangan, Bukidnon with the aim of increasing productivity and reducing poverty among poor communities in the agri-fishery sector.

KALILANGAN, BUKIDNON – Three farmer associations (FA) of Kalilangan, Bukidnon received agricultural inputs and equipment from the Department of Agriculture in Northern Mindanao through its Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) program.

DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado turned over the said agri assistance worth over P1 million on Monday, December 13, 2021 in Kalilangan, Bukidnon.

The Kinura SAAD FA received 1 unit mechanical corn sheller while the Bangbang SAAD FA and the Malinao Imbariz Pud-ong FA, Inc. (MAIMPU) each received 1 unit mobile corn mill.

The agri inputs comprising of 326 packs open-pollinated variety (OPV) 5 in 1 vegetable seeds and 74 bags complete fertilizer will benefit around 166 farmer-beneficiaries of the said town.

“Maraming magsasaka na nagtatanim ng mais ang makabenepisyo dito sa natanggap naming mobile corn mill. Dahil mobile ito, mas maserbisyohan namin ang aming mga miyembro na nasa iba’t-ibang sitio,” shared Eduardo G. Hubayan, president of MAIMPU farmers association.

Director Collado emphasized that the agri assistance is in support of the thrust of the department to increase productivity and reduce poverty among the marginalized sectors in agriculture and fishery.#(ATC with reports from RDElloren)

KALILANGAN, BUKIDNON – The Department of Agriculture in Northern Mindanao is pushing for increased rice production and sufficiency through cluster hybrid rice techno demo in Kalilangan, Bukidnon.

“With this activity, the farmers will have the options to use hybrid rice varieties that will suit their areas. They will also learn new technologies to adopt, based on the practices of the different seed companies,” said DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado during the official launching of the activity on Monday, December 13.

The different hybrid rice varieties will be showcased in a consolidated 8.6 hectares of the Gamay-gamay Communal Irrigators Association (GCIA) in barangay Pamotolon of the said town.

Aside from the use of high-yielding varieties, Dir. Collado added that the cluster rice farm will demonstrate irrigation technology, use of machinery, and pest/disease and nutrient management.

Dir. Collado bared that the agency will allocate around 45-50 thousand bags of hybrid rice seeds for Bukidnon in 2022 to bolster local rice production.

It is also a quick response measure that addresses food security amidst the pandemic, focuses to intensify campaign for the adoption of hybrid rice technology among local farmers.

He also urged the LGU to facilitate and organize other small rice farmers to avail DA-Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (DA-PhilMech) farm machinery under the Rice Competitive Enhancement Fund (RCEF).

Meanwhile, Kalilangan Municipal Agriculturist, Teresita F. Buhi-an said that the techno demo will motivate the farmers to plant the hybrid rice varieties adopting the recent technologies.

Eleven participating seed companies include SL Agritech, Corp., Seed Works, RAMGO International, Corp., LongPing, Leads Agri, Green and Grow, Inc., Davao Oriental Seed Producers Cooperative, Corteva Agriscience, Bioseed, Bayer, and AmTrac.

The activity was in partnership with the LGU Kalilangan through Mayor Omaradji C. Pizarro, Municipal Agriculture Office and the farmer associations.# (EMBentulan)

DA-10 through the RCEF-RFFA releases cash subsidy to around 357 rice farmers in Claveria, MisOr.

CLAVERIA, MISAMIS ORIENTAL – Around 357 rice farmers of Claveria, Misamis Oriental received its financial assistance through the Department of Agriculture’s Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund – Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RCEF-RFFA) program on December 10, 2021.

DA-10 through Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado has released a total amount of P1.8 million to the farmer-beneficiaries from the town’s 19 barangays who were enrolled in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) with landholdings of two hectares and below.

DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga led the distribution of the Intervention Monitoring Card (IMC) that will serve as identification and cash cards of the farmer-beneficiaries.

“Malaking tulong sa aming sakahan ang natangap kong pera para sa abono at binhi,” shared Arlene P. Adina of barangay Punong.

Claveria is a landlocked municipality in the province of Misamis Oriental with an estimated area of 420 hectares for rice farmlands.

Supporting RTD Madriaga during the distribution were DA-10 Provincial Operations Center Chief of Misamis Oriental, Chona H. Nacalaban with the PLGU MisOr and MLGU of said town.#(RDElloren)

DA-10 through its RCUD facilitates the training on mushroom production for FRs in Quezon, Bukidnon.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – In support to the Executive Order No. 70 or to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC), the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 Special Area for Agriculture Development (DA-10 SAAD) program headed by Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado, administered a Mushroom Spawn Production Training on December 2-3, 2021 in Lumintao, Quezon, Bukidnon.

Seventeen SAAD beneficiaries from Lumintao Farmers and Workers Association and Minongan Farmers Organization attended the said training which was facilitated by the department’s Research Center for Upland Development (RCUD).

The two associations are composed of former rebels of Quezon, who are currently aided by the 3rd Infantry Battalion (3IB) of the Philippine Army, headed by Lt Col Juvenal Mark T Tayamen.

With the concerted efforts of DA-10 SAAD and 3IB, the beneficiaries are now capable of producing their own Oyster mushroom spawns (Pleurotus ostreatus), which is a good source of income.

Through the said livelihood training, former rebels can be more productive members in their communities. #(DA-10 SAAD)

DA-10 taps select representatives from FCAs and LGUs for a potential market for yellow corn thru Cargill.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Select farmer’s cooperatives and associations (FCAs) producing yellow corn from the provinces of Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Norte, and Misamis Occidental of Region 10 with their respective local government units (LGUs) met on December 9, 2021, via online for a likely partnership with Cargill Philippines, Inc.

With a shared vision of helping farmers prosper by linking corn growers to a market, the said company has sought aid from the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10) through Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado in finding potential suppliers to deliver yellow corn to their feed mill located in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental.

Cargill has a business scope portfolio that includes poultry products, grain and oilseeds, feed and beverage ingredients, and animal nutrition, of which for the latter, they manufacture premix solutions to primarily serve medium to large livestock farms and feed millers.

The company led by John Jason Rosales, risk management and sourcing director; and merchants Randy Enderes (Luzon and Visayas) and Jesiel Rita Salazar (Mindanao), bared Cargill’s purchase process, quality acceptance parameters, payment process, among others.

DA-10 through its Corn program focal person Richan D. Lacanaria presented the list of probable FCAs duly endorsed by the different provincial governments that could meet the company’s demand.

With the local governments serving as partners of the agency at the grassroots level, he further urged the participating representatives to re-echo such development to farmer-leaders that an additional market option for their yellow corn is at hand. # (JLO)

DA-10 personnel undergo a training on emergency preparedness and disaster and risk reduction management to proactively respond to unprecedented emergency cases in their households and workplace.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – A total of 50 employees of the Department of Agriculture – Region 10 underwent a three-day Emergency Preparedness and Disaster and Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) Training in Gusa, Cagayan de Oro City.

The training aims to capacitate the agency’s employees to proactively respond to unprecedented emergency cases in their households and workplace, especially noting the aggravating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the event of natural and human-induced hazards.

Cheryl T. Namoc, Civil Defense Officer II of the Office of the Civil Defense – Region 10, emphasized that as the pandemic remains a threat to public health and safety these days, an organization’s DRRM Program must have “new normal” features.

“With this pandemic the thematic areas of the National DRRM – disaster prevention and mitigation, disaster preparedness, disaster response, and, rehabilitation and recovery must be carried out in conformance to new normal standards,” Namoc accounted.

She also purported that an organization must be able to organize and activate its own Disaster Coordinating Group (DCG) to effectively mitigate disaster occurrence.

Osin A. Sinsuat, Jr., Chief Geologist of the Mines and Geoscience Bureau –Region 10 apprised the participants on Basic Information on Geologic Hazards.

For their part, SINSP Arnold P. Lagbas, Chief of Fire Safety Enforcement Divison of the Bureau of Fire Protection – Region 10, and Mr. Jeffrey S. Perez, Supervising Science Research Specialist/Geologist of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) oriented the employees on Fire and Earthquake Safety at Home and in the Workplace during the training.

DA-RFO 10 Regional Technical Director for Operations, Carlota S. Madriaga said the agency annually conducts emergency preparedness training for its employees to keep them abreast with recent DRRM guidelines and updates, as it is crucial in capacitating the employees to be prepared responders in times of emergency.

“With this training we wanted the DA staff to be disaster-resilient so that in times of emergency, they can protect themselves and their family while being able to continuously serve the region’s farming communities,” Director Madriaga said.

Actual safety drills were also conducted to gauge the DA staff’s ability to reasonably respond to emergency instances.

The 3-day training capitulated with a workshop on Home and Workplace Risk Assessment.

Through which, participants identified appropriate measures to mitigate potential hazards in their household and workplace, making use of the safety knowledge and skills acquired in the training.#(ATalib)