CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of Agriculture in Northern Mindanao (DA-RFO 10) handed over 16 heads cattle of upgraded female/heifer Brahman bloodline amounting to P799,200 to various tribal groups regionwide.

From Bukidnon province, the recipients are the Tagoloan Mulahaya Kabulakagan Agriculture Cooperative of Malaybalay City and Higaonon tribe of Impasug-ong town; and the Subanen tribe of Plaridel, Misamis Occidental, where each group received 4 heads.

Likewise, four heads were provided to the Bayug-Iligan Ancestral Domain-Higaonon Tribe of Iligan City, Lanao del Norte, which at the same time serves as the agency’s support to Executive Order No. 70, establishing the whole-of-nation approach to end local communist armed conflict (ELCAC) in said area.

Particularly, the interventions are funded under the agency’s Kabuhayan at Kaunlaran ng Kababayang Katutubo (4Ks), a comprehensive program targeted for the improvement of tribal communities aiming to capacitate and empower IPs through community organizing, agricultural skills training and workshops to intensify knowledge and productivity.

4Ks is a three-year special project of DA where it provides assistance to the Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICCs) and Indigenous Peoples (IPs) in the form of agricultural and fisheries-related livelihood opportunities.# (JCAnito)

DA-10 under the helm of RED Collado emerges as one of the NorMin RDC Amihanan recipients for this year.

The Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office 10 through the headship of Regional Executive Director, Carlene C. Collado, hailed among the recipients of the Northern Mindanao Regional Development Council Amihanan Awards this year.

The awards honor outstanding members of the RDC-X who demonstrated unwavering commitment and embodied excellence in carrying out the Council’s mandated functions to drive the region’s economic growth and development.

With the theme “Advancing Regional Development amid the Pandemic”, the awards particularly cited outstanding RDC-X members’ exemplary effort in implementing timely, relevant, and responsive programs, projects, and activities to mitigate poverty, conflict, and public crisis in the region.# (ATalib)

DA-NorMin thru its SAAD program holds an equipment operation demo for benefiting FAs in MisOcc. (Photo credits: POC-MisOcc)

OROQUIETA CITY, September 22 – The Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development 10 (DA-SAAD 10) conducted an equipment operation demonstration to farmer’s association (FA)-recipients for the 14 units hand tractor/multi-crop cultivator, held in Oroquieta City.

Said equipment, amounting to P2.99 million will be given to 10 FAs which will benefit more than 500 farmer-members, particularly those producing high value crops to increase vegetable production in the region.

In an interview with DA-SAAD 10 Focal Person Lana Mae S. Racines, she emphasized the importance of conducting the said demo, which was done with the assistance of the Provincial Operations Center and Provincial Agriculture’s Office of Misamis Occidental.

“We wanted to capacitate our beneficiaries on how to use the equipment properly before handing them over to avoid misuse of the equipment that can lead to its damage. At the same time, we want to empower themselves in the upkeep of the equipment and to save up for the purpose of hiring laborers,” she detailed.

Racines added, that the agency also eyes for the use of such equipment, not only for food production but also as an enterprise by the benefiting FAs.

“They can have it rented in order to generate extra income and also have a source of funds for its maintenance while extending help to their fellow farmers,” she said.

SAAD is a locally funded program intended to alleviate poverty among those considered the poorest of the poor. # (CRSeraspe)

LACOFA receives 1 unit coffee depulper from DA-SAAD 10, of which the turnover was facilitated by LGU Lantapan thru its MAO.  

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The local government of Lantapan, Bukidnon through the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development -10 (DA-SAAD 10) handed over one unit of coffee depulper worth P64,000 to the Lantapan Coffee Farmers Association (LACOFA) on September 13, 2021.

Neptali C. Ambos, Lantapan municipal agriculturist shared, “There are many coffee farmers in Lantapan, but there are only few coffee depulpers available in the municipality, which is why the association is very thankful to DA-SAAD 10 for giving this intervention.”

Ambos added, that even before the turnover, there were already farmers who expressed their desire to avail the use of the machinery.

“Said machinery is a great help in generating income, at the same time help the coffee farmers to become more productive,” said Ambos.

On the same turnover ceremony, the Provincial Agriculture Office of Bukidnon, being a National Quality Corn Achievers awardee, also gave one unit of corn sheller to the Capitan Juan Farmers Association.

Capitan Juan is a very far barangay from the town where farmers have to travel just for their produce to be processed.

Accordingly, with the corn sheller, they can save their money for transport and instead use it for other expenses.

“We are very thankful to DA-10 under the leadership of Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado for the interventions that they have given to our municipality. On behalf of LGU Lantapan and our Mayor Ernie R. Devibar, thank you so much for providing assistance to our farmers, as these will make their farming easier and more productive.” Ambos concluded. # (CRSeraspe/Photo credits: I Hearts Lantapan FB page)

DA-10 provides P556,350 worth of certified seedlings, comprising of cacao, coffee and durian, as well as cattle to the Higaonon-Maranao Tribe in sitio Kibulag, Lantud, Talakag, Bukidnon.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Around 800 members of the Higaonon-Maranao Tribe in sitio Kibulag, Lantud, Talakag, Bukidnon will benefit the agri assistance worth P556,350 from the Department of Agriculture in Northern Mindanao (DA-RFO 10).

The provision of certified seedlings and cattle is part of the agency’s commitment in support to Executive Order No. 70, instituting the whole-of-nation approach to end local communist armed conflict (ELCAC) in said area.

Sultan Abdul Amoran, Indigenous Peoples (IP) leader of the Maranao-Higaonon tribe received around P356,550 worth of agri interventions comprising of certified planting materials of cacao (7,000 pieces), Robusta coffee (2,500 pieces), and durian (2,000 pieces).

He also received four heads of cattle (female/heifer upgraded Brahman bloodline) amounting to P199,800.

In 2020, the agency provided agri interventions to the community worth P1.9 million in support of the Poverty Reduction, Livelihood, and Employment Cluster of the Regional Task Force –ELCAC in the fight against local insurgency.

DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado shared, “A robust agricultural development can contribute to peace and development; thus, we provide agri development services beyond boundaries.”

Such provisions are funded under the agency’s High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) and Kabuhayan at Kaunlaran ng Kababayang Katutubo (4K) program, a comprehensive program intended for the development of the tribal communities. #(ATCabig)

R-10’s agri dept inks MOA with DBP for the SLF to provide salary loans to its qualified employees.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – On September 14, the Department of Agriculture – 10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) represented by Branch Manager Arvin C. Simbajon of DBP Capistrano for the Salary Loan Facility (SLF) aimed at providing financial assistance thru salary loans to qualified employees of the agency.

An orientation for the employees will be later set and be administered by the Personnel Section of DA-10 with the loans in-charge of DBP.

Present in the MOA signing is OIC-Administrative and Finance Division Patrick Ian F. Pedarse, in the presence of Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division Chief, Larry E. Paraluman. # (JCAnito)

DA-10 inspects the delivery of cacao seedlings for MisOcc to ensure they are of quality planting materials to be provided to its intended recipients to Oroquieta City, Concepcion and Plaridel.

On September 9, 2021, a member from the inspectorate team of the Department of Agriculture – Northern Mindanao inspected the delivery of certified cacao seedlings with a total worth of P600,000.00 for Misamis Occidental province.

Funded by the High Value Crops Development and Special Area for Agricultural Development programs, said activity was undertaken to ensure that the right quantity of planting materials was delivered and have met the technical standards set forth by the agency, which includes among others, being produced thru asexual propagation, and tagged and certified by the Bureau of Plant and Industry – National Seed Quality Control Services.

Cited planting materials which came in UF18 and BR25 varieties are set to be turned over to the recipients by third week of September, with the following allocation: 10,000 pieces to Oroquieta City, Concepcion (5,000), and Plaridel with 10,000 pieces.

Such provision which can cover 50 hectares of land to be planted, is also intended to help the province’s target of becoming the cacao capital in Northern Mindanao. # (JLO/Photo supplied)

The Duterte legacy underscores DA’s Enhanced Kadiwa program, which aids farmers and fishers to enhance their capacities, including LGUs and SUCs to efficiently operate their respective Kadiwa activities regionwide.

KIBAWE, BUKIDNON, September 11 – The Department of Agriculture – Northern Mindanao (DA-10) on Saturday highlighted the strides under its Enhanced Kadiwa Inclusive Food Supply Chain Program since the agency was helmed by Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar under President Duterte’s administration.

The Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) spearheaded the Duterte legacy caravan held in Kibawe, Bukidnon tourism center, underscores the changes brought about by the government thru featuring stories of beneficiaries to cement the legacies of the national and local governments for the Filipinos.

“Isinulong niya yung mga batas, polisiya at programa nga mapakikinabangan ng bawat Pilipino, hindi lang ang Pilipino ngayon, kon di ang susunod pang mga henerasyon,” PCOO Assistant Secretary for Global Media and Public Affairs, Jusan Vincent L. Arcena remarked.

The info campaign focused on the three main pillars of the administration – poverty alleviation, infrastructure development, and peace and order.

Larry E. Paraluman, Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division chief, representing Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado of DA-10 bared, that the Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita has turned into one of the key programs of the department.

Paraluman noted, that it has provided a direct link between farmers and consumers in gaining access to fresh, quality, nutritious and affordable agricultural and other food products.

While the Kadiwa started even before the pandemic, he shared, that it has gained much ground with movement restrictions triggered by COVID-19.

In partnership with farmer’s cooperatives and associations (FCAs), local government units (LGUs), national government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector, last year, he reported, that the region has generated almost P35 million in gross sales, and about P14 million from January to August of this year, benefiting around 7,000 consumers.

“In 2020, DA has created the Enhanced Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita Financial Grant Assistance program to enhance the capacities of farmers and fishers, [including LGUs and state universities and colleges (SUCs)] to sustainably operate their Kadiwa activities in the different parts of Region 10,” the AMAD chief accounted.

For the town of Kibawe alone, the agri department has granted P150,000 each to the Laswimba, Labuagon, West Kibawe and Marapangi multi-purpose cooperatives (MPCs) intended for their additional capital, while Marapangi MPC has been accorded with an added P1.25 million for their hauling vehicle.

“MCDC of Kibawe is very grateful that four of our cooperatives are among the beneficiaries of the Enhanced Kadiwa financial grant assistance. Now, we have funds to buy the palay harvest of farmer-members from the different cooperatives, where we mill and sell them back to farmers and other consumers at reasonable prices,” said Haidi M. Taray, the chairperson of the Municipal Cooperative Development Council of Kibawe.

She added that through said approach, they can also protect the farmers from going to traders and selling their harvest to them at dictated prices, especially during harvest season.

Overall, DA-10 has allocated the amount of P14.35 million, benefiting 9 FCAs, LGUs and SUCs under the regular program; while a total of P42.35 million worth of enhanced Kadiwa projects have been implemented, benefiting 8 FCAs, LGUs and SUCs under the Bayanihan 1 and 2.

Also in attendance is the officials and staff of LGU Kibawe headed by Mayor Reynaldo S. Ang Rabanes and Vice-Mayor Raymundo A. Batao, Jr., residents, and other government heads and staff. # (JLO)

The groundbreaking ceremony led by DA-10 and LGU Valencia signal the start of the construction of the seed storage facility in barangay Pinatilan.

VALENCIA CITY, BUKIDNON, September 9 – The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) led the groundbreaking ceremony, signaling the start of the construction of the seed storage facility at Nutriland Purok 1, in barangay Pinatilan, this city.

The soon-to-rise storage facility, which costs P7.11 million has a total area of 320 square meters, with cold storage of 160 square meters and ambient of 160 square meters.

Funded by DA’s Rice Program, it has a 99 ton-capacity for the cold storage of rice seeds, while 156 tons for the ambient.

Particularly, cold storage is intended to prolong the shelf life and improve the quality of the seeds up to about two years.

Valencia City Vice Mayor Policarpo P. Murillo noted, that the city has 30,000 hectares of agricultural area, of which 11,000 hectares are devoted to rice production.

He also expressed his heartfelt gratitude to DA-10 Regional Executive Carlene C. Collado for considering Valencia City as the recipient of the said project among other towns in Bukidnon province.

In early April of this year, the department has also turned over one unit warehouse in Nutriland, which costs more than P4.3 million.

Meanwhile, DA-10 Bukidnon Provincial Operations Center Chief  Dr. Janet D. Lopez, who represented RED Collado, reiterated his recurring message, that the provision of projects to beneficiaries relies on the diligence and enthusiasm of an agriculture’s office at the local level.

She emphasized, that DA welcomes any requests for agri-assistance to make farming communities become more productive.

The completion and inauguration of the project are set sometime in February 2022.

Attending the ceremony are Valencia City Councilor Glenn P. Peduche, City Agriculturist Connie L. Dalangan, DA-RFO 10 Regional Agricultural Engineering Division Agri-Infra Section Chief Engr. Junel W. Ablanque, Sta. Ana Raycon, Corp. Authorized Managing Officer Raymund Casiño, and other staff from the local government of Valencia City.# (EMBentulan)

DA-10 through its HVCDP provides mushroom growing houses to eight local governments regionwide to assist their mushroom production activities in their respective localities.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -To boost mushroom production in Northern Mindanao, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) provided P3.2 million worth of Mushroom Growing Houses to eight local government units in the region.

Funded under its High-Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP), a total of 32 units amounting to P100K each were provided to the LGU recipients to assist mushroom production in their localities.

Further, 2,000 pieces of mushroom fruiting bags were provided to each beneficiary as part of their start-up kit, aside from polypropylene  bags, vacuum sealer and bag filling machine.

DA-10’s HVCDP focal person Kersten Pagalan shared that cultivating mushrooms can provide a sustainable income.

Aside from that, it may offer opportunities for income and livelihood, and can give many individuals a healthy option for their personal consumption.

Pagalan added, “Mushroom culture also gain popularity in the Philippines, part of Urban Agriculture Program where we can produce in a limited space, can be grown whole year round with minimum maintenance and supervision.”

She emphasized that, waste can be utilized especially found in urban areas such as compost, saw dust and coco coir that can be a reliable source of food especially in this pandemic.#(AMBManto)