Representing DA, ASec for Agribiz and Marketing, Kristine Y. Evangelista emphasizes the significance of women in nation building, particularly their potential contribution in boosting the agri-fishery sector during the Serbisyo para kay Juana National Convergence in line with the Women’s Month celebration in CdeO City.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The agriculture department in Northern Mindanao (DA-10) took part in the Serbisyo para kay Juana National Convergence in celebration of the Women’s Month in Cagayan de Oro City.

In support, DA-10 distributed 1,020 packets of 5-in-1 assorted vegetable seeds amounting to P132,600 in three variants: pinakbet, chopsuey, and sinigang to the participants on Thursday, March 25.

Beneficiaries include women’s organizations, ranging from farmers, solo parents, senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs), micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), indigenous people (IPs), City Scholarship parents, and community drug rehabilitation program recipients.

In her speech, DA Assistant Secretary for Agribusiness and Marketing, Kristine Y. Evangelista emphasized the significance of women in nation building, particularly their potential contribution in boosting the agri-fishery sector.

Brigida Ossa Cadiz, president of Solo Parents Association of barangay Iponan said, “Dako kaayo among pasalamat sa DA sa paglakip kanamong mga solo parent nga makadawat niining assistance ug pagrekognisar kanamong mga babaye isip kabahin sa katilingban nga sa among pagkamahuyang mamahimo namo kining hinagiban nga mubarug para sa among pamilya sa abot sa among makaya.”

[We are very thankful to DA for including us solo parents to receive [seeds] assistance and for also recognizing us women as part of the society that despite our vulnerabilities we can use this [intervention] as a tool in providing for our respective families to the best of our ability.]

The activity served as an avenue to tackle issues affecting women which calls for tangible actions towards gender equality.

The  convergence initiative is in support to whole-of-government approach thru the Office of Senator Lawrence Go, together with partner cluster agencies such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Labor and Employment and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

Proclamation No. 227  provides for the observance of the Month of March as “Women’s Role in History Month”. # (JCAnito)

One hundred corn farmers receive P5K each from DA-NorMin under its CFSMFF program as financial aid to cope with COVID-19 effects.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – One hundred corn farmers in Cagayan de Oro City received P5,000 each worth of cash and food subsidy from the Department of Agriculture -10 on Thursday, March 25 in barangay Lumbia, this city.

DA-10 Regional Executive Carlene C. Collado explained, the Cash and Food Subsidy for Marginal Farmers and Fishers Program (CFSMFF) funded under the Bayanihan II aims to provide financial aid to farmers and fishers during this pandemic.

Qualified corn farmers were listed under the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA), with one hectare and below landholding.

Said event marks the second round of distribution for the city with farmer-beneficiaries from barangays Bayanga, Besigan, Cugman, Pagalungan, Taglimao, Tagpangi, and Tumpagon as its recipients.

Some farmers received their vouchers earlier that day, during a ceremony led by DA Assistant Secretary for Agribusiness and Marketing Kristine Y. Evangelista together with DA-10 RED Collado, DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga, CdeO Mayor Oscar S. Moreno and some local officials.

“The financial aid is a big help for us, especially during this time since we have experienced difficulties in planting and have encountered pests in our plants. For that, we are thankful to DA since it will help us with our daily needs,” shared Marites E. Saclad, a farmer from Malasag, Cugman, CdeO.

Meanwhile, committee chair on agriculture Jay Roa Pascual stated, the intervention is very timely as the COVID-19 health crisis has affected the livelihood of farmers, especially those from the hinterland areas.

Cagayan de Oro City has a total corn area of 1,322 hectares with 1,456 total corn farmers.

For the year 2020, the city has an average production of 3.641 metric tons per hectare for white corn and 4.85 MT/ha for yellow corn. # (AMBManto)

The agri dept in NorMin under its CFFP of DA-NLP partially delivers 50 heads of cattle to Baliangao, MisOcc.

BALIANGAO, MISAMIS OCCIDENTAL – Aiming to boost beef production in Baliangao, Misamis Occidental, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) partially delivered 50 heads of cattle for the Cattle Fattening Feedlot Program of DA-National Livestock Program (NLP) on March 25, 2021.

Funded under Bayanihan Act II, CFFP has a total project cost of P5 million, which comprises 100 heads of cattle; drugs and biologic; cattle feeds, trainings and other needed materials.

Baliangao Municipal Mayor Agne V. Yap, Sr. said, the cattle will be nourished by the recipients at the local government’s feedlot located at barangay Landing.

After being bred, the offsprings will be dispersed among the farmer-beneficiaries from the different barangays.

The 600-square meter government-owned feedlot is situated within a one-hectare farmland planted with forage plants such as napier, signal grass and corn that were taken from the agency’s research station, the Northern Mindanao Agricultural Crops and Livestock Research Complex (NMACLRC) in Dalwangan, Malaybalay City.

Meanwhile, Municipal Agriculturist Dioscora S. Catalan assured, that the recipients were carefully selected according to their willingness and capacity to rear the said upgraded cattle.

Further, she expressed her gratitude to DA-RFO 10 helmed by Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado for choosing Baliangao as one of the recipients of CFFP in Northern Mindanao.

“We are so fortunate to have been chosen as one of the town-recipients of DA-NLP, where small farmers of Baliangao will be given additional livelihood. With the cattle dispersal project, we will work hard for every household to benefit and become one of the primary sources of beef in our region,” said MA Catalan.

To date, DA-10 has delivered a total of 303 heads of cattle in the four municipality-recipients of MisOcc, Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon since February, this year.# (EMBentulan)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Department of Agriculture Assistant Secretary for Agribusiness and Marketing Kristine Y. Evangelista leads the groundbreaking ceremony of the P20 million dome-type storage and packing facility in Cagayan de Oro City, earlier today, March 25.

DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado and CdeO Mayor Oscar S. Moreno with other local officials assisted in capsule laying, marking the start of the construction of the facility.

The project aimed to extend the shelf life of highly perishable commodities and reduce post-harvest losses of farmers in Cagayan de Oro City and Northern Mindanao as a whole.

Mayor Moreno emphasized, Cagayan de Oro is the strategic location of the facility with the seaport in Macabalan and vegetable bagsakan center in barangay Bulua.

The whole facility has an area of 1,300 square meters which is the counterpart of CLGU CdeO, with a maximum capacity of 300 metric tons of vegetables (in crates and palettes).

On December 21, 2021, CLGU CdeO and DA-10 signed the Memorandum of Agreement for the agriculture projects funded under CY 2020 – Agriculture Stimulus Package Bayanihan II of DA High Value Crops Development Program.

RED Collado shared, the project ensures to establish a resilient food system, especially during this pandemic.

DA is gearing up the project to increase the productivity and profitability of the farmers in Northern Mindanao, from the production areas of Cagayan de Oro City, Bukidnon and some parts of Misamis Oriental.

DA-RFO 10 Regional Technical Director Carlota S. Madriaga, Commissioner Rosario Bernardo Sagadal of the 8th Division of the National Labor Relations Commission representing the office of Senator Lawrence Go also supported the event. #(ATCabig)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY–  Aiming to increase farmers and fisherfolk productivity and income, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) turned over one unit of Hauling Truck to Pastor Marlon Masong, Sr. of Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental realized thru the Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ACEF).

Masong has availed a loan grant of P1 million for the procurement of truck and other poultry equipment to improve his native chicken project in said town.

Representing on behalf of DA-RFO 10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado, Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulations, Carmelita T. Bajarla together with Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) representative Julius Vasallo, officially handed over the said agri-assistance to the ACEF beneficiary.

ACEF is DA’s lending program, which provides necessary credit to qualified farmers and fisherfolk for the acquisition and establishment of production, postharvest, and processing machineries, equipment and facilities, farm inputs and improvement.

ACEF thru LBP as its conduit bank can offer P1 million for individual farmers and fisherfolk while farmers and fisherfolk cooperatives, associations, and micro and small enterprises can avail a maximum of P5 million with an interest rate of two percent per annum payable in five years.

Masong expressed, with the minimal interest, individual smallholder farmers like him will be motivated to produce more and quality agricultural products that contributes to economic growth.

Said program was first implemented in 1996 and will end in December 2022.

Beneficiaries of said credit lending program are listed under the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) and requires the submission of an agri-based project proposal, which will be thoroughly reviewed by Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division of DA.

Its funding source is from all tariffs and duties collected from the importation of agri-products (except for rice) to enhance the agri-sector through credit, research and development, and scholarships of students pursuing agriculture-related courses.# (EMBentulan)

DA-10 RED Collado spearheads in the finalization of the ‘One DA’ Adopt a Community during an RMC meeting on March 24, here in the city of Cagayan de Oro.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Department of Agriculture – 10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado presides the DA Regional Management Committee (RMC) meeting on March 24 with heads of DA attached agencies and bureaus in Northern Mindanao in finalizing the ‘One DA’ Adopt a Community and updates of PCIC hog insurance.

RMC member-agencies have respective commitments in rehabilitating the areas of sitio Kalahaan, barangay Minalwang, Claveria, Misamis Oriental and Mintapod, Impasugong, Bukidnon with great potentials in the farming industry with its rich agricultural land.

Said effort is geared to agri-fishery interventions in support to EO 70 or institutionalizing the whole-of-nation approach.

DA-RMC is composed of DA and its attached agencies and bureaus which include, ATI, BFAR, BPI-SPAL, BPI-NSQCS, BPI-PQS, BAI-NVQS, ACPC, NFA, NDA, BSWM, NMIS, PCIC, PCA, PhilFIDA, NTA, FPA, SRA, PhilRice.#

The agri dept in NorMin convenes with DAR, BFAR, ATI and TESDA to look into where the agency can provide agri-assistance to identified ARBs in R-10.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of Agriculture 10 convened the DAR, BFAR, ATI and TESDA on Friday, March 19 in response to presidential Directive  No. 2021-012 or the awarding of remaining land titles and provisions of assistance to Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs).

Said government agencies will assess the beneficiaries given with certificate of land ownership award (CLOA) to determine what interventions or assistance will be provided to them.

DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga said, DA has been directed to provide agricultural assistance to identified ARBs in Northern Mindanao.

She added, those who were awarded with land titles, specifically those in conflict affected areas will be the department’s official reference in the provision of agri-related interventions to the bonafide ARBs.

However, the beneficiaries need to be registered in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) for availment of any agri-fishery projects and other assistance

She emphasized, the effort is in support to Executive Order 70 (EO 70) or whole-of-nation approach in addressing the root causes of insurgencies.# (JCAnito)

The agri dept in NorMin thru its Regional Soils Laboratory spearheads an online training on proper sampling of inorganic fertilizers.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – To ensure the quality and grades of procured fertilizers, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) conducted an online training on proper sampling of inorganic fertilizers.

Participating in the webinar were the banner program coordinators and representatives from DA-10 operating untis, including the Accounting Section, research, regulatory and integrated laboratory divisions.

Spearheaded by DA-RFO 10 Regional Soils Laboratory (RSL) of the Integrated Laboratory Division, the training focused on the standards set by the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) thru Fertilizer Regulations Division Chief Julieta B. Lansangan, as basis for leveling off with DA-RFO 10’s specifications of farm inputs procurement.

FPA regulates and controls quality of the different grades of fertilizer; and sets new minimum percentage of Nitrogen-Phosphorous-Potassium (NPK), and other macro/micronutrients that are present.

FPA-Region 10 Manager Ma. Sonia C. Calleja illustrated the appropriate number of bags to be collected for every corresponding total number of bagged fertilizers.

She underscored precautionary measures in the gathering of samples, among others in avoiding the collection of samples from damaged or torn bags and from hard or lumpy fertilizer.

Said samples, as she further explained can cause inconsistency in the laboratory test results due to its impurities.

DA-RFO 10 RSL Section Chief Engr. Elena C. Susaya, who is also a member of the department’s Bids and Awards Committee-Technical Working Group (BAC-TWG) said, that the training is necessary since DA procures volumes of farm input for its different banner programs.

“All fertilizer procurements of DA undergo series of sample tests and analysis, from post-qualification until its final delivery. BAC-TWG has to be equipped thoroughly to ensure the proper gathering of samples from various points of the bagged fertilizer, which will be brought to the laboratory,” Engr. Susaya shared. # (EMBentulan)

A CSO named as ab2cd, Inc. receives vegetable seeds assistance from DA-NorMin intended for the farming communities in the hinterland areas.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – With the aim of reaching farming communities in the hinterland areas, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) turned over packets of vegetable seeds to the Alternative Bridge to Community Development (ab2cd, Inc.), a civil society organization on March 18, 2021 at the agency compound.

A total of 520 packets, worth P67,000 of 5-in-1 Sinigang vegetable seeds (Kangkong, Okra, Pole Sitao, Tomato and Radish) was handed by DA-10 High Value Crops Development (HVCDP) Program Focal Person Kersten S. Pagalan to ab2cd, Inc. thru Chairperson Bernardo R. Roa, IV.

He expressed, their organization is thankful to DA for accommodating their request as they will be sharing it to other beneficiaries.

“This will greatly help those in the hinterlands, especially since they have limited access to resources like these,” he said.

Roa also shared, the vegetable seeds will be distributed to farmers in the hinterland areas of Cagayan de Oro and Bukidnon while teaching them to engage in value-adding activities for their source of income and livelihood. # (AMBManto)

Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) executive Carlene C. Collado met DA-RFO 9 Regional Executive Director Rad Donn L. Cede and staff at the agency compound, here in Cagayan de Oro City.

On Thursday, March 18, the group discussed policy matters on issues affecting the agricultural sector, particularly on hog shipment to Metro Manila to stabilize pork prices, African Swine Fever (ASF) protocols, and the coordination with DA’s attached agencies and local government units concerning rice procurement. # (AMBManto)