With the Mandanas ruling, LGUs are being provided with funds sourced from all ‘national taxes’ and not just limited to ‘national internal revenue taxes; thereby, paving for increased resources and greater demand for capacity and supervision at the LGUs’ level.

MALAYBALAY CITY, BUKIDNON – The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) conducted the second leg of the consultation meeting with the province’s city and municipal agriculture offices in drafting the science-based Regional Agricultural and Fisheries Infrastructure and Mechanization Plan for 2022-2027.

Thru the Regional Agricultural Engineering Division (RAED) of DA-RFO 10, the two-day activity capacitated the delegates on weighing in vital agri-fishery projects as Mandanas-Garcia ruling takes effect starting in 2022.

The Mandanas ruling provides basis for which local government units (LGUs) are being provided with funds sourced from all ‘national taxes’ and not just limited to ‘national internal revenue taxes; thereby, paving for increased resources and greater demand for capacity and supervision at the LGUs’ level.

Said activity is also in line with the goals of the Agricultural and Fisheries Modernization Act (AFMA) of 1997, and the Agriculture and Fisheries Mechanization (AFMech) law.

According to Engr. Deliza T. Camaro, RAED assistant chief of DA-RFO 10, the AFMA and AFMech Law aim to modernize and mechanize the country’s agri-fishery sector; thereby ensuring food security and poverty alleviation.

“With institutionalizing the Supreme Court ruling of the Mandanas-Garcia petition, every local government from the provincial down to the city/municipal level has to capacitate their technical staff and fill up engineer positions to facilitate technical matters on the provision, establishment, research and development of agri-fishery infrastructures, machineries, equipment, among others,” Engr. Camaro explained.

DA-RFO 10 Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga urged the participants to take part in capacity enhancement thru trainings aside from its eagerness to learn modern ideas and techniques that can boost the province’s agri-fishery sector which could augment the livelihood and income of farmers and fisherfolk.

With the facilitation of Engr. Romil C. Española, head of the Programs and Project Management Section of RAED, each town and city was able to account and assess their existing projects, which could help further in considering priority projects for the 2022-2027 period.

He further said, the PPMS will also visit the projects twice a year to gauge its significance to the farmer-beneficiaries for further improvement.

Next conduct of said activity will be in the provinces of Lanao del Norte and Misamis Occidental, while its first batch was already held in Misamis Oriental on March 17, this year.# (EMBentulan)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Department of Agriculture –10 (DA-10) Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado met with the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) Branch Head Senior Assistant Vice President Mary Joyce B. Salgados to discuss on the fertilizer e-voucher system under DA’s Rice Resiliency Project (RRP) II on April 20, 2021.

Along with its Rice Program and Administrative and Finance Division, the meeting seeks to prepare initial steps on the implementation of the said project.

Of which, rice farmers will be provided with e-vouchers which they will present to different accredited merchants for them to claim their fertilizer assistance.

Dir. Collado stated, said program aims to boost the country’s rice production amidst the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic. # (AMBManto, DA-10)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The agriculture department in Northern Mindanao (DA-10) gains more allies in being food security and sufficiency advocates thru the Rural Improvement Club (RIC) of Kalilangan from Bukidnon province, especially amid this ongoing pandemic.

Earlier afternoon, April 21, DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulations Carmelita T. Bajarla turned over 300 packets of 5-in-1 ‘pinakbet’ vegetable seeds (ampalaya, squash, pole sitao, okra and eggplant) amounting to about P39,000 to said RIC club represented by Merrydie Rosell, its municipal president.

According to Rosell, said provisions is targeted to be distributed and planted in the club members’ communal garden and their respective backyard gardens coming from the 14 barangays of the town.

She added, it will strengthen women’s involvement in the locality to partner with the government towards home and community development with focus on small-scale food production. # (JLO)

On April 19, three R-10 municipalities receive P1.4-M worth of cheque each for the procurement of feeds, conduct of trainings, and to cover other materials expense to implement the CFFP of DA-NLP in their respective locality

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – With the aim of boosting beef production in Northern Mindanao, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10) released a cheque worth P1.4 million each to three benefiting towns for the Cattle Fattening Feedlot Program (CFFP) of DA-National Livestock Program (DA-NLP).

On April 19, DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado turned over the cheques to Sugbongcogon mayor Mildred Z. Lagbas, Lopez Jaena mayor Michael P. Gutierrez and representatives of LGU Kibawe, Bukidnon.

Said amount will be used for the procurement of feeds, conduct of trainings, and defraying for expenses of other needed materials.

Funded under the Bayanihan Act II, each benefiting CFFP town has a total project cost of P5 million, of which other components include P3.5 million for the provision of 100 heads upgraded cattle, and P100,000.00 for drugs and biologics.

Ahead from receiving the cheques, the agri department has already completed its deliveries of cattle, drugs and biologics to said municipalities. # (CRSeraspe)

During the culmination of the High Value Crops week of DA-10, representatives from MILALITTRA present their coffee making preparations at the agency grounds on April 16.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 16 – Aiming to boost the coffee industry in the region, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) has committed a Coffee Community-Based Development Enterprise worth P8 million to MILALITTRA, Inc.

MILALITTRA which stands for Miarayon-Lapok-Lirongan-Tinaytayan-Talaandig Tribal Association is composed of coffee farmers from around 2,500 households of said barangays of Talakag, Bukidnon.

They are also an awardee in the 2019 Philippine Coffee Quality Competition for Arabica category.

Said project is funded under the High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) of DA-RFO 10, that aims to provide production and postharvest support services for coffee and cacao farmers, said Kersten S. Pagalan, the program coordinator.

Included in the package of interventions are the provision of hauling truck, processing equipment/facility, trainings, planting materials, and nursery establishment.

Representing Datu Dungkuan ‘Rio’ D. Besto, MILALITTRA president, Joannah P. Dumaquita expressed, that DA’s project support will greatly aid them with their more than 11 hectares of coffee plantation, at the same time in expanding their market with the slated trainings they will undergo.

She cited, that with DA’s assistance they will be able to modernize their equipment and facilities to preserve and maintain the quality of their coffee beans, especially with the green coffee beans, which are still raw and have not yet been roasted while stored.

Handing over the certificate of commitment on behalf of DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado was Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga.# (EMBentulan)

After its first launching in sitio Kalhaan, Minalwang, Claveria, MisOr, DA-NorMin is set to also launch the ‘One DA’ adopt a community in barangay Mintapod, Impasug-ong, Bukidnon.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – In a bid to further strengthen the government’s efforts to fight against insurgency and armed conflict, the Department of Agriculture in Northern Mindanao (DA-10) is set to launch the ‘One DA’ adopt a community in barangay Mintapod, Impasug-ong, Bukidnon.

DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado revealed, after the success of the recently launched, ‘One DA’ adopt a community in sitio Kalhaan, Minalwang, Claveria, Misamis Oriental in partnership with the 4th Infantry Division, Philippine Army and the local government unit on April 14.

Director Collado led the launching of the first ‘One DA’ adopt a community in the country with the members of the DA-Regional Management Committee in Northern Mindanao with their commitments and assistance to rehabilitate the potential agri community.

In line with the event, the ‘One DA’ also supported the launching of the Claveria Municipal Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (MTF-ELCAC).

The ‘One DA’ interventions is in support to EO 70 or whole-of-nation approach, in which, through a vigorous agricultural development can contribute to peace and development.

He concluded, the ‘One DA’ is a holistic approach to agriculture and fisheries transformation with the contributions of the different RMC member agencies.#(ATCabig)

MHFA and Imbayao CPAR from Talakag town and Malaybalay City, respectively, each receives 540 bags (at 25 kilos) of potato planting materials on April 16, 2021 from DA-URC’s Sustainable Potato Program.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Two farmer-associations (FAs) from the province of Bukidnon receive 27 metric tons of Granola potato variety of planting materials from Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada, as part of the Sustainable Potato Program, a collaborative project of the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) and Universal Robina, Corp. (URC).

The Miarayon Highland FA (MHFA) and Imbayao Community-based Participatory Research (CPAR) from Talakag town and Malaybalay City, each received 540 bags with each bag containing 25 kilos of planting materials on April 16, 2021.

Since its launch in 2019, said project continues to distribute quality potato planting materials to its farmer-beneficiaries to enhance the production and competitiveness of potato farmers in said province.

“Back then, farmers would always complain on the lack of potato planting materials. That is why, we are thankful to DA and URC in addressing our clamor of having quality planting materials,” stated Ryan Danio, MHFA president.

It can be recalled that MHFA attained nationwide the highest yield of 3.5 kilograms of tubers per hill among other program-beneficiaries back in 2019.

On the other hand, Imbayao CPAR Chairman Gabriel Bandao shared, “DA and URC’s project has a big impact on us. Our profits have increased, and our standard of living has improved. Back then, we consider ourselves as small farmers, but now we consider ourselves as big farmers.”

Said activity also forms part of the High Value Crops (HVC) Week celebration which aims to promote High Value Crops Development Program in contributing towards the country’s bid of food security and sufficiency. # (AMBManto)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – As part of the weeklong celebration of the High Value Crops (HVC) Week, preparations for chocolate making was demonstrated to the delegates of the Regional Food Security Summit, here in the city of Cagayan de Oro.

Siblings Med and Merimae Villamayor, operations and sales manager, respectively of EMV Food Products, shared their expertise on chocolate making and the importance of product value-adding.

A family-owned business based in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon, EMV engages in diversified farming growing high value commodities such as cacao, mangosteen, lanzones, durian, among other crops.

Notably known for using their cacao produce as raw materials and process them into chocolates, they also extend help to other farmers by sourcing cacao beans from their locality and the towns of Lantapan and Damulog, and even market them in these areas.

Assisted by the agriculture department (DA) and other government agencies thru the provision of trainings and processing equipment, they are likewise known for transforming their production site into an accredited DA-Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) learning site.

The HVC week purposely recognizes the value and contribution of high value crops farmers in augmenting the country’s food adequacy level amid the pandemic; promotes the production, processing and consumption of high value crops; and further provides linkages to broaden market of their respective products. # (JLO)

DA-NorMin continues to support DepEd’s Gulayan sa Paaralan thru its recent provision of agri-inputs and garden equipment to BNHS and SVES of Baungon, Bukidnon.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The agriculture department in Northern Mindanao (DA-10) reinforces its support to the Gulayan sa Paaralan, with its provision of agri-inputs and gardening equipment to the Department of Education (DepEd) – Division of Bukidnon, Baungon District.

Carlene C. Collado, regional executive director of DA-10 turned over the agri-inputs, comprising of squash, ampalaya, pechay, tomato, patola, and kangkong seeds, mushroom fruiting bags, and gardening equipment such as pruning saw and shear, and seedling tray to Baungon National High School (BNHS) Gulayan Coordinator, Hermie M. Quiamco and Charmaine Amor V. Yabo of San Vicente Elementary School (SVES) of Baungon, Bukidnon.

“This seeds distribution is in line with the agency’s aim to increase the country’s food adequacy level during this pandemic,” the director remarked.

Meanwhile, Quiamco shared, DA has always been so supportive in all the agricultural endeavors of their institution and in return, they re-echo the goal of the agency to empower more farmers by setting an example in their community.

He added, the provisions will be a source of nourishment for students and their respective families, at the same time, it can also be a source of income and livelihood.

On the other hand, SVES Gulayan Coordinator Yabo expressed, that DA plays a significant role in DepEd’s advocacy of addressing malnutrition thru the promotion of vegetable production and consumption among school children.

She added, the agency has been instrumental in sustaining DepEd’s in-school feeding program for the children, encouraging them to plant varieties of leafy and non-leafy vegetables.

Gulayan sa Paaralan aims to promote vegetable production in the primary and secondary public schools to establish and maintain ready food basket for their supplementary feeding, and serve as hub for learners for small-scale food production models.

Witnessing the turnover is Supervising Agriculturist Audy G. Maagad and HVCD Program Focal Person, Kersten S. Pagalan. # (JCAnito)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) capped its first ever celebration of the High Value Crops (HVC) Week on April 16, 2021, here in the city.

Bearing the theme: “Kabuhayan ay Paunlarin, Katawan ay Palakasin, High Value Crops ay Itanim”, said observance culminated with a vegetable salad making contest, seed identification game and a recognition of some high value crops producers in the region.

With the HVC Development Program, DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga reported, that it continued its advocacy in addressing food security concerns amid the pandemic reporting a distribution of 4,328 packets of assorted vegetable seeds to walk-in clients, various agencies, local governments and associations regionwide.

She also acknowledged one of the program’s milestone thru assisting the coffee growing and production of Miarayon-Lapok-Lirongan-Tinaytayan Talaandig Tribal Association (MILALITTRA) of Talakag, Bukidnon, a group that produces and supplies first class coffee beans locally and nationally and also an awardee in the 2019 Philippine Quality Competition for Arabica category.

During the closing program, MILALITTRA also presented their coffee making preparations and shared its story on the potentials of coffee growing and production as an enterprise.

Meanwhile, the Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Division topped in both contests, represented by Andre Hojas and Jussel Jagunos in the vegetable salad making contest, while Pearly Jane Cabudoy and John Ed Molijon in the seed identification game.

RTD Madriaga commended the uniqueness and palatability of the dish prepared by the winners, as it also showcases the ingenuity of DA-10 personnel serving as advocates in promoting household backyard gardening and adopting a healthier lifestyle.

With the HVC week celebration, the department under the helm of Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado is fervent that it will continue to empower high value crops farmers, at the same time, help attain food self-sufficiency, economic growth and accessibility of affordable, quality, safe and healthy food. # (JCAnito)