Vol. XXV No. 2-3 A Monthly Publication of the Department of Agriculture February-March 2010

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Instant agri info for only P7

PGMA aPGMA aPGMA aPGMA aPGMA appoints Fppoints Fppoints Fppoints Fppoints Fondeondeondeondeondevilla as Dvilla as Dvilla as Dvilla as Dvilla as DA cA cA cA cA chiefhiefhiefhiefhiefPresident Gloria Macapagal

Arroyo appointed Atty. Bernie G.Fondevilla as the new Secretaryof Agriculture, replacing Sec.Arthur C. Yap.

A fisherman’s son fromCorcuera, Romblon, Fondevillawas former undersecretary incharge of DA attached agenciesand corporations, andconcurrent DA chief of staff andexecutive director of the DA’sNational Agricultural and FisheryCouncil (NAFC).

President Arroyo swore himinto office March 8, 2010 inMalacanang, along with othernewly-appointed Cabinetmembers and top governmentofficials.

Yap resigned to seek acongressional seat (3rd in Boholin the May 2010 nationalelections.

He turned over the reins of theDA leadership to Fondevilla atsimple rites March 10, before ajampacked audience of DAofficials and staff, agri-fisherysector leaders, and guests atthe DA-BSWM Convention Hall.

DA allots initial P882 M for El Niño interventions

P860-M projects to benefitMindanao farmers, ruralfolk

The Department of Agriculturehas earmarked an initial P882million to fund interventionsaimed at mitigating the adverseeffects of El Niño, particularly inhardly hit 14 provinces in Luzonand the Visayas, where esti-mated losses in palay and cornalone have reached more thanP7 billion, as of February 22,2010.

DA Secretary Bernie G.Fondevilla, who also chairs theinter-agency Presidential TaskForce on El Niño, said the miti-gation measures include cloud-seeding operations, provision ofshallow tube wells (STWs) andwater pump sets, monitoring ofpossible outbreak of pests anddiseases.

He said government will alsoprovide food aid to affected farm-ing and fishing families under theEmergency Food Assistance

Program of the Department ofSocial Welfare and Development(DSWD). In this regard, the DAregional field units in El Niño-hitregions are already drawing upwith respective local governmentunits the master list of benefi-ciaries.

Other interventions includehiring El Niño farmer-victims asemergency workers to repairfarm-to-market roads and irriga-tion facilities; and enrolling quali-fied farmer-victims in skills train-ing programs of the TechnicalEducation and Skills Develop-ment Authority (TESDA).

The cloudseeding operationsare being supervised by the DA’sBureau of Soils and Water Man-agement (DA-BWSM) in coop-eration with the Philippine Atmo-spheric, Geophysical and Astro-nomical Service Administration(PAGASA) and the Philippine

Air Force (PAF). As of February 22, 2010, the

DA Central Action Center(DACAC) said the estimateddamage reached P7.02 billion.

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More investment opportunitiesawait Mindanao farmers,ruralfolk and entrepreneurs, asthe Department of Agriculture’sMindanao Rural DevelopmentProgram (DA-MRDP) is set toconstruct this year more thanP860-million worth of farm-to-market roads (FMRs), bridges,irrigation systems, solar driers,and postharvest facilities.

“We are frontloading these infrastructure projects as these

Agriculture Secretary Bernie G. Fondevilla (5th from left) receives the DA flag from former DA

chief Arthur C. Yap, during the turnover ceremonies, March 10, 2010, at the DA-BSWM

Convention Hall, Quezon City. Joining them are (from left): ass’t. secretaries Brian Balingit,

Clayton Olalia, and Dennis Araullo; undersecretaries Belinda Gonzales, Bernadette Romulo-

Puyat, Segfredo Serrano, and Salvador Salacup; and Ass’t. Sec. Preceles Manzo (partly

hidden). Not in photo are Ass’t. Sec. Eduardo Nolasco and Undersecretary Joel Rudinas.

Farmers, fisherfolk and thegeneral public can now getinstant, credible informationby simply calling desig-nated numbers, for a flat rateof a little over P7 per call, orby texting.

They can ask currentprices of basic commodi-ties, where to sell their pro-duce, how to control croppests and diseases, and forconsumers where to buycheaper vegetables, porkand chicken.

Such service is offered bythe Department of Agricul-ture in partnership with thePhilippine Long Distance

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Writers: Adora D. Rodriguez, Jo Anne Grace B. Pera

Arlhene S. Carro, Mc. Bien Saint Garcia

Contributors: Info Officers of DA-RFUs, Bureaus, Attached Agencies & Corps., Foreign Assisted Projects

is published monthly by the Department of Agriculture Information Service, Elliptical Road, Diliman,

Quezon City. Tel. nos. 9288741 loc 2148, 2150, 2155, 2156 or 2184; 9204080 or tel/fax 9280588. This issue is now

available in PDF file. For copies, please send requests. via email da_afis@yahoo.com.

Photograhers: Jose Lucas, Alan Jay Jacalan & Alarico Nuestro

Lay-out Artists: Bethzaida Bustamante, Almie Erlano,

Alan Jay Jacalan

Printing & Circulation: Teresita Abejar & PCES Staff

Editor-In-Chief : Noel O. Reyes

Associate Editors: Karenina Salazar, Cheryl C. Suarez

Editorial

Of legacy, touching livesDuring his four and a half

years of service as thecountry’s ‘food czar,’Agriculture Secretary ArthurC. Yap has undoubtedly leftan indelible footprint andlegacy.

Lifting some attributesfrom the plaque of apprecia-tion given him by incomingSec. Bernie G. Fondevillaand members of the DAexecutive committee, duringthe March 10, 2010 turnoverceremonies, Sec. Yap iscited “for leading thecountry’s agri-fishery sectorto a renaissance from twodecades of under-invest-ment, allowing it to registeruninterrupted growth for 16quarters, thereby enhancingthe productivity and incomesof small farmers, fishers andentrepreneurs, providingadequate and affordablebasic food to consumers,and generating 2.2 millionjobs from 2005 to 2009;

“For strengthening thecountry’s food supply chain,providing stakeholders,particularly small farmers,fishers and entrepreneursneeded logistics andtechnologies despite thehuge challenges of high foodprices, fierce global competi-tion, and adverse conse-quences of climate change;

“For successfully steeringthe country through the 2008global food crisis, whichimnprinted into the nation’sconsciousness the majorand critical role of the foodand agribusiness sector.”

To small farmers andfishers, these achievementssimply translate to moreharvests and more money intheir pockets; and to

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Yap is considered the longestserving ‘food czar’ under theArroyo administration, and post-martial law years, having servedtwo terms, for a total of four anda half years: August 2004 to July2005, and from October 2006 toMarch 2010.

He distinguished himself bysuccessfully implementingPresident Arroyo’s centerpiecefood security program, aptlydubbed as FIELDS (acronym forfertilizers, irrigation, extension,loans, dryers and seeds).

In his valedictory address,Yap thanked President Arroyo forchoosing “one from the ranks toreplace me in the Department.”

He also thanked the DAofficials and employees forhelping him shepherd theDepartment through thenumerous challenges that it hasfaced under the Arroyoadministration.

During the turnoverceremonies, undersecretariesSegfredo Serrano and SalvadorSalacup, DA region 10 directorLealyn Ramos, and staffmembers of the Office of theSecretary gave glowingtestimonials about Yap’saccomplishments, his skills asa crisis manager, his work ethic,and how he served as a boss,mentor and friend to many of theDA officers and employees.

Fondevilla likewise thankedPresident Arroyo and Yap for“entrusting me this greatresponsibility of being the nextagriculture secretary.”

He considers it an enormouschallenge, saying: “I would notshy away from challenges.. . I’dtake on this responsibility. I’mnot perfect, but I believe God willgive me the grace to sustain me.Most of all I have great peoplearound me.”

He assured the DA family andrepresentatives of the privatesector present during thegathering that he would continueYap’s programs, “strengthenour goals, and pursue somemore, and innovate some more,

so we will ultimately realize ourdream of making farmers andfishermen businessmen of theirownselves, in their own right.”

Before joining the DA,Fondevilla had honed his skillsin several of the country’s toplaw firms.

He started as a legalassociate at the Santiago NalusLaw Office in 1990: associatelawyer at the Araulo Gruba Chuaand Associates, where hehandled mostly labor cases.

He also practiced law at theAzcuna Sarmiento Arroyo ChuaLaw Offices, where he gainedextensive experience in, amongothers, mining law, criminal law,family relation cases; andlitigation of cases involving labordisputes, real estate,trademarks and copyrights,government controls andregulations, and election-relatedsuits.

In 2000, he became foundingpartner of the FondevillaJasarino Young Rondario andLibrojo Law Offices, and a yearlater was made its managingpartner.

He also served as presidentand general manager of CrystalBusiness Intelligence SystemsInc, sole distributor in thePhilippines of products fromCrystal Divisions, Inc., formerlyknown as Seagate Software,Inc.

In 2002, he was appointedpresident and vice chairman ofthe board of directors of theFood Terminal Inc.

In 2005, he was named ex-ecutive director of the DA-NAFC.

Fondevilla is an active mem-ber of the Integrated Bar of thePhilippines.

He obtained his Economicsdegree at the Ateneo de ManilaUniversity, and completed hislaw studies at the University ofthe Philippines.

He is a member of the churchcouncil of the Capitol City Four-square Church, and also a mem-ber of the national board andcorporate counsel of the Churchof the Foursquare Gospel in thePhilippines.

Please see excerpts ofSec. Yap’s valedictoryaddress and Sec.Fondevilla’sacceptance speech onpages 8 and 9.

consumers, sufficient andaffodable food on their table.

Secretary Yap -- or SACYas most if not all of DAfamily officials and staff callhim -- has injected new vigorinto the agri-fishery industry,turning setbacks intotriumphs.

He has marshalledresources to intensify theimplementation ofgovernment’s Ginintuang

Masaganang Ani (GMA)

programs in rice, corn,

livestock and poultry,

fisheries, and high value

commercial crops.

He likewise expanded

access of smallholders to

credit, technology and

markets; and strengthened

quarantine and product

quality and standards

system.

Building on the previous

‘five-pillar’ program (irriga-

tion, postharvest facilities,

RD&E, market access, and

credit), President Arroyo

took the cudgels and

launched a more holistic

program, aptly dubbed as

FIELDS (fertilizer, irrigation,

extension, loans, dryers and

seeds).

As part of FIELDS, the DA

has provided small farmers,

fishers and entrepreneurs

needed modern equipment

and facilities -- from flatbed

dryers, to rice and corn

processing centers, to cold

storage and freezers, via

RORO vessels, and finally tothe markets via thebarangay bagsakans.

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February-March 2010 3

The Arroyo administration willcontinue to pursue five majorimperatives to make farmingmore profitable and globally com-petitive, amid the threats of cli-mate change and liberalized glo-bal trade.

Newly-appointed agricultureSecretary Bernie G. Fondevilladiscussed the five measuresduring the ‘Year-end PhilippineEconomic Briefing,’ held March3, 2010, at the Dusit Thani Ho-tel, Makati City. These include:

• continuous investments ininfrastructure, as well as inequipment that increase farmand fishery productivity;

• implementation of a postharvest program that providesdryers, chillers and ports tominimize post-production lossesof farmers and fisherfolk;

• strengthening of guaranteefunds to extend loans and insur-ance to farmers and fishers;

• assistance for the dissemi-nation and availability of informa-tion, and training for new andsustainable technologies andpractices; and

• institution of policy reformsto promote sustainable agricul-tural and fishery techonologies.

DA to continue pursuing measures

to make farming profitable

“The primary aim of govern-ment policies and programs inthe agriculture sector is to makefarm and fisheries producers prof-itable and competitive,”Fondevilla said.

“Profitability and competitive-ness drive investments on thesupply side and enables welfareenhancement, inclusive of foodsecurity, of producers throughlivelihood security,” he added.

He noted that the challengesconstantly facing Philippine ag-riculture come from the biophysi-cal environment, which has beenexacerbated by climate change;and the economic environment,as shown by recent food and in-put price spikes in the face ofthe headlong march by the As-sociation of Southeast AsianNations (ASEAN) to furthertrade liberalization.

The areas of interventionsthat the DA has put in place tomeet these challenges arespelled out, he said, in Presi-dent Arroyo’s agriculture devel-opment agenda, dubbed asFIELDS.

“FIELDS is grounded on asteadfast commitment to food

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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyohands over to Mayor Thomas Pua, Jr. ofDelfin Albano, Isabela, a certificate ofownership of irrigation pump sets(inset), as part of government’s inter-ventions to farming communitiesadversely affected by drought due to ElNiño. Assisting her is Sec. Arthur Yap.

PGMA distribPGMA distribPGMA distribPGMA distribPGMA distributes irutes irutes irutes irutes ir rigrigrigrigrigaaaaation pumpstion pumpstion pumpstion pumpstion pumps

in Cagayan, Isabelain Cagayan, Isabelain Cagayan, Isabelain Cagayan, Isabelain Cagayan, Isabela

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AFTAFTAFTAFTAFTA to benefA to benefA to benefA to benefA to benefit hoit hoit hoit hoit hoggggg,,,,,

poultrpoultrpoultrpoultrpoultry industriesy industriesy industriesy industriesy industries

The slated major tariff cuts,ranging from zero to five percentfor both processed and agricul-tural commodities, as called forunder the ASEAN Free TradeAgreement (AFTA), bodes wellfor the Philippine hog and poul-try industries, along with otheragriculture subsectors.

“AFTA can be viewed as anopportunity for increased mar-ket access of Philippine goodsto its ASEAN (Association ofSoutheast Asian Nations) neigh-bors,” said DA assistant secre-tary Dr. Preceles Manzo.

With such significant tariff cutsplus the removal of non-tariffbarriers, like quantitative restric-tions on most manufacturedgoods and farm products, “the

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo distributed 500 irrigationpump sets in Cagayan (426sets) and Isabela (74 sets),which are part of the 1,363 setsworth P35.6 mill ion beingdistributed by the Department ofAgriculture to El Niño affectedfarmers in the Cagayan Valleyregion.

The Chief Executive was inCagayan and Isabela March 2,

2010, for her fifth tour of theNorth Luzon AgribusinessQuadrangle Super Region. Shewas accompanied by outgoingAgriculture Secretary Arthur Yapand incoming DA chief BernieG. Fondevilla.

In Cagayan, she was joinedby Governor Alvaro Antonio andother municipal mayors at theFlorencio Vargas College inCentro Tuguegarao.

In her brief speech, thePresident explained that herregional visits were to assessthe progress of her strategicplan to expand political andeconomic footprint to lift up allregions and not just MetroManila.

“That is why we are investingbillions of pesos to tie the nationtogether through a better, moremodern transportation system,lift up our next generation withmore schools to ensure a bettereducation and keep our nationclean, safe and beautiful to tapthe best of our natural beauty,”she said.

Aside from the provision ofwater pumps, the DA and theprovincial government ofCagayan have undertakenseveral El Niño interventions,which include:§ cloud seeding operations,

as early as January 2010;

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Amended agri-agra law to raiseadditional P122-B in farm loans

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With the recent signing ofthe Agri Agra Reform CreditAct of 2009 (Republic Act orRA 10000), the Departmentof Agriculture estimates thatup to P122 billion in additionalloans could be made availableto farmers, fishers, rural en-trepreneurs, and agrarian re-form beneficiaries for their re-spective agri-fishery produc-tion, processing, marketingand other projects.

In a report to AgricultureSecretary Bernie Fondevilla,DA Undersecretary BernaRomulo Puyat said the newlaw, signed by President Ar-royo on February 23, 2010,repeals Presidential Decree717 (Agri-Agra Law).

It mandates banks and fi-nancial institutions to lend25%, specifically 15% for agri-fishery stakeholders and 10%for agrarian reform beneficia-ries, of their loanable funds.

RA 10000 is the consoli-dated version of Senate Bill

3431 sponsored by SenatorLoren Legarda and House Bill6095, sponsored by Represen-tative Abraham Mitra.

They chair the respectiveagriculture committee at theSenate of the Philippines andHouse of Representative.

The DA had strongly lobbiedfor the passage of the law un-der the watch of former Secre-tary Arthur Yap, who carried outsuch other measures as theDA-initiated Agricultural Guar-antee Fund Pool (AGFP) tomake available much-neededcredit to the countryside.

For his part, new DA Secre-tary Fondevilla said he will pur-sue the same commitmentwith greater vigor and at thesame time strictly monitor thebanks’ compliance with RA10000.

“Apart from expanding agri-culture-related alternative com-pliance, increasing sanctionsfor non-compliance and under-

4

DA-NIA repairs systems,

serving 200,000 hectares

From the Bureaus, AgenciesSelected developments on agriculture, fisheries, and agribusiness as

reported by the DA-Bureaus, Attached Agencies and Corporations,

and those published in national publications.

The Department of Agriculturethrough the National IrrigationAdministration (DA-NIA) hascompleted the rehabilitation andrestoration of dozens of irriga-tion systems and facilities lastyear, servicing more than200,000 hectares of farmland,and creating close to 100,000jobs.

In a report to DA SecretaryBernie Fondevilla, NIA officer incharge Alex Reuyan said suchaccomplishment has broughtthe total area to 456,251 hect-ares served by national irrigationsystems.

He said for 2010, the NIA tar-gets to complete the rehabilita-tion and restoration of various na-tional irrigation systems thatserve a total of 368,000 hect-ares.

In 2009, with a fund of P8 bil-lion, the NIA completed the re-

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (2nd from left) lowers the timecapsule during the groundbreaking of a sugarcane ethanol distill-ery in Brgy. Pabanlag, Floridablanca, Pampanga. Assisting her(from left) are Floridablanca Mayor Eduardo Guerrero, PabanlagBrgy. Captain Ernesto Manansan, Central Luzon Bioenergy Cor-poration President Juan Catalan, DA-Region 3 Director RedentorGatus and DA-PADCC President Marriz Agbon.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo recently led some 2,000residents of BarangayPabanlag, Floridablanca,Pampanga, during thegroundbreaking ceremony of asugarcane bioethanol facilityworth $300 million or roughlyP3.8 billion.

It is a joint venture of a Ko-rean company (EnviroplasmaCo. Ltd.) and Filipino-ownedCentral Luzon Bioenergy Corpo-ration (CLBC).

When completed, the distill-ery will process sugarcanestocks harvested from nearbyfarms, totaling 50,000 hectares.It can produce 500,000 liters ofethanol per day or 150M litersper year.

To date, this would be the big-gest sugarcane production area

P13.8-B sugarcane farm, bioethanolfacility to rise in Pampanga

and ethanol distillery in the Phil-ippines, as compared to the av-erage plantation size of otherbioethanol projects at only5,000 hectares.

When in full swing, the projectis expected to generate 40,000jobs, construct some 3,000housing units, including a 20-classroom school building, anda 30-bed community hospital.

This was one of the results ofPresident Arroyo’s state visit tothe Republic of Korea last May2009, together with AgricultureSecretary Arthur C. Yap.

Enviroplasma Co. Ltd. spe-cializes in the development ofrenewable energy technologiesand processing facilities.

On the other hand, CLBC isengaged in the production, mar-keting and selling of hydrous andanhydrous bioethanol in thecountry.

The entry of Enviroplasma inthe Philippines was facilitated bythe Department of Agriculturethrough the Philippine Agricul-tural Development and Commer-cial Corporation (DA-PADCC),its agribusiness investment pro-motions and marketing arm.(Photo and text by Angelica Barlis,DA-PADCC)

The Land Bank of the Philip-pines (LBP) has loaned a totalof P132.8 billion last year tofarmers, fishers and other prior-ity borrowers, 2.4% or P3.1 bil-lion more than in 2008.

Land Bank president and CEOGilda E. Pico said the total loansto its so-called priority sectorsrepresent 68% of LBP’s regularloan portfolio of P194.7 billion.

Its priority sectors includesmall farmers and fisherfolk,microenterprises and SMEs,livelihood, agri-business, agri-infrastructure projects, agri-andenvironment- related projects,socialized housing, and schoolsand hospitals.

The total loans extended toeach priority sector are: P22.6B,to small farmers and fisherfolk,up by P1.2B vs. 2008; P20.1B,to micro-enterprises and SMEs;P20.2B, to agribusiness enter-prises; P24.3B, for agri-relatedprojects of GOCCs; P26.2B, foragri-infrastructure projects ofLGUs; and P15.5B, for social-ized housing, schools and hos-pitals, and environment- relatedprojects. (LBP)

Land Bank lendsP132.8 B in 2009

habilitation of dozens of nationalirrigation systems and facilities,servicing 123,537 hectares; andrestoration of other systems,covering 89,638 hectares.

With said efforts, Reuyan saidthe agency was able to gener-ate 97,976 jobs, benefiting79,758 farm households.

The government’s Agro-industry Modernization Creditand Financing Program(AMCFP) has generated a totalof P1.197 billion in loans fromJanuary to December 2009,benefitting 25,883 farmers andfisherfolk nationwide.

The DA through the ACPCoversees the implementation ofthe AMCFP, which serves as thegovernment’s umbrella creditprogram for agriculture andfisheries.

In a report to DA Secretary

Arthur Yap, Director Jovita

Corpuz of the Agricultural Credit

and Policy Council (DA-ACPC)

said of the loans released

through the AMCFP, P1.068 bil-

lion of which went to 15,174 bor-

rowers under the Cooperative

Banks Agri-Lending Program

(CBAP).She said the loan releases un-

der CBAP comprise of programfunds and counterpart of 27 par-ticipating cooperative ruralbanks (CRBs), which commit-ted to leverage the P400-MCBAP fund by up to three timesto finance more projects.

The remaining P129M was lentto more than 10,700 borrowers,who availed loans under theother four programs of the DA-ACPC: agri-fisherymicrofinance, P11M; agrimicrofinance, P61M; tobaccoand rice, P25M; and tomato,P32M.

The Land Bank of the Philip-pines and the People’s Creditand Finance Corporation (PCFC)manage the implementation ofthe first two programs (agri-fish-

DA-ACPC creditprogram extendsP1.2B loans in ‘09

ery and agri microfinance), re-spectively.

Agri-fishery projects being fi-nanced include production ofrice, corn, vegetables, othercrops; raising of ti lapia,mudcrab, and seaweeds; andpurchase of refrigerated vans anddelivery trucks. (Adona M.Hamto, DA-ACPC)

February-March 2010 5

DA-BAI sets up Ebola Reston lab,

animal health info system

Reflecting its 80th anniversarytheme, “Facing the challengesof emerging diseases and cli-mate change,” the DA’s Bureauof Animal Industry (BAI) has in-augurated the country’s firstEbola Reston diagnostic labo-ratory and launched the Philip-pine Animal Health InformationSystem (PhilAHIS), in fittingceremonies on February 10,2010, at the BAI compound, inQuezon City.

Outgoing Secretary Arthur C.Yap, in a speech delivered forhim by Secretary BernieFondevilla, commended BAI di-rector Dr. Davinio Catbagan, andthe agency’s men and women,who contributed their respectiveshare in enabling the country’slivestock and poultry industryregister consistent growth andstability, even during thesector’s most critical periods.

“Through your expertise andhard work, along with the strongsupport of industry stakehold-ers, LGUs and benefactors, youmade these favorable conditionshappen for the sector that ac-counts for more than a quarterof this nation’s agricultural out-put,” Fondevilla said.

The other highlights of thecelebration included the: launchof the Philippine standards forlive grading of cattle and cara-bao for slaughter; and the rec-ognition of top performing artifi-

cial insemination technicians,recognition of newly accreditedbreeder farms, and recognitionof DA-Committee on AnimalWelfare Institutionalized Mem-ber.

The Ebola Reston diagnosticlaboratory has the capacity toconduct antigen and antibodydetection of the Ebola RestonVirus (REBOV) through the en-zyme-linked immunosorbentassay or ELISA.

Dir. Catbagan said the lab willprovide vital support in the rapiddiagnosis, active surveillanceand monitoring of the REBOVin case it enters the country.

It will also play a major role inestablishing the prevalence ofREBOV in swine, and in under-standing better the animal-hu-man-wildlife interface in the oc-currence of emerging diseasessuch as the Ebola Reston.

The laboratory was put up tothe tune of P7.5 M (P1.5M fromDA) and P6M from the Food andAgriculture Organization of theUnited Nations (FAO), under theproject, “Emergency Assistancefor Early Detection, Responseand Control of Ebola Reston Vi-rus in Swine and Other SwineDiseases in the Philippines.”

The Center for Disease Con-trol (CDC) of the United Statesof America has also provided theinitial reagents.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Ani-

mal Health Information Systems(PhilAHIS) is actually the ex-panded version of the previousFoot and Mouth Disease Infor-mation Management System(FMD-IMS).

Envisioned as the ‘national re-porting core for the livestocksector,’ the PhilAHIS includesdata on all other diseases re-ported from the field, includinglaboratory and quarantine re-ports, livestock and poultry pro-duction data--which can be ac-cessed by the DA family agen-cies, regional field units, andlocal government units (LGUs).

The system is capable tostore data for over 30 years,generate accurate data in min-

utes, handle other analyticaltools and do modeling.

The system is currently sup-ported by the Sub-regional En-vironmental Animal Health Man-agement Initiative (SEAHMI),funded by the Italian Govern-ment through the UN-FAO.

In all, the PhilAHIS aims toserve as a vital tool in policy-making, most particularly in ani-mal health management, in ad-dition to enhancing and modern-izing DA-BAI’s capacity to ana-lyze animal disease risk, anddevelop environmental animalhealth management strategies.(Jo Ann Grace B. Pera, DA Info

Service)

Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap (at rostrum) reiterates the fullsupport of the Philippine government to the global effortstowards conserving and managing migratory sharks during the3rd Meeting on International Cooperation on Migratory Sharks,held Feb. 10, 2010, in Pasay City. The meeting, attended bydozens of delegates from different countries, was organized bythe Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) and the UnitedNations Environment Programme (UNEP). Photo also shows(from left) are Department of Environment and Natural Resources(DENR) Undersecretary Manuel Gerochi, CMS Exec. Sec.Elizabeth Mrema, and Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau(PAWB) Director Theresa Mundita Lim.

Secretary Bernie Fondevilla (2nd from right) cuts the ceremonialribbon during the inauguration of the DA-BAI’s Ebola Diagnos-tic Laboratory. Assisting him are (from left): RepresentativesVicente Crisologo (Quezon City) and Salvador H. Escudero III(Sorsogon), and BAI Director Davinio Catbagan.

The World Bank is set toimplement a pilot project, tap-ping a $5-million grant from theGlobal Environment Facility, tohelp vulnerable Philippine com-munities cope with the impactof climate change.

The proposed initiative, calledPhilippine Climate Change Ad-aptation Project, was presentedto outgoing DA Secretary ArthurYap, incoming secretary BernieFondevilla, and other DA officialsduring their February manage-ment committee by WB ex-perts, Samuel Wedderburn andFelizardo Virtucio Jr.

Yap said the project shouldenable involved governmentagencies—the DA, Departmentof Environment and Natural Re-sources, and the Philippine At-mospheric, Geophysical andAstronomical Services Adminis-

WB project to ‘weather-proof’ RP agriculturetration (PAGASA)—to obtainthorough and accurate data onweather conditions, and forthem to work together on a mas-ter plan to “weather-proof” Phil-ippine agriculture and other sec-tors against climate change.

“We hope this project willhelp us get the big picture asfar as climate change is con-cerned, and to get us workingtogether,” Yap said.

“Reliable data is still absenttoday, so that the DA, for one,is having difficulty anticipatingweather patterns, and most ofthe time only reacts to actualweather conditions or changesas they come,” he added.

Wedderburn and Virtucio willwork with counterparts from theDA, DENR and PAGASA on theproject, with the DENR headingthe technical working group.

6

The Department of Agriculturethrough its regional field units(RFUs) will work closely withconcerned local governmentunits (LGUs) to speed up thedelivery and dispatch of interven-tions to El Niño-affected palayand corn farmers in Isabela,Cagayan and other provinces.

Agriculture Secretary BernieG. Fondevilla said the DA andLGU assistance includes provi-sion of crop seeds, irrigationpump sets, and fuel subsidiesfor water pumps.

The DA RFUs will also stepup their monitoring so theycould get an accurate picture ofthe situation, the actual numberof affected farmers, and carryout needed intervention pro-grams.

Due to the severity of thedamage due to the prolongeddry spell, the provincial govern-ments of Isabela and Cagayanhave declared a ‘state of calam-ity’ in their respective areas.

As of March 1, total loss inthe agriculture and fishery sec-tors in Region II has reachedP5.3 billion, prompting the na-tional government to call for anemergency employment pro-gram for the 191,613 affectedfarmers and fishermen.

For his part, undersecretaryfor operations and DA TaskForce El Niño head Joel Rudinassaid “the DA has started its ElNiño mitigation measures asearly as September 16, 2009,as we have supported earlyplanting of rice.”

Further, he said the DA-RFUsstarted carrying out interventionmeasures in January, includingcloud-seeding operations withthe help of Aboitiz Corp., cover-ing the Magat Dam watershed.

The DA-RFU 2 and the Na-tional Irrigation Administration-Magat River Integrated IrrigationSystem (NIA-MARIIS) have alsodistributed an initial 115 units ofopen-source pumps (OSP) toaffected farmers.

As a preemptive measureagainst possible outbreaks ofrodents and other crop pests

DDDDDA,A,A,A,A, L L L L LGUs to speed upGUs to speed upGUs to speed upGUs to speed upGUs to speed upassistance to fassistance to fassistance to fassistance to fassistance to farararararmermermermermersssss

and diseases that could be trig-gered by the dry spell, DA-RFU2 director Andrew Villacorta re-ported that as early as Decem-ber 2009, they have purchasedrodenticides and insecticides,and has since then treated vari-ous crops planted in about10,000 hectares.

He said the RFU will also dis-tribute 25,000 packets of as-sorted vegetable seeds to af-fected farmers, and has biddedout the contract for the supplyof another P10 million-worth ofassorted vegetable seeds fordistribution to other farmers withtotally-damaged crops.

The DA-RFU 2 will also dis-tribute irrigation pump sets, in-cluding fuel subsidy, to affectedfarmers. (Please see relatedstory on page 3.)

In addition, water conservationmeasures -- such as “rotationalirrigation,” desilting of rivers andother water tributaries, and re-pair and rehabilitation of waterirrigation systems -- are beingpromoted in El Niño affected ar-eas in coordination with the NIA,

El Niño Update

Agriculture secretary Bernie G.. Fondevilla (3rd from left) andDA-RFU 2 director Andrew Villacorta (4th from left) inspect bagsof table salt before loading in an airplane for cloudseedingoperations in Bagabag, Nueva Vizcaya. With them are BagabagMayor Nestor Sevillena (left), Nueva Vizcaya provincial agricul-turist Felipe Panganiban (4th from right) and officials of the DA-NIA and Bureau of Soils and Water Management.

In its 7th El Niño advisory,the Philippine Atmospheric,Geophysical and Astronomi-cal Services Administration(PAGASA) said the countrywill continue to experience themoderate effect of the weatherphenomenon which will likelypersist through June 2010.

PAGASA administratorPrisco Nilo said rainfall forFebruary was generally waybelow normal over most areasof the country.

Hence, the levels in majordams of the country are de-clining, limiting supply for irri-gation and potable water, andpower generation.

To date, PAGASA said fourprovinces are hardest hit:Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya,Quirino, and Capiz.

Other moderately affectedprovinces, totaling 25, are:Abra, Benguet, Kalinga,

Moderate El Niño until JuneIfugao, Apayao. Mt. Province,

Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La

Union, Pangasinan;Cagayan,

Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija,

Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales,

Batangas, Cavite, Laguna,

Rizal, Iloilo, Antique,

Guimaras, and Negros Occi-

dental.

PAGASA said the CARAGA

region and some areas in

Northern Luzon will experience

below to way below normal

rainfall with near normal rain-

fall in March. Some areas in

Mindanao will likely experience

thunderstorm activity.

The present El Niño situa-

tion is not as worse as in 1997-

98 episode, which PAGASA

described as the “strongest” in

recent history because it af-fected the whole country.

Palay loss is estimated at

P3.73B, equivalent to 219,370

tons, and corn at P3.27B

(251,670 tons), and crops, P16

million (3,350 tons).

Worst hit is Isabela, with to-

tal crop loss of P3B, followed

by Iloilo, at P1.2B.

The initial P882-M El Nino fund

is broken as: P52M, for

cloudseeding; P260M, for inter-

ventions of NIA; P399M, pur-

chase of 1,500 water pump and

engine sets by the BSWM and

1,000 units by DA-RFU2; P25M,

pest and disease management;

P1.15M, veterinary drugs and

biologics; P35M, mobile diag-

nostic laboratories; P104M, fish-

ery inputs and livelihood; and

P5.9M, crop shifting projects.

For its part, the Philippine Co-

conut Authority (PCA) has de-

livered 54,500 bags of salt

worth P19 million to 13,625

farmers, tilling 13,625 hectares.

It is also due to bid out

300,000 bags of salt worth

P150M for 75,000 coconut farm-

ers, tilling 75,000 hectares.

Further, the Sugar Regulatory

Administration (SRA) is also

conducting cloudseeding opera-

tions in the Visayas, worth

P2.2M, and needs 250 units of

STWs in affected areas inNegros.

DA allots initial

P882M ... (from p1)

including public informationblitz through local media net-

works, and dialogues with Irri-

gators’ Associations (IAs).

Aside from emergency em-

ployment, affected farmers will

be granted a moratorium on the

payment of their NIA irrigation

fees, equivalent to three cavans

of palay per hectare.

Further, their existing loansand interest payments with theLand Bank of the Philippinesmay be restructured.

February- March 2010 7

As part of its El Niño mitigat-ing intervenions, the Depart-ment of Agriculture Region 4-A(CALABARZON) through itsGinintuang Masaganang Ani(Corn, Rice and HVCC) programhas distributed an initial 28 unitsof shallow tube wells (STWs) toaffected rice farmers in Quezon,Laguna and Rizal.

In his report to Secretary Ag-riculture Bernie G. Fondevilla,assistant secretary and concur-rent CALABARZON regional ex-ecutive director Dennis B.Araullo said such interventionwill help farmers irrigate theirfarmlands for vegetable produc-tion during this current dry spell.

He added there is still a needto procure an additional 150STWs to benefit other affectedfarmers in the region.

“The current dry spell is in-deed wrecking havoc to ourfarmers, damaging their crops,and thus limiting their incomes,”Araullo said.

He added that the distributionof shallow tube wells to vulner-able areas is just one of thestrategies of the DA to allevi-ate the farmers’ plight.

“I hope the assistance givento CALABARZON farmers bythe Arroyo government throughthe DA will minimize the effectsof El Niño to a very manageablelevel,” Araullo said.

During the distribution of the28 STWs to farmers in Quezon,Laguna and Rizal, Araullo wasassisted by Engr. Abelardo R.Bragas, DA-RFU 4-A RegionalTechnical Director for Opera-tions and Regulatory. (DA-RFU4-A Info Div.)

DA-4A distributesshallow tube wells

Pantabangan Dam has enough water

Agriculture secretary Bernie G. Fondevilla (left) inspects corn earsaffected by drought in Bgy. Sta. Lucia, Bagabag, Nueva Vizcaya,while Bagabag Mayor Nestor Sevillena (middle) and DA CagayanValley Region Director Andrew Villacorta look on.

The DA’s National IrrigationAdministration (NIA) assuresfarmers in Nueva Ecija and ad-joining areas that there will besufficient irrigation water fromthe Pantabangan Dam untilApril.

This was the assurance madeby Engr. Antonio Nangel, man-ager of the NIA-UpperPampanga River Integrated Irri-gation Systems (UPRIIS) dur-ing a recent meeting withfarmer-leaders, local officials,and representatives from otherconcerned DA and governmentagencies in Central Luzon.

He said Pantabangan Damcan sufficiently sustain the wa-ter requirements of the currentcrop, and can even accommo-date the ‘quick-turn-around’(QTA) or third cropping, and “ra-tooning.”

Rice ratooning, Nangel said,is the ability of standing cropsto regenerate new tillers afterharvest. It requires less water,labor, and inputs, and produceshigher yield per unit area in ashorter time.

This current cropping, Nangelsaid the NIA-UPRIIS has pro-grammed to irrigate 102,550hectares, requiring a total of1,284 million cubic meters ofwater until harvest in April.

He said Pantabangan Damcan still provide this volume ofwater and remain at the ideal orsafe level of 194.00 meters.

Further, the Dam can still irri-gate 25,000 hectares for the 3rdcropping or QTA and ratooningat the same time.

Also present during the meet-ing were DA Region 3 DirectorRedentor Gatus and PhilippineRice Research Institute(PhilRice) Executive DirectorRonilo Beronio.

For his part, Dir. Gatus as-sured farmers that seed and fer-tilizer subsidies would be madeavailable to those planning toplant a third crop or QTA.

On the other hand, Beroniosaid PhilRice will inform farm-ers on proper rice ratooningthrough distribution of ‘flyers.’

The meeting was also at-tended by representatives fromthe National Food Authority(NFA), Land Bank of the Philip-pines, Bureau of Post Harvestand Research Extension(BPRE), National Seed QualityControl Service (NSQCS) of theBureau of Plant Industry, DA-

RFU 3 officials, and federationpresidents of Irrigators’ Associa-tions (IAs) comprising the Boardof Directors of the UPRIIS Con-federation of Farmer-IrrigatorsAssociations (UCFIA).

UCFIA has 380 IAs as mem-bers within the service area ofUPRIIS in Nueva Ecija, parts ofBulacan, Pampanga and Tarlac.It has 76,000 farmer-memberswho actively participate in theoperation and management ofUPRIIS irrigation systems, aswell as in the collection of irri-gation service fees.

More than P40-million worthof agricultural crops were dam-aged due to El Niño in the Au-tonomous Region of MuslimMindanao (ARMM), based onreports given to Dep’t. Agricul-ture and Fisheries-ARMM Re-gional Secretary, Atty. LomalaBalindong by the respective pro-vincial agricultural officers ofMaguindanao, Lanao del Surand Basilan

Balindong said crop damageis biggest in Maguindanao,where P34.75-million worth ofrice and corn were adversely af-fected.

Basilan reported a total dam-age of P5 million, composed ofrice, corn and high value com-mercial crops, majority of whichare rubber seedlings.

Lanao del Sur lost P 1.7 mil-lion, mostly rice crops.

Sulu and Tawi-Tawi have noreports of crop damage due toEl Niño.

As of mid-February, 4,784farmers, in 41 towns in the threeprovinces were affected.

They are tilling more than6,000 hectares of rice, corn, veg-etables and high value commer-cial crops farmlands which wereaffected by the prolonged dryspell.

Balindong said the DAF-ARMM has created a RegionalEl Nino Task Force, with fieldoperations director Dr. Salik B.Panalunsong as action officer.

Initially, it has issued an ElNiño advisory and primer to in-form the farmers, fishers and thegeneral public on the adverseeffects of the prolonged dryspell.

Likewise, it has distributed an

P40-M worth of crops damaged in ARMMinitial 600 sacks of Open Pol-

l inated Variety (OPV) cornseeds and assorted vegetableseeds to affected ARMM farm-ers. (DAF-ARMM Info Div.)

The Department of Agriculturein Western Visayas (DA-RFU 6)assures El Niño affected farm-ers and fishermen that the DAfamily and other agencies willprovide them needed assis-tance to ease their burden.

DA-RFU6 regional executivedirector and El Niño task forcechair Larry Nacionales said theyare enjoining farmers especiallyin vulnerable areas to cooperatewith them in pursuing the miti-gating measures.

For her part, Director DrusilaEsther Bayate of the DA’s Bu-reau of Fisheries and AquaticResources (BFAR) said they areready to help El Niño-affectedfishpond owners and fisherfolkin Western Visayas.

Likewise, NIA Regional Direc-tor Edilberto Lumigo said theyare ensuring proper manage-ment and control of available ir-rigation water supply.

For his part, National FoodAuthority Regional ManagerMiguel Wycoco said they haveprepared contingency measuresand have enough rice stocks torespond to supply gaps.

Philippine Crop InsuranceCorporation Officer-in-ChargeCharlito Brilleta said they areready to assist affected farmerswho insured their crops thiscropping season. (PNA)

DA agencies join handsto help farmers in W. Vis

February-March 2010 98

To all of you--my dearfriends, compatriots, co-workers, private sectorindustry leaders andpartners, who havecome from near and far--thank you for being hereto see me off, and towelcome one from ourvery own ranks.

I really thank PresidentGloria Macapagal-Arroyofor choosing one fromour ranks to replace mein the Department.

Last night I stared intothe screen of my laptop,and I typed away a fewlines. After more than acouple of hours, I stillcould not get a coherentthought.

It’s not that there isnothing to say, in fact,there seems to be somuch I want to say, that Ifind it difficult, not know-ing where or how tostart.

I was trying very hardto leave you somethingto remember me by.

Until I realized in thewee hours of the morn-ing that after spendingmore than six yearstogether -- words craftedin few minutes cannotgive justice to whatwe’ve experienced.

How can we describethe tension of meetingdeadlines?

Yung naghahabulantayo ng deadlines? Yung

(Excerpts of Sec. Arthur C. Yap’s

valedictory address, March 10, 2010)

‘Living life togetherhas enriched me’

maka-walong revision,tapos pag magpe-presentbinabago ko pa lahat.

How do you put intowords the horror of com-bating a calamity?

Kung alam mo na lahatna pinaghirapan natin aypapawiin lang ng bagyo?

How do you put intowords the aggravation offacing a legislative in-quiry?

How do you put inwords the tension ofbeing lambasted bymedia?

The same way, how doyou recall the exhilarationor the joy of meeting andsurviving all the chal-lenges that are thrownagainst us?

Ang dami natingdinaanan.

Ipinagdasal ko po saPanginoon na ‘wag sanamadaanan lahat yun. Atlahat ng ipinagdasal ko nawag madaanan, visitedus.

As they always say:Kaya natin eh! Kaya rinbinigay sa atin.

How do you share thepains and the lessonslearned from disappoint-ments?

Disappointments atwork. Disappointmentwith friends. Disappointedat things that we have notbeen met.

How do you reduce intowords the jubilation ofsharing with you themilestones achieved atwork?

How will you put inwords

the sadness that wehave -- in times of ourloss, in times of be-reavement.

Sa ating mganamatayan, doon po samga nasalanta ngbagyo.

I see so many familiarfaces. Each one imprint-ing a memory in mymind, which I’m sure Iwill always remember.

I realized that wordscannot capture theboundless mix of emo-tions which is the conse-quence of having livedlife together with you, aswe did these past fewyears.

In the end, it is theexperience of living lifetogether with all of youwhich has enriched me.

But even as I feelincapable of escapingthis experience intowords, I am capable ofexpressing my deepappreciation in yourgoodness to many ofyou.

As I close this chapterof my life, I ask all of youto pray for me.

Nothing is certain inlife. We are here oneday, we are gone tomor-row.

There is nothing per-manent, because theonly permanent thing inthis world is change.

Many things willchange for me when Ileave here today, but Iwill carry the memorieswith you always.

Thank you very much!

The Romans have asaying that goes likethis:

‘Sometimes when Godgrants what a man asksand prays for, they alsogrant what the man hasnot foreseen.’

God has a way ofgiving us greater oppor-tunities, and somethingmore than what we haveasked.

Of course, I thankPresident GloriaMacapagal-Arroyo.

I thank my friend,Secretary Arthur C. Yap,for entrusting to me thisgreat responsibility ofbeing the next secretaryof DA.

Napakalaki pongchallenge ang pagigingsecretary of agriculture.

Last Sunday, while Iwas going to church,and was entering wor-ship, na-realize ko nanapakalaking challengeand great responsibility.

People raise the issueof my capability ofleading the department.Maybe they’re correct,maybe not.

I would not shy away

from challenges. I would

not shy away from

responsibilities.

I’m the one who, in

spite of fear, will have

courage.

(Excerpts of Sec. Bernie G. Fondevilla’s

acceptance speech)

‘Strengthenour goals,innovatesome more’

Courage is not theabsence of fear.

Courage is exactlydoing what you fearmost.

I’d take on this re-sponsibility, knowingthat it is a great respon-sibility, and it is a greatchallenge.

Every difficulty, everychallenge is an opportu-nity, and I will take thatbecause it was given tome.

I’m not perfect, but Ibelieve that God willgive me the grace tosustain me.

Most of all, I havegreat people aroundme--you, all of you!

The work of the De-partment is not just awork of the Secretary.It’s the work of all of us.

And so, no matter thechallenges that we willface, we will haveourselves together. Wework together.

In my term, I willstrengthen our goals.

Pursue some more,innovate some more --so we will ultimatelyrealize our dream ofmaking farmers andfishermen, business-men of their own selves,in their own right.

Maraming salamat sainyo and I look forwardto working with all ofyou!

Incoming Sec. Bernie G.. Fondevilla (4th from right) hands over a plaque of appreciation to outgoing Sec. ArthurC. Yap during the turnover ceremonies, March 10, 2010, at the DA-BSWM Convention Hall, in Quezon City.Joining them are the members of DA executive committee (from left), namely: Undersecretary Salvador Salacup;Ass’t. Secretaries Preceles Manzo, Dennis Araullo and Eduardo Nolasco; Undersecretaries Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, Belinda Gonzales and Segredo Serrano; and ass’t. secretaries Clayton Olalia and Brian Balingit.

Secretaries Yap and Fondevilla are shown above with the DA Regional Executive Directors, and below with therespective head of DA bureaus, attached agencies and corporations.

10

From the RegionsSelected news and developments on agriculture, fisheries, agribusiness and

related sectors, as reported by the DA-Regional Field Units, and those published

in national and provincial publications.

The Department of Agriculturein Bicol Region (DA-RFU5), inpartnership with Albay Repre-sentative Edcel Lagman, re-cently launched in Tabaco City,Albay, a P250-million programto revitalize the production andprocessing of pili, abaca andcoconut for both domestic andexport markets.

DA-RFU5 Officer-in-ChargeMarilyn V. Sta. Catalina said theinitiative, known as Locally-Funded Indigenous Crops Pro-gram (LFICP), was fundedthrough the efforts of Rep.Lagman.

It will be implemented by theDA in tandem with two DA agen-cies--Fiber Industry Develop-ment Authority (FIDA) and Phil-ippine Coconut Authority (PCA)--in Albay, Camarines Sur,Camarines Norte, Sorsogon andCatanduanes.

During the launch, Rep.Lagman and Dir. Sta. Catalinadistributed to farmer-beneficia-ries and LGU planting materialsof pili, abaca and coconut, andseveral farm equipment.

For pili, the LFICP targets toproduce 400,000 sexuallypropagated and 300,000 asexu-ally propagated seedlings. The Department of Agriculture

and Gawad Kalinga (GK) re-cently launched a ‘Bayan-Anihan’ vegetable project at GKPueblo Antonio Village, SitioHabana, Toril, Davao City.

This brings to date 29 Bayan-Anihan sites in Mindanao and177 all over the country withbackyard vegetable projects.Each site has 30 family-benefi-ciaries.

The DA, through itsGinintuang Masaganang Ani(GMA) High Value CommercialCrops (HVCC) program, GK andother project partners target toput up a total of 500 Bayan-Anihan sites (312 in Luzon, 92in the Visayas and 96 inMindanao).

In Mindanao, the targets perregion are: 20 in ZamboangaPeninsula, 40 in NorthernMindanao, 10 in Davao Region,16 in SOCCSKSARGEN, and

10 in the Autonomous Regionof Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

P250-M program to prop up

Bicol’s pili, abaca, coco sectors

Bicol produces 82 percent ofthe country’s total pili output,and it is a top export commodity, which can compete withmacademia, cashew and walnutin terms of quality, Sta. Catalinasaid.

Bicolano processors havebeen exporting pili products toJapan, US and Europe.

Aside from the nuts, otherparts of the pili tree have com-mercial uses: a resin or “manilaelemi” from its trunk, for the pro-duction of lacquer, thinner andvarnish; and the nut’s oil, whichserves as food or as a bodyscrub or lotion.

For abaca, FIDA will focus ondisease eradication and rehabili-tation of 1,777 hectares infectedby the bunchy top and mosaicdisease virus. It will plant an ad-ditional 331 hectares to abaca.

FIDA OIC Regional DirectorEdith Lomerio said last yearBicol regained its status as thecountry’s top abaca producer, at14,140 metric tons, 5.1% morethan in 2008.

For coconut, PCA will distrib-ute 225,000 quality seedlings for1,500 hectares; establish 4nurseries and maintain a seedgarden with 9,000 seednuts;

Bayan-Anihannow in Davao

Some 2,200 children and adults in Barangay San Roque,Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte, now enjoy clean and safe drinkingwater. Thanks to the joint initiatives of the DA-Mindanao RuralDevelopment Program and the Municipal Government ofKitcharao, as they recently rehabilitated the San Roque watersystem, worth P4 million. With the system, water-borne diseasesare a thing of the past, said Kitcharao Mayor Aristotle Montante.Inset, a boy enjoys a drink of refreshing water from one of the 60faucets of the San Roque potable water system.

produce embryo-culturedmakapuno for 60 hectares; fer-tilize 770 hectares; and inter-crop 145,000 cacao seedlingsin 400 hectares. (Jennis Nidea,DA-RFU5 Info Div.)

Some 200 farmers from fivebarangays in R.T. Lim,Zamboanga Sibugay have be-nefited from a P1.64-million live-stock breeding and propagationproject funded under the DA’s

Zambo farmers benefit fromDA-MRDP livestock project

Mindanao Rural DevelopmentProgram (DA-MRDP), particu-larly under its CommunityFund for Agricultural Develop-ment (CFAD) component.

Some 208 farmers received atotal of 96 head of carabao (83)and cattle (13) -- through theirrespective farmers’ groups.

They include: Brgy. BalansagSamahan ng Magsasaka andBalansag Multi-Purpose Coop-erative; Brgy. Gango IndigenousFarmers Organization andGango Integrated Dev’t. Ass’n.;Brgy. Silingan CARP Beneficia-ries Multi-purpose Coop.; Brgy.Tilasan Pigsalabukan NogSubanon Ass’n.; and TilasanSmall Farmers’ Ass’n. andSamahang Magsasaka ngBarangay Pres. Roxas.

The animals were recently ear-

tagged, dewormed and given vi-

tamins--through the joint efforts

of the DA-Western Mindanao In-

tegrated Agricultural Research

Center (WESMIARC), Provincial

Veterinarian Office of

Zamboanga Sibugay and the

Municipal Agriculture Office ofR.T. Lim. (DA-RFU 9 Info Div.)

For the Bayan-Anihan veg-etable project, the DA has pro-vided inputs--such as vegetable

seeds, seedling trays, organicfertilizers, weighing scales, fruittree seedlings, and medicinal/culinary plants--worth P8 million.The GK, together with selectedstate universities and colleges

(SUC) conduct the communitytraining.

Dr. Elmer Nueva (left), provincial veterinarian of ZamboangaSibugay, ear-tags a carabao, one of the 96 head of large animalsfunded by the DA-MRDP. Assisting him are Julie Testa of DA-WESMIARC and a lady farmer-recipient from Brgy. Balansag.

February-March 2010 11

DDDDDA-RFU 8 to put up 18 gA-RFU 8 to put up 18 gA-RFU 8 to put up 18 gA-RFU 8 to put up 18 gA-RFU 8 to put up 18 grrrrreenhouseseenhouseseenhouseseenhouseseenhouses

Outgoing Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap discusses the DAinterventions versus El Nino in a meeting with farmers in Brgy.Lamping, Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan. With him are DA-RFU1 Dir.Cipriano Santiago, Undersecretary for operations Joel Rudinasand GMA-Rice program national coordinator Frisco Malabanan.

Mindanao leaders thankPresident Gloria Macapagal-Ar-royo for recently signing theMindanao Development Author-ity Act of 2010 (MinDA) or Re-public Act 9996, February 17,2010.

President Arroyo also sworeinto office presidential adviser onMindanao Jesus Dureza asMinDA chair. He will serve afixed term of six years.

Tasked to integrategovernment’s peace and devel-opment efforts in Mindanao, theMinDA strengthens the existingMindanao Economic Develop-ment Council (MEDCo).

Dureza headed MEDCo dur-ing the Ramos administration.

“It’s a major milestone of theArroyo administration and a bigboost to Mindanao,” MEDCochair Undersecretary VirgilioLeyretana said.

The MinDA will coverMindanao and Palawan as a fo-cus area for the BruneiDarussalam-Indonesia-Malay-sia-Philippines East ASEANGrowth Area (BIMP-EAGA). Itwill also act as the official andpermanent Philippine Coordinat-ing Office for BIMP-EAGA.

“PGMA has shown again hergreat concern for Mindanaowhen signed into law MinDA andnow we Mindanaons must sup-port this agency to make it suc-cessfully perform its functions,”said Deputy House SpeakerSimeon Datumanong.

Datumanong is one of the prin-cipal authors of the bill’s Con-gress version.

The other principal authors ofthe Congress version are Rep.Datu Pax Mangudadatu of Sul-

Leaders laud PGMA for signing ‘MinDA’

The Department of Agriculturein Eastern Visayas (DA-RFU8)is set to construct 18 green-houses in selected cities andmunicipalities in the region thatwill produce quality hybrid andhigh value vegetables.

Dr. Veronica Berenguer, DA-RFU8 high value commercialcrops coordinator, said underthis greenhouse project, farm-ers will adopt the “protectivecultivation technology,” the tem-perature, humidity, light and car-bon dioxide are modified for op-timum plant growth.

With the technology,Berenguer said, farmers will beable to produce quality veg-etables, on a competitive level,via greenhouses.

Vegetable production will thenbe a profitable venture for farm-ers in Eastern Visayas, sheadded.

The DA has constructed twogreenhouses in 2007, inParanas, Samar (which is non-operational) and in Ormoc City,which is currently used for pro-ducing vegetable seedlings.

Dr. Berenguer assures thatthe 18 greenhouses will be used

Farmers from the 27 munici-palities of Abra recently receivedvegetable seeds worthP190,000, from the Departmentof Agriculture-Cordillera Admin-istrative Region (DA-CAR).

The seeds were turned overto Abra Governor EustaquioBersamin by DA-CAR assistantregional director JosephineAben and Ruben Dulagan, re-gional coordinator of the GMA-high value commercial crops(HVCC) program.

“We owe President Arroyo somuch for a lot of agriculturalprojects implemented here insupport of the livelihood of ourfarmers. The Abra sustainableproject worth P100 million com-mitted by PGMA and the DAwas already delivered,” Gover-nor Bersamin said.

“The DA is continuously mak-ing an impact in Abra with theirtimely assistance and supportwith its calamity interventions.

The vegetable seeds will helpour farmers recover faster fromthe destructive effects of ty-phoons Ondoy and Pepeng, headded.

During the seed turnover cer-emonies, Governor Bersaminand ARD Aben also awarded acheck worth P62,500 to youngAbra farmer Mario Astudillo,who just returned from a one-year training in Japan, under theDA-NAFC young farmer agricul-ture exchange program.

Astudillo will use the moneyfor goat meat production.

Gov. Bersamin also commit-ted to give Astudillo additionalfunds for the project.

He also instructed Abra’s pro-vincial veterinarian to extendtechnical assistance to ensurethe success of Astudillo’s goatproject.

Jesus Villamor, Jr., Abra’sOIC-Provincial Agriculturist, saidthe DA previously gave farmersseeds of quality rice and cornvarieties.

Abra farmer-leaders thankedGov. Bersamin and the DA-CARfor their continuing support toincrease their productivity andincome. (DA-CAR Info Div.)

Abra farmersreceive veggie seeds

to the fullest, in cooperation withconcerned vegetable farmers’organizations that will manageand operate the facility. (LeyteSamar Daily Express)

tan Kudarat and Rep. RufusRodriguez of Cagayan de Oro,while co-authors include 37 con-gressmen from the Mindanaobloc.

Meanwhile, the Senate ver-sion of MinDA bill was principallyauthored by Senator JuanMiguel Zubiri and co-authored bySenators Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Edgardo Angara,Manny Villar, Richard Gordon,Juan Miguel Zubiri, Lito Lapid,Jose “Jinggoy” Ejercito Estrada,Ramon Revilla Jr., LorenLegarda, Mar Roxas, PiaCayetano and Juan PonceEnrile.

“We Mindanaoans are sothankful to PGMA for signing theMinDA Bill into law. This law willestablish Mindanao-wideagency for the comprehensiveintegrated and faster develop-ment of Mindanao,” Rodriguezsaid.

“This MinDA will not only bringin more funds and projects forMindanao but will likewise serveas the engine of development ofMindanao as part of the BIMP-EAGA,” he said.

“The signing of the MinDA Billinto law is a historic milestonefor Mindanao because this her-alds the end of a decades-longwait and long-felt need forMindanao to have a permanentdevelopment agency,” Leyretanasaid.

He said through the years,about 18 ad hoc bodies hadbeen overseeing Mindanao de-velopment.

President Arroyo said she wasexcited to sign the bill as shehas also authored the bill whenshe was Senator. (Phil. NewsAgency)

The DA’s Philippine CarabaoCenter (PCC) encourages farm-ers not to burn rice straw, butinstead collect and stock it foruse as feed for livestock ani-mals.

Director Arn D. Granada, of-ficer in charge of PCC at WestVisayas State UniversityCalinog campus, said farmersshould not burn rice straws af-ter harvest, instead they shouldgather and keep them as feedfor their animals.

Granada also urged farmersto plant humidicula grass, whichis resistant to drought, fast-growing, and can regroup eas-ily on pasture areas. Plantingmaterials of humidicula is avail-able at PCC, WVSU Calinogupon request.

The southern part of Iloilo andAntique are now experiencingprolonged dry spell due to ElNino.

PCC advises farmers and live-stock raisers to closely coordi-nate with their municipal agricul-ture officers and nearest PCCoffice for technical assistance.(James Earl E. Ogatis, DA-RFU6 Info Div.)

Don’t burn rice

straw, use as feed

12

A digest of selected news, developments and breakthroughs in agriculture,

fisheries, agribusiness and related fields culled from websites and publications

of international institutions and organizations.

International News Round-up

ICRISAT suggests long-term

strategy vs. El NiñoEl NiñoEl NiñoEl NiñoEl NiñoAs the Philippines is currently

experiencing the El Niñoweather phenomenon, the Inter-national Crops Research Insti-tute for the Semi-Arid Tropics(ICRISAT) and its partners rec-ommend several measures thatFilipino farmers and the Philip-pine government could do tomitigate its effects and sus-tain farm productivity, includingthe establishment of a Philip-pine Dryland Research Institute(PhilDRI).

ICRISAT director-general Dr.William Dar, who once servedas acting agriculture secretaryin the Philippines, said the mea-sures include the following:

First, growing of drought-tolerant crops to match the avail-able length of the growing sea-son and low soil moisture.

Second, implementation ofcontingent action plans to bemapped out by the Philippines’Department of Agriculture (DA)and local government units(LGUs), in consultation withfarmers. These involve replace-ment of affected crops withdrought-tolerant ones, and pro-duction of seeds of dryland andother alternate crops.

Third, efficient management ofnatural resources, harvestingwater during the rainy season,arresting land degradation, andconserving soil moisture.

Fourth, empowering stake-holders through capacity build-ing and enabling the nationalgovernment and LGUs to formu-late policies supportive of dry-land agriculture including othersupport services.

ICRISAT also recommendsgrowing an array of crops to-gether with livestock, along withother income-generating activi-ties that lessen the risks ofcrop failure.

In all, the Philippine govern-ment should map out a long-term strategy to cope with ElNiño and climate change, saidDar.

He said the strategy calls for

sustained investments on wa-

ter conservation and manage-

ment, and dryland agricultural

research.

In particular, he said the next

administration and legislators

should consider the establish-

ment of a Philippine Dryland Re-

search Institute (PhilDRI), which

was previously filed by former DA

Secretary and party-list Repre-

sentative Leonardo Montemayor

during the 14th Congress.

As envisioned, the PhilDRI

would generate appropriate in-novations and policies to copewith climate change and ElNiño. (ICRISAT)

Rice production is projectedto decrease 10 per cent if theworld’s temperature increasesby 1 degree Celsius.

This is according to a lecturerat Thailand’s Kasetsart Univer-sity Faculty of Agriculture, EdSarobol, who cited studies con-ducted by the International RiceResearch Institute (IRRI) andThailand’s Chiang Mai Univer-sity.

Speaking at KasetsartUniversity’s 48th annual confer-ence, Sarobol said the ear ofpaddy rice and blossoms willdrop if the temperature rises.

Further, he said the seed willbe stunted at 80 percent if theair temperature exceeds 36.5 de-grees Celsius.

However, he noted that in-creasing carbon dioxide (CO2)concentration will impact favor-ably on plant growth and devel-opment.

For instance, if the CO2 con-

centration is increased, theplant’s water-use efficiency andphotorespiration will also in-crease.

That means if the CO2 con-centration increases every 10parts per million (ppm), the plantproduction will be increased byone per cent.

Sarobol added the global en-vironmental change will also haveadverse impact on animals, asthey would experience hyper-capnia, a condition where thereis too much CO2 in the blood.

In addition, the increasing airtemperature will affect the ani-mals’ respiratory system, mem-brane fluidity, and reproductivehealth.

He said the study conductedlast year found that during the50-year period, from 1951 to2000, Thailand’s average mini-mum temperature increased by0.30 degrees, while the averagemaximum temperature in-creased by 0.13 degrees.

The study also found that theamount of rainfall in Thailandduring summer, from Novemberto April, has increased.

In contrast, the amount ofrainfall in the rainy season (Mayto October) has dropped.

Thailand’s Water ResourcesDepartment (WRD) has pro-jected that about 21 provinceswill face drought this year.

“We will closely monitor therain situation from January toApril. If the rains are delayedduring this period that means thedrought situation would be se-vere,” said WRD director-generalKasemsun Chinnavaso.

He said they have preparedwater-carrying vehicles to pro-vide water and assist people indry areas.(IRRI)

Australia should also adapt to climate change

Global warming will trim rice

production by 10%

Australia needs to adapt toclimate change to minimizethe risks and enable its primaryindustries to survive and pros-per in the future.

Thus, said Dr. Mark Howden,a scientist at the Common-wealth Scientific and IndustrialResearch Organization(CSIRO), who is co-editor of thebook, “Adapting Agriculture toClimate Change: PreparingAustralian Agriculture, Fishe-ries and Forestry for the Fu-ture.”

”Australia is highly sensitiveto climate change, and weknow enough to start prepar-ing adaptation strategies, and

start planning and acting now,”Dr. Howden said.

Australia’s primary industriesinclude: grains, cotton, rice, su-garcane, wine grapes, horticul-ture, forestry, broadacre grazing,intensive livestock industries,marine fisheries, aquacultureand water resources.

Examples of adaptation op-tions include: new breeds ofcrops better suited to highercarbon dioxide concentrations inthe air, higher temperatures andreduced water resources;changing fishing practices tomatch changing species distri-butions and populations; and

choosing more suitable sitesand species for forestry plan-tations.

Another Australian expert,Dr. Michael Robinson of theUniversity of Melbourne and theVictorian Department of Pri-mary Industries, said “climatechanges are likely to be far-reaching and will add to thesubstantial pressures that al-ready exist for agriculture.”

Adaptive responses must besupported by good science,which must be available andaccessible, Dr. Robinsonadded. (The FishSite NewsDesk)

13

DA to continue pursuing ... (from p3)

security, competitive and freetrade, sustainable agriculture,and profitable farm and fisheryendeavor,” Fondevilla said.

He pointed out that despitethe challenges facing Philippineagriculture, the increasingly pro-nounced rebound of the worldeconomy from the most recentfinancial crisis presents oppor-tunities for the sector in termsof investments and internationaland domestic demand growth.

“The Philippines’ populationand the steady growth of themiddle class in the region is astrong base for agriculture andfood products which can providea steady source of growth bothdomestically as well as for ex-port market,” Fondevilla said.

These areas of opportunitiesinclude food production, distri-bution and other logistics sup-port activities, which also in-clude green technology in agri-culture, he noted.

Green technology, he ex-plained, covers organic foodsand the production of sustainable and renewable feedstocksfor fuel and energy.

Fondevilla pointed out that thePhilippines is now the preferredinvestment destination in Asiabased on rising private invest-

ments in agriculture mainly forbiofuel feedstock.

The Biofuels Act in the coun-try and the rising awareness forthe need to shift to clean fuelsources has provided the nec-essary stimulus for the develop-ment of the biofuel feedstockindustry, he said.

He said several companiesare investing in biofuels in thePhilippines.

These include BENLINC,PNOC-AFC (Zambales,Bukidnon, General Santos,Bohol, and Cebu), BioenergyFarms, Eco Global Bio Oil,CURCAS Energy Australia,Highlands Dev’t Corp, DKBiofuels, KIBIO, GMC, Abun-dant Biofuels Corp, HerminioTeves Group, GFI, Cavite BiofuelProduction Inc., FUELS Inc.,Roxol Bioenergy, Basic Energy,First Pampanga Biofuels Corp.,Alsons Power, Isabela Alcogas

Instant agri-info ... (from p1)

February-March 2010

Telephone Company (PLDT)through a novel project, calledFarmers’ Contact Center (FCC).

Powered by PLDT’s OnCall(Managed Contact Center solu-tion), the project allows farmersto talk extensively with the DA’sagricultural technicians and ex-perts to get guidance and infor-mation on their various concernswithout having to worry abouthigh prices on call rates.

Through PLDT Toll Free, callcharges from SMART and Talkn’ Text mobile is set at P7.27flat rate per call, instead ofcharging by the minute.

An agreement formalizing thejoint FCC project was signedlast February by then Agricul-ture Secretary Arthur Yap andPLDT vice president for corpo-ration relations managementRenato Castaneda.

Yap said the initiative, imple-mented by the DA through itsAgricultural Training Institute(ATI), is part of the extensioncomponent of the government’sflagship program on food secu-rity, dubbed as FIELDS.

Agriculture Secretary Bernie

Fondevilla welcomed theproject and vowed to supportand further strengthen it on hiswatch.

ATI Director Asterio Saliotsaid agriculture experts will beon hand to answer queries re-ceived through the FCC, whichhas established direct links withthe various DA bureaus and at-tached agencies, and includingagri-fishery state universitiesand colleges.

The FCC may be accessedthrough the following hotlines:

1-800-10-982AGRI (or 1-800-10-982-2474) for provincial toll-free calls using PLDT lines;

982AGRI (or 982-2474) forcalls within Metro Manila;

391DA (or 391-32) for textmessages using Smart andTalk&Text;

0920-946AGRI (0920-946-2474) for mobile calls and textmessages using Globe, TM andSun Cellular;

info@e-extension.gov.phfor emails;

www.e-extension.gov.phand www.ati.da.gov.ph for theonline discussion fora and in-stant messaging.

will create and improve businessopportunities, benefiting farm-ers, ruralfolk, entrepreneurs andtraders,” said DA-MRDP direc-tor Lealyn Ramos, who is alsoconcurrent DA Region 10(Northen Mindanao) regionalexecutive director.

A long-term poverty alleviationprogram of the Philippine gov-ernment through the DA, theMRDP is funded by a loan ex-tended by the World Bank, with

equity and counterpart from thenational and beneficiary localgovernment units in Mindanao.

To date, the DA-MRDP hascompleted over 58 kilometers(kms) of FMRs, mostly in

Caraga region, two units of level-2 potable water system, and a6-meter bridge.

Nearly completed projectsinclude: 150 kms of FMRs, 59linear meter bridges, five units

of level-2 potable water sys-tems, and a communal irrigationsystem in Sulop, Davao del Sur,servicing 100 hectares.

This year, the respective DA-

MRDP regional fund allocations

are: Region 9, P143M; Region

10, P94M; Region 11, P158.7M;

Region 12, P130M; Caraga,

P132M; and Autonomous Re-

gion of Muslim Mindanao

(ARMM), P206M. (Sherwin B.

Manual, DA-MRDP)

P860-M projects ...(from p1)

Corp., and Southern BukidnonBioenergy, among others.

Other investment prospects inthe country’s farm and fisheriessector include poultry and live-stock production, where thePhilippines enjoys a distinct ad-vantage because of its avian-flufree status and its reputation as

relatively free of the foot-and-mouth disease.

Investors can also explorethe area of seed production,Fondevilla noted. BeidahuangChina , for instance, has signedan agreement to invest in seedproduction in the country.

§provision of fuel assistancefor affected Cagayan rice andcorn farmers (ongoingdistribution of P150,000 permunicipality, with a total of P12.4million region-wide in addition toLGU initiatives)§provision of vegetable seeds

and seedlings (25,000 packetsready for distribution; P10-mill ion worth of seeds fordelivery and distribution toaugment LGU interventions);§provision of pesticides and

rodenticide in case of pestoutbreak (168 kg rodenticidedistributed to 338 rat-infestedbarangays, covering 11,000hectares. Infestation now undercontrol);§rotational irrigation system

implemented by the DA-NationalIrrigation Administration sinceDecember 2009 to preservewater until harvest time; and§ information campaign on

water conservation throughmeetings with farmers’ andirrigators’ associations, andtrained 15,518 farmers onproper water management thruFarmers’ Field School.

PGMA distributes ...(from p3)

Agriculture Secretary Bernie G.. Fondevilla is interviewed bymedia persons right after the Cabinet Meeting presided byPresident Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, in Daluyon Resort, Sabang,Palawan, February 23, 2010. Behind him is DA-Region 4Bexecutive director Antonio Gerundio.

14

AFTA to ... (from p3)

region can now be looked at asan additional source of impor-tant raw materials and interme-diate goods not locally producedbut which are inputs for localindustries,” said Manzo in hisreport to former DA SecretaryArthur Yap.

The Philippines may even bein a “better position” to exportexcess produce in the future,like yellow corn, to our ASEANneighbors that are not yet self-sufficient in these goods, Manzosaid.

AFTA, which is seen to be-come a potent free trade areacovering the Philippines and ninemore countries in five years’time, is a potential market ofclose to 600 million people—theworld’s largest market next toChina and India.

“If we analyze briefly the Phil-ippines’ level of trade in termsof the sensitive agricultural prod-ucts,” he said, “it is evident thatthe bulk of its farm imports, ex-cept for rice, come from coun-tries outside of the ASEAN re-gion.”

For instance, almost all of thecountry’s live pig breeder im-ports over the past five yearscame from the United States,Australia and Europe, he said,while most of its beef, pork andchicken meat imports were alsosourced from these countries aswell as from Canada, Brazil andNew Zealand.

Moreover, even if Thailand and

Vietnam are the Philippines’ biggest competitors in the region,there are “unique concerns” that“favor our domestic hog andpoultry industries,” Manzo saidin his report to Yap.

For one thing, he said, thePhilippines alone is a major pro-ducer of pork meat in the region,given that “Brunei, Malaysia andIndonesia are predominantlyMuslim countries and they donot produce and consume porkthat much.”

Manzo said, “this realityshould augur well for local pork,especially those produced inMindanao, which is an area thatis geographically closer to therest of Southeast Asia and longdeclared free of the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).”

In fact, he said, the DA’s Bu-reau of Animal Industry (BAI) hasalready reported shipments ofcanned pork-based processedproducts to Thailand.

As one of only two ASEANcountries still free of the AvianInfluenza (AI) or bird flu virus—the other one is Brunei—the lo-cal poultry should be able tocapitalize on this advantage by“looking forward to a larger mar-ket in ASEAN,” he further said.

Manzo said that AFTA is alsono threat to the yellow cornsubsector “as there is notenough supplies from our Aseanneighbors. We may even be in

a better position to export our

excess corn to them in the fu-ture.”

Agri-agra law ... (from p3)

compliance by banks, and pro-viding for penalties that would goto the Agricultural GuaranteeFund Pool (AGFP) and the Phil-ippine Crop Insurance Corp.(PCIC),” said Puyat in her reportto Sec. Fondevilla.

The new law effectively elimi-nates non-agri alternative com-pliance -- whereas before underPD 717, banks are deemedcomplied if they invest 25% inLocal Government Unit (LGU),Pag-ibig or Home GuarantyCorp. bonds; extend loans forhousing, education or medicalinstitutions, microbusinesses,and socialized or low-cost hous-ing projects.

Such non-compliance ate upP122.19 billion or 73.67 percentof alternative compliance underthe old law, Puyat said.

Modes of ComplianceNow, RA 10000 limits the

banks’ “alternative compliance”mainly to the following:

• Wholesale lending to ac-

credited rural financial insti-

tutions for retail lending to

small farmers or fisherfolk, oropening of special deposit ac-counts with accredited rural fi-nancial institutions;

• Loans for agriculture in-

frastructure like farm-to-mar-

ket roads and postharvest fa-

cilities;• Investments in preferred

shares of stock of rural finan-

cial institutions, including

farmers’ cooperatives andmutual benefit associations;

• Loans for, or investmentsin, activities identified underthe Agricultural Moderniza-tion Credit and FinancingProgram or AMCFP; and

• Traditional agri-related“alternative compliance”modes like investments inLand Bank or DevelopmentBank of the Philippines (DBP)bonds and shares of stock ofQuedancor, or rediscountingof guaranteed loans ofQuedancor and PCIC.Stiffer Penalties

RA 10000 also imposes stifferpenalties against non-compli-ance or under-compliance, aserring bank will pay 0.5% of thetotal amount not complied orundercomplied.

Previously, PD 717 imposesa fine of only P1,000 to P30,000per day.

Also, RA 10000 mandates theBSP, DA and Department ofAgrarian Reform (DAR) to reviewits provisions, and thereaftersubmit their findings to Con-gress for appropriate action.

As of November 2009, theloanable funds of the bankingsector reached P2.27 trillion.

This meant that lending to theagri-agra sector should havereached over P500 billion, whileloans to small and medium en-terprises must have amountedto P227 billion. But loans ex-

tended to the agriculture sectoronly stood at less than P350 bil-lion.

DA Undersecretary for operations Joel Rudinas (center)

presides over a steering committee meeting of a project

funded by the European Commission on Food Facility

through the UN Food Agriculture Organization (FAO), called

‘Increasing rice yields and productivity through the

promotion of small-scale irrigation systems and integrated

crop management systems in rainfed areas.’ With him

(from left) are: European Union officials Raffaela Boudron

and Nicholas Taylor; DA-InfRES project manager Dir. Roy

Abaya; DA-RFU3 Dir. Redentor Gatus; and Kazuyuki

Tsurumi, FAO Representative in the Philippines.

The Department of Agriculture— in partnership with the Euro-pean Commission on Food Fa-cility through the United Nations’Food and Agriculture Organiza-tion, and concerned local gov-ernment units — is implement-ing a €4.2-mill ion (roughlyP260M) project, entitled “In-creasing rice yields and produc-tivity through the promotion ofsmall-scale irrigation systemsand integrated crop manage-ment (ICM) systems in rainfedareas.”

It aims to benefit 4,200 smallfarm households in five priorityprovinces: Bulacan, Pampanga,Tarlac, Nueva Ecija andPangasinan.

Under the project, the farmer-beneficiaries will be provided

DA, EU and FAO implement P260-Msmall-scale irrigation project

1,400 units of shallow tube wellsand surface water pumps, atone set for every three farmers,who till an average of one hect-are each. They will receiveflatbed dryers.

They will be trained by the DAthrough the Philippine Rice Re-search Institute and other con-cerned agencies to use certifiedseeds, apply appropriate fertil-izers and other inputs, adoptICM systems that include site-specific nutrient management,integrated pest management,and controlled irrigation—all toincrease their rice productivityand income. Some of them willbe trained to become certifiedseed producers

The project runs from January2010 to June 2011.

15February-March 2010

DA Region 4-B Director Antonio Gerundio (right), representingincoming DA Secretary Bernie G. Fondevilla, officially opens the8th National Vegetable Congress in Puerto Princesa City, Feb.23-25, 2010 . Sec. Fondevilla urged farmers and other industrystakeholders to further strengthen partnerships to protect thecountry’s vegetable sector from climate change by using modern,drought- and pest- resistant seeds, and adoption of cost-efficientproduction, postharvest, processing and transport technologiesand facilities. Also in photo (from left) are: Puerto Princesa ViceMayor Lucilo Bayron, Palawan Vegetable Growers Inc. Presi-dent Oliver Conde, Phil. Vegetable Industry Dev’t. Board, Inc.Pres. Lyndon Tan, and AGAP party-list Rep. Nicanor Briones.

During his term, PresidentArroyo has increased theprice of palay from P10 perkilo in 2004 to P17 in 2009.

In all, the country’s farmlabor productivity – or theamount of agricultural outputproduced by a farm worker –has increased by 8.4% toP21,561 per person in 2008,from P19,894 in 2004, atconstant prices.

Touching farmers’ lives

More importantly, he has

touched the lives of thou-

sands of small farmers and

fishers across the country,

and somehow made a big

difference, giving them hope

and opportunity, not only for

themselves, but more

importantly for their children

and children’s children.

Here are some excerpts of

their testimonials:

Noel America, chairman of

the Tangkilik Multi-Purpose

Cooperative in Real, Quezon,

has this to say:

“Malaking tulong ng

Department of Agriculture at

ni Secretary Arthur Yap sa

aming

mga magsasaka sa

pagbibigay ng mga proyekto

tulad ng paghahayupan at

paghahalaman. Nakabangon

ang mga mamamayan na

lubhang naapektuhan ng

landslide noong 2004. Unti-

unti na silang nakakatayo...”

Adelina Laurente, of

Children of Emmanuel Rural

Improvement Club (RIC),

Candaba, Pampanga:

“Binigyan kami ni Sec.

Yap at ni Pangulong Arroyo

ng Bagsakan Center. Yung

mga ani naming gulay at

livestock, kami-kami na rin

ang nagtitinda sa murang

presyo para makinabang ang

lahat. Nakatulong po nang

malaki ang DA sa

pagbibigay sa amin ng mga

alagaing baboy at manok,

mga buto ng gulay, binhing

palay, at fertilizer...”

Lamberto Riego, chairman

of St. Joseph Natural Farm-

ing Ass’n., Camarines Sur:

Editorial: Of legacy... (from p2)

“Kami ay mayroong

mahigit 240 farmer-coopera-

tors na gumagamit ng pro

bio-N organic fertilizer at

liquid foliar spray--na aming

ginagawa sa

tulong ng DA at ni Secretary

Arthur Yap. Sa paggamit ng

mga ito, nabawasan ng 60%

ang aming gastos sa

palayan. Ang kanilang ani

ay na-doble, at ang iba

naman ay na-triple. Malaki

rin po ang naging parte ng

DA para mas mapalawak

ang kaalaman ng aming

mga magsasaka, di lang po

sa palayan, kundi rin sa

gulayan sa pamamagitan ng

kanilang Farmer Field

School o FFS...”

Manuel Pasa Jr., man-

ager of Kilusang Patubigan

ng Lateral B Dev’t Coop.,

Lagonoy, Camarines Sur:

“Sa panahon ng tag-ulan,

problemado kami dahil

nabubulok ang aming palay.

Kung binebenta namin,

murang-mura ang presyo.

Nang mag-request kami sa

DA ng flatbed dryer, gumaan

ang aming problema. Ang

palay na dinideliver ng mga

miyembro ay pinapatuyo na

namin. Kaya malaking

pasalamat namin sa DA.

Kaya magsama-sama tayo

at sa tulong ng gobyerno,

sana’y mai-angat natin ang

ating kabuhayan para sa

ating mga anak, para sa

ating pamilya...”

These are just some of

the farmers, whose liveli-

hood and the future of their

children and their children’s

children have been secured

through the efforts of Sec.

Yap and members of the DA

family.

And this is legacy that he

will leave behind and

bequeath to Sec. Bernie G.

Fondevilla, who we believe

will carry on the job as well.

Thank you Mr. Secretary

for touching their lives and

ours!

We wish you all the beston your next journey!

Tobaco-producing provincesmostly in Ilocos are set to re-ceive a huge windfall, their sharein excise taxes, as PresidentGloria Macapagal-Arroyo has or-dered the release of P6.371 bil-lion owed by the National Gov-ernment to local governmentunits (LGUs) that produce bar-ley and tobacco products.

“Pursuant to Executive OrderNo. 843 issued by the Presidenton November 5, 2009, the P6.3billion will be paid in seven equalannual installments starting2010 with a provision for themonetization by the LGUs oftheir respective shares,” Budgetand Management SecretaryRolando Andaya, Jr. said.

The DBM, Bureau of InternalRevenue (BIR), and the DA’sNational Tobacco Administration(DA-NTA) have issued jointcirculars to implement Repub-lic Act 8240, which took effecton January 1, 1997, and mandated the 15% share of barleyand native tobacco-producing

LGUs to get P6.3 B from tobacco taxesLGUs from the incremental taxon tobacco products.

In availing the P6.3 billion taxshare, Sec. Andaya said LGUscan exercise two options: to waitfor seven years or avail their re-spective shares in advance fromthe trustee banks at a dis-counted value, net of interestand other charges.

The DBM has already giventhe beneficiary LGUs their re-spective Notice of PaymentSchedules (NPS) that containtheir share and schedule of pay-ments and ensure annual provi-sion for the revenue share,Andaya said.

“Director Carmencita Delantar,in charge of the DBM bureaureleasing the incremental rev-enue share of tobacco-produc-ing LGUs from the excise taxon tobacco products, has al-ready given them their respec-tive NPS,” Andaya revealed.

Andaya reminded the LGUsthat the proceeds be used spe-cifically for cooperative, liveli-hood and agro-industrialprojects. (OPS)

NLANLANLANLANLAQ on trQ on trQ on trQ on trQ on tracacacacack as countrk as countrk as countrk as countrk as country’y’y’y’y’s major as major as major as major as major agggggribribribribribusiness hubusiness hubusiness hubusiness hubusiness hub“We have achieved gains in

improving local farm productiv-ity and have laid down the foun-dations to tap the high-end lo-cal and international markets forthe various products of the NorthLuzon Agribusiness Quadrangle(NLAQ).”

Thus reported newly-ap-pointed Agriculture SecretaryBernie G. Fondevilla to PresidentArroyo during a recent mediabriefing in Malacañang.

He said with several big ticketinfrastructure projects, NLAQ isnow better equipped to increaseagricultural productivity and in-comes of farmers and fishers,enhance food security, andseize the emerging potentials ofthe international market towardsa better life for the people inNorthern Luzon.

NLAQ, whose developmentchampion was former DA chiefArthur Yap, covers four regions(Cordillera, Ilocos, Cagayan Val-ley, and Central Luzon,particualrly northern parts of Au-rora, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija andZambales).

Through NLAQ, Fondevillasaid the Arroyo government hasinvested in better education forstudents; provided housingprojects; extended conditionalcash transfers and microfinancefacilities to poor families; ex-panded the coverage ofPhilhealth; distributed lands toagrarian reform beneficiaries andcertificates of ancestral domaintitles; developed new and idlelands for agribusiness; and pro-tected mangroves and estab-lished landfills, dumpsites andmaterials recovery facilities.

For its part, the DA throughthe FIELDS program is boost-ing up the agribusiness sectorin NLAQ, with the followingachievements:

• Provision of 276 units ofcomposting facilities that pro-duce organic fertilizers;

• From 2001 to 2009, 54,509hectares (ha) were provided irri-gation, while 104,003 ha and565,913 ha were restored andrehabilitated, respectively -- in-creasing NLAQ’s palay produc-tion by 39%, from 5.21 milliontons in 2000 to 7.23 million tonsin 2008.

• Implemented three major ir-rigation projects: Agno River,Banaoang and Casecnan.These are expected to increaseirrigated areas by over 50,000ha, and thus boost rice and corn

production, and provide electri-cal power to households andindustries.

• Trained a total of 377,299farmers, agricultural extensionworkers, and farmer-entrepre-neurs, who went through 6,759various agricultural technologytrainings, from 2001 to 2009;

• Provided loans through LandBank of the Philippines (LBP),which increased its releases tosmall farmers and fisherfolk by66% from P97.036B (1982 to2000) to P161.068B (2001 to Au-gust 2009). As of December2009, the LBP loan portfolio inNLAQ is P13.8B, includingthose for small farmers andfisherfolk;

• Provided thousands ofNLAQ farmers with 446 units offlatbed dryers, 26 cold chain fa-cilities (i.e., 12 ice makers, sixrefrigerated trucks, and eightcold storage facilities), and 11tramlines;

• Establishment of four mari-culture parks (Santo Tomas, LaUnion; Narvacan, Ilocos Sur;Sual, Pangasinan; andCasiguran Bay, Aurora); and

• Provided 915,863 bags ofhybrid and 6 million bags of cer-tified palay seeds.Other Major Infrastructure

• Constructed and rehabili-tated 2,093 kilometers of farm-to-market roads (FMRs), worthP3.32B, from 2001 to 2009; andnational and local roads, total-ing 7,981 kms. and 9,736.44 lin-eal meters of bridges, worthP29.46B, from 2001 to 2009.These linked the NLAQ prov-inces to the markets in Metromanila, helping vegetable farm-ers transport their produce faster

and safer.Among the major roads im

proved or completed were:• La Trinidad-Mt. Data-

Bontoc-Banaue sections of theHalsema Highway, which cutstravel time between Baguio andBontoc from seven hours to fourhours and 30 minutes. It will becompleted in May 2010.

• Bontoc-Tabuk-TuguegaraoRoad (108 kms.), which will re-duce travel time between Bontocand Tuguegarao from five hoursand 30 minutes to three hours.

• Rehabilitation of the 120-km.Baler-Casiguran Road, 98.5%complete as of January 2010,which will cut travel time from 8hours to 3 hours and 30 min-utes; and

• Start of construction of theTarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Ex-pressway (TPLEX). When com-pleted, the 88.6-km express-way will cut travel time fromTarlac to Rosario, La Union byabout two hours.

Two major ports were alsocompleted:

• Dingalan Port in Aplaya, Au-rora, in January 2008, whichsince then has boosted produc-tion of various agriculture andfishery products; and

• Rehabilitation of Port Irenein Sta. Ana, Cagayan, in Sep-tember 2008.

Twelve airports were also up-graded and completed, speed-ing up transport of products andexports, and promoting tourism.Among them are:

• Poro Point International Air-port in San Fernando City, LaUnion, completed in February2009;

• Bagabag Airport in Nueva

Vizcaya, completed in February2010;

• Basco Airport in Batanes,expected to be completed inMay 2010; and Itbayat Airport,to be completed in April 2010;and

• Rehabilitation and improve-ment of Casiguran Airport, inAurora.

Two flood control projects wilbe completed this year, namely:

• Laoag River Basin FloodControl and Sabo Project inLaoag, Ilocos Norte, in July2010;

• Agno River Basin Flood Con-trol Project Phase II-A in June2010.

Three major power projectswere also completed:

• The 33-megawatt BanguiBay Windfarm in Ilocos Norte,operational since June 2005;

• San Roque Multi-PurposeProject, commissioned in May2003, using the Agno River ashydro-source; and

• The power component ofthe Casecnan Multi-Purpose Ir-rigation and Power Project, com-pleted in December 2001, con-tributed a yearly average outputof 443,033 MW from 2002 to2008.

Through the Barangay Elec-trification Program, the ArroyoAdministration was able to en-ergize an additional 839barangays, from 2001 to 2009in NLAQ. From 7,668 barangaysin 2000, total energizedbarangays now stands at 8,507,or almost 100% of the total8,510 barangays through NLAQ.

Potable water was also madeavailable to far-flung municipali-ties, benefiting more than470,000 people.

President Arroyo and former DA Sec.Arthur Yap inspect a lateral canal of theNIA-Upper Pampanga River IntegratedIrrigation System, in Guimba, NuevaEcija, a vital component of NLAQ.