Vol. XXVIII No. 4 A monthly publication of the Department of Agriculture April 2013

NEDA okaysP27.5-B DA-PRDP

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Secretary Alcala (right) discusses with businessman Manny V.Pangilinan possible ventures where the MVP group of companiescould invest, during a courtesy call at the DA office in Quezon City.Rice, banana, sugar, rubber, coffee and palm oil are among thecommodities that Pangilinan’s group is interested in.

DA allots P500Mfor hybrid rice

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The Department of Agriculturehas earmarked P24 million (M)to lead the restoration oftyphoon-damaged portions of theBanawe rice terraces, andanother P10M to further increasethe production of traditional or‘heirloom’ rice varieties for bothdomestic and export markets.

The restoration of damagedterrace walls and irrigationcanals, particularly in BarangayBatad, Banawe, Ifugao, whichstarted in March 2012 will becompleted by June 30, 2013,said DA assistant secretary andnational rice program coordinatorDante Delima.

Thus, this coming mainseason, Ifugao farmers would be

The National Economic andDevelopment Authority throughits Investment CoordinationCommittee-Cabinet Committeeand Technical Board (NEDA-ICC) approved on April 8, 2013,the P27.5-billion Department ofAgriculture’s Philippine RuralDevelopment Program (PRDP).

Agriculture Secretary ProcesoJ. Alcala thanked the NEDA ledby Socio-economic PlanningSecretary Arsenio Balisacan for

approving the six-year PRDPthat will complement DA’s effortsto create a modern, value-chainor market-oriented, and climate-resilient agriculture and fisherysector, directly benefiting smallfarmers, fishers and ruralfolk, fora broader inclusive growth.

The PRDP will engage LGUs,farmers’ and fishers’ groups, andthe private sector as partners toimplement infrastructure andlivelihood projects to support pro-duction and marketing of prioritycommodities, the DA chiefadded.

The PRDP entails a total costof P27.535 billion (B), of whichP20.55B will be loaned from theWorld Bank, while the nationalgovernment through the DA andrecipient local government unitswill share about P3.58B andP3.12B, respectively. The GlobalEnvironment Facility (GEF) willprovide a grant of P287 million.

Covering all of the country’s 80provinces in 16 regions, thePRDP will draw innovations fromthe DA’s Mindanao Rural Devel-opment Program (MRDP), alsofunded by the World Bank.

“With PRDP, we want to cre-ate a chain of economic oppor-tunities to bring farmers’ produceto higher levels of the value-chain and allow them to partici-pate in the gains of value cre-ation beyond the farm gate,” saidagriculture undersecretary JoelS. Rudinas, who serves as the

The Department of Agricultureis allotting P500 million this yearand in 2014 to encourage morefarmers to plant hybrid rice vari-eties, and contribute in attainingnational rice sufficiency.

Agriculture Secretary ProcesoJ. Alcala said the DA will spendP200 million (M) this year andanother P300M next year to in-crease hybrid rice utilization andhectarage up to 10 percent (%)in 2014 from 3.5% last year.

He said the DA under its na-tional rice program will promoteboth private and public hybrids,particularly those developed bythe Philippine Rice Research In-stitute (PhilRice) through the es-tablishment of more technology-demonstration farms in top rice-producing provinces by the DARegional Field Units, in partner-ship with private rice seed pro-

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President Benigno S. Aquino IIIhas cited the Department of Ag-riculture (DA) and the Depart-ment of Public Works and High-ways (DPWH) as among the topperforming agencies in his ad-ministration.

He recognized the DA, led bySecretary Proceso J. Alcala, forits “successful production and do-mestic marketing of rice that en-abled the country to be self-suf-ficient and a potential exporter ofthis particular commodity.”

Likewise, he cited the DPWHheaded by Secretary RogelioSingson for its ability to lower thebid prices on most of its projects.

He made the citation whenasked by Filipino mediapersonscovering the 22nd ASEAN Sum-mit in Brunei, April 25, 2013, if hehas plans to reshuffle the mem-bers of his Cabinet, and if hewould do an evaluation of the ac-complishments of the various de-partments and agencies in theExecutive Branch now that he’sapproaching the three-year termof his presidency.

He said he would instead wel-come any improvement in theprocesses that would make theCabinet members or DepartmentSecretaries more efficient.

“You start with a premise thatyou are all imperfect beings and

Rehab of terraces,prod’n of ‘heirloom

rice’ get P34 M

DA Chief meets ‘Father of hybrid rice.’ Agriculture SecretaryProceso J. Alcala (2nd from left) meets Professor Yuan Longping(middle), China’s ‘Father of hybrid rice,’ April 1, 2013, at the DAoffice in Quezon City. Longpin keynoted the 1st National Hybrid RiceCongress, April 3-5, 2013, at the DA-Philippine Rice Research Insti-tute, in Muñoz, Nueva Ecija. Also shown (from left) are Chinese Am-bassador to the Philippines Ma Keqing, Henry Lim Bon Liong of SLAgritech Corp., and former PhilRice director Dr. Santiago Obien.

P-Noy cites DA, DPWH as ‘top’ performersyou can always improve,” thePresident said.

“The bottom line is we’re reallyopen to improving all of the pro-cesses that we need to havegreater efficiency. Sorry, econo-mist ako by training, so maximumutility of each input is the man-tra,” the President noted. (Presi-dential News Desk)

EditorialSapat na bigas, kayang-kaya!

2

P-Noy allots P82M agri projects in QuezonThe Aquino adminis-

tration through  the  Departmentof Agriculture will continue toexpand and modernize the agri-culture sector in Quezon, allot-ting P82 million for 18 irrigationprojects and million pesos worthof farm-to-market roads (FMRs),and other infrastructure projects.

President Benigno S. AquinoIII assured Quezon local lead-ers, farmers and ruralfolk that hisadministration will continue topour investments to boost theagriculture, commercial andtourism sectors in the province,during a meeting at the South-ern Luzon State University, inLucban, Quezon, April 29, 2013.

“Kasama rin sa handog natinsa magsasaka ang haloswalumpu’t-dalawang milyongpiso para makumpleto anglabing-walong irrigationprojects,” said President Aquino,who was accompanied by DASecretary Proceso Alcala, DILGSecretary Mar Roxas, and Sena-tor Franklin Drilon.

“Isama na rin po natin anglabing-anim na farm-to-marketroad projects sa Calauag,Gumaca, Quezon, atTagkawayan para sa mabilis napagdaloy ng mga produkto,” thePresident added.

He said a slew of infrastruc-ture projects, including the 8-ki-lometer Lucena Diversion Talao-Talao Port Road, will boost theprovince’s tourism and commer-cial industries.

“Nariyan ang Lucena Diver-sion Talao-Talao Port Road,kung saan ang pagbiyahe ngmga kalakal at produkto mula sapantalan ng Talao-Talao aymakakarating sa lungsod nangmas mabilis. Nariyan din angpagpapagawa sa susunod nataon ng limampu’t walongkilometrong South Luzon Ex-

pressway extension mulaBatangas hanggang Lucena,” hestressed.

“Isama na rin ang QuezonEco-tourism Road na babaybaysa Sariaya hanggang Lucena,pati na ang pagpapaunlad natinng mga daungan sa Lucena,San Andres, Mauban, Cotta, atGumaca,” he added.

In a succeeding event inLucena City, at the Quezon Na-tional High School, he said thecountry is starting to reap thefruits of the reforms that his ad-ministration instituted.

“Halos magtatatlong taon panga lang po tayo sapanunungkulan, pero talaganaman pong ang laki na ngpinagkaiba natin sa sitwasyongating dinatnan,” the Presidentsaid.

“Sa problema sa bigas. Dati,talagang nasanay na po tayo sapag-aangkat ng bigas nanagbaon sa atin sa utang. Datipinaniwala tayo na angkailangan nating angkatin nabigas para mapunan ang atingmga pangangailangan ay 1.3-million metric tons kada taon,” henoted.

“Sa ating panunungkulan: ha-los 855,000 metric tons nalamang po ang kinailangannating angkatin noong 2011.Kasama na po iyong buffer.Noong 2012, limandaang libongmetriko tonelada na lang angating kinailangang angkatin.Ayon nga sa ating butihingKalihim Procy Alcala, harinawa,ay hindi na natin kailanganinpang mag-import ng bigas. Kungpapalarin pa, baka maging netexporter na rin tayo ng matataasna variety ng bigas kungmakikisama ang panahon,” thePresident said. (PresidentialNews Desk)

President Aquino (left, at rostrum) commits to continuously pourinvestments to develop and modernize the agriculture and fisherysector in Quezon, during a visit on April 29, 2013. Also shown (seated,from left) are DILG Secretary Mar Roxas, Rep. Wilfredo MarkEnverga (1st D, Quezon), Sec. Alcala, Rep. Irvin Alcala (2nd D,Quezon), Senator Franklin Drilon, and Samuel Nantes.

Punong-puno ng positivevibes ang theme song ng Na-tional Year of Rice o NYR.

Hango sa malikhaing isipan niNoel Cabangon, busog saadhikaing tunay na maka-Pilipino ang bawat letra ngkantang “Sapat na Bigas, Kayang ‘Pinas.”

Tugma sa mithiin ngsambayanan upang kamtin angkasapatan sa pagkain.

Bawat himig ay ti lahumihikayat sa lahat napagbigkisin ang mga pagsisikaptungo sa pambansang misyonna ang tanging hangad aytapusin ang kagutuman sabuong bansa at sabay namaitaas ang antas ngkabuhayan ng mga magsasaka.

Kaya naman patuloy angpagsisikap ng buong pamilya ngDA, kasama ang mga lokal napamahalaan, pribadong sektorat samahan ng mga magsasakaupang makamit minimithingkasapatan sa bigas at iba pangpangunahing pagkain.

Isang mahalagang indikasyonnito ay ang pagbaba nginaangkat nating bigas, mula sa2.4 million metric tons (MT)noong 2010 na halos katiting nalamang, 187,000 MT ngayongtaon.

Kasunod nito, inaasahangmuling mamamayagpag sa ex-port market ang bigas ni Juandela Cruz.

Nagsisimula na tayongmagluwas ng lokal atkatutubong butil sa ibayongdagat. (Sa katunayan, naratingna marahil ng unang batch ngPhilippine aromatic/black riceang Dubai sa sandaling mabasanyo ito.)

Ibig sabihin lamang, nagingepektibo ang mga pangunahingprograma na ipinatupad ng DAsa ilalim ng mahigpit napagmamatyag ni Sec. Procy.

Kabilang na dito ang ilangmalalaking proyekto na inihulma

“Darating din ang bukas, di na tayo aangkatPagkat bunga ng pagsasaka’y tiyak at sapat-sapat

Kaya’t ikaw at ako makiisa’t makisaloUpang ang layong ito’y maabot at magkatotoo

“Bawat Palay, Bigas, Kanin ay bigyang halaga natinBawat butil ay biyaya at gintong pagpapala

“Tulong-tulong nating abutinAng matagal na nating mithiin

Ngayon na ang tamang panahonPayabungin ang pagkakataon

Upang Sapat na Bigas makaya ng Pinas”(Halaw sa NYR theme song: ‘Sapat na bigas, Kaya ng ‘Pinas’)

katulad ng Food Staples Suffi-ciency Program (FSSP), Na-tional Rice Achievers’ Awards(NRA), at National Year of Riceo NYR.

Bagamat magkakaiba angispesipikong layunin ng FSSP,NRA, at NYR, naka-ankla angmga ito sa isang adhikain—angsiguruhing puno ang kaban ngbigas sa bawat tahanan sabansa, at malaki ang kita ngmga magsasaka.

Sakto sa target ang bawatprograma, ‘bull's eye’ ika nga.At hindi pagpapapogi atpagpapakitang gilas lamangang ipinapatupad na mgaproyekto, na katuwang ang mgamagsasaka, pinunong lokal, atpribading sektor.

Kaakibat ang iba't-ibang saliktulad ng paglalaan ng mga ag-ricultural infrastructure at equip-ment, at pagbibigay ng ayudasa mga maliliit na magsasakaat mangingisda.

Malaking ambag satagumpay ng mga programa,kabilang na ang mabilis na pag-unlad ng pambansang sektor ngpalay at bigas, ang pakikiisa ngbawat isa.

Halimbawa, nakakatuwa napatuloy nang nababawasanang porsyento ng nasasayangna palay, bigas at kanin -- dahilnatuto na tayong magingmasinop.

Bihira na ang nagtitira ngkanin sa kanilang mga pinggan,at marami na rin angtumatangkilik ng katulad ngbigas o ‘rice alternative’ tulad ngsaba, puting mais at kamotengkahoy o balinghoy.

Bagamat hindi naging madalipara sa nakararami na baguhinang mga nakagisnang gawain,marami na rin ang nakikibahagisa pambansang kilusan.

Ngayon, buong pagmamalakinating masasambit na tunaynga: ‘Sapat na bigas, kayang-kaya ng Pinas!’

April 2013 3

The Department of Agriculturewill establish 28 rice processingcenters (RPCs) in major produc-tion areas to enable farmers re-duce postharvest losses andproduce quality rice, thus furtherincreasing their incomes.

Funded under the DA’s ricemechanization program, the es-tablishment of the RPCs will bespearheaded by the PhilippineCenter for Postharvest Develop-ment and Mechanization(PhilMech) in partnership withthe DA regional offices, farmers’groups and local governmentunits.

Three types of RPCs will beconstructed, the size of whichwill be determined by DA re-gional offices and PhilMech, saidPhilMech executive director RexL. Bingabing.

A small-scale rice center orRPC-1 will cost P6M each; a me-dium-sized or RPC-2, P15M; anda larger one or RPC-3, will costP31M.

Of the total 28 facilities, eightRPC-3, seven RPC-2, and 13RPC-1 will be constructed, saidDir. Bingabing.

The eight RPC- 3 will rise upin regions 3 (Central Luzon), 6(Western Visayas), 1 (Ilocos)and 12 (SOCCSKSARGEN).

The seven RPC-2 will be con-structed in regions 5 (Bicol), 13(Caraga), 4A (Calabarzon) and10 (Northern Mindanao).

Finally, the 13 RPC-1 will bebuilt in regions 8 (Eastern

DA-NFA tops palay target

DA Asst. Sec. and national rice program coordinator Dante Delima (inset,left) inspected, on April 29, 2013, the restored portions of the world-fa-mous Banawe rice terraces, at Barangay Batad. He was joined (from left)by Teresa Saniano, of the DA-STAG, Batad Barangay chairman RomeoHeppog, and project engineer Jackson Bulaao. (Photo by KathrinoResurreccion, DA-AFIS)

Writers: Adora D. Rodriguez, Arlhene S. Carro, Bethzaida N. Bustamante,Catherine N. Nanta, Marshall Louie Asis, Danica Melegrito

Contributors: DA-RFU Info Officers, Public Info Officers of DA Bureaus,Attached Agencies & Corporations, MRDP & other Foreign-Assisted Projects

Photographers: Jose Lucas, Alan Jay Jacalan & Kathrino ResurreccionLay-out Artist: Bethzaida BustamantePrinting & Circulation: Teresita Abejar & PCES Staff

Editor-In-Chief : Noel O. ReyesAssociate Editors: Cheryl C. Suarez & Adora D. Rodriguez

is published monthly by the Department of AgricultureInformation Service, Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City. Tel. nos. 9288762loc 2148, 2150, 2155, 2156 or 2184; 9204080 or tel/fax 9280588. Thisissue is available in PDF file. For copies, please send requests via email:da_afis @yahoo.com.

able to plant more heirloom ricevarieties in Banawe rice terraces,Delima said.

The DA spearheaded therestoration project, sharingP24.3M of the total project costof P26.5M.

It was initiated by SecretaryAlcala, when he visited onNovember 25, 2011, inspectingseveral portions of the Batad riceterraces damaged by typhoons“Pedring” and “Quiel.”

Other agencies that pitched inare the Provincial Government ofIfugao (P1.05M), Department ofSocial Welfare and Development(P1M), Municipal government ofBanawe (P50,000), andBarangay Batad (P20,000).

To complement the Banawerice terraces restoration project.Delima said the DA is allotingP10M to increase the productionof heirloom rice varieties liketinawon, unoy, and dalican.

The amount will fund severalprojects and initiatives proposedby Cordillera heirloom ricefarmers during a seminar-workshop, April 29 to May 1,2013, at the Banaue Hotel.

Delima has instructed DA-Cordillera regional directorMarilyn Sta. Catalina to helpfarmers identify, assess andconsolidate project initiativesand include these in the DA-Cordillera regional work andfinancial plan for implementationbeginning this year.

The planned projects include:establishment of a regionalheirloom rice processing center(RPC) in Lamut, Ifugao, andsatellite village RPCs in differentsites equipped with micro mills,

Rehab of terraces ...(from p 1)

NFA awards 187,000-MTrice supply to Vietnam

The National Food Authorityhas awarded the supply of187,000 metric tons (MT) of im-ported rice to Vietnam.

The volume will form part ofthe country’s buffer and contin-gency stock for the lean monthsof July to September, said NFAAdministrator Orlan Calayag

It is also part of the minimumaccess volume for rice, as com-mitted by the Philippines underthe World Trade Organization(WTO) agreement.

The entire volume — compris-ing of 10% long-grain white rice,with 25% brokens — will be sup-plied by Vietnam”s SouthernFood Corp., at US$ 459.75 perMT, which was even lower thanthe price paid by the NFA for itsrice imports in 2012 atUS$470.70/MT, Calayag said.(NFA)

The DA’s National Food Au-thority (NFA) has surpassed itspalay procurement target for thefirst quarter of 2013 (January toMarch), buying a total of2,244,142 bags (50 kg each) or112,207 metric tons (MT), 38percent (%) more than its targetof 1,695,900 bags or 84,795 MT.

NFA Administrator Orlan A.Calayag credited the high pro-curement volume to the innova-tive methods employed by theagency, like simplifying farmers’requirements and accreditation,in compliance to SecretaryProceso Alcala’s instructions toenable more farmers to sell asmany palay as possible and thusenjoy higher prices than thoseoffered by traders.

“This is a clear indicator thatfarmers have given their re-newed trust in the governmentand the NFA,” Calayag said.

The NFA buys palay at a maxi-mum of P17.70 per kilo fromfarmers’ cooperatives, andirigators’ assosciations, andP17.40 per kilo from individualfarmers.

From January to March, thehas bought palay at an averageat 56,281 bags daily.

In previous years, the NFA’sactual procurement have noteven reached 50 percent of itsmonthly or annual targets,Calayag said.

As of end of March 2013, theNFA’s total palay inventorystands at 11,685,838 bags or584,292 MT in rice equivalent. Itincludes local rice at 3,301,408bags and imported rice at2,717,006 bags.

Calayag said the NFA’s bufferstock is at a very safe level, al-lowing the agency to respond tocalamities and emergenciessuch as the recent devastationfrom typhoon Pablo and the exo-dus of Filipino workers and mi-grants from Sabah to Basilan,Sulu and Tawi-Tawi (BASULTA).

DA-PhilMech toput up 28 RPCs

With enough funds, Calayag isoptimistic the NFA will continueto exceed its palay procurementtargets for the rest of the year.The agency operates a total of435 buying stations and mobileprocurement teams nationwide.(NFA Public Affairs Dep’t.)

Visayas), 4A (Calabarzon), 4B(Mimaropa), 13 (Caraga), andAutonomous Region of MuslimMindanao.

In 2012, the DA establishedthree RPC-2, said Bingabing.

Bingabing said the DA willshoulder 85% of the cost of anRPC and the recipient or benefi-ciary-farmers’ group — a farm-ers’ cooperative or irrigators’ as-sociation — will share as equity15% of the project cost.

The DA regional offices willimplement the project, withPhilMech providing the technicalassistance through the provisionof post-harvest technology andtraining of the farmers’ groupsthat will operate, manage andmaintain the rice centers. (DA-PhilMech)

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4

BAFPS certifies banana, veggie growers

The DA through the Philip-pine Center for PostharvestDevelopment and Mechaniza-tion (PhilMech) will be build anadditional 32 tramlines, at P3million (M) each, totaling P96M.

PhilMech executive directorRex L. Bingabing said with atramline, upland farmers caneasily and cheaply transporttheir products to nearby mar-kets.

A tramline is similar to acable car system, where acarriage is loaded with veg-etables or farm inputs to andfrom the farms to markets. Atramline usually stretchesfrom 800 meters to one kilo-meter.

Since 2009, the DA-PhilMech has built a total of97 tramlines, worth P194 M.A tramline system is poweredby a diesel engine at one end.

The tramline system hassignificantly lowered transportcosts of farm products, from50% to as much as 80%, saidBingabing.

Usually, farmers haul anddeliver their harvest on a cara-bao or horse, others carry orhire workers to carry their har-vest manually. This takesfour to eight hours.

Using a tramline, it will onlytake them 10 minutes to 15minutes, Bingabing said.

Also, post-harvest lossescould be reduced by up to25%.

With a tramline in place,farmers are encouraged toexpand their production areasto produce and earn more.

He said tramlines have inpart improved the lives andincresed the incomes of farm-ers and their families.

Recently, PhilMech hasimproved the design of itstramline so it could also trans-port people safely, in additionto crops, farm inputs andother commodities. (DA-PhilMech / Malaya BusinessInsight)

DA-PhilMech to makemore tramlinesThe DA’s Bureau of Agriculture

and Fisheries Product Standards(BAFPS) recently certified sev-eral banana and vegetable grow-ers and exporters that passedthe Philippines Good AgriculturalPractices (PhilGAP).

DA Undersecretary and Chiefof Staff Emerson U. Palad andAssistant Secretary for fisheriesand former BAFPS OIC-DirectorSalvador S. Salacup handed thePhilGAP certificates to officialsof the agricultural firms in simpleceremonies at the DA-OSEC of-fice, in Quezon City, on April 19,2013.

The firms include: Anflo Ba-nana Corporation and Tagum Ag-ricultural Development Companythat produces and exportscavendish banana, representedby its chief operating officerVicente Floirendo and vice presi-dent Dr. Benny Corcolon; andexporters of shallots, amongthem are Bia Uy of AgrotrendsImport Export Corp., Dr. EmilyTan of Sparkle Corp., JosieManalo of JM’s Marketing Corp.,Leah Cruz of Vegetable Import-ers Exporters and VendorsAss’n. of the Phils. (VIEVA) andLita Yeoh of Litz Marketing andEilomar Int’l. Trading Corp.

“If we can meet the standardsof other countries that wouldmean we can really compete glo-bally. The PhilGAP certificate isthe first step to achieve exportcompetitivenes,” said U/SecPalad.

For his part, A/Sec Salacupchallenged the shallot exportersto further enhance and maintaintheir farms because the respon-sibility is on them as “big broth-ers” of small farmers.

He said the BAFPS will con-tinue to assist them and otheragri-fishery farm producers andprocessors so they could com-ply with the requirements andstandards imposed by importingcountries.

Secretary Alcala has ap-pointed Director Leo Cañeda,formerly of DA Region 7, as thenew head of the DA-BAFPS.

DA, hog raisers to sustain growth of swine industrySecretary Alcala (3rd from left) joins swine industry leaders as theypartake of a ‘lechon' during the 22nd Hog Convention and TradeExhibits, April 18, 2013, in Carmona, Cavite. He said the DA willcontinuously provide needed interventions and implement policiesthat will make the country’s hog industry globally competitive, thusensuring its continued growth. Last year, the hog industry grew by1.7%, valued at P174.5 billion at current prices. It is the country’ssecond leading sub-sector behind palay. Joining him (from left) are:ProPork president Edwin Chen, Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño,NFHFI chair Daniel Javellana, AGAP party-list Rep. NicanorBriones, George Espiritu, president of Cavite livestock, poultry andfeedmillers ass’n.; and ProPork vice-pres. Chester Warren Tan.

DA Undersecretary and Chief of Staff Emerson U. Palad (right)Ass’t. Secretary and former Bureau of Agriculture and FisheriesProduct Standards (BAFPS) OIC-Director Salvador S. Salacup(left) pose with newly PhilGAP-certified vegetable and shallotsproducers, during a simple awarding ceremony at the DA centraloffice in Diliman, Quezon City, April 19, 2013. With them (fromleft) are: Lamberto Punsalan of the DA-National Onion ActionTeam, Dr. Emily Tan of Sparkle Corp., Josie Manalo of JM’sMarketing Corp., and Leah Cruz of Vegetable Importers Exportersand Vendors Ass’n. of the Philippines.

The DA through its High ValueCrops Development Program(HVCDP) assists vegetablefarmers and exporters pass thePhilGAP certification process.Last December 2012, it fundeda PhilGAP training for shallotfarmers and exporters in IlocosNorte and Nueva Ecija, saidHVCDP national coordinatorJennifer Remoquillo.

The PhilGAP is a set of stan-dards on farm structure, farmingpractices and management, en-vironment and maintenance. Thecertification is valid for one year.The BAFPS  is  currently  pro-

cessing the application forPhilGAP certification of dozensof vegetable and fruit growers.(Pamela Ablen, DA-HVCDP)

SRA ups sugarprod’n estimateDue to higher production and

favorable weather, the countrywill produce more sugar this cur-rent crop year than initially esti-mated.

The DA’s Sugar Regulatory Ad-ministration (SRA) said sugarproduction would amount to2.434 million metric tons (MMT),three per cent more than its ini-tial estimate of 2.356 MMT.

SRA Administrator ReginaBautista-Martin said the higherestimate was based on reportsby the agency’s monitoringteams.

“We are at the tail-end of themilling period. Records show thatour production and demand ofsugar, both raw and refined, havebeen consistently up from lastyear’s,” she said.

As of April 14, 2013, raw sugarproduction is 2.295 MMT, 13.8%more than April 2012 productionof 2.016 MMT. Refined sugar pro-duction is also up at 859,131 MT,10.8% more than last year’s775,523 MT.

She said demand for raw andrefined sugar has increased aswell to 1.412 MMT and 615,496MT, respectively, as of April 14,2013.

“With healthy production fig-ures, the SRA Board decided notto adopt any advance swapping

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April 2013 5

Seven private seed companieshave committed to help the coun-try become sufficent in rice, dur-ing the 1st National Hybrid RiceCongress, in Nueva Ecija.

They are SL Agritech Corp.,Bioseed Research Phils., BayerCropScience, DuPont PioneerPhils., Syngenta, SeedworksPhils., Inc., and DevGen Seedsand Technologies Pvt. Ltd.

They committed to providefarmers with quality hybrid riceseeds, and at the same time joinDA in its advocacy to encouragethe general public minimize ricewastage and eat the rightamount and consume other ma-jor staples.

They will also provide farmers

DA allots P500M ... (from p 1)ducers, farmers’ groups and irri-gators’ associations (IAs), andlocal government units (LGUs).

In addition, farmers wanting toplant hybrids can avail of produc-tion loans of up to P50,000 perhectare and P41,000 per hect-are, if they wish to plant inbreds,under the expanded P400-mil-lion ‘Sikat-Saka’ credit programimplemented by the DA andLand Bank of the Philippines,said Secretary Alcala, during the1st National Hybrid Rice Con-gress, April 4, 2013, at PhilRice,Muñoz City, Nueva Ecija.

He said the promotion of hy-brid rice is an integral part of theFood Staples Sufficiency Pro-gram (FSSP), the Aquinogovernment’s banner food secu-rity program that aims to attainsufficiency in rice and majorstaples like white corn, root cropsand plantains.

“We are on track to achievingsuff iciency in rice by end of2013,” the DA chief said before1,000 participants, composed offarmers, private seed producers,local government officials, for-eign rice experts and other riceindustry stakeholders.

Under the FSSP, the DA aimsto produce a record harvest of20 million tons (MT), making thecountry 100% sufficient, which is11% more than last year’s out-put of 18 million MT.

“We can take pride in the suc-cess of FSSP, but we know weneed to exert more effort andsustained support from farmers’groups, LGUs and the privatesector,” Secretary Alcala said.

He said the choice of what ricevarieties to plant, either hybridsor inbreds, still depends on farm-ers themselves, as they will have

to consider the suitability of theirfarm, availability of irrigation,amount of farm inputs and capi-tal, and their level of technology.

To hasten the promotion of hy-brids, he urged the private seedcompanies to make their seedsavailable at the right time whenfarmers need them.

He also challenged them andthe DA-PhilRice to help farmersattain a “10-5” goal, that is, anaverage yield of 10 tons of palayper hectare and an average pro-duction cost of P5 per kilo.

This way, he said, Filipino ricefarmers could ably compete withtheir counterparts in SoutheastAsia, like Thailand and Vietnam.

PhilRice director EufemioRasco, Jr. said the goal is attain-able, as PhiRice-developed‘mestizo’ hybrids, as well as pri-vate sector hybrids, could pro-duce up to12 tons per hectare,under favorable conditions andproper farm management.

This year, the DA aims to ex-pand the area planted to hybridsby 72% to 284,400 hectares, ver-sus last year’s 164,787 hectares,said Assistant Secretary DanteDelima, during his presentationon the first day of the hybrid ricecongress.

Last year’s hybrid ricehectarage covered 3.5% of thecountry’s total harvested area of4,689,960 hectares, while themajority were planted to inbredsand home-saved seeds.

Next year, hybrid rice area willbe expanded to 388,000 hect-ares, said Delima, who alsoserves as the DA national riceprogram coordinator.

He urged private seed produc-ers to actively participate in the‘Sikat-Saka’ credit program, and

encourage qualified farmers, par-ticularly IA members in top 20rice producing provinces, to planthybrids.

Sikat-Saka was piloted lastyear in four major rice provincesof Nueva Ecija, Isabela, Iloilo andNorth Cotabato.

It will be expanded this year toinclude 16 other top rice produc-ers, which include: Ilocos Norte,Cagayan, Pangasinan,Pampanga, Tarlac, Occidentaland Oriental Mindoro, CamarinesSur, Leyte, Negros Occidental,Capiz, Bukidnon, SouthCotabato, Sultan Kudarat,Maguindanao and Zamboangadel Sur.

During the three-day congress,farmers and other participantswere privileged to hear the break-throughs of Professor YuanLongping, considered as China’sfather of hybrid rice. He sharedhow he developed the first hybridrice varieties in the mid-1970s,which made China sufficient anda major rice producer.

The 1st national hybrid ricecongress was sponsored jointlyby the DA national rice program,PhilRice, Philippine Center forPostharvest Development andMechanization (PhilMech), Phil-ippine-Sino Center for Agricul-tural Technology (PhilSCAT), andseven private seed companies(Bayer, Bioseed, DevGen,DuPont Pioneer, SeedWorks, SLAgritech, and Syngenta). (Cath Nanta,DA Information Service)

Private sector to help gov‘tattain rice sufficiency

with “reliable and cutting-edgetechnologies to help them in-crease their yield,” like develop-ing varieties resistant to bacte-rial leaf blight (BLB) disease.BLB causes wilting of rice seed-lings, yellowing and drying ofleaves, causing yield to de-crease by up to 30 percent.

They will also committed to in-clude the value of saving riceand healthy rice consumptionduring farmers’ trainings.

Dr. Eduardo Jimmy Quilang,PhilRice deputy director, said theDA welcomes a strong partner-ship with the private sector togive farmers cheaper and widerchoice of hybrid rice seeds, in-puts and technologies. (PNA)

Secretary Alcala (above photo, left) urges farmers (foreground) tohelp the Aquino government attain rice sufficiency by adoptingmodern, sustainable technologies, inputs and seeds, during the 1st

National Hybrid Rice Congress, at PhilRice, in Muñoz, Nueva Ecija,April 4, 2013. Top photo also shows (from left): DA-Region 3 Dir.Andrew Villacorta, Ass’t. Sec. and national rice program coordi-nator Dante Delima, Bureau of Plant Industry Dir. Clarito Barron,Agrarian Reform Undersecretaries Rosalina Bistoyong and An-thony Paruñgao, PhilRice Dir. Eufemio Rasco, and DA-BAR en-gineer Rodolfo Fernandez.

Rehab of ... (from p 3)

pedal threshers, and appropriatemechanical and solar dryers;and construction of tramlines.

DA-CAR director Sta. Catalinasaid the additional funding willmean a lot in further enhancingthe production of heirloom rice.

She cited the efforts of a RiceInc., an NGO, led by Ms. VickyGarcia, which coordinates withfarmers export of heirloom rice tothe US. Last year, it exported24,000 kg or 24 metric tons (MT),and aims to export another 30MTthis year.

In all, Delima said the DA aimsto help maintain the sturdinessof the rice terraces and empowerIfugao farmers so they couldsustain the production ofheirloom rice for both domesticand export markets.

He said as of April 30, 2013,98% of the damaged terracewalls was restored, 21 communalirrigation systems were repaired,and f ive solar dryers wereestablished in different sites,including a community seedbank, and conduct of 16-weekfarmers’ field school attended by43 Ifugao heirloom riceproducers.

To date, 10 heirloom ricevarieties were collected andpurified, while 600 kilograms ofseeds were stored as part of thecommunity seed buffer stocking,Delima said. (By Adam Borja, DANat’l. Rice Program; and MarloAsis, DA Information Service)

6

“Ige,” as Miguel P.Luberanes is fondly called byhis peers in BarangayPoblacion East of Salug town,Zamboanga del Norte, hasbeen a fisherman all his life.

At a young age of 14, he wasalready fishing, while others hisage were in school. Igeoperates two types of fishinggears that coincide with thedemands of the weather. Heemploys his pamo (gill net)during the months ofDecember, January andFebruary and the palangre(multiple hook and line) the restof the year. He catches mostlyalumahan (Rastrilleger),tulingan (frigate tuna) andtarakito (jacks) with his pamo.

Ige observed that with theimplementation of the “closedseason” (their generic term forthe Joint DA-DILG Admin.Order No. 1), the alumahanand tulingan have stratedcoming nearer to the shore tofeed on the abundant toloy(sardines). Thus, he does nothave to go farther out to thesea to catch fish.

In the process, Ige uses uponly two liters of gasolineinstead of the usual four. Thistranslates to a daily savings ofP120.00, which is more thanenough to cover the daily riceneeds of his family.

The time he saves in notgoing very far out to sea to fishis instead spent mending hisnet and maintaining his boat.

Although he can’t explain itscientifically, Ige is sure thatthe demersal timbungan (goatfish), lagao (Nemipterids),and pugapo (groupers) that hecontinues to catch withhis palangre are sustained  bythe pelagic toloy that thegovernment, through the DA’sBureau of Fisheries andAquatic Resources, isprotecting by way of the“closed season.”

He catches an average ofeight kilos of fish daily and

A tale of two fisherskeeps about two kilos for hisconsumption and sells the restat P80 to P100/kilo, which netshim almost P300 daily after allsundries and expenses arededucted.

He also shared that eventheir suki comprador (fishbroker), Trusila Cabardo, isreally happy with the closedseason because she is alsoable to buy more from thefishermen of Salug.

Ige and his wife Hilda, who isalso a fisherman’s daughterfrom nearby Roxas town, areupbeat about the future.

With their sustained incomefrom fishing they couldcontinue sending their childrento school. His eldest, Hermie,is studying Computer HardwareServicing at TESDA; thesecond is married; the third,Maricon, is a BFAR-IX first yearscholar taking up B.S. Biologyat the Zamboanga StateCollege of Marine Sciencesand Technology; and theyounger two are both in highschool.

In appreciation, Ige is veryactive with his civic duties as apress information officer of thePoblacion East Fishermen’sAssociation, and member ofthe Bantay-Dagat team.

Unlike Ige who uses two

gears, Luisito V. Reginan, 52,or Dick as is known in hiscommunity, has beenspecializing in fishing withthe pamo gear and fishesexclusively around the fishinggrounds of his native Manukantown, also in Zamboange delNorte, for the last 20 years.

However, like Ige, he isgreatly appreciative of thegovernment’s initiative of theclosed season for sardines.

He said that in all his yearsas a fisherman, he knew thatthe toloy was seasonal  innature, sometimes

disappearing for almost fiveyears at a time.

Now, after the ‘closedseason’ is over, toloy can becaught abundantly the wholeyear.

Dick, however, shared abittersweet issue: With somuch toloy, the market easilybecomes saturated and a kiloof it sells for as low as P2.50,which is not even enough torecover their costs.

Dick tried to dry their catchbut its high fat content resultedin spoilage, thus losing bothmoney and effort.

He also tried other ways ofprocessing the fish like turningit into binuro and bagoong, butit did not sell.

As a former barangay officialand current adviser of the SanAntonio Fishermen’sAssociation, he leads in findingways to solve the marketingwoes for sardines due tooversupply.

Dick and fellow fishers are

now exploring the possibility ofrearing high-priced squid in netenclosures fed with toloy.

Dick also narrated that hisneighbors -- who used toemploy pasol (hook and line)and could barely catchanything before the ‘closedseason’ -- are now able tocatch enough to feed theirfamilies.

Like the fishers of Salug,Dick and his neighbors werealso able to cut their fuel costsin half.

A nagging problem for Dickand fellow fishers, especiallywith the resurgent fishingactivities, is the continuedencroachment of commercialfishers in municipal waters.

Thus, they urge their LGUsand concerned agencies tohelp them drive awaycommercial fishers from theirshores.

They also want governmentto help them find ways tomarket their fish to ensuresustained incomes for theirfamilies. (Romy E. De Guzman,DA-BFAR9) 

When guys get together, thecommon denominator wouldbe “kwentuhan,” coupled withdirinking beer with “pulutan.”

And for “pulutan,” whatbetter treat than having‘papaitan’ and ‘kadereta’ fromgoat meat or chevon.

This is the story ofIsidro V. Albano,general manager ofVillanueva Construc-tion, who is deep intodairying, inMaragusan,Compostela Valley.

It was through theintervention of WilhemBrickon, from PUM,Netherlands, who gavea lecture on goatproduction in January,2011, paving the wayfor Albano to venture into thedairy goat business.

Seeing the attractive marketpotential, he requested theassistance from DOST andtapped the agency’s techni-cian to assist in milk process-ing.

Three years ago, he bought15 goats (upgrades of Anglo-Nubian) from Gov. Piñol toraise them in his farm inTagum. His main objectivethen was to raise them formeat, and cook it into

Drinking spree paves wayto lucrative dairy business

“kaldereta” or goat stew andkilawin, staple partners forbeer drinkers.

What was then a plainhobby turned into a goldmine as his pure Anglo-

Nubian goats produced notonly good quality meat, butalso good quality milk.

With the increased milkproduction, the need toprocess it led to referrals.

This is where the DA’sNational Dairy Authority (NDA)came into the picture.

Aside from learning goodmilking practices, he alsolearned of NDA’s various dairyprograms and became

(Pls turn to p7)

April2013 7

With only P10,000 initialcapital, the San Quintin, AbraFederation of Rural Improve-ment Club (SQAFRIC) started a“talipapa” on September 16,2006. Four months later, thelocal government of SanQuintin recognized the group’sinitiative and hard work andextended to them a P40,000-grant, which they used to buy arefrigerator.

In 2007, SQAFRIC membersavailed of a barangay foodterminal (BFT) project of theDepartment of Agriculture uponlearning of its benefits andsocial impact through aninformation caravan conductedby the Agribusiness andMarketing Division of the DA-Cordillera Autonomous Region(CAR).

With P54,000 financialassistance from DA-CAR, thehumble talipapa expanded itsoperation, and named it as VillaMercedes BFT, the very firstBFT in the Cordilleras.

“Walang palengke sa SanQuintin noon,” BFT managerFernando Padillon recalled.

Although there were “sari-sari” stores owned by privateindividuals, the commoditiessold were not complete, headded.

Thus, residents and farmproducers were forced to go toBangued, Abra or Narvacan,Ilocos Sur, to buy and sellfoodstuff and farm produce.

Villa Mercedes food terminal, Cordillera’s firstSan Quintin residents once

dreamed of having their ownmarket where they can buy andsell agricultural commodities.This dream is now a reality,said Villa Mercedes BFT officerLorenzo Pacura.

At present, the MercedesBFT serves 1,368 householdsin six San Quintin barangays.Aside from a source of basicconsumer goods, it also servesas a direct market for about 125small farmers, who supply theBFT with their various agri-fishery products.

“May bagsakan na ng farmproduce kasi binibili na ng BFT.Nawalan kami ng problema sapagdadalhan ng paninda at na-encourage kaming mgamagsasaka na magtanim.

“Natuto ring mag-alaga kahitisang baboy angmga household,kasi may BFT namapagbebentahan.

“Naging self-sufficient angmga tao. Hindina lang hingi nghingi,” Pacurasaid.

For vendorBrigida Rubio,the cold storageequipmentprovided by theBFT is a greathelp in maintain-ing the quality oftheir goods and in avoiding

spoilage, and as a conse-quence it has improved theirincome.

“Noong walang freezer atibang equipment nasisiraankami ng paninda, lalo na kungito ay isda, kaya nalulugi kami.Ngayon puedeng mag-stock ngpaninda. Menos gastos na, tipidpa sa oras,” she said.

Furthermore, the BFT hashelped them in improving theirincome through the savingsderived from not having tospend for transportation andhandling.

“Sa kabuuan umaabot saP150 ang natitipidnamin sapamasahe athandling,” farmer-trader LeoGasmen said.

The BFT isopen seven daysa week, from 6 amuntil 8 pm. It hasbecome a “minisupermarket”where the com-modities arearranged accord-ing to type.

Likewise, tobetter cater to the

needs of its loyal patrons, theBFT sells a variety of groceryitems so that its residents neednot go to other markets.

“May nabibilhan na kami incase of emergency, gaya ngpag may dumarating nabiglaang bisita. Hindi ka nakailangan magpunta sa ibangbayan,” regular customer TonyCartao said.

Finally, as part of its socialresponsibility the BFT alsoprovides credit facility with verylow interest for business andeducational purposes to itsmembers.

Having the BFT in theirlocality ushered a lot of im-provements.

The existence of a food depotin Villa Mercedes have beeninstrumental in sending childrento school since it extendsfinancial assistance to theassociation members. Thesame loan can also be used forlivelihood projects.

Looking forward to the yearsto come, the Villa MercedesBFT is now in search of a lot toserve as the center’s perma-nent site and enable its man-agement to serve more con-sumers and farmers alike.

By Lea Deriquito & Oda Rodriguez

interested and applied for theDairy Multiplier Farm (DMF)scheme.

In July 28, 2012, hebecame an NDA-DMFpartner, and received 30 headof Holstein-Sahiwal pregnantheifers to take care of andmanage.

To provide the foragerequirement for his new dairyherd, he had his 13 hectaresplanted with napier and

leguminous plants likeindigofera and tricanthera.

In November 2012, hereceived from the NDAanother batch of 50 head ofHolstein-Jersey heifers.

His daily milk output thusfurther increased, totaling630 liters. Daily, he gets 16to 21 liters each fromHolstein-Jerseys, and 11 to17 liters each from Hol-stein-Sahiwals.

He sells the milk at P75per liter, P50 for 500 ml,and P25-P35 for 250 to 300ml, respectively. His main

outlets are the milk processingplants of FEDDAFC in DavaoCity, and CORELLA in DavaoNorte.

He will soon be adopt the‘Queen’s Milk’ brand, for hisproducts. Queen is the nameof his daughter, a registerednurse. (Ching M. Lumanta,DA-NDA)

Drinking spree ... (from p 6)

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8

The Department of Agricultureis allotting an initial P80 million(M) for various agricultural andfishery projects to further in-crease the productivity and in-comes of small farmers andfisherfolk in five towns compris-ing the Polillo group of islands,in Quezon.

Agriculture Secretary ProcesoJ. Alcala said such assistance isalso aimed at making Polillo suf-ficient in rice, other staples, fish,vegetables and other crops. Heled the distribution of variousfarm inputs, equipment, andprojects to more than 1,000 farm-ers, fisherfolk and local govern-ment officials during a two-dayvisit, highlighted by an ‘Agricul-ture and Fisheries DevelopmentSummit,’ at Polillo town hall, onApril 15, 2013.

He said the DA through its Re-gion 4-A (Calabarzon), led by Dir.Vilma Dimaculangan, and otherconcerned DA agencies are as-sisting the LGUs of the f ivetowns (Polillo, Jomalig,Patnanungan, Burdeos, andPanukulan) craft a medium-termagriculture and fisheries devel-opment plan or roadmap to makePolilians sufficient in rice andmajor staples.

“We need to expand the areaplanted to rice in each of thebarangays in Polillo group of is-lands in line with the Aquinogovernment’s goal to achievesuff iciency in rice by end of2013,” said the DA chief.

He asked Polillian farmers to

To encourage farmers to pro-duce more quality corn, the De-partment of Agriculture throughits national corn program haslaunched the “2013 NationalSearch for Corn QualityAwards.”

The contest is open to all lo-cal government units (prov-inces, cities and municipalities)that have performed well incorn production, and imple-ment realted initiatives orprojects to help corn farmersincrease their productivity andincomes.

The contest was launchedrecently in Caraga through itsregional corn coordinator AbelWagas, who said the contestwill also recognize efforts of lLGU corn coordinators, andagricultural extension workers(AEWs) involved in the imple-

DA-CARAGA launches corn contest

DA-NIA funds P9.4-M irrigation projects in Polillo, Quezon.The DA through the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) re-cently completed the repair of three communal irrigation systems(CIS) in Polillo group of islands, in Quezon, worth P9.4 million(M), with the NIA providing P8.3M, while the municipal govern-ment of Polillo sharing a counterpart of P1.1M. The three CIS arein Bislian, Anibong, and Burdeos. Photo shows Secretary Alcala(2nd from right) handing over a certificate of project completion toBernardino Mutya, president of the Bislian Malaki CIS, April 15,2013. Joining them are Polillo Mayor George P. Verzosa (right)and DA-NIA manager Romeo M. Lopez (left).

DA grants Polillo farmers, fishersP80-M agri-fishery support

coordinate with the DA’s Bureauof Soils and Water Management(BSWM), led by Dir. VinceTejada, to locate springs to betapped as sources of irrigation,and establishment of small wa-ter impounding projects(SWIPs).

The interventions consisted ofP54.7-M worth of crop and acci-dent insurance coverage fromthe DA’s Philippine Crop Insur-ance Corporation (PCIC), forfarmers, fisherfolk and their fami-lies in the five towns of Polillo(P13.5-M worth of insurance),Jomalig (P15M), Patnanungan(P9.6M), Burdeos (P8.35M), andPanukulan (P8.25M).

The DA through PhilippineCoconut Authority (PCA) alsoprovided P14-M worth of assis-tance in the form of coconutseedlings and KAANIB livelihoodprojects.

Further, he instructed PCAAdministrator Euclides Forbes toset up a coconut processing fa-cility in Polillo that will producevirgin coconut oil, coco sugar,water, and coir, among other co-conut by-products.

For its part, the DA’s Bureauof Fisheries and Aquatic Re-sources (BFAR) provided P5-million worth of fish nets, fishinggears and paraphernalia.

Two barangay food terminalsworth P2M will be established bythe DA’s Agribusiness and Mar-keting Assistance Service, whileP1.5-M worth of farm equipment(hand tractors, water engine

mentation of the DA Agri-Pinoycorn program.

The 2013 Corn Quality Awardswill choose top 5 provinces, top25 cities or municipalities, top 5provincial corn coordinators, top25 municipal corn coordinatorsand top 100 agricultural exten-sion workers.

The prizes for the winners are:P3 million-worth of infrastructureor farm machineries plus plaquefor provinces; P500,000-worth ofinfrastructure or farm machiner-ies plus plaque for cities/munici-palities; P20,000 cash prize plusplaque and certificate for provin-cial corn coordinators; P15,000cash prize plus plaque and cer-tificate for city/municipal corncoordinators; and P10,000 cashprize plus plaque and certificatefor AEWs.

Wagas said the winning corncoordinators will be chosen fromthe top provinces, cities or mu-nicipalities, while the AEWs mustbe involved in corn-related ex-tension activities.

For the provincial, city and mu-nicipal category, judging will bebased on the following:

- corn grain samples shouldcomply with minimum Grade No.3 ( for provinces) and Grade No.4 (for cities and municipalities)as per PNS for shelled corn;

- corn farms should meet theminimum requirements of GoodAgricultural Practices (GAP) forcorn, and Code of Practice forthe prevention and reduction ofaflatoxin in corn

- corn farms should have yieldrecords for the past three years

based on the official DA-BASdata; and

- corn farms should have pro-duced an annual average of 3.5MT/ha for yellow corn, and an-nual average of 1.5MT/ha forwhite corn.

The level of aflatoxin andother quality parameters shallbe based on the data obtainedduring the contest duration.

Interested LGUs should sub-mit a letter of intent and otherpertinent supporting docu-ments to the Regional SearchCommittee (RSC) on or beforeJune 15, 2013.

Chosen top regional con-tenders will be endorsed byRSC to the National TechnicalCommittee for evaluation andvalidation.

Awarding of national winnersis scheduled on October 2013,in Metro Manila. (DA-RAFID,CARAGA)

pumps, and coffee dryer), nativepig and chicken, and a trainingmodule was allotted under theDA’s organic agriculture pro-gram.

The DA High Value Crops De-velopment Program (HVCDP)provided P1.7-M worth of farmequipment and various fruitseedlings (rambutan, lanzones,citrus, coffee and cacao),rootcrops (ubi), and assortedvegetable seeds. The equipmentincluded knapsack sprayers, ca-cao dehuller, pH meters, and re-pair of Bio-N fertilizer facility.

The DA rice and corn pro-grams gave P1.4-M worth of cer-tified rice seeds (200 50-kilobags worth P240,000), 150 bagsof yellow and white corn seeds(P360,000), and dozens of farmequipment that included handtractors, rice cutters, knapsacksprayers, collapsible dryers, andlaminated tarps or trapal.

Polillian rural women andyouth, who are members of Ru-ral Improvement Clubs (RICs)and 4-H Clubs, also receivedP170,000-worth of livelihood

(Pls turn to p11)

April 2013 9

To make rainfed farms moreproductive, the DA through theBureau of Agricultural Research(BAR), National Rice Program,and High Value Crops Develop-ment Program (HVCDP), ispartnering with the InternationalCrops Research Institute for theSemi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) topilot India’s successful‘Bhoochetana’ program in thePhilippines. ‘Bhoochetana’means reviving the soils.

The DA-ICRISAT partnership,entitled, “Soil Rejuvenation andNatural Resources ManagementProgram: Piloting of theBhoochetana Concept in thePhilippines,” aims to increasethe productivity of rainfed farmsin the country by at least 10 per-cent and up to 20%, and at thesame time improve soil healthcondition.

The program will be imple-mented in selected pilot areas inLuzon, Visayas and Mindanao,and will be later expanded tocover more rainfed areas in thecountry, for a span of five years.

The program aims to: 1) deter-mine the micro- and macro-nu-trient status of soils of agricul-tural lands in pilot areas in Luzon(Quezon), Visayas (Samar), andMindanao (Zamboanga); 2) iden-tify the ‘best-bet options’ (soil,crop and water management), in-cluding improved cultivars to en-hance the productivity of se-lected crops by 10% to 20%; and3) build capacity of the stake-holders (farmers and consortiumpartners) in the sustainable man-agement of natural resources

DA to pilot India’s rainfed programand in enhancing productivity inrainfed areas.

The Bhoochetana program willadvocate and employ the prin-ciples consortium, convergence,capacity-building, and collectiveaction, or the 4Cs.

The Bhoochetana programwas and currently implementedby the Government of Karnataka,in India, which has helped dry-land farmers increase harvestsof staple crops by up to 30%amidst different agroclimaticconditions, according to formerDA Secretary William Dar andcurrent ICRISAT director-gen-eral.

Following the Bhoochetanamodel, the DA through BARlaunched in April 2011 the Phil-ippine Rainfed Agriculture Re-search, Development and Exten-sion Program (PhiRARDEP). Itaims to revitalize and strengthenexisting rainfed farming systemsand practices, and acceleratethe development of rainfed agri-culture in the country.

The program has four majorcomponents: 1) rainfed farmingsystems innovation; 2) participa-tory watershed management, 3)strategic social science andpolicy research, and 4) capacitybuilding, communication andsocial mobilization.

From 2011 to 2012, the DA-BAR has funded 30 projects onrainfed agriculture, in partnershipwith other DA agencies, stateuniversities and colleges(SUCs), and DA Regional Inte-grated Agricultural ResearchCenters (RIARCs). (LeilaDenisse Padilla, DA-BAR)

DA allots P62M for Capiz farmers. Agriculture Secretary ProcesoJ. Alcala (inset, right), together with DA-Region 6 Director LarryNacionales and Mrs. Judy Araneta Roxas, sing the national anthemduring the launch of ‘National Year of Rice’ advocacy campaign, aspart of the 6th Farmers’ Day and Capiztahan festival, April 12, 2013,in Roxas City. The Department of Agriculture is allocating an ini-tial P62 million to further increase the productivity and incomes offarmers in Capiz. The funds from the DA rice (P56M), corn (P3.5M)and high value crops (P2.5M) programs will be used to procure doz-ens of farm machinery, equipment, inputs that will be distributed toqualified farmers’ groups. (Photo by DA Region 6 Info Div.)

Former DA Secretary Dr. William D. Dar (2nd from right), and cur-rently director-general of the International Crops Research Institutefor the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in India, met with DA officialsto offer a project, called PNOY-DAR computer tablet, aimed at speed-ing the provision of various information and technologies to farmersand other clienteles. The meeting was hosted by DA-ITCAF Dir. GaryFantastico (middle), on April 23, 2013. Dr. Dar was accompanied byDr. G Dileepkumar Guntuku (right) of ICRISAT Global ExtensionProgram. Also shown (from left) are DA-Agribusiness and Market-ing Assistance Service Dir. Leandro Gazmin, and DA- Agricultureand Fisheries Information Service Director Noel O. Reyes.

The DA’s National Dairy Au-thority (NDA) has successfullydeveloped a blend of coconutmilk and cow’s milk that can beused for its national milk-feedingprogram, and to thus help reducethe country’s huge milk imports.

Judith A. Platero, chief of thedairy agency’s central milk labo-ratory, said the NDA was directedby Agriculture Secretary ProcesoJ. Alcala in October 2012 to de-velop dairy products blendedwith coconut milk to expand lo-cal milk supply.

Two months later in Decem-ber, the NDA signed an agree-ment with Jojo Resueno of CocoHouse for the supply of freshcoco skim milk and proceededto work on different blends thatcould be offered to the domesticmarket.

Platero said her agency testedfour mixtures of fresh milk andcoco blend to find out which onewould be accepted by the mar-ket. The first mixture has a 50-percent (%) coco blend; the sec-ond, 37%; the third, 28%; and thefourth, 17%.

Though all four were moder-ately liked in the sensory test, thefourth was rated the highest(7.4), based on color and ap-pearance, flavor and aroma, tex-ture and general acceptability.

The NDA, the Philippine Co-conut Authority and Coco Househave agreed to develop a dairyproduct that could be promotedcommercially and used for themilk-feeding program, taking intoconsideration the three levels offat content (3%, 5% and 7%) andwith milk solids (non-fat) no lowerthan 9%.

Platero said the NDA is alsoworking on a filled-milk product

NDA develops ‘coconut-cow’s milk’that will source its fat from cococream, and thus address thecholesterol issue of butterfat inmilk, while contributing to thecreamy flavor of the blend.

Tests done on the 80:20 blendshowed it to be more inferior andless acceptable than the blendcontaining 7% fat. The 7% fatblend will be pilot-tested in someareas to determine its acceptabil-ity and find out its nutritional im-pact on the beneficiaries of regu-lar milk feeding.

Platero said eventually theblend will also be sold in differ-ent flavors for variety and betteracceptability in different marketsegments. (Business Mirror)

Phl bans shrimp importsfrom Asian countries

The Philippines is banning theimports of all live shrimps andcrustaceans from several Asiancountries to prevent dreadedshrimp diseases from enteringand spreading in the country.

The DA through the Bureau ofFisheries and Aquatic Re-sources (BFAR) issued Fisher-ies Office Order (FOO) No. 146,April 22, 2013, that indefinitelysuspends the processing andapproval of permit applicationsto import live shrimps and othersuscceptible crustaceans fromAsian countries.

BFAR Director Asis Perez saidhis agency issued FOO 146 toprotect the Philippines shrimp in-dustry from the risk of entry andintroduction of dreaded diseasesthat include Early Mortality Syn-drome (EMS)/Acute Hepato-

(Pls turn to p11)

10

Philippine food products andfibers took center stage in Paris,France at the Opening Cer-emony of the Philippine Exhibi-tion - Archipelago of Exchange atthe Branly Museum, on April 8,2013.

The affair was attended by 90of France's top media practitio-ners and museum lenders at asit-down luncheon, and by 500high profile guests at a cocktailreception.

The event was a continuationof the Department of Agriculture'sEuropean Food Circuit Tourproject that aims to promote Phil-ippine agricultural products cater-ing to the mainstream Europeanmarket.

The annual food event, dubbedas ‘Hapag Yaman’ - Top ChefsWorking with the Best of Philip-pine Products, covers major Eu-

ropean cities, in cooperation withthe respective Philippine Em-bassy.

In 2012, the event was held inBrussels and featured nine re-nowned Belgian chefs (five withMichelin stars and an award-winning pastrychef amongothers).

This year,the food pro-m o t i o n a levent, whichcomprised theP h i l i p p i n eE xh ib i t i o n ' sparallel activityin Paris, fea-tured 10 Fili-pino Manila-based chefsheaded by two

prominent principal chefs,Margarita Fores of Cibo and Cibodi M Signature Caterer andVictoria Pacheco of Chateau1771.

Chef Margarita Fores im-pressed luncheon guests with su-perb execution of dishes - Salad

of muscovado-glazed duck alamangue, Davao pomelos, Philip-pine mango, Ashen goat cheeselog with field greens and rucola;Soup of Philippine sinigang oflangoustine and grouper; Entreeof beef tenderloin inihaw with

Bignay au jus complementedwith Philippine-made papayaatsara and nata de coco, and or-ganic black and Dinorado whiterice; Dessert of pannacotta duet topped withdulce de leche, andtsokolate, pili and honeywith Chevre cheese andPhilippine dried fruits accom-panied by Cordillera organiccoffee with Coco Naturasugar.

For the cocktail reception,Chef Fores presented thetropical flavors and specialtyofferings of the Philip-pines: porkcrackling or"chicharon"curls withgarlic moussetopped withsalmon roe;barquillos cyl-inders withchive moussetopped withjambon de Pariscrisp; crostini trio:creamed seafoodragu, chicken liverpate topped withcalamansi marma-lade, and beef ten-derloin tagliata with B i g n a yau jus; Alaminos taba ng talangkaand pork crackling sushi rolls.

Chef Fores also served Frenchcheeses - brillat savarin,mimolette chevre and caramel-ized brie de meaux comple-mented with fruits, jams and

honey from thePhilippines; andleche flan withmacapuno fordessert.

Chef VictoriaPacheco’s de-lectable offer-ings, on theother hand, dur-ing cocktail,elicited ravecomments onher tunagravlax, sea-food brochette,

The Philippinesin Paris:Spotlight

on food and fibers

Vice President Jejomar Binay (3rd from left) served as the guest ofhonor at the luncheon and cocktail reception (below) for the Phil-ippine Exhibition - Archipelago of Exchange at the Branly Mu-seum, in Paris, France. Joining him (from left) are: DA agricul-tural Attache in Brussels, Belgium Nolet Fulgencio; DAUndersecretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat; Israel de la Cruz of theDA- Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Product Standards; andRenato Tira-tira of the DA-Fiber Industry Development Authority.(Photo by Juan Wyns)

lamb caldereta, fresh smokedspring roll and ox tongue adobovol-au-vent.

The chefs made use of both or-ganic and conventional productsfrom various sponsors that in-clude Bleeding Heart Rum Com-pany (Don Papa brand), BluefinSeafood Export Inc., CastellejosFarm Products, Cibo di M Sig-nature Caterer, C.W. TropicaiGmbH, Castillejo's Agri-Farms,Inc, Chateau 1771 Group of Res-taurants, Destileria Limtuaco &Company Inc., Gem Foods, Glo-bal Organic and Wellness Corp.(Glowcorp), Los Ricos CompaniaCorporation, Los RicosCompania Cor-

poration,Marigold Manufacturing

Corporation (Mama Sita brand),Philippine Chamber of HandicraftIndustries, Inc., PixcelTransglobal Food Inc., TheChurner Group, University of thePhilippines Bee Program, VuQoSpirits LLC and WENG SESARL.

Philippine natural fibers likeabaca and pina in glass panelswere on display while variousprints and colors of tinalak wereused as accents on the diningtables - all to complement thegastronomic experience, and in-voking Filipino elegance to thevenue. The display setting elic-ited praises for its unique and ex-cellent craftsmanship and aes-thetic appeal. The Fiber IndustryDevelopment Authority (FIDA)sourced the material for andcurated the event.(DA-Office ofthe Agricultural Attache in Brussels,Photo by Juan Wyns)

11April 2013

Alcala urges ... (from p 12)

SRA ups ... (from p 4)

DA Chief inducts Horticulturists. Secretary Alcala (left)swears into office the 2013-14 officers and trustees of the PhilippineHorticultural Society, in a simple ceremonyat the DA office in QuezonCity. The are (from left): immediate past president and ex-officio boardmember May Caballero-Dumlao, President Adoracion S. Bernabe, VicePresident Patricia Fernando Regalado, Secretary Noel Vincent Can-icula, Treasurer Remedios Rodis Santeleces, Ass’t. Treasurer EdnaFelipe, Ass’t. PRO Betty Rivera, PRO Butch Duque, and Auditor OrlanVelasco.

or sugar conversion program forthe remaining months of the cropyear,” said Martin.

‘Advance swapping’ or sugarconversion is adopted by theSRA when it needs to re-allocatesugar from a particular classifi-cation to augment supply of aparticular sugar classification.

For instance, in crop year 2011-2012, the SRA adopted the ad-vance swapping of “D” worldmarket sugar to “A” U.S. marketsugar to augment supply of “A”due to the additional U.S. quotavolume given to the Philippines.(Rosemarie Gumera, DA-SRA)

projects from the DA’s Agricul-tural Training Institute.

During the forum, SecretaryAlcala promptly addressed theconcerns and issues raised byfarmers and fisherfolk. He wasassisted by head of DA agenciespresent that included AssistantSecretary and national corn pro-gram coordinator Edilberto deLuna, PCA AdministratorEuclides Forbes, PCIC PresidentJovy Bernabe, BSWM DirectorSilvino Tejada, BFAR DirectorAsis Perez, and DA Region 4-ADirector Vilma Dimaculangan.

Secretary Alcala also raffledoff to participants several headof farm animals (cattle, carabaoswith implements piglets, sheep,and cattle), and hand tractors toeach of the five municipalities inPolillo. (Marlo Asis, DA-AFIS)

DA grants ... (from p 8)make it competitive with othercountries.

The second challenge is thatthe country needs new breed offarmers who will replace the oldones. He added that to attractyoung people to engage in farm-ing, they must realize that thereis money in farming.

In particular, he said engagingin organic farming can give farm-ers a chance to make their prod-ucts more competitive in theworld market.

The third challenge facing theagriculture sector is climatechange.

“Ang Asia ang itinuturing nasentro ng pakikipaglaban sapagbabago ng panahaon,bunsod ng iba’t ibang uri ngkalamidad na nararanasan sadakong ito ng mundo. Mgamapanirang baha, malalakas nabagyo, tagtuyot, pagtaas ngdagat at pagkalat ng mgabagong sakit sa mga halaman athayop.” said Alcala.

In this regard, he said the DAhas allotted funds for manpowercomplement and forged strongeralliance with the Philippine Atmo-spheric, Geophysical and Astro-nomical Services Administration(PAGASA) to predict the weathermore precisely, and thus informfarmers accordingly wo theycould prepare, protect or harvesttheir crops.

Along with this, the DA is alsoproviding seeds and construct-ing sturdy infrastructure thatcould withstand typhoons ordrought. These include irrigationsystems, post-harvest facilities,market trading centers, and stor-age facilities. (Cath Nanta, DA-AFIS)

pancreatic Necrosis Syndrome(AHPNS) and InfectiousMyonecrosis Virus (IMNV).

Perez said the Philippines re-mains free of said shrimp dis-eases, which are causing mas-sive mortalities and heavy lossesto the shrimp industry in severalcountries in Asia that includeThailand, Vietnam, Malaysia,China and Indonesia.

The DA-BFAR has also in-cluded Singapore, Myanmar,Brunei and Cambodia on thewatch list.

In issuing the fisheries order,Perez said the DA-BFAR alsoheeded the recommendation ofDr. Donald Lightner, a knownand respected internationalshrimp disease expert.

“We are dealing with a diseaseunknown to us, all the more thatmeasures must be undertaken,”Perez said, during a shrimp in-dustry meeting with the opera-tors and importers this month.

EMS is characterized by mas-sive mortalities during the first 30days. Infected samples showslow growth, corkscrew swim-ming and pale coloration.

Studies on the nature of thedisease have already been con-ducted in the countries affected.

As of date, no known patho-gen has been found causing

Phl bans... (from p 9)

EMS yet.A shrimp expert in Thailand,

however, encourages shrimpfarm operators to keep theirfarms clean to minimize the prob-ability of acquiring the diseases.

“The Philippines remainsEMS-free as of the moment andBFAR is exhausting all efforts toremain so,” Dir. Perez said, add-ing that the country is position-ing again to expand its shrimpproduction for both local and ex-port markets.

Following the suspension, theDA-BFAR has instructed its FishHealth Officers, Quarantine Of-ficers and the Law EnforcementQuick Response Team (LEQRT)to strictly implement monitoring,control and surveillance proto-cols at the country’s ports of en-try, airports and seaports--aimedat protecting the country’saquatic resources and protectthe interests of the industry.

The bureau will continue tomeet and consult with shrimpfarmers and entrepreneurs to

discuss effective, long-term so-lutions facing the industry.

“The government through theBFAR is no longer just focusedon its regulatory functions. It isseriously putting all efforts tocontribute to the growth of the in-dustry,” Dir. Perez said. (DA-BFAR Info/PR Group)

Eleven state universities andcolleges (SUCs) will partner withthe DA’s Philippine Coconut Au-thority (PCA) by providing coco-nut seedlings for the agency’scoconut replanting program.

Among the SUCs are:Cagayan State University, whichwill supply 300,000 seedlings,Romblon State Univ. (150,000),Ifugao State Univ. (100,000),Southern Luzon State Univ.(200,000), Sindangan NationalAgricultural School (50,000),Bicol Univ. (60,000), and JoseRizal Memorial State Univ.(50,000).

PCA Administrator EuclidesForbes said the PCA will buy theseedlings from the SUCs at P26to P27 each.

Thus, a school that could pro-duce 100,000 seedlings mayearn up to P1.5 million every sixmonths.

“Our only request to theseschools is to use part of the pro-ceeds for scholarships of poorbut deserving students to avoidanother Kristel Tejada tragedy,”said PCA Administrator EuclidesG. Forbes, referring to a UP stu-dent who took her own life alleg-edly because her family was not

11 aggie schools to supply PCA coco seedlingsable to pay her tuition fees.

“By purchasing from stateschools, most of which raise in-come independently to supporttheir small budgets, we alsomake our purchase corruption-free, as both of us have auditorsand official receipts,” Forbesadded.

The SUCs have also agreed tomake their campuses as coconutnurseries that will produce qual-ity seedlings for the PCA.

For its part, the PCA will pro-vide technical assistance onseednut selection, and establish-ment and maintenance of thecoconut nurseries.

The PCA may start buying co-conut seedlings from the SUCsin May 2013. (Coconut Media Ser-vice)

NEDA ... (from p 1)interim PRDP national programdirector.

Secretary Alcala will presentthe PRDP for approval during theNEDA Board meeting in May2013, chaired by PresidentAquino.

Thereafter it will be submittedto the World Bank for consider-ation and funding. It is expectedto commence last quarter of2013, said interim PRDP deputyprogram director Arnel de Mesa.

The program features fourcomponents: investments to helpLGUs craft and implement agri-fishery modernization plans (I-PLAN); construction of market-oriented infrastructure and facili-ties (I-BUILD); putting up of ru-ral enterprises (I-REAP); andundertaking support projects (I-SUPPORT). (Sherwin B. Manual,DA-MRDP)

Agri Chief honored as ‘Doctor of Technology.’ In recognition of his strong and able leader-ship in steering the Department of Agriculture towards attaining sufficiency in rice and other majorstaples, Secretary Alcala (inset, middle) was conferred a ‘Doctor of Technology’ honorary degree bythe Pampanga Agricultural College (PAC), during its 75th commencement exercises, April 17, 2013, inPampanga. Addressing the 720 members of the 2013 graduating class (foreground), Secretary Alcalachallenged them to engage in agri-fishery enterprises, and be part of new breed of farmer-entrepre-neurs. To encourage more PAC students pursue agriculture courses, he said the DA will sponsor 10scholars next school year, under the agency’s Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ACEF).Also shown (inset, from left) are PAC President Dr. Honorio M. Soriano, CHED Dir. Virginia Akiate,and DA-Central Luzon regional director Andrew Villacorta. (Photo by DA-Region 3 Info Div.)

Phl sends initial export of corn silage to South KoreaThe DA in partnership with corn industry groups recently exportedan initial 24 metric tons of corn feed silage for cattle to Busan,South Korea. The shipment is part of the 15,000 MT of corn feedand grains worth P75 million that will be exported to South Koreaup to December 2013. Secretary Alcala (middle) said exportingcorn silage will increase farmers’ incomes by an average of 20%.He is shown leading the send-off, on April 30, 2013, at the ManilaInternational Container Terminal. Joining him (from left) are:Michael Jang, president of Korea Marine Transport Co.; TommyLee Kum Yuk, of Miwang Co., Phils.; DA assistant secretary andnational corn program coordinator Edilberto de Luna; and ButchUmengan, director of National Corn Competitiveness Board andpresident and CEO of Ploughshares, Inc.

Agriculture Secretary ProcesoJ. Alcala urged over 100 new ag-riculture graduates of thePampanga Agricultural College(PAC) to go into business andentrepreneurship instead of

(Pls turn to p11)

DA Chief urges aggie students to start own businesscompeting with the rest of over500,000 graduates this year.

“Ito ang talagang hamon, lalona sa mga bagong graduates nakabataan na kumuha ng kursosa agrikultura. Kailangang

BFAR mulls closed fishingseason for galunggong

“We are inspired by what hap-pened in the sardine closure.Madaming isda,” said DA-BFARDirector Asis G. Perez on thesuccess of the Visayan Sea andZamboanga sardines closedseason, both implemented lastyear and was lifted March thisyear.

Thus, he proposes to imposea closed fishing season also forround scad or galunggong to in-crease catch.

Subsequently, fisherfolk wouldearn more income, and at thesame time provide consumerswith more galunggong at afford-able prices, said Dir. Perez.

The price of galunggongranges from P60 to P120 perkilo.

“Bakit kailangan mag-imple-ment ng closed season sagalunggong? Kasi ito yungpagkain ng masa,” Dir Perezsaid.

“Ang pangarap natin aymaibaba ang presyo, so that wehave galunggong on our table ata very affordable cost,” headded.

As a result of the closed sea-son in Visayan Sea andZamboanga, intended to allowsardines to propagate, there isalso an increase in the catch ofgalunggong in those areas, hesaid.

“And that is our inspiration.That’s also why we want to look

at some areas particularly areaswhere galunggong are caught,”Dir. Perez noted.

Thus, the Capture FisheriesTechnology Division (CFTD) ofBFAR will conduct a study onsurvey where is the best spot formanaging galunggong.

Other aspects BFAR will re-search on are the peak of itsspawning period, where it aggre-gates during spawning, how longit takes for it to spawn, and howmany eggs on the average eachfish lays.

Initially, the DA-BFAR is look-ing at Northern Palawan as thearea of study, where closed sea-son for galunggong would beimplemented either in the lastquarter of this year or first quar-ter of 2014.

Currently, CFTD is doing a sur-vey on the average size ofgalunggong sold in wet markets.Related studies will be con-ducted to gather useful informa-tion that will serve as scientificbasis for the possible seasonalclosure for galunggong. (DA-BFAR)

maipakita na may asenso saagrikultura. Dito pumapasok angprocessing at value-adding samga produktong pansakahan,”Alcala explained, as he posedthe challenge to the 720 mem-bers of the graduating class dur-ing the 75th commencement ex-ercises of PAC, April 17, 2013,in Magalang, Pampanga.

To attract more students to pur-sue careers in agri-fishery sec-tor, Alcala said that the DAthrough its Agricultural Competi-tiveness Enhancement Fund(ACEF) will support 10 scholarsin PAC who will enrol in agricul-ture-related courses. The schol-arship will cover tuition fees andmonthly stipend.

Aside from this, the DAthrough its Bureau of AgriculturalResearch has provided P2 mil-lion as an institutional develop-ment grant for the upgrading ofthe Knowledge, Information andTechnology Sharing Center andFeed Testing Center.

Secretary Alcala said there aremainly three challenges the ag-riculture sector must face. Thefirst is globalization, in which intwo years’ time or by 2015, tar-iffs on imported agri products willbe abolished within ASEAN. Forthe country to cope with it, hesaid we must strengthen thecountry’s agriculture sector to