Vol. XXVI No.

4 A monthly publication of the Department of Agriculture April 2011

P400-M agri trading center to rise in Benguet

A P400-million modern whole-
sale trading and processing fa-
cility for vegetables and fruits—
dubbed as Agri-Pinoy Trading
Center (APTC)—will soon rise
on a four-hectare lot in La
Trinidad, Benguet, considered as
the country’s ‘salad bowl.’
Due for completion before
yearend, it will be the biggest and
most modern agricultural whole-
sale trading and processing cen-
ter in the country, said Agricul-
ture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala,
who led the ceremonial launch,
April 13, 2011, at the proposed
site within the ‘strawberry fields,’
in Benguet State University
(BSU), in La Trinidad.
Sec. Alcala said the Benguet
APTC will form part of the
country’s integrated food supply
chain being established in ma-
jor food producing regions in the
country — in compliance with
President Aquino’s commitment
to enable Filipino farmers and
fisherfolk sell their produce di- Agriculture Sec. Proceso J. Alcala (8th from left) joins other key players who are part of the P400-M Agri-
rectly and earn comfortable in- Pinoy Trading Center (APTC) that will soon rise at ‘Strawberry Fields’ in La Trinidad, Benguet. They
comes, and at the same time are (from left): DA-RFU2 dir. Lucrecio Alviar, Jr., Dev’t. of Academy of the Phils. president Antonio
make basic food affordable and Kalaw, DA Undersecretary Claron Alcantara, DA-APTC program dir. Ariel Mañalac, Benguet farmers’
accessible to the general pub- coop. vice-chair John Sagpaey, La Trinidad Mayor Gregorio Abalos, Benguet Rep. Ronald Cosalan,
lic. Benguet Gov. Nestor Fongwan, DA-CAR dir. Marilyn Sta. Catalina, DA-AMAS dir. Leandro Gazmin,
(Pls turn to p7) DA-NABCOR vice pres. Honesto Baniqued, and Benguet State University president Rogelio Colting.

Tarlac farmers to benefit from Phl tuna earns

Sec. Alcala is toured by 10-year
old farmer Joshua Baltazar at
their 2.8-hectare ‘Palayaman’
integrated farm in Kabuluan
Sur, Oton, Iloilo.
Balog-Balog irrigation project
Thousands of Tarlac farmers till-
ing over 34,000 hectares (ha) are
bound to benefit next year and be-
yond with the completion of the
Balog-Balog Irrigation Multipur-
pose Project (BIMP) Phase 1 by
year-end.
Agriculture Secretary Proceso
J. Alcala has instructed the Na-
tional Irrigation Administration to
DA grants P4-M project for young Mangyans
Touched by the transformation
of children of indigenous
Mangyans and out-of-school
youth (OSY) in Oriental Mindoro
who are now profitably engaged
in agriculture, Agriculture Secre-
tary Proceso J. Alcala recently
approved a P4.27-million project
for the conduct of a sustainable
fast-track the project which will
irrigate a total of 34,410 ha
(21,935 ha of new farmlands and
12,475 ha of rehabilitated areas)
inTarlac City and eight towns (La
Paz, Gerona, Pura, Ramos,
Capas, Paniqui, Bamban and
Concepcion).
The BIMP Phase 1 will put to
(Pls turn to p11)
agriculture training program for
other batches.
The training — aptly called
“Mangyoung Entrepinoys Or-
ganic Farming sa Mindoro” — is
spearheaded by the Salesian
Sisters of St. Bosco, who since
2002 have been operating the
(Pls turn to p11)
$20M in Boston
seafood show
Fresh chilled tuna and
pompano from the Philippines
earned a total of $20.2 million
(roughly P869M) in booked
orders and negotiated sales in
the International Boston
Seafood Show in
Massachusetts, USA, held
March 20-22, 2011.
In a report to Agriculture
Secretary Proceso J. Alcala, DA
Assistant Secretary Salvador S.
Salacup, who led the 14-man
Philippine delegation, said sales
represented a 187% increase in
the original target of only $10
million for the Boston event.
Bestsellers were fresh chilled
(Pls turn to p2)
 Editorial
Ang DA sa gitna ng mga pagsubok
S
a gitna ng mga
pagsubok, sari-
saring usapin at
alalahanin, kabilang na ang
walang tigil na pagtaas ng
presyo ng mga produktong
petrolyo, kaguluhan sa
iba’t-ibang panig ng
mundo, eskandalo at
korapsyon sa ating
pamahalaan, may mga
ahensya ng gobyerno na
patuloy na nagsusumikap
upang makapag-lingkod sa
bayan.
Isa na rito ang
Kagawaran ng Pagsasaka
na patuloy na
nagtataguyod ng mga
pamamaraan upang
paunlarin ang sektor na
pinagmumulan ng
kabuhayan at pagkain ng
94 milyong Pilipino.
Patunay nito ang matatag
na pagpapahayag ni DA
Secretary Procy Alcala ng
mga pagpapasiya upang
mapataas ang produksyon
ng bigas sa taong ito bilang
bahagi ng Food Staples
Self-Sufficiency Roadmap
(FSSR).
Bukod sa pagpapalaki ng
ani, estratehiya din sa ilalim
ng FSSR ang bawasan ang
malaking porsyento ng
post-harvest losses at
maituro sa publiko ang
mahusay na pamamahala
ng bigas para makatipid sa
pambansang konsumo.
Kaugnay nito,
ipinatutupad sa
kasalukuyan ang front
loading ng pondo o
paglalaan ng mas malaking
bahagi ang budgetary
requirements ng DA mula
sa taong kasalukuyan
hanggang 2013.
Ang pondo ay gugugulin
sa pagpapatayo at
pagpapabuti ng mga
mahahalagang
imprastrakturang pang-
agrikultural partikular na
2
DA allots P160-M for irrigation in Panay
The Department of Agriculture ties, and construction of trading
is setting aside P160 million for centers. “We want to teach farm-
ang sistema ng irigasyon
the rehabilitation of irrigation fa- ers to be responsible,” Alcala
sa buong bansa. Sa cilities and other water system stressed, pointing out that the
paraang ito, muling projects in the Panay region. seed and fertilizer subsidy
dadaloy ang Agriculture Secretary Proceso projects before were not effec-
kinakailangang tubig sa J. Alcala said he will send a team tive as envisioned.
mga tigang na palayan of experts to immediately assess “Mas maliit po ang budget
tungo sa mas malusog at the pre-requisites of the region’s natin ngayon, kung kaya pina-
irrigation concerns. prioritize natin yung mga
mayabong na pananim, programa na talagang makaka-
“We want to kick off this project
masaganang ani, at immediately as irrigation plays an tulong,” he explained. (We have
malaking kita. important role in the rice self-suf- a smaller budget now, thus we
Ang re-assignments ng ficiency program of the Aquino ad- are prioritizing more important
mga regional executive ministration,” Alcala said during programs.)
directors ay isa ring a weekend-trip to the provinces With a big slash on its bud-
pamamaraan na inilatag of Capiz and Iloilo. get this year, DA funding has
“The DA is currently funding big been limited to more significant
ng Kagawaran ngayong projects and programs in line
ticket projects which are more
buwan. Layunin nito na efficient and will ascertain posi- with the mission of attaining food
ipakalat ang mga tive results,” he said. sufficiency and higher income
mahuhusay na He added that the DA has for the countryside.
tagapangalaga ng stopped giving subsidies to farm- During the provincial visit,
agrikultura sa katauhan ers, as the government seeks to Alcala met with local officials of
ng mga REDs. Sa strengthen projects that will give the region to discuss possible
them long-term benefits. projects that will further enhance
pamamagitan nito, These include the construction agricultural production for
natututukan ang mga and rehabilitation of various agri- Panay Island.
rehiyon na may cultural infrastructures such as He also met with farmers and
kakulangan at kahinaan irrigation, farm-to-market roads, fishers to address issues of the
sa produskyon. postharvest and tramline facili- agricultural and fishery sectors.
Sa halos isang taon na
pamumuno ni Sec. Procy, Phl tuna earns...(from p1) Salacup noted that the
International Boston Seafood
nakita natin ang kanyang tuna and pompano due mainly to Show is one of the best venues
determinasyon at its excellent quality and taste as to showcase the products of the
pagsusumikap na well as its year-round availability. Philippine seafood industry and
maiangat ang sektor ng Previous buyers and importers further penetrate the USA,
pagsasaka at immediately placed an initial which is considered the 3 r d
order of 500 kilos per week at $10 largest consumer of seafood
pangingisda. Regular per kilo for the next three months products worldwide.
siyang nakikipag-usap at beginning April 2011. A total of 918 exhibitors from
nakipagtulungan sa mga It was likewise noted that there 48 countries participated in the
lokal na opisyal upang is still vast opportunity for the event.
personal na marinig at expansion of Philippine aquatic About 40 of the exhibitors
resource products considering were manufacturers, followed by
matugunan ang hinaing that many supermarkets and importers and agents,
ng mga maliliit na retail stores near the exhibition wholesalers and distributors.
magsasaka at site sold fish, frozen seafood Salacup further said this
mangingisda. products, shrimps, prawns, development further encourages
Tayo bilang bahagi ng crabs, tilapia, tuna loins, squids the DA to continue providing
and octopus which are currently support to the fishery and
malaking pamilya ng DA sourced from Taiwan and China. aquatic sector.
ay nararapat na makiisa
sa adhikain ng ating is published monthly by the Department of Agriculture Information
pinuno at magtiwala sa Service, Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City. Tel. nos. 9288762 loc 2148,
kanyang kakayanan. 2150, 2155, 2156 or 2184; 9204080 or tel/fax 9280588. This issue is available
in PDF file. For copies, please send requests via email: da_afis@yahoo.com.
Sa pamamagitan nito,
sama-sama nating Editor-In-Chief : Noel O. Reyes
Associate Editors: Karenina Salazar, Cheryl C. Suarez & Adam Borja
kakamtin ang mithiin
Writers: Adora D. Rodriguez, Jo Anne Grace B. Pera, Arlhene S. Carro,
tungo sa sapat na
Bethzaida Bustamante, Mc. Bien Saint Garcia, Jay Ilagan,
pagkain para sa lahat, at Catherine Nanta
mahusay at matatag na Contributors: DA-RFU Info Officers, Public Info Officers and Staff of DA
kabuhayan para sa mga Bureaus, Attached Agencies & Corporations, Foreign-Assisted Projects
maliliit na magsasaka at Photographers: Jose Lucas, Alan Jay Jacalan, & Kathrino Resurreccion
mangingisda. Lay-out Artist: Bethzaida Bustamante
Printing & Circulation: Teresita Abejar & PCES Staff
DA-BFAR puts up P40-M sardine
cold storage in Zamboanga
To ensure continuous year-
round production and further prop
up the P3-billion bottled sardines
industry in Zamboanga, the De-
partment of Agriculture (DA)—in
partnership with the City Govern-
ment of Dapitan and Provincial
Government of Zamboanga del
Norte—recently constructed an
integrated P40-million cold stor-
age facility in San Pedro, Dapitan
City, Zamboanga Del Norte.
Agriculture Secretary Proceso
J. Alcala, who led the inaugura-
tion April 25, 2011, said the facil-
ity can store up to 300 metric tons
(MT) of fish in six compartments
(50-MT capacity each). It also
has a chiller room (100-ton ca-
pacity), and a contact freezer
(500-kilogram capacity). The fa-
cility occupies a developed area
of 5,000 square meters.
The facility was funded by the
DA’s Bureau of Fisheries and
Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR).
Dapitan City through Mayor
Dominador G. Jalosjos donated
and cleared a seven-hectare area
where the cold storage facility
was constructed, while the Pro-
vincial Gov’t. of Zamboanga del
Norte, led by Gov. Rolando E.
Yebes, will manage and operate
the facility.
With the facility, Sec. Alcala
said production of bottled sar-
dines will be sustained continu-
ously throughout the year, pro-
viding both fishermen and work-
ers sustained livelihood and in-
come.
Industry figures show annual
production of bottled sardines
ranges from 140,000 MT to
IFAD pays courtesy call on Secretary Alcala
April 2011
175,000 MT a year, worth roughly
P3 billion. Of these, 13,000 MT
worth $16 million were exported
in 2008 to the USA, Italy, and
other European countries.
For his part, Dir. Sarmiento said
Zamboanga’s bottled sardines in-
dustry has now gained a foothold
and a niche in the domestic mar-
ket and is gradually penetrating
foreign markets.
With the facility, sardine mak-
ers can now store and process
herring fish, which is seasonally
abundant during December to
March in Sulu Sea, along the coast
of Zamboanga Peninsula.
On behalf of Zamboanga fisher-
men, sardine processors and
workers, Gov. Yebes and Mayor
Jaloslos thanked Secretary Alcala
and BFAR Director Sarmiento for
their support to further boost the
province’s bottled sardines indus-
try, which is their main source of
livelihood, employment and in-
come.
Gov. Yeves said there are cur-
rently 23 producers of Spanish
sardines in the province. They
banded together in 2000, and or-
DA-NIA to repair 2 irrigation projects in Misamis Occ.
The Department of Agriculture
through the National Irrigation
Admnistration (NIA) is alloting
P13 million to rehabilitate two
communal irrigation systems
(CIS) in Ozamis City, Misamis
Occidental to enable the province
to attain 100 percent self-suffi-
ciency in rice in the next two
years, from the current 84% level.
Secretary Proceso J. Alcala
Sec. Alcala (2nd from left) leads the inauguration of a P40-million
integrated cold storage facility in San Pedro, Dapitan City, that is
expected to further prop up the country’s P3-billion bottled and
canned sardines industry. Joining him (from left) are Tampilisan
Mayor Enriqueta Bomediano, Zamboanga Del Norte Gov. Rolando
Yebes, and DA-BFAR Dir. Malcolm I. Sarmiento, Jr.
ganized the In-glass Sardines of spired by Doña Concepcion
Dipolog Association or ISDA. Macias Vda. De Montaño, who
He said the current industry this demonstrated the technology
is a far cry from the time when she learned from elite Spanish
sardines in glass jars were first families who processed their
introduced to the province by the own sardines in bottles.
DA-BFAR in the early 1970’s, in- (Pls turn to p8)
said the two are irrigation province currently produces 84%
projects are the Labo and Clarin of its total rice requirements. He
CIS that serve a combined area challenged the local officials and
of 160 hectares. W hen com- farmers to attain 100 percent
pleted, the Labo CIS will irrigate self-sufficiency in rice in the
a total of 118 hectares, while soonest possible time, even be-
Clarin will irrigate 42 hectares. fore 2013, by doubling their irri-
Initially, the two systems were gation budget to P13M.
alloted with P6.5 million, but Sec- He urged farmers to increase
retary Alcala doubled it to P13 their average palay harvest to at
million, upon knowing that the (Pls turn to p8)
International Fund for Agricul-
ture Development (IFAD) officials
called on Sec. Alcala (center) last
April 6, 2011 at the DA-central
office, where he enjoined them to
develop and commercialize more
upland rice varieties for both do-
mestic and export markets. The
DA and IFAD currently imple-
ments the Cordillera Highland
Agricultural Resource Manage-
ment Project Phase 2 (CHARMP
2) aimed at increasing farmers’ in-
comes and reducing poverty inci-
dence in the Cordilleras. With Sec.
Alcala are (from left): IFAD Phils.
country manager Youqiong Wang,
DA undersecretary Joel Rudinas,
DA technical adviser Salvacion
Bulatao, former IFAD country
manager Sana F.K. Jatta, and
IFAD officials Yolando Arban and
Michael Rayner.
3
 DA chief ‘cross-posts’ regional officials
The Department of Agriculture
has reshuffled several top re-
gional and agency officials,
cross-posting some of them to
other regions and the rest taking
on special tasks.
Of the 16 DA Regional Field
Units (RFUs), 10 regional execu-
tive directors (REDs) and six re-
gional technical directors (RTDs)
are affected. The re-assignments
took effect March 28, 2011.
Agriculture Secretary Proceso
J. Alcala said “the re-assignment
forms part of the agency’s con-
tinuing streamlining efforts to pro-
vide our clienteles — most par-
ticularly small farmers, fishers
and ruralfolk, and local govern-
ment units — faster and more
efficient technical and support
services, aimed at attaining rice-
self sufficiency, food security, in-
creasing farm and fishery produc-
tivity and incomes, and providing
Filipino families with accessible,
affordable and nutritious basic
food items.”
Below are the new assign-
ments of DA REDs and RTDs:
• RFU CAR - Marilyn Sta.
Catalina; RTD Operations & Ex-
tension, Danilo Daguio; RTD Re-
search & Regulations, Cameron
Odsey;
• RFU1 - Renato Maguigad;
RTD Operations, Crispulo
Bautista; RTD Research,
Eduardo Gonzales;
•RFU2 - Lucrecio Alviar, Jr.;
RTD Operations, Valentino
Lime perks up
corn production
In a reserach conducted by the
Western Mindanao Agriculture
Research Center, the application
of dolomitic lime to one hectare
of corn was found to produce
better crops, increase its yield,
and raise farmers’ income.
Dolomitic lime contains cal-
cium and magnesium that is
known to elevate soil pH and en-
hances plant growth and crop
yield.
Done in acidic soil, there were
three experimental treatments
observed. Results showed the
control crop had an ear length of
12 cm with a yield of 5 tons/hect-
are and a net income of
P22,043.00. The two treatments
with lime had an ear length of
14 cm with 6 tons/hectare yield
and a net income of P36,005.00.
(Pls turn to p8)
4
Perdido; RTD Research, Or- •RFU11 - Oscar Parawan; RTD • Asst. Secretary Edilberto de
lando Lorenzana; Operations, Norlito Agduyeng; Luna, national corn program
•RFU3 - Andrew Villacorta; RTD Research, Romulo Palcon; coordinator;
RTD Operations, Paz Mones; • RFU12 - Amalia Datukan; • Dante Delima, national rice
RTD Research, Jennilyn RTD Operations, Jimmy Olivo; program coordinator, and con-
Dawayan; RTD Research, Jose Balacutan; current BPI ass’t. dir.; and
•RFU4A - Abelardo Bragas; and • Jennifer Remoquillo, na-
RTD Operations, Vilma •RFU13 - Edna Mabeza; RTD tional high value crops program
Dimaculangan; RTD Research, Operations, Edgardo Dahino; coordinator.
Brigida Mercado; RTD Research, Teodora Pellerin-
•RFU4B - Cipriano Santiago;
RTD OPerations, Antonio
Fiel.
The new designations of other Two enterprises
Creencia; RTD Research,
Yvonne Vinas;
REDs and DA officials are:
• RED Reinerio Belarmino, get trademarks
•RFU5 - Jose Dayao; RTD technical assistant on develop- Intellectual Property (IP) Phil-
Operations, Elena de los ment of draft animals; ippines has recently awarded
Santos; RTD Research, Edgar • RED Pedro Jerry Baliang, two trademark certificates to
David; tech’l. ass’t. on meat import/ex- Kalipayan Products and Likas
• RFU6 - Larry Nacionales; port situation; Kaya, which the Bureau of Agri-
RTD Operations Remelyn •RED Ricardo Oblena, tech’l. cultural Research (BAR),
Recoter; RTD Research, Joyce ass’t. on irrigation program and through its Intellectual Property
Wendam; project monitoring; Rights Office (IPRO), assisted
•RFU7 - Leo Cañeda; RTD •RTD Bernadette F. San Juan, in filing and processing of IP
Operations, Angel Enriquez; tech’l. ass’t. on special con- applications, as well as in pro-
RTD Research, Eduardo Alama cerns; viding legal and technical assis-
•RFU8 - Antonio Gerundio; •Dr. Ruben Miranda, OIC-ex- tance.
RTD Operations, Arsenio Fortin; ecutive director of the Philippine Kalipayan Products w as
RTD Research, Wilson Cerbito; Rice Research Institute awarded the trademark for their
• RFU9- Carlos Mendoza; (PhilRice); stylized “G” logo and device
RTD Operations, Constancio •Atty. Ronilo Beronio, special which they could now use in
Alama; RTD Research, Aida assistant for DA property con- their product labels.
Cariño; cerns; “The approved trademark
•RFU10 - Lealyn Ramos; RTD •Felix Valenzuela, tech’l. ass’t. consists of a very stylized letter
Operations, Constancio at the Office of the Assistant Sec- G in black color, in continuous
Maghanoy; RTD Research, retary for Livestock, and concur- writing with rough edges,”
Roxana Hojas; rent LDC deputy exec. dir.; described Dr. Andrea B. Agillon,
head of the BAR’s IPRO.
Kalipayan Products, owned
by Ms. Ma. Elena A. Tabora, is
the producer of Negros
Occidental’s original Gourmet
Tuyo, noted for its Pinoy flavor
and now eyeing the global
market.
Meanwhile, Likas Kaya,
which produces organic
fertilizers, was awarded the
trademark of the word “Likas
Kaya” and three-arrow device in
green color.
The trademark was applied for
by Arnold N. Venturina,
president of the Occidental
Mindoro National State College.
“They own the trademark
which is good for 10 years,” said
Dr. Agillon. “The trademark for
Sec. Alcala (2nd from right) appreciates a round eggplant during a
the Stylized Gourmet took a
vegetable harvest festival at a techno-demo farm in Barangay while as we had to re-file it
Capehan, Tarlac City, where a 16-week ‘Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan’
because it was denied,” he said.
farmers’ training program was conducted by the SM Foundation
As defined in the Intellectual
Inc. (SMFI) in partnership with the Department of Agriculture,
Property Code (R.A. 8293), “a
Provincial Government of Tarlac and Harbest Food Corp. (HBC). trademark is  any  visible  sign
The trained farmers, totalling 163, will produce and regularly
capable of distinguishing
supply the vegetable requirements of SM supermarkets in Tarlac.
goods”. It could be a sign,
Sec. Alcala thanked SMFI for its initiative and committed to sup-
device or mark by which the
port Tarlac Governor Victor Yap (right) who spearheads the pro- articles produced or dealt in by
gram. Joining them are HBC president Arsenio Barcelona (partly
a particular person or
hidden), SMFI ass’t. vice president Cristie Angeles (left) and Tarlac
organization are distinguished or
provincial agriculturist Rowena Tabamo.
(Pls turn to p11)
DA-PCC launches ‘buffalo knowledge’ website
Recognizing the importance of
establishing one systematic da-
tabase on buffalo information, the
DA-Philippine Carabao Center
(PCC) launched recently an ‘In-
ternational Buffalo Knowledge
Resource Service’ (IBKRS) via
the internet.
Interested individuals and
groups may visit www.ibkrs.net,
where they can find selected re-
searches on buffalo.
Dr. Libertado C. Cruz, PCC
executive director, said IBKRS is
a one-stop-hub that consolidates
quality research articles on buf-
falo information in the form of
abstracts and/or full texts. It is
international in scope, with em-
phasis on countries with long
years of established and repu-
table buffalo research information
facilities.
The site also includes a direc-
tory of relevant institutions and
organizations, and a database of
researchers and scientists in spe-
cific fields of discipline, added Dir.
Cruz.
Through the IBKRS, interested
livestock raisers, farmers,
agribusinessmen and researchers
can access available information
on buffalo production, breeding
and genetics, reproductive bio-
technologies, animal health and
nutrition, feeding management,
dairying and dairy technologies,
and enterprise development.
Dir. Cruz invites and encourages
all buffalo scientists to network
with the PCC via the site’s chat
and forum. They can also send
relevant information that may en-
hance the coverage, intellectual
content and use of the IBKRS
website. They can also email their
inquiries at ibkrs@yahoo.com.

Region 12 officials shift to biological Sec. Alcala (above, 2nd from left) hands over a symbolic key to
Oriental Mindoro governor Alfonso Umali, commencing a
control against coconut tree pest counterparting program that provides farmers with two tractors
The Department of Agriculture time using biological means
(below), farm equipment, inputs and projects, in ceremonies held
(DA), together with the Philippine
rather than purely chemical pes-
April 29, 2011, in Calapan City. Joining them are DA-4B regional
dir. Cipriano Santiago (left) and vice governor Butch Dolor.
Coconut Authority (PCA) and ticides.
the Local  Government  Units of The PCA reported that they are
now focused on biological control to control the pest. DA-12 Re-
Region 12, joined efforts in coun- on mass production of this in-
tering pests that have been using parasitoids (Tetrastichus gional Director Amalia Jayag- sect have been conducted re-
attacking coconut  trees,  this sp) to sustain containment efforts Datukan said the region’s efforts gion wide. Several laboratories
to contain the pests had been were established in Lutayan,
US officials look favorably at Phl sugar notably strong despite reports of Sultan Kudarat, and the LGU of
infestation since it was detected Cotabato Province.
industry in Washington D.C. meeting in Lutayan, Sultan Kudarat in Just recently, the Sultan
The Sugar Regulatory Ad- Also present were Dir. Marcia January 2009. Since then, the Kudarat Polytechnic University
ministration (SRA), under Ad- Eugenio of the Office of Child region’s authorities have been in Lutayan established its own
ministrator Ma. Regina Labor, Forced Labor and Human attempting to control Brontispa laboratory after undergoing train-
Bautista-Martin, announced Trafficking of the US Department using chemical pesticides. ing on Integrated Pest Manage-
the United States is looking of Labor; Jack Roney of the Chemical application includes ment which is more sustainable,
positively at the country’s American Sugar Alliance; and trunk inj ection, spraying and environment friendly, and poses
sugar industry and at the Paul Ryberg, Pres. of the Inter- drenching of the cut portion of the no harm to humans.
government’s efforts to improve national Sugar Trade Coalition. crown. All chemical treated trees As of March 2011, PCA re-
the lives and income of small The team reiterated the were then subjected to mechani- ported a total of 124,810 trees
sugarcane farmers through country’s commitment to fill up cal control by cutting and burn- infested and treated with various
farm consolidation and public- the US sugar quota since grow- ing of the spear leaf before spray- control measures, majority of
private partnerships. ing competition in the world ing.
This came on the heels of a market is likely to lower the which used parasitoids.
Sometime in 2009, the Crop The Municipality of Tupi where
meeting, held early this month prices of sugar, making the US Protection Division of PCA Davao
at Washington DC, attended an important trade partner. 1,180 coconut trees have been
Research Center has success- infested, was declared under
by Martin, representatives from The industry is willing to pay fully identified and mass pro-
the Philippine Sugar Millers short-term opportunity costs by state of calamity to augment re-
duced a local parasitoid. sources to control the pest.
Association (PSMA) and the supplying the US market today After laboratory and field obser-
Sugar Alliance of the Philip- in order to enjoy long-term ben- Amid the reported infestation
vation, this proved to be an effec-
pines (SAP). efits in terms of access to the of Brontispa longissima Gestro
tive control against Brontispa.
The delegation met with US market in the future, it was commonly known as coconut
This parasitoid (Tetrastichus
Deputy Undersec. Darci Vetter agreed. hispine beetle, the PCA warned
sp) lays eggs in the pupa of
of the USDA; Dir. Ron As an offshoot of the discus- coconut farmers about its pos-
Brontispa, which, after 2 weeks
Baumgarten, Jr. and Karl sions on the US quota, USDA sible spread to neighboring
of parasitism, will emerge as an
Ehlers of USTR; Dir. Mike Sec. Vilsack announced an ad- towns.
adult again averaging from 20-40
Dunlap and Chief Counsel ditional in-quota quantity for the They urged farmers to imme-
Jonathan Coppess of the Com- TRQ of sugar giving the wasps.
Since then, all efforts to con- diately report to their nearest
mittees on Agriculture of the Philippines an allocation of technicians any suspected
US House of Representatives 60,000 metric tons raw value tain Brontispa were focused on
biological control using brontispa infestation to prevent
and US Senate. (MTRV).
tetrastichus. Massive trainings its spread.

April 2011 5
Benguet APTC: Something new, something right
Anybody who has been to the
present La Trinidad Vegetable
Trading Post in Benguet
province will probably agree that
something’s wrong somewhere.
It might be because as soon
as you get to the vicinity of the
vegetable trading post, you are
greeted by long lines of vehicles
filled to the brim with a wide
assortment of highland veg-
etables waiting to be unloaded.
Or, you might have been
turned off by the offensive smell
of rotting vegetables and fruits,
along with the occasional smell
of chicken dung being ferried by
the truckloads into interior
Benguet towns for use as
fertilizers. With decaying food
in the vicinity, the presence of
fruit flies and ordinary house-
hold buzzards would not be so
far behind.
Ask an ordinary vegetable
farmer or his wife (as Benguet
farmers are usually accompa-
nied by members of the family
in trading their hard-earned
produce) if they are happy with
the outcome of their trade.
Were they able to recoup their
expenses? Did the prices level
up to what they expected? Did
they turn in a profit? Often than
not, the reply would be accom-
panied by a helpless, dissatis-
fied sigh.
These observations were also
common when a team from the
Development Academy of the
Philippines (DAP) and the
Department of Agriculture (DA)
came for a site inspection of
the present La Trinidad Veg-
etable Trading Post early this
year.
The team, led by Director
Ariel Manalac of DA’s Agricul-
ture Training Institute, found
that Benguet’s vegetable
trading post was inadequate to
meet the estimated 1 million
kilograms of vegetables un-
loaded there everyday.
The present trading post,
established in 1984, caters to
over 2,000 stakeholders
composed of farmers, traders,
middlemen, and buyers. The
highland vegetables traded
there are cabbages, potatoes,
cauliflower, Chinese cabbage,
carrots, chayote, broccoli,
cucumber, lettuce, celery, onion
leeks, sweet pepper, radish,
sweet peas, and beans.
Because of its inadequacies,
farmers and their freight queue
along the national highway and
contribute to pollution, unsani-
6
tary environment, and traffic
congestion in the area. In turn,
there is a great deal of incon-
venience and loss of productiv-
ity on the part of the farmers
who are virtually powerless in
the scheme of things.
All these are about to
change with the programmed
construction of a newer, more
modern, more spacious and
systematic integrated veg-
etable trading post in the
municipality beginning this
summer.
Called the Benguet Agri-
Pinoy Trading Center (APTC)
at the heart of Benguet’s
strawberry farms at barangay
Betag in La Trinidad, the new
trading facility is estimated to
cost about P400 million and
will take about a year to
complete.
Agriculture Secretary
Proceso J. Alcala signed a
Memorandum of Understand-
ing and witnessed the ceremo-
nial launching of the Benguet
APTC last April 13. The other
signatories in the agreement
include the DA, the Benguet
State University (BSU) who
owns the four-hectare property,
the municipal government of
La Trinidad, the province of
Benguet, and the Benguet
farmers’ marketing coopera-
tive.
Dubbed to be the most
modern trading post in the
country to date, the Benguet
APTC will play a pilot role in
the country’s integrated supply
chain being pushed by the DA,
Alcala said.
Its trading facilities are aimed
at increasing vegetable farmers’
income while protecting them
from market price fluctuations.
Production facilities encourage
minimum processing of vegetable
products with the use of modern
cold storage technologies but
also provide for further process-
ing to meet export demands and
handling of excess produce and
spoilage. Full processing, on the
other hand, will result in the pro-
duction of starch, chips, strings,
and pastes, while minimal pro-
cessing will cover cleaning, sort-
ing, slicing and packing.
Its business portfolio includes
tolled facilities and services, fees
for trading post operations, and
integrated supply chain involving
production, processing and mar-
keting.
Farmers may enter into pro-
duction agreements like contract
growing or contracts-to-buy with
the trading post’s corporate part-
ners. These partners schedule
programmed planting, harvest,
processing and delivery to meet
corporate clients’ needs.
Also they may enter into mar-
keting agreements with other cli-
ents or for export purposes, and
employ processing stages to
meet the demand.
Secretary Alcala revealed that
the project will be funded jointly
by the national government, in
partnership with the Benguet
State University, the local govern-
ment units under Benguet Gov.
Nestor Fongwan and Rep. Ronald
Cosalan, and
La Trinidad Mayor Gregorio
Abalos, with a sharing scheme
for foreign investors.
He said the Korean Interna-
tional Coordinating Agency
(KOICA) has already committed
By Adam Borja
to spend US $2.5 million for the
processing plant of the new veg-
etable trading post.
Alcala also underlined the role
of farmers and farmers’ coopera-
tives in the success of the un-
dertaking as he ceremonially
turned over around P600,000 to
the local government of Benguet
representing the first tranche of
payments to affected strawberry
farmers, saying they can still
continue their farming activities
despite on-going construction.
Under the agreement, the
Department of Agriculture facili-
tates the investments via grant;
enters into a five-year manage-
ment contract; engages in mar-
keting and account development
and capacity building; and par-
ticipation in governance. In ex-
change, the DA will get a share
in the business and in manage-
ment fees;
The Benguet State University
shall allow a 25-year lease of the
4-hectare property, buy inputs
for its own vegetable process-
ing activities; and participate in
governance. As reward, it shall
have its share in business, get
income from lease, and get to
achieve its academic goals
The La Trinidad Municipal Gov-
ernment, the Provincial Govern-
ment of Benguet, and the farm-
ers’ cooperatives and federa-
tions shall also contribute to the
project and be entitled to returns
on investment.
Secretary Alcala said the
Benguet APTC shall serve as a
conduit in the development of a
vibrant agricultural marketing
system in the country to provide
scientific technological support
and speed up the growth of the
agricultural sector.
He revealed that the DA plans
to establish similar trading
posts in Isabela, Nueva Ecija,
Visayas, Cebu, Cagayan De
Oro, and Iloilo. These trading
posts, Alcala said, will be
complementary to each other
and shall work in an integrated
system for food security pur-
poses.
With the Benguet APTC com-
pleted soon, farmers, traders,
students, tourists, and ordinary
residents will have reason to be
happy for the all-new, life chang-
ing experience.
Now they can finally say
something right is going on in
their community.
 Coral transplantation revives marine habitat
interested in it and hired the praisal and Resource and “The technology was
By Sherwin B. Manual researcher who conducted the Social Assessment in 2008 adapted from marine biolo-
The town of Linamon in project in Medina as our revealed that most of the fishes gist Lemuel Alfeche who has
Lanao del Norte has es- consultant,” Obenza said. caught near the shoreline successfully studied coral
poused a typical yet efficient Corals are the natural habitat, especially in sea grasses and transplantation in Duka Bay
way to revive submarine breeding place and source of coral areas are siganids like of Medina, Misamis Orien-
habitat: coral transplantation. food of different undersea kitang, damsels like pata and tal,” explained Eballe.
Its 5.2 kilometer coastline organisms. Its complex growth añel- añel, parrot fishes and “Researches showed that
has been the shelter of that forms the reef acts as wrasses like “mul-mul” and the wild corals can grow as
thriving cluster of trans- natural breakwater from strong “lubayan.” much as 2 cms in a year,
planted corals. current and waves. Corals help Sardines, locally known as but in the study of Alfeche in
“We need to accelerate the stop siltation and helps in the “tamban,” is the most abundant Duka Bay the coral growth
accumulation of more sand or fish especially in the fishing was observed to be at 16
revival of our coral reefs to
soil in the coast. grounds near Larapan river. cms for a year,” she added.
save the resources that Fisherfolk also catch pelagic
remained in our seas,” says In the Linamon project,
Dwindling fishery resources fishes mostly tuna, and tuna- they use 38 modules or
Ernila Obenza, the NRM like “pidlayan” “budlisan” coral substrates with three
Focal Person of Limanon. Nestor Sakay, a local
fisherfolk, said that this part of “anduhaw”, flying fish like designs: the pyramidal block
“Although not so common “bangsi and balo.” Milkfish or type, the cylindrical block
among the usual coastal Iligan Bay used to be rich in
bangus is also a very promising type and the dome block
conservation activities, we’ve various fishes even if it’s just a marine crop. type.
heard the success of coral stone’s-throw away from the
coastline. Results of the “However, fish catch trend is “We have transplanted the
transplantation in Medina generally going down from 1960 coral acropora which were
(Misamis Oriental). We were Participatory Resource Ap- to the present. Fisherfolk taken from the coral reefs in
attribute this to fish habitat Brgy. Poblacion,” Eballe
destruction especially in the said.
coral reefs. “This strategy will allow
“Our survey in 2000 in the the control of water param-
five coastal barangays showed eters within the contiguous
that our coral reefs are in poor sites having similar vectorial
to fair condition and the com- current operating in the
munities living in the area are system with similar salinity,”
aware of it as they admit during Eballe explained.
our public forums,” Obenza Further, she explained that
said. the coral fragments col-
The fishery resources are lected from parent corals
dwindling fast enough to cause were cautiously transferred
alarm for the fishing community underwater using plastic
and the local government. baskets drawn by a
“The study we conducted pumpboat. These were
revealed that in 1993, fishermen individually planted within
with motorized bancas who the respective coral sub-
spend 45 minutes to four hours strates with the use of
within eight to 10 kilometers concrete blocks which were
The present trading post in La Trinidad, Benguet. from the shore can catch about planted upright by inserting
110 kilos.But in 2008, they them at the center of the
400-M agri ... (from p1) The other signatories were: catch only about 20 kilos. holes provided in the blocks.
The new facility, which will Benguet Governor Nestor Worse, small fisherfolk They were also cemented
complement the existing trading Fongwan, Rep. Ronald Cosalan, within four to five kilometers in underwater and allowed four
post near the La Trinidad Munici- La Trinidad Mayor Gregorio 1993 usually get 65 kilos in to five hours to harden.
pal Hall, is envisioned to make 2008, but now they could barely “The transplantation
Abalos, Jr., BSU President Dr.
gather 10 kilos in their bas- process was painstaking,
trading operations of vegetables Rogelio Colting, and John kets,” Obenza said. and based on our latest
and fruits faster, from unloading Sagpaey, Benguet farmers’ mar- monitoring, we observed at
until payment of goods delivered, keting cooperative’s vice-chair. Adaptable technology least 70-30 coral survival
and thus minimize spoilage and Sec. Alcala said the DA will es- “The coral transplantation is rate which is within the
wastage. It will be funded jointly tablish similar multi-commodity just but one part of our whole expected rate,” Eballe said.
by the DA, provincial and munici- agricultural and fishery trading effort to revive the rich re- “The consequences of
pal governments of Benguet and and processing centers in other sources of the seas of Linamon investing on this kind of
La Trinidad, and Benguet Rep. major provinces such as Isabela through the establishment of a resource management
Ronald Cosalan. and Nueva Ecija, for grains and Marine Protected Area (MPA),” strategy for coral reef
It will also a feature a modern lowland vegetables; Iloilo for said Obenza. development will result in
processing facility, to be funded grains and fishery products; Cebu, The town has engaged to environmental economic and
by a $2.5-million grant from the for fishery and processed fruits; establish a 6-hectare MPA, and social benefits such as
one hectare is devoted to coral increased productivity,
Korea International Cooperation Cagayan De Oro, grains, fruits transplantation. enhanced marine
Agency (KOICA), said Sec. and vegetables; and General “The Samburon-Mago-ong biodiversity and the develop-
Alcala. The facility will process Santos City for marine and aquac- coast was selected because ment of a tourism attraction
vegetables into ready-to-cook ulture products, grains, fruits and based on the initial study site,” Obenza said.
‘chop suey’ packs, vegetable vegetables. conducted the area, it still has “We envisioned that
chips and starch. Also, Sec. Alcala urged the of- resources that can be saved or through this intervention we
The launch was preceded by ficers and members of the conserved. It has the capacity can improve the quality of
a signing of a memorandum of Benguet farmers’ marketing co- to regenerate while the prob- life of coastal communities
understanding (MOU) among operative to contribute their re- lems of water turbidity is not so as well as bring back the
concerned stakeholders, led by spective share in making the prevalent,” said municipal health and integrity of the
Sec. Alcala. project a success. marine biologist Cheryl Eballe. environment,” she added.

April 2011 7
Sec. Alcala turns over P13.9M
agri projects in North Cotabato
Agriculture Secretary Proceso back, and deliver the govern-
J. Alcala on April 9, 2011 turned ment to the citizens so that the
over a P13.5 Million worth of ag- people will feel true change es-
ricultural projects to farmers of pecially here in North Cotabato,”
the 1st District of North Cotabato he said.
thru Representative Jesus “Central Mindanao has be-
Sacdalan’s Priority Development come well known for conflicts.
Assistance Fund (PDAF). Now, with the help of our Con-
A total of 70 head of cows and gressman Jesus Sacdalan along
carabaos were dispersed with the mayors, this place will
amounting to P10M, with P5M become famous by feeding our
of the budget coming from PDAF brothers and sisters.” Alcala
and from the DA. added.
Some P2M worth of rubber- He also announced that the
budded seedlings, P1M worth of department has created an ap-
Sec.Alcala (2nd from right) hands over to Mr. Leo Loredo of the
coconut seedlings and propriate program to help its vari-
Provincial Federation of Small Coconut Farmers Association co-
P500,000 worth of coffee seed- ous clienteles.
lings together with four (4) units
conut seedlings which is part of the P13.5 million-DA projects
One of the problems relayed
of shallow tube wells amounting
awarded to North Cotabato farmers under the Priority Develop-
to him is the water system in
ment Assistant Fund of Congressman Jesus Sacdalan (2nd from
to P100,000 each, and small the area, where farmers com-
left). Other inputs distributed were 57,142 rubber-budded seedlings,
farm implements were also given plained of flooding during heavy
to the beneficiaries in Midsayap,
70 heads of farm animals and four units of shallow tube wells. Also
rainfall.
North Cotabato.
with Sec. Alcala is DA-12 Regional Director Amalia J. Datukan.
Alcala assured the farmers
Alcala said the activity is part that he will discuss the matter
of the directions of Pres. Noynoy with Public W orks Secretary ditional dryers and advised farm- DA-BFAR ... (from p3)
Aquino for farmers to be able to Rogelio Singson. ers to select effective rice mills Yebes said aside from the
feel the presence of the He said that he will put in ad- that have a 65-70% recovery rate. Montaños, the original Spanish
government’s efforts in helping ditional funding for flood control The Land Bank of the Philip- families who produced bottled
them uplift their everyday living. projects that have already been pines can provide funds for a sardines were the Urquiagas, the
“Pres. Aquino wanted to know started, so that these will be much better rice milling facility. Bermedos, and the Buenos.
what the real thing is on the completed within the year. The To achieve its goal of five met- Dir. Sarmiento said there are
ground, give him proper feed- department will also put up ad- ric tons per hectare to attain rice at least four companies that are
sufficiency in the country, the compliant with the Hazard Analy-
government is focusing on the
DA promotes other staples selection of the right variety of
sis Critical Control Point or
HACCP standards required by
White corn grit, sweet potato, cassava and banana will soon rice seeds to produce more yield. importing companies. They are
be regular table foods or snacks during meetings, conferences, Alcala said that among the as- Mendoza Industries, Alenter
seminars, workshops and other forums conducted by the Depart- sistance given to farmers are giv- Foods, Inc., Tita Rosa Foods
ment of Agriculture. ing support services like storage Inc., and Montaño Foods Inc.
In a recent memorandum, Secretary Proceso J. Alcala urges and drying facilities, and improv- HACCP is a systematic pre-
all DA offices, bureaus, agencies and regional field units to vigor- ing the region’s irrigation system. ventive approach to food safety
ously promote and encourage consumption of other staple foods On the increasing price of fer-that addresses physical, chemi-
such as white corn, sweet potato, cassava, and banana. tilizers, Sec. Alcala said DA is cal, and biological hazards as a
This initiative forms part of the government’s Food Staples Self- now implementing the Organic means of prevention. The sys-
Sufficiency Roadmap (FSSR) that aims to attain self-sufficiency Agricultural Act of 2010 (RA tem is used at all stages of food
in rice by end of 2013. 10068), which will be of great help production, preparation, packag-
By increasing the production and consumption of other food to farmers who are promoting eco- ing and distribution.
staples, rice consumption will be reduced. logically-friendly agriculture prod- Sarmiento said the DA-BFAR
Hence, the DA will also promote responsible consumption pat- ucts. Municipal agriculturists will
tern of rice and other staples for better health and nutrition. in Zamboanga (Region 9) main-
be trained to produce their own tains a regional laboratory that
Another strategy is to reduce post-harvest losses of rice, corn organic fertilizers to help farmers
and other grains and staples. offers free services, and provides
against the high costs of inputs. training and technical assis-
tance to sardine producers to
DA-NIA ... (from p3) The National Irrigation Admin- Local government officials led
enable them improve their prod-
istration in Region X, through by 1 st District Rep. Jorge T. ucts and be globally competitive.
least five tons per hectare by the Lanao-Misamis Occidental Almonte, Ozamis Mayor Nova
employing good agricultural prac- Irrigation Management Office un- Princess Parohinog-Echavez,
tices — from land preparation to der Regional Irrigation Manager Clarin Mayor David Navaro, and Lime ... (from p4)
use of good quality certified Julius S. Maquiling, has other local chief executives were The research was aimed at
seeds, and right kind and amount achieved a 52.71 percent irriga- thankful to Secretary Alcala for determining the effects of dolo-
of fertilizers, and post harvest tion development in the region. his generosity and vowed to do mitic lime to soil pH and iden-
practices. Out of the total agricultural their best to meet their targets tify the most ideal rate of appli-
”Please give me five,” he urged area of 193,830 hectares,14,547 before 2013. cation for corn cropping. It was
the Ozamis farmers in a ‘town has. are potentially irrigable. Meanwhile, Sec. Alcala said was undertaken by Felizardo M.
hall’ meeting. The country’s cur- About 7,668 has are already ir- the DA will grant 20 scholarship Salomes, Priscilla C. Jover,
rent average harvest of palay rigated by the NIA, commercial slots for deserving agriculture en- Teresita B. Pactol, Homer T.
(unmilled rice) is 3.7 tons (74 or private irrigators, and small gineering students during the Mendoza, Pedro L. Ambabang,
cavans of 50 kilos each) per hect- land owners. The rest is for irri- 61stPhilippine Society of Agricul- Jonathan G. Comamao and
are. gation development. ture Engineers (PSAE) annual Aldren P. Mejares. (DA9)

8
Mindanao graduates urged to be
partners in advancing prosperity
Agriculture Secretary Proceso
J. Alcala encouraged more than
1,700 graduates to be the part-
ners in advancing prosperity
across Mindanao and through-
out the Philippines during the 65th
Commencement Exercises of
the University of Southern
Mindanao in Kabacan, Cotabato.
“Dahil sa ganda ng klima sa
Mindanao, dahil sa ang gagaling
ng tao sa Mindanao, gagawin
nating agricultural hub ng buong
bansa ang Mindanao,” Alcala
said.
“Mindanao is the land of prom-
ise. We should make this dream
into a reality. People can plant
365 days because of the nice
climate in Mindanao and we
should take advantage of it,” he
said.
He said President Noynoy
Aquino is pleased with the ac-
complishments of agriculture
sector in the country. The Aquino
Administration goal is to be self-
sufficient in food nationwide that
is why Mindanao is so vital in
achieving this goal because it
has the capability and the knowl-
edge and it is bountiful all year
round.
Alcala assured that there will
no longer be rice importation by
2013 under DA’s Agri-Pinoy pro-
gram. Last year, the Philippines
is the number one importer of
rice in the world with 2.4million
metric tons (MMT). This year, In-
donesia ranks as the top im
porter with 1.5 MMT.
Give Me FIVE!
The Central Mindanao region
produces an average of 3.8 met-
ric tons of rice per hectare, he
noted, as he imparted to the
graduates his challenge for the
farmers to produce five (5) metric
tons or at least 4.5MT.
If this is achieved, there is no
need for the government to import
rice anymore, he said.
In return, capability enhance-
ment, latest farming technologies
and education on farming together
with postharvest facilities and in-
frastructures will be utilized and
implemented.
Construction and rehabilitation
of irrigations, organizing classes
of seeds and proper use of fertil-
izers will be given focus.
The agriculture department is
planning to put up at least three
grainlands in Mindanao where
corn and rice surplus will be
shipped to Luzon.
Mindanao Rural Development
Program Phase 2
The Mindanao Rural Develop-
ment Program Phase 2 (MRDP2)
has provided P4.2 billion to be
used in rural developments in
Mindanao.
At least P8.6B-worth of projects
is being proposed and with the
help of the President, the govern-
ment is hoping to engage with the
World Bank to increase funding.
Halal in Mindanao
DA has provided funds for Mus
Sec. Alcala (top left) addresses the graduates of the University of
Southern Mindanao during their 65th Commencement Exercises.
lim brothers and sisters to be
trained for halal food preparation.
Sec. Alcala is pushing for the fi-
nalization of the draft standards
for halal to enable the Philippines
compete with other countries for
the global halal industry esti-
mated at US$1.3 trillion.
An-internationally-harmonized
standard is just the first step to-
wards providing the proper devel-
opmental perspective.
The department is also
strengthening seaweeds industry
and mariculture parks in
Mindanao
Although Mindanao has been
marred by conflicts, I came here
without any security. Kitang kita
ko po ang kinabukasan ng
inyong lugar at kitang kita ko rin
po na kung hindi po kayo
makikipagkaisa ay doon na rin
po natatapos ang pangarap ko,
doon na rin po natatapos ang
buong pangarap ng adminis-
trasyong Aquino na maging self
sufficient po ang pagkain ng
buong bansa, Alcala added.
Moreover, he commended at-
least 578 agriculture graduates.
He said, they are the future
entrepreneurs in our country.
With proper guidance, they will
be in partnership with our gov-
ernment in promoting agriculture
in the future.
Serious about the promotion
of agricultural courses, Secre-
tary Alcala inspired the USM
community of t about 20 slots
scholarship grants for the univer-
sity.
The DA’s Agricultural Competi-
tiveness Enhancement Fund
(ACEF) will offer scholarships for
agriculture-related courses.
This scholarship will provide
free tuition and free book allow-
ance among others.

Ifugao farmers train on corn breeding

Two dozen corn farmers gradu-
ated from a seven-month Partici-
patory Plant Breeding (PBB)
course on corn, at Posnaan,
Aguinaldo, Ifugao, March 24,
2011.
The training, aimed at strength-
ening the capability of farmers in
managing their seeds, crops, and
farms, is an extension activity
through the partnership of the De-
partment of Agriculture,
KASAKALIKASAN and
SEARICE program.
After training, the farmers are
“There is money in agriculture!” Thus said Sec. ‘Procy’Alcala as he expected to replicate the strate-
encouraged graduates of the Southern Luzon State University gies, techniques, knowledge, and
(SLSU), April 26, 2011, in Lucban, Quezon, where he served as com- practices they learned to their co-
mencement speaker. Of the total 794 graduates, 87 students finished farmers.
agriculture-related courses. He granted SLSU with 25 scholarship Agricultural Technologist and
slots for those who will pursue agriculture courses. Photo shows trainer Alexander P. Bayachan
Sec. Alcala receiving a token from SLSU president Cecilia Gascon, said the graduates began their
while SLSU Regent Dr. Roberto Licup looks on. integrated plant management,
while their PPB course started
in September until March. The
course covered planting phase
up to the harvest phase.
Most of the graduates were
grateful for the training and ex-
pressed positive feedback about
the program. “Masarap ang mag-
aral, para ngang bitin eh,” said
Johny Sapinan, a graduate. He
added they will always welcome
and accept additional knowledge
and information shared to them
to support their livelihood.
Dirrek D. Lao-ay, Executive Di-
rector Assistant of SEARICE,
said the graduation of the corn
farmers is not the end, but the
beginning of good farming prac-
tices in the field. More activities
and trainings are needed to ex-
pand the farmers’ knowledge and
(Pls turn to p11)

April 2011 9
 Sec. Alcala’s travelogue for the month of April
I t was another busy month for Agriculture Secretary Proceso S. Alcala, as he continues his avowed mission of touching
base with ordinary farmers and fisherfolk all over the country in the desire to come up with realistic programs that will truly
bring food security, generate income, and uplift the quality of life for all Filipinos. His itinerary brought him to witness the
festive Pandan Festival in Laguna, to the heart-wrenching stories of Mangyan kids in Mindoro. His activities ranged from
speaking engagements in commencement exercises and town fiestas, to the inauguration of multi-million priority projects in
Benguet, Cotabato, Zamboanga. Here’s a run down of the Secretary’s activities for the month:

1--LUISIANA, LAGUNA: 14th Pandan Festival —Unveiled marker of
Patubig ng Bayan during the 14th Pandan Festival and 157th Year of
Absolute Villasenor in Brgy. San Isidro, Luisiana. Attended by Mayor
Manuel R. Rondilla, Vice Mayor Crisanto Villamin, and former
Laguna Gov. Teresita Lazaro, RFU III Regional Dir. Abelardo
Bragas. Dialogue with farmers and members of Sanggunian ng
Bayan. Awarded P1 million for Multi-Purpose Dryer and P6.5 million
for Farm to Market Road, three (3) hand tractor each 3 Baragays; a
shallow tube well and various vegetable seeds.
Dr. Rogelio Colting, and BSU Multipurpose Coop. Chair, Jane
Asiong; served as guest speaker during the 20th National Hog
Farmers’ Convention at the Baguio Country Club. Attended by
Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan, Rep Mark Leandro Mendoza,
AKAP Partylist Rep. Nikki Briones, Abono Partylist Chair, Roesndo
So and Nat’l Fed. Of Hog Farmers Inc. Chair, Zosimo De Leon;
attended Farmers’ Forum on organic farming with the Philippine
Misereor Partners-Northern Luzon cluster at the University of the
Philippines Baguio campus.

4--TABLAS, ROMBLON: Odiongan Town Fiesta, Ecumenical Night, 16--CAPIZ —1st Quarter Meeting of Western Visayas Regional
Odiongan Agro-Fair —Delivered message on agri projects for Development Council at Governor’s Hall; Luncheon meeting with
Romblon, specifically on fisheries and aquaculture; visited booths Cong Antonio del Rosario at Del Rosario Farm; Guest Speaker
of various Romblon-grown agri produce; Visited Looc Fish during the 110th Provincial Farmers’ Day, participated in by 2,500
Sanctuary in Romblon, one of the country’s most fertile fishing farmers
grounds with Gov. Eduardo Firmalo. Noted potentials to supply fish
products to Boracay and other nearby tourist destinations. Looc 17--ILOILO —Breakfast meeting and farm tour at Barangay
Bay serves as breeding ground for various fishes such as Ilak and Bacuranan with Mayor Jesry Palmares and discussed agri
Bank among other high value fishes; Turned over Food Terminal projects; Tour at the Western Visayas Integrated Agricultural
warehouse and attended Farmers’ Forum in Odiongan, Romblon; Research Center (W ESVIARC) Facility in Humangaya, attended the
Released last batch of 90 Olive Ridley Turtles on the shores of DA- WESVIARC Regional Management Committee meeting; had a
Binucot Beach in Ferrol, Romblon with Gov. Eduardo Firmalo and luncheon meeting with Jaro Archbishop Most Reverend Angel
Ferrol Mayor Jason Fabila. Lagdameo; met 10-year old farmer Joshua Baltazar at
Brgy.Kabuluan Sur, Oton, Iloilo.
7--LUCENA, QUEZON: Commencement Exercises —Delivered
speech at Quezon National High School Commencement Exer- 25--OZAMIZ CITY/DAPITAN CITY FIELD VISIT, Ceremonial MOA
cise at the Alcala Sports Complex in Lucena City, Quezon. He Signing of the Rehabilitation of LABO and CLARIN Communal
committed to give scholarship funds to 20 students who will be Irrigation System, Ozamis City, Misamis Occidental —Signed a
applying for agriculture and other related courses with additional memorandum of agreement for the P6.5 million worth of rehabilita-
allowances and books and a job at the Department of Agriculture. tion of Labo and Clarin communal irrigation system in Ozamis City,
Misamis Occidental; Attended by 1st Dist. Rep. Jorge T. Almonte,
8--BATANGAS: 42nd SoroSoro Ibaba Development Cooperative Ozamis Mayor Nova Princess Parohinog-Echavez, Balilangao
Founding Anniversary & Cluster General Assembly Meeting, Mayor Svetlana Jalosjos, Calamba Mayor Luisito Villanueva, Jr.,
Batangas State University Main Campus Gymnasium, Rizal Lopez Jaena Mayor Martin Migiño, Sapang Dalaga Mayor Donjie
Avenue, Batangas City —Delivered a message to the members of Animas, Clarin Mayor David Navaro, Don Victoriano Mayor
the cooperative and granted 100 heads of piglets to the coopera- Rodolfo Luna, Sincaban Mayor Dello Lood, Tudela Mayor Estela
tive. Estaño, Misamis Occidental Farmers Federation of Irrigators
Association Pres. Oscar Pluma; Lunch Meeting, Misamis Occi-
9-10--NORTH COTABATO: USM Commencement Exercise — dental Aquamarine Park, with 2nd Dist. Rep. Leo Ocampo and
Awarded P13.5 million project, distributed 57,142 rubber-budded Bonifacio Mayor Samson Dumanjug, RFU XI RED Lealyn Ramos,
seedlings, 70 heads of farm animals and four units of shallow tube RFU IX Carlos Mendoza, BFAR National Director Malcolm
wells to North Cotabato farmers; with Rep. Jesus Sacdalan and Sarmiento, PFDA Gen Manager Rodolfo Paz and BFAR Region X
RFU XII Regional Dir. Amalia Datukan. Dir. Visa Demarinfor possible mariculture projects;
Inauguration of DA-BFAR-ZANORTE Cold Storage Facility, San
13--VICTORIA, TARLAC —Turned over liquid quick freeze machine Pedro, Dapitan City —Led the ceremonial ribbon cutting during the
to the New Caluguran Bangon Concepcion Multi-Purpose Coop- inauguration of the P40M cold storage facility; Attended by Gov.
erative at Concepcion, Tarlac; appreciated the cooperative’s Rolando E. Yebes, Roxas Mayor Eduardo Yebes, Tampilisan Mayor
initiative for ‘Gulayan sa Paaralan’ project; promised another liquid Enriqueta Bomediano, Kalawit Mayor Eugenio Baliling, Sr., Sibuco
quick-freeze equipment, a greenhouse, and an additional Mayor Norbideiri Edding, Dapitan City Vice Mayor Patri Chan and
P500,000 operating capital. Joined by Tarlac 3rd Dist. Rep Jeci fisherfolk; 61 st PSAE Annual National Convention, Dapitan City
Aquino Lapus and NCBCMC chair Myrna Masiclat; attended a Gymnasium, Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte —Delivered his
Farmer’s Forum and site visit at the Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan message to over 200 participants of the 9th PSAE International
Farmers Training Program at Brgy. Capehan, Tarlac City; Attended Convention and Exhibition and the 61st PSAE Annual National
by Tarlac 3rd Dist. Rep. Jeci Lapuz, Tarlac Gov. Victor Yap, Vice-Gov. Convention;
Pearl Angeli Pacada, Gerona Mayor Dennis Norman Go, La Paz
Mayor Dionisio Manuel, Concepcion Mayor Andres Lacson, Prov’l 26 QUEZON: Commencement Exercises, Lucban, Quezon
Agriculturist Edwina Weng Tabamo, HARBEST Agribusiness Corp. —Served as guest of honor and gave and delivered an inspira-
Pres. Arsenio Barcelona, RFU III Regional dir. Andrew Villacorta tional message for the 29 th Commencement Exercises of the
and NABCOR Pres. Allan Javellana. Southern Luzon State University
- BAGUIO AND BENGUET— Turned over Bawek-Twin Peaks
Agricultural Tramline System in Tuba, Benguet. Attended by 28-29 MINDORO —Briefed the Oriental Mindoro Regional
Benguet Gov. Nestor Fongwan, Benguet Rep. Ronald Cosalan and Provincial Government Management Committee; He approved the
Tuba Mayor Florencio Bentrez; signed memorandum of under- school’s proposed P4.2M Mangyoung Entrepinoys Organic
standing and launching of the Benguet Agri-Pinoy Trading Center Farming project that benefit mostly indigenous Mangyans and out-
at the Strawberry Fields, Betag, La Trinidad, Benguet; with DA-CAR of-school youth; visited Mary Help of Christian School; Turned
Dir. Marilyn Sta. Catalina, Agri-Pinoy Trading Center Program Dir. over to Oriental Mindoro Gov. Alfonso Umali two units 90 hp tractor
Ariel Manalac, DA-AMAS Dir. Leandro Gazmin, NABCOR Chief with various farm inputs, equipment and projects as part of the
Operating officer Honesto Baniqued, Benguet State University Pres. partnership between the DA and the provincial government

10
DA grants ... (from p1)
Mary Help of Christians School
(Mindoro), Inc., in Barangay
Parang, Calapan City,
School directress Sister
Phebe G. Lacse said the fund
will be used to continue
bankrolling their training program
in organic farming and sustain-
able agriculture technologies,
where they have trained an aver-
age of 50 to 60 students per year
since the school began in 2002.
Sister Lacse said the one-year
training per batch is an integrated
formal and informal agricultural
education program.
Aside from hands-on farming
chores — growing rice, veg-
etables, cassava and fruit trees
— the students likewise learn en-
trepreneurial skills. They also un-
dergo on-the-job training in pri-
vate and DA techno-demonstra-
tion farms.
Tarlac farmers ... (from p1)
productive use farmlands that
were previously covered by lahar
from Mt. Pinatubo.
The DA chief made the com-
mitment during a meeting with
Tarlac farmers and local execu-
tives, 3rd District Rep. Jeci Lapus
and Governor Victor Yap.
Sec. Alcala said the NIA has
allotted P349 million this year to
repair and rehabilitate the BIMP,
which sources water from the
Bulsa River.
In addition to the BIMP, Sec.
Alcala said the DA will conduct
feasibility studies in partnership
with the Department of Public
W orks and Highways to con-
struct small water impounding
projects (SWIPs) in the towns
of La Paz and Gerona.
For these initiatives, Governor
Yap, Rep. Lapus, municipal may-
ors and farmer-leaders thanked
President Aquino and Secretary
Alcala for their strong support to
transform Tarlac into one of the
country’s major rice and veg-
etable producing provinces.
Sec. Alcala said the BIMP will
be further developed as source
of hydro-electric power in Luzon,
under the proposed BIMP Phase
2. It is one of the several ‘big-
ticket’ agriculture infrastructure
projects proposed by the DA to
be funded under thePublic-Pri-
vate Partnership (PPP) scheme.
The BIMP phase 2 entails the
construction of a 113.5-meter
dam across the Bulsa River, and
installation of turbines to gener-
ate 43.5 megawatts of electric-
ity. Total project cost is esti-
mated at P18.5 billion.
April 2011
Secretary Alcala was person-
ally gratified mingling with the stu-
dents, who performed an emo-
tional song and dance number
during his visit. The students said
they pin their hopes on agricul-
ture to become productive and re-
sponsible, God-fearing citizens,
and contribute their share in up-
lifting their respective communi-
ties.
Sister Lacse said about 40 per-
cent of out-of-school youth in
Calapan City and Puerto Galera
aged 13 to 23 years old work as
helpers, vendors, porters, fisher-
men, or entertainers. Others are
idle or help in household, farming
or fishing chores.
She said the school has an ex-
isting tie-up with local government
units in Mindoro that sponsor or DA Chief visits Mangyans, farm youth in Oriental Mindoro.
shoulder one-half of the P20,000- Secretary ‘Procy’ Alcala (right) listens intently as Sister Phebe G.
worth of tuition and miscellaneous Lacse—directress of the Mary of Help Christians School, in Parang,
fees of the students. The rest is Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro—shares with him various liveli-
shouldered by private individuals hood projects undertaken by the school that include the production
and groups as benefactors. of wood vinegar (foreground). Sec. Alcala approved the school’s
In this regard, Sec. Alcala com- proposed P4.2-million project, called “Mangyoung Entrepinoys
mended the Provincial Govern- Organic Farming sa Mindoro.”
ment of Oriental Mindoro for shar-
ing a counterpart of roughly P1.8 Ross, general manager for Phil- DA completes ... (from p12)
million to complement the P4.27- ippines-Australia bilateral trade.
M fund given by the DA. Sec. Alcala led the DA delega- DA-PhilMech will put up 54
Sister Lacse said under their tion, along with Undersecretary more units nationwide by year-
one-year program, graduates are for policy and planning Segfredo end. These will feature ‘double-
required to share and transfer theirSerrano. decker’ carriages that can also
acquired knowledge and skills in During the meeting, the terms ferry people, particularly during
agriculture and other enterprises of reference of the Forum was emergency situations.
to family members and others in adopted, mainly aimed at en- Tesorero said they have al-
hancing consultations and coop- ready four prototypes with modi-
their community.
eration between the two countries fied carriages, which can carry
up to 500 kilos, composed of
Alcala stresses ... (from p12) in agriculture and related mat-
ters of mutual interest, including both farm products (weighing at
least 260 kilos) and up to four
thanked Secretary Alcala for the facilitation of resolution of bi-
persons, weighing an average of
gracing forum, saying it was a lateral issues.
firm endorsement of forthcoming 60 kilos each.
stronger agriculture ties between Ifugao ... (from p9)
The modified tramline will be
launched in Sariaya, Quezon
the two countries. skills so long as they will not next month.
He agreed with Secretary lose enthusiasm, he added.
Alcala in that the Forum is an The cost of constructing a
The PBB course was made tramline ranges from P1.3 mil-
important venue to formalizing possible through the cooperation
lion to P1.9 million, depending
cooperation, and he is optimistic of the local government units of
on the topography, distance and
it will stimulate further trade be- Aguinaldo, Ifugao, and the Office
tween both countries. length of cable system. It could
of the Provincial Agriculturist in be completed in two to three
Further, since 2004 the Aus- the province.
months.
tralian government—through the
Australian Agency for Interna- Two ... (from p4) many forms from very simple
tional Development (AusAid) provision of information to as
andAustralian Centre for Interna- distinguishable from those
complicated as drafting claims.
tional Agricultural Research produced or dealt in by others, “The bottlenecks in IPR are
(ACIAR)—has provided the Phil- and must be affixed to goods or
usually in accommodating
ippines agricultural technical as- articles. applications for patents. Several
sistance and grants of more than Trademark rights (which is meetings and discussions
Aus$190M (roughly P8.9 billion usually used with a “TM” ensue before the IP
at Aus$1=P47). superscript symbol) can prevent management staff can sit,
The Australia-Philippines Ag- others from using a confusing concentrate, and process
ricultural Forum was participated similar mark. applications,” explained Dr.
in by about 40 top officials from BAR provides IP assistance Agillon. With the trademarks
the DA and Australia’s Depart- not only for its funded research awarded to them, the business
ment of Agriculture, Fisheries outputs but also to other public entities are expected to have a
and Forestry (DAFF), headed by and private institutions. The competitive edge for their
Ambassador Smith and Paul assistance provided comes in products.(DA-BAR)
11
Alcala stresses need for stronger agri
cooperation, trade with Australia
Agriculture Secretary Proceso US$262M, led by wheat and
J. Alcala underscored the need other grain products ($93M), milk
for stronger relations with Austra- and dairy products ($50M), fro-
lia, as farmers, fishers, food pro- zen meat ($22M), and live cattle
ducers, and entrepreneurs will ($4.7M), among others.
benefit from an expanding inter- On the other hand, exports of
national trade that will ensure various Philippine agricultural
better lives for both Filipinos and products to Australia amounted
Australians. to US$ 31M in 2009, led by des-
“As the Philippines strives to iccated coconut ($7.6M), pine-
modernize its agriculture and fish- apple ($3.2M), canned tuna
ery sector, we recognize the need ($2.4M), refined carageenan
to expand economic and trading ($2.1M), potassium fertilizers
relations with our neighbors in ($1.1M) and canned sardines
Asia and the Pacific, including ($0.95M). Sec. Alcala (2nd from right) and Australian Ambassador to the
Australia,” said Secretary Alcala During the forum, Sec. Alcala Philippines Rod Smith seal their partnership with a handshake at
during the inaugural meeting of discussed the DA’s major strat- the inaugural ‘Philippines-Australia Agriculture Forum,’ where
the Philippine - Australia Agricul- egies that include conducting they agreed to pursue stronger collaboration to benefit both Fili-
tural Forum, held April 28, 2011, regular ‘grassroots’ consulta- pino and Australian farmers, fishers, livestock raisers and their
at the EDSA Shangrila Hotel, tions with small farmers and families. Flanking them are Paul Ross of Australian Department
Quezon City. fisherfolk, restoring public trust of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry; and DA undersecretary for
He said the Philippines there- in government, accelerating of policy and planning Segfredo Serrano.
fore seeks a stronger and deeper countryside growth through the
partnership with Australia, a fel- construction or establishment of
low Cairns Group member, and needed rural infrastructure such DA completes 53 agri tramlines, 54 more by year-end
the world’s 13th biggest as irrigation systems, farm-to-
economy. market roads, postharvest facili- In areas where there are no panded by an additional 15 hect-
The partnership between the ties and market trading posts, roads or it would be too costly to ares.
Philippines and Australia, he and promotion of a sustainable, construct one, farmers are now During pre-tramline years,
added, “is a good template for environment-friendly food produc- literally “clinging on” to agricultural Torres said they manually carry
sustainable agricultural growth tion, processing and marketing tramlines. their products on their back,
and modernization, and going to technologies. Made of steel cable, pulleys painstakingly trekking a four-ki-
be one of the most significant for “We now live in what they call and steel cage as “cable car” or lometer mountain trail for two to
the Philippines in the coming a growing global village. Hence, carriage, a tramline has become three hours up to the nearest
years.” we speak and deal with common a cheaper, more efficient and drop off point along Kennon
Total trade of agricultural prod- goals and aspirations, shared faster mode of transporting farm Road. Others hire ‘kargadors’ or
ucts between the Philippines and risks and challenges, global op- products from isolated areas to porters for a fee of P2 per kilo or
Australia in 2009 totalled US$292 portunities and hope,” Alcala the nearest road onto trading P100 for a 50-kilo sack of vari-
million (M), according to figures added. posts or public markets. ous products.
collated by the DA’s Bureau of For his part, Australian Ambas- Thanks to the ingenuity of De- Now with the tramline, travel
Agricultural Statistics (BAS). sador to the Philippines Rod partment of Agriculture (DA) en- time is cut to merely three to five
Exports of various Australian Smith, head of the Australian gineers, particularly at the Philip- minutes, covering a distance of
agricultural products to the Phil- delegation, welcomed and pine Center for Post harvest De- 452 meters, between the unload-
ippines in 2009 amounted to (Pls turn to p11) velopment and Mechanization ing area near Kennon Road and
(PhilMech), formerly known as the the loading area atop a hill.
Bureau of Postharvest Research Further, Twin Peaks farmers
and Extension (BPRE). can now save in terms of por-
“Agricultural tramlines are in- ters’ fees an equivalent of P700
deed more cost-efficient than con- per trip, as the tramline can carry
structing farm-to-market roads up to 350 kilos of various farm
(FMRs),” said Agriculture Secre- products.
tary Proceso J. Alcala, who led The tramline—constructed in
the recent inauguration of the 53rd October 2010 and completed
DA-PhilMech tramline at Sitio three months later in Decem-
Bawek, Barangay Twin Peaks, in ber—is a joint undertaking of the
the town of Tuba, Benguet. DA-PhilMech with the Municipal-
“Mas mura ang tramline ity of Tuba and the Twin Peaks
kumpara sa FMR, at madali pang farmers’ association, said
matapos,” added Sec. Alcala. (A PhilMech Director Ricardo
tramline is cheaper and faster to Cachuela.
complete than an FMR.) Also present during the inau-
The Twin Peaks tramline ben- guration were Benguet Gov.
Sec. Alcala (left) helps unload stringbeans from a newly-completed efits two dozen farm-families, who Nestor Fongwan, Benguet Rep.
rd
tramline at Twin Peaks, Tuba, Benguet. It is the 53 unit built since plant 25 hectares to snap beans, Ronald Cosalan, Tuba Municipal
2010 by the DA through the Phil. Center for Postharvest Dev’t. and garden peas, gabi and ube (yam), Mayor Florencio Bentrez, newly-
Mechanization (DA-PhilMech) in partnership with farmers’ groups ginger, banana, mango, and veg- appointed DA-Cordillera Admin-
and LGUs. Tramlines are cheaper, more efficient and faster mode etables like lettuce, cabbage, po- istrative Region director Marilyn
of transporting farm products from isolated areas to the nearest tatoes and carrots. Sta. Catalina, Tuba local officials
road, and onto trading posts and public markets. Also shown (from The Twin Peaks farmers’ asso- and farmer-beneficiaries.
left) are Benguet Gov. Nestor Fongwan, Benguet Rep. Ronald ciation is headed by Tirso Torres, Tramline proj ect leader
Cosalan, and Tuba Municipal Mayor Florencio Bentres. who added that their current total Bartolome Tesorero, Jr. said the
farmed area could still be ex- (Pls turn to p11)