By Cyrene Tajonera
AGUSAN DEL SUR, Jan. 8 (PIA) – The Department of
Agrarian Reform (DAR) together with the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) had
recently conducted the orientation on Climate Change with the local farmers
held at Farmers Training Center, Municipal Agricultural Office, Esperanza, this
province.
The increased risks in farming due to global
warming had already been embedded in the agricultural industry of Agusan del
Sur.
The DAR thru the Program Beneficiaries Development
Division (PBDD) also oriented the farmers of Esperanza and other municipalities
about climate change.
The main objectives of the climate change
orientation were to give awareness to the farmers and share to them proper
mitigation on climate change which the province is now facing.
It was learned that farmers from Agusan del Sur
are greatly affected by climate change. Low variations of rainfall can easily
cause floods in other barangay sections of the province thus to give insights
to farmers.
DAR is constantly giving them this kind of
orientation to have strategic response to one of the biggest challenges of this
time. (JPG/DAR-Agusan del Sur/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
Feature: Bayugan town farmers venture
Tableya-making
By Genalin P. Luis
Tsokolate (chocolate) - almost everybody love
it!
Cacao plants or “kakaw” in Visayan dialect is one
of the sources of tsokolate which the residents of Barangay Magkiangkang,
Bayugan I, Agusan del Sur are growing. The seeds were processed to make
“tableya” or tsokolate.
In 1990, the residents in the small community were
already selling the raw seeds and started making tableya in 2004 upon knowing
that they will gain more profit if they sell processed cacao seeds than raw. In
the late 1990s, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) covered vast tracks of
land in the area making many of the residents as CARP agrarian reform
beneficiaries (ARBs). This made the
beneficiaries exuberant since the lands they tilled for so many years will now
be owned by them.
It was in 2006 that the farmer beneficiaries
formed and registered their group as a cooperative named Magkiangkang
Multi-Purpose Cooperative (MMPC). Their blessings started to blossom then.
Assistance and counterparts from the local government, non-government
organizations and other partners also started to pour. They provided the coop
members the necessary trainings, seminars and workshops including farm tools to
enable them to manage with expertise their new business (Tableya production).
Through the initiative of DAR and other government
partners, they worked-out its license, so the products can be distributed in
stores, making it a lucrative business for the coop members. Amidst problems and difficulties, they
succeeded and finally got their Foods and Drugs Administration license
(formerly BFAD). This made the coop members ecstatic!
The Tableya-making venture is a success. Aside from making the lives of the farmers better,
the business also help generate employment in their Barangay. The coop hires high school students as
tableya molders during their free time. Laborers are also hired from the coop
members. It also bought cacao seeds from
the farmers in adjoining barangays when there were greater demands of tableya
in the market.
“Indeed we are so glad that we became
beneficiaries-owners of the land we tilled for so many years. It made us work
harder to improve our lives,” expressed Benecio Gulay, chairman of MMPC.
“Industry is the keyword. If only people use their
hands to toil their land, they could always provide foods in their table. They
could always give better future for their families,” Charlita Baratas, MMPC
Manager beamed.
At present, the products are widely distributed to
the stores in Agusan del Sur, Butuan City, Tagum and Davao City. (JPG/DAR-Agusan del
Sur/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
DAR, XU hold product quality enhancement, product
processing clinic activities for ARB orgs
By Corine G. Munion & Leigh Ann G. Orapa
AGUSAN DEL SUR, Jan. 8 (PIA) - The Department of
Agrarian Reform (DAR) thru Program Beneficiary Development in cooperation with
Food Technology Department (FTD) of Xavier University, Cagayan de Oro City
recently conducted the Product Assessment, Product Clinic and Orientation on
Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) and Good Manufacturing
Practices (GMP) held at the processing center of Sta. Maria ARB Multi- Purpose
Cooperative (STAMERBEMCO) in Sta. Maria, Prosperidad, this province for the
sweetened kaong and KAAGAP Multi-Purpose Cooperative (KAAGAPMUCO) of Hubang,
San Francisco, Agusan del Sur for its virgin coconut oil products.
These activities were under the Up-Valuing of ARB
Products of Partnership Development Program. The officers and staff of
STAMARBEMCO and KAAGAPMUCO attended the said product development activities.
Sylvia T. Aguhob, chair of FTD from Xavier
University and Department of Science and Technology (DOST) accredited
specialist personally gave lectures and proceeded with the evaluation,
assessment, and critiquing during the actual processing of the mentioned
products. A final discussion followed at Navarro’s Function Hall, SFADS.
The product development serves to assess the
products of the above- mentioned cooperatives during production, ensure that
the standard operation procedures in the production are being followed and to
make sure that the products are suitable for food consumption ready for the
market.
“This project is very useful for us in the
production of our goods because we are able to evaluate and observe the correct
procedures in food handling, among others,” Acila A. Coyoca excitedly beamed.
Introduction to HACCP was discussed thoroughly
emphasizing therein the importance of the hazard analysis and critical control
point of every procedure during the actual production. The size, color,
appearance, and tastes are the most critical where customers will at a quick,
remember a certain product. The overview on GMP was also shared as part of the
requirements to the application in Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) for the
cooperatives to have license to operate (LTO). This is the greatest achievement
that every businessman seeks for.
“We strive to assist our ARB organizations for
them to be able to compete not only in the local business community but also
nationally and internationally if given the opportunity,” said Corine Munion,
Provincial Marketing Assistance Officer of DAR Agusan del Sur. (JPG/DAR-Agusan
del Sur/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
Dinagat Islands declared as rabies-free zone
By Millar P. Tawakal
SAN JOSE, Dinagat Islands, Jan. 8 (PIA) - The
province of Dinagat Islands was officially declared as rabies-free zone by the
Department of Health (DoH) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) during the
awarding ceremony held recently at the Pesticide and Fertilizer Authority
Conference Hall, Bureau of Animal Industry Compound, Diliman, Quezon City.
All seven municipalities of the province namely;
Basilisa, Cagdianao, Dinagat, Libjo, Loreto,
San Jose and Tubajon were also hailed as rabies – free municipalities.
Said award and recognition was conferred to the
province and the seven municipalities after a thorough and series of evaluation
conducted by DA and DOH-National Anti-Rabies Committee for the compliance on
the guidelines on the declaration of rabies-free zones.
The provincial government since its corporate
existence has put public health among its top priorities. Animal health
services and programs implemented by the Provincial Veterinary Office made
significant results towards eradication of rabies among animals with its
massive free anti-rabies annual vaccination for dogs and cats covering the
seven municipalities of the province.
On the human aspect, the Provincial Health Office
along with the Rural Health Units and the three District Hospitals has
installed protocol and implemented measures ensuring post-exposure treatment is
readily accessible to all animal bite victims for free.
Officials from the provincial government headed by
vice governor Benglen B. Ecleo together with Sangguniang Panlalawigan board
member Joslyn I. Ecleo and provincial veterinarian Dr. Aimee A. Jimeno were
present to receive the award.
Municipal mayors Allan II B. Ecleo of San Jose,
mayor Craig Ecleo of Dinagat and mayor Nena Ladaga Quijano of Loreto personally
received their respective plaques of appreciation.
In an interview,, vice governor Ecleo stressed
that “our battle towards elimination of rabies and safeguarding the health and
well-being of our constituents does not end with having our province declared
as a rabies-free zone, more stringent and full swing effort towards maintaining
our status as rabies-free province starts, this means all Dinagatnons should
advocate responsible pet ownership and our local government units to be more
aggressive in implementing their localized comprehensive rabies prevention
programs.”
The province is the first and the only province in
Caraga region to be declared as rabies-free zone while the seven municipalities
in the province are amongst the eight rabies free municipalities in Caraga.
The national government envisions eliminating
rabies in the entire country and be declared as a rabies-free country by 2020,
which means Dinagat Islands is five years ahead of the national target. (PIO-Dinagat
Islands/PIA-Dinagat Islands)
Cebuano News: 3,791 ka mga Agusanon nakabenipisyo
sa ISDAP
By Ricellen B. Retiquez
BUTUAN CITY, Enero 8 (PIA) – Mikabat sa 3,791 ka mga Agusanon ang nahatagan og
ayudang medical, tranportasyon, Edukasyon ug uban pang panginahanglan sa mga
yanong lumulopyo sa probinsya sa Agusan del Norte pinaagi sa Integrated Social
Development Assistance Program (ISDAP).
P8 milyones ang orihinal nga badyet alang niini sa
tuig 2015, apan tungod kay gusto sa kagamhanan sa probinsya nga makahatag og
mapadayonong ayuda sa mga nanginahanglang katawhan, gidungagan kini pinaagi sa
5th Supplemental Budget ug niabot kini sa total nga kantidad nga P14.9M sa tuig
2015.
Nakapagawas ang probinsya pinaagi sa Provincial
Social Welfare and Development Office og kapin kun kulang P12.5M nga kantidad
sa bulan sa Nobyembre 2015.
Ang ISDAP usa ka programang pangkatawhan ubos sa
liderato ni Gob. Angel Amante-Matba ug Bise Gob. Rambu Bungabong.
Kantidad nga P8 milyones gihapon ang gigahin sa
probinsya sa 2016 Provincial Annual Budget. (LGU-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan
del Norte)
