DA promotes value-adding for higher income to
farmers
By Emmylou Presilda
BUTUAN CITY, Nov. 11 - Beyond
production, farmers should also go into value-adding, the new direction in
agriculture.
This was highlighted during the
Farmers’ Field Day at the Department of Agriculture (DA) – Caraga’s Trento
Research Experiment Station (RES) in Agusan del Sur, which focused on Mushroom
production. Farmers were also urged to go beyond just increasing production.
Trento RES Center Chief Dr.
Escolastico Cagatin, said that farmers should also engage in value-adding of
their produce so that they will have a higher income.
“It is better if you go into
value-adding because you can double your income compared to selling directly
your produce,” Dr. Cagatin said.
Hoberto RoΓ±o, a mushroom grower
and processor from Rosario, Agusan del Sur bared that he sells unprocessed or
fresh mushroom for P200 per kilo while his mushroom chicharon sells for P50 for
a 50-gram pack and his mushroom bagoong sells for P85 for an 80-gram bottle.
“I really earn more from my
processed products compared to just selling fresh mushrooms. Aside from that,
the fresh mushrooms that are not sold do not go to waste because I process them
into other products such as bagoong,” RoΓ±o added.
Cagatin further revealed that
there are trainings on mushroom processing conducted by the DA and even other
government agencies. He said that this is part of DA’s support to the farmers
along with other assistance such as various inputs and promotion of
technologies for them to adopt.
Various kinds of mushrooms were
showcased at the station. Part of the activity was a cooking demonstration of
mushroom recipes to give the participants a sample value-adding activity for
mushrooms that they can pursue.
Farmers, Agricultural Extension
Workers, mushroom growers, and processors, and representatives from the academe
actively participated in the event.. It served as an avenue to showcase the
various technologies being done in the station which includes vermiculture,
duck production, and sheep production among others. (DA-Caraga/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
DSWD holds consultation dialogue for its statutory
programs
BUTUAN CITY, Nov. 11 -- To ensure
that the statutory programs of the Department of Social Welfare and Development
(DSWD) Field Office Caraga, the department has recently conducted its annual
Consultation Dialogue with Regional Trial Court Judges, Clerks of Courts, and
Integrated Bar of the Philippines representatives held at Almont Hotel’s Inland
Resort, this city.
The objective of the said activity
is to ensure common knowledge, understanding and to resolve issues, concerns,
of the provisions under Republic Act (RA) 9523 (An act requiring the
certification of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to
declare a “Child Legally Available for Adoption Proceedings”..), and other
related issuances among service providers of alternative family care (Adoption/Foster
Care).
Several updates were presented to
ensure that the agency and the participants are on the same page on the
statutory programs of DSWD. Irish OpeΓ±a, OIC-Division Chief of Program
Management Bureau (PMB) - ARRD from the DSWD Central Office presented updates on
RA 11222 or Simulated Birth Rectification Act, while Maria Charisma Cid, Social
Welfare Officer III from the PMB-ARRD, discussed about Child Care and
Placement.
Additional topics about the
updates on Inter-Country Adoption was also discussed by Atty. Bernadette Abejo,
executive director of Inter-Country Adoption Board (ICAB).
She elaborated on the pros and
cons of inter-country or even inter-city adoption, especially on relative
adoption.
The participants, both from the
agency and those from the courts were given an opportunity to discuss and
tackle unique or controversial Inter-Country Adoption cases, to provide a venue
for discussion. Wilma Naviamos, director of the Program Management Bureau from
the DSWD Central Office, responded on the queries of the participants and gave
suggestions and clarifications on certain issues raised by the participants.
The consultation dialogue made way
for an easier and clearer proceedings on handling cases involving children in
conflict with law, adoption, and foster care. (DSWD-13/PIA-Caraga)
DAR launches ARB housing project, distributes farm equipment
BUTUAN CITY, Nov. 11 – The
Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has set into motion the climate-resilient
housing program for agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in the Caraga region.
Undersecretary for Support
Services, Emily O. Padilla said this is the government’s way of returning the
favor to the small farmers, the backbone of the country’s food security
program.
Padilla reiterated one of the
six-point agenda of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte: make a farmer’s family the
focal point of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).
“The last three years of my
administration will be focused on the agricultural sector. Tutulungan natin ang
ating mga magsasaka (we will help our farmers),” she quoted the President as
saying, which drew big applause from various groups of farmers from the
province of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del
Sur.
The President’s call, Padilla
said, is loud and clear: “Give what is due to our farmers,” she said.
Later in the afternoon, Padilla,
assisted by Undersecretary for Policy, Research and Planning, Virginia Orogo,
distributed to the agrarian reform beneficiaries’ organizations various common
service facilities, such as hand tractors, knapsack sprayers, grasscutters,
rice threshers, mud boats and power sprays with engines.
Padilla told the farmers that
President Duterte had instructed the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) to
extend financial assistance to the farmers and give two tractors, fertilizer
and pesticide to each farmers’ organization, drawing anew a big applause from
the crowd. (DAR-13/PIA-Caraga)
104 NPAs, supporters surrender in AgNor
By NCLM/RT Maglalang
CABADBARAN CITY, Agusan del Norte,
Nov. 11 - A total of 104 New Peoples Army (NPA) regulars and supporters
surrendered to the government's fold on October 25, 2019 in Purok-7, Barangay
Lower Olave, Buenavista, this province.
1Lt. Roel T. Maglalang, Civil-Military
Operations officer of the 23rd Infantry Battalion (23IB), said the surrenderers
are composed of nine regular NPA members, nine Militia ng Bayan (MB) and 86
Underground Movement Organization (UGMO) members.
The surrenderees denounced their
support and the took their pledge of loyalty and allegiance to the government
to disown Union ng Mag-uuma sa Agusan del Norte (UMAN), end their support to
the communist terrorist group, and not to succumb to any group who will
organize and take advantage of them.
To show their full support to the
government, they burned the NPA Flag, which also signified that they will no
longer be deceived by the terrorist group.
Felix Balansag, municipal assessor
of the municipality of Buenavista expressed his gratitude to the brave members
of the NPAs, MBs and UGMOs, who voluntarily surrendered to the government.
"We recognized your sincerity in going back to the folds of the law, and we
hope that this will be the start of a new life for you and your family, living
peacefully in your respective community," he said.
Meanwhile, Lt. Col. Francisco
Molina Jr., commanding officer of 23IB, acknowledged the effort of the barangay
officials led by Jerry Escobella, and the locals for taking part in the
successful surrender of the former rebels.
"I am very grateful to the
Punong Barangay who was very courageous to make the mass surrender here in his
village, possible and successful. We also thank the locals for being vigilant
and for your cooperation. Let us continue our partnership to finally end local
communist armed conflict in our area and create a peaceful environment. We will
never get tired of pursuing the enemies," Molina said.
Lt. Col. Molina further called on
other remaining members of the terrorist groups to surrender and be a catalyst
of change towards inclusive peace and development. "Now is the right time
to go back to the folds of the law. Don’t waste your life being victimized by
their false ideologies. Stand for what is right and open your eyes for the
truth, and contribute in maintaining peace in our area," he said.
The implementation of Executive
Order No. 70 or the whole-of-nation approach to end local communist armed
conflict under the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte has continuously
contributed to the influx of NPA surrenderers in Caraga region. (CMO Officer,
23IB/ Philippine Army/PIA Agusan del Norte)
