Caraga farmers join in Lakbay Palay, learns new
farming techniques
By Venus L. Garcia
BUTUAN CITY, Nov. 4 (PIA) -- About
a thousand farmers, students and other stakeholders from different provinces in
Caraga region joined the institutional field day dubbed as “Lakbay Palay”
conducted by the Philippine Rice Research Institute or PhilRice held at the
PhilRice Agusan Experiment Station in Remedios T. Romualdez, Agusan del Norte.
The whole-day event provided an
opportunity for farmers to know the various cost-reducing and high-yielding
rice technologies.
Included also was the field
demonstration of the top five high performing varieties that will be
distributed through the rice competitiveness enhancement program for its seed
component.
Various machineries were also
showcased such as combine harvester, transplanter, drum seeder, reversible
flatbed dryer that would elevate the harvesting productivity.
PhilRice Agusan ranch manager
Joventino Tado said their office continues to help the rice farmers and the
rice industry to be more profitable, resilient and sustainable.
“The farmer groups of the
provinces that are recipients of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund
(RCEF) such as Agusan del Norte can now request for provision of a mechanical
dryer to be used in drying their ‘palay’ or rice grains,” said Tado.
He added that it would really help
the farmers to be more competitive, resilient and sustainable.
Tado reiterated that their office
continues to improve the competitiveness of the Filipino rice farmers and the
Philippine rice industry and transforms it to be more profitable, resilient,
and sustainable through responsive, balanced, environmentally sound and
partnership-based research, development, and extension.
The participants also learned
about the practical and effective ways of planting and growing rice such as the
minus-one element technique, alternate wetting at drying, and white stem borer
management.
Meanwhile, Gilbert Maturan,
farmer-leader of the Dacutan Farmers Multi-purpose Cooperative (DAFAMCO), has
also bared the gains of attending the event by being able to learn the new
techniques in farming that would help increase productivity.
Philrice Agusan also distributed
certified seeds, rodenticides at fertilizers to the farmers. Booths were also
installed showcasing the rice research and development products and services.
The students were also encouraged
to get involved in rice farming in support to the vision of a food-secure
Philippines.
“This is a good opportunity for us
young individuals who are more inclined to farming, especially on my part as an
agricrop production student. My parents are also farmers, so I am fortunate to
have heard all the lectures and witnessed the practical demo for me to baa be
to impart it to them to improve our farming processes and to use the kind of
fertilizers that would better produce good quality of rice,” said Angelo Diego,
student of Batangbalang National High School, Agusan del Norte.
The lined-up activities also aim
to bring the services closer to the people as mandated in the Executive Order
70 of President Rodrigo Durterte.
PhilRice is a government corporate
entity attached to the Department of Agriculture created through Executive
Order 1061 on November 5, 1985, as amended, to help develop high-yielding and
cost-reducing technologies for farmers. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)
DA provides livestock interventions to SurSur
farmers
By Rhea C. Abao
BISLIG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Nov.
4 -- Poverty reduction and sustainable development rely mostly on empowering
people. One of the avenues to empower them is through interventions for
sustainable livelihoods.
The Department of Agriculture –
Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program provided livelihood
support to each of the four farmer groups in Surigao del Sur with a total cost
worth ₱2.5 Million.
Each association from Barangay San
Roque, Bislig City, and Barangay Panaosawan in the Municipality of Bayabas
received a one-unit goat house and one packet (11 heads) of goat.
Hilario Rosel, a member of the
Riverside Panaosawan Farmers Association (RIPAFA), a seasonal laborer admits
that he has no definite monthly income to support the basic needs of his
family. He is called to work only during harvest season and his medical
condition affects him to get other jobs.
"As one of the members of
RIPAFA, I am very grateful for the project because this will be a great help to
add my income," said Rosel.
The same intervention was also
given to the P-7 Panaosawon Farmers' Association.
According to Dr. Roche Rey
Barrios, the City Veterinarian of Bislig, goat rearing has distinct economic
and managerial advantages over other livestock because of its less initial
investment, low input requirement, higher prolificacy, early sexual maturity,
and ease in marketing.
They play a big role in supporting
the livelihood system of the men and women in the rural areas, he added.
On the other hand, two
newly-formed associations the Goat Raisers Association of Sitio Sanyata (GRASS)
and Goat Raisers Association of Mabog (GRAM) from Barangay San Roque, Bislig
City were now also practicing their potentials as livestock keepers.
Fifty-six-year-old, Marietta
AΓ±asco, a member of GRASS shared that the intervention is timely as they need
to have another source to augment their income because they are affected by the
low buying price of copra.
"Aside from the extra income
that we can get from goat raising, our favorite bonding –tsismis (gossip) with
our neighbors will now lessen because our time will be spent now on managing
our new source of income," said AΓ±asco.
DA-SAAD Caraga Deputy Program Coordinator
Roberto Hipolao, Jr. said that the Department will continually assist the
beneficiaries and monitor the intervention to ensure the proper implementation
and execution of the operation to achieve the project objectives.
SAAD is a special program
initiated and funded by the DA. The program was launched to address poverty
particularly in rural areas that are often inaccessible, lacks infrastructure,
and where the poorest of the poor resides. (DA-Caraga RAFIS/PIA-Surigao
del Sur)
NPA surrenderee pinpoints high-powered firearm’s
location in SurSur
By 1Lt. Krisjuper Andreo Punsalan
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Nov
4 -- A squad leader of the Weakened Guerilla Front 30 (WGF30),
Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC) identified as alias Kakar
surrendered to 7th Special Forces “Spartans” Company (7SFC),
3rd Special Forces “Arrowhead” Battalion (3SFBn) on Nov. 1 and pinpointed
the location of one 5.56mm M4 Carbine Bushmaster Rifle at the hinterland of
Purok Bombels, Awisan, this city. The said surrenderee is currently at the 7SFC
headquarters in Mararag, Marihatag, Surigao del Sur for proper custodial
debriefing.
According to Alias Kakar, 34 years
old, he was recruited by a certain Otillo Galagate, a Militia ng Bayan member
in barangay Tina, San Miguel, Surigao del Sur two to three years ago.
“Walay kaugmaon tungod sa
korapsyon ng mga kumander (There is no future because of the corrupt
commanders),” said Kakar.
He said that to be with the
Communist NPA Terrorist is to live in a miserable life.
“Hindi na baling mahirap ang buhay
basta kasama ko ang aking pamilya, ang anak at asawa ko,” he added.
The provincial government of
Surigao del Sur’s all-out support to the Whole-of-Nation Approach to End Local
Communist Armed Conflict has gained tremendous results and positive feedbacks
all over the Caraga region. Recently, Surigao del Sur Governor Alexander
Pimentel was appointed as the Regional Peace and Order Council Committee
Chairman for his steadfast commitment in initiating various peace and
development efforts in the province.
Alias Kakar along with other new
surrenderees will be enrolled in the Enhanced Local Integration Program
(E-CLIP) to receive benefits for choosing the path to peace. Based on the
implementing rules and regulations of Administrative Order No. 10 signed by the
president in 2018, Kakar, as a former rebel, is qualified to receive E-CLIP’s
livelihood assistance, reintegration programs, firearms remuneration, and other
benefits as provided by law for NPA surrenderees. (CMO-3SFBn/PIA-Surigao del
Sur)
Army saves wounded NPA youth in AgNor encounter
By 1Lt. Nonette B. Banggad
CABADBARAN CITY, Agusan del Norte,
Nov. 4 – Troops of 29th Infantry “Matatag” Battalion (29IB), Philippine Army
saved a young New People’s Army (NPA) combatant who was wounded in an encounter
that took place on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019 in Barangay San Isidro, Santiago town
in Agusan del Norte.
The wounded NPA youth, identified
as alias Kent, was immediately provided first aid by the 29IB operating
troops and wasted no time in bringing him to the nearest hospital for further
medication to save his life.
According to Lt. Col. Isagani O.
Criste, the Commanding Officer of the 29IB, alias Kent was only 17 when he
joined the communist movement and stayed with the group for more than two
years.
Lt. Col. Criste was also deeply
sad seeing as young as alias Kent already engaging in an armed struggle.
"Deceived and fooled by the NPAs' lies and propaganda. This youth had
almost lost his precious life like his comrade who died in the encounter earlier,"
he said.
Lt. Col. Criste then called on
other NPA members who are still in the mountains to come home and return to the
folds of the law.
"Your families are waiting
for you. We will gladly assist you back to mainstream society and live
peacefully. We will continue to intensify our efforts to help and rescue those
who have been deceived by the NPA especially the youths like alias Kent, we can
do this with the support of the partner stakeholders in Agusan del Norte,"
Criste added. (CMO Officer, 29IB, Philippine
Army/PIA Agusan del Norte)
13 more SurSur villages condemn NPAs
By Lt. Krisjuper Andreo Punsalan
SAN AGUSTIN, Surigao del Sur, Nov.
4 -- All 13 barangays of the municipality of San Agustin, Surigao del Sur
declared the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the
New People's Army (NPA) persona non-grata through resolutions citing the
collection of revolutionary taxes, hostage-takings, harassments and killings of
innocent and defenseless civilians as primary reasons for their decision to
condemn the NPAs. The declaration was officially made public by the
3rd Special Forces “Arrowhead” Battalion (3SFBn) official recently.
Lt. Colonel Joey Baybayan, 3SFBn
Commanding Officer, expressed his gratitude to the local government unit (LGU)
of San Agustin under the leadership of Mayor Libertad Alameda for their
courageous stand against the NPAs.
“The San Agustin LGU's declaration
is a courageous move and a concrete manifestation of their all-out support to
the country’s Whole-Of-Nation Approach to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.
Not all local leaders have the guts to do this in some parts of the country,”
Lt. Col. Baybayan said.
The 3SFBn warns the public to be
more vigilant because the remaining NPAs have no other means to gain support
but to intimidate and terrorize the indigenous people's communities, local
leaders, investors and residents from far-flung areas, liquidation of personnel
and destruction of government properties such as burning construction equipment
to delay the government’s developmental projects just to show that they still
exist.
“These terrorists are desperate now
because they have nothing left but their deception-based propaganda, their
failed and useless ideology, their firearms, and explosives intended to sow
fear to the defenseless. Help us locate them through all forms of
communication," LTC Baybayan added.
Meanwhile, an unarmed and
off-duty CAA Pablo Omblero was executed by the alleged NPAs last October 27 in
Valencia City, Bukidnon, a concrete proof of International Humanitarian Law
(IHL) violation and another clear reason for all Filipinos and the international
community to condemn the CNTs. (CMO-3rdSFBn/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
1 killed, 1 injured in Agusan Norte clash
By 1Lt. Nonette B. Banggad
CABADBARAN CITY, Agusan del Norte,
Nov. 4 -- Following the mandate of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to end the insurgency,
the troops of 29th Infantry “Matatag” Battalion (29IB), Philippine Army
conducted an intensified combat operations in Agusan Norte areas. As a result,
one member of the New People’s Army (NPA) died and another one wounded with two
high powered firearms captured during the encounter in an uninhabited and
forested area in Brgy. San Isidro, Santiago, Agusan del Norte on Saturday, Nov.
2, 2019.
The troops were conducting combat
operations as a response to the report received by the unit from concerned
civilians. The prompt and swift action of the troops resulted in an encounter
with undetermined numbers of NPA, believed to be members of Sentro De Grabidad
(SDG) 16A, Guerilla Front Committee (GFC) 16 of North Eastern Mindanao Regional
Command (NEMRC) under the leadership of alias Kadong.
Lt. Col. Isagani O. Criste, 29IB
Commanding Officer, said that they will continue the offensive operations to
make the NPAs come out from their hiding place.
"To the NPA members who are
still in doubt with the government, I encourage you to come down and lay down
your weapons while you still have your chance. Don’t wait for the time that we
will meet each other in the mountains because if that happens, we will make
sure that you will pay the just consequences of your actions,” Lt. Col. Criste
said. (CMO Officer, 29IB, Philippine Army/PIA Agusan
del Norte)
Army troops seize another NPA lair in SurSur
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Nov.
4 -- Elements of the 36th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army under the 402nd
Infantry "Stingers" Brigade seized recently another CPP-NPA Terrorist
(CNT) lair at Sitio Suba, Brgy. Mabuhay, this city.
The CNT lair has an estimated area
of about 50x100 square meters that can accommodate around 50 CNT members. It
was believed to be abandoned days ago. After a careful search on the lair, the
troops seized two anti-personnel mines (pipe type) with 50 meters wire, ½ sack
of rice and CNT personal belongings.
The 402nd Brigade has intensified
its operation against the CNTs in the outskirts barangays and the hinterlands
due to the persistent appeal of the people to ensure safety and security so
that peace and development efforts in their communities continue.
Since January 2019, the Stingers
Brigade has already seized 57 lairs during armed encounters and routine
security patrols. For the last quarter alone, a total of 14 CNT hideouts were
seized wherein most of them were tipped off from the civilian residents. (402nd Bde-CMO/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
Mahigit 100 NPA, supporters sa Agusan Norte
nagbalik loob sa gobyerno
By May Amor O. Alabado
LUNGSOD NG CABADBARAN, Agusan del
Norte, Nobyembre 4 -- Dumarami na ang nagbabalik loob sa gobyerno at ngayon ay
nakipagtulungan upang tuluyan para masugpo ang insurhensiya sa probinsya ng
Agusan del Norte.
Sa isinagawang community immersion
sa barangay Mahaba sa lungsod ng Cabadbaran, may 137 regular na miyembro ng New
Peoples Army (NPA), militia ng bayan (MB) at underground mass organization (UGMO)
members ang sumuko sa 29th Infantry Batallion, Philippine Army.
Kabilang sa mga sumuko ay si alias
"Bem-Bem" na dating medic sa Guerilla Front Committee 21C (GFC 21C),
na nanilbihan bilang isang medic sa loob ng 14 na taon.
Ayonn pa sa kanya, ang buhay niya
sa bundok ay hindi naging madali kaya malaking tulong ang kanyang
pagbabalik-loob sa gobyerno upang mamuhay nang tahimik at higit sa lahat ay
makapagpatuloy na sa pag-aaral ang kanyang mga anak.
Ayon naman kay alias
"Ondong," isang high ranking official at dating political
infrastructure officer ng 21C, na nanilbihan ng sampung taon sa NPA, ang
pagnanais niyang mamuhay ng mapayapa kasama ang pamilya, ang unang dahilan ng
kanyang pagsuko.
Sa isinagawang community
immersion, nanawagan din si Mayor Judy Amante ng Cabadbaran City sa mga NPAs na
magbalik-loob na sa gobyerno. At bilang tagapangalaga sa lungsod, layunin
niyang mapanatili ang kapayaapaan sa kanyang nasasakupan kung kaya’t mahalaga
ang pagsagawa ng community immersion upang maipakita sa mga tao na tapat ang
gobyerno sa kanila. (NCLM/MOA/PIA Agusan del Norte)
Makabagong pamamaraan sa pagsasaka ibinida sa
Lakbay Palay sa Caraga
By Venus L. Garcia
LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN, Nobyembre 4
(PIA) -- Nakibahagi ang iba't ibang sektor sa rehiyon ng Caraga sa taunang
‘Lakbay Palay’ ng Philippine Rice Research Institute o PhilRice Agusan na
ginanap sa PhilRice Agusan Experiment Station, Remedos T. Romualdez, Agusan del
Norte.
Maliban sa mga magsasaka lumahok
rin dito ang mga estudyante at iba pang stakeholders.
Kabilang sa aktibidad nito ang
field tour sa palayan upang personal na makita ang kalidad ng binhi at field
demonstration ng top five high performing varieties na siyang ipamamahagi sa
ilalim ng rice competitiveness enhancement program (RCEF) para sa seed
component nito.
Itinampok din ang mga makinarya
gaya ng combine harvester, transplanter, drumseeder, reversible flatbed dryer
at iba pa na nakakatulong na mabawasan gastos sa produksiyon ng mga magsasaka.
Ayon kay PhilRice agusan branch
manager Joventino Tado, patuloy ang kanilang ahensiya sa pagtulong sa sektor ng
agrikultura para mapabuti at mapataas pa ang ani ng mga magsasaka.
“Ang mga farmer group sa bawat
recipient province ng RCEF gaya ng Agusan del Norte ay pwede na nilang irequest
ang mechanical dryer para dun patuyuin ang kanilang aning palay.
Kapaki-pakinabang ito sa kanila, na nakakatulong na ma-empower pang maging
competitive, resilient at sustainable,” sabi ni Tado.
Isinagawa rin ang information
clinic kung saan itinuturo kung paano maging mekanisado at maging maalam sa
bagong pamamaraan ng pagtatanim gaya ng minus one element o MOE technique,
alternate wetting at drying, at white stem borer management.
“Mahalaga itong okasyon na ito
dahil malalaman namin kung ano ang nararapat gawin sa aming sakahan. Marami
kaming matututunan sa kaganapan dito,” sabi ni Gilbert Maturan, farmer-leader
ng Dacutan Farmers Multi-purpose Cooperative (DAFAMCO).
“Magandang oportunidad ito para sa
aming kabataan lalung-lalo na sa akin na agricrop production student. Magsasaka
rin ang aking mga magulang kaya makakatulong ito na mapabuti ang aming
pagsasaka at maging pamilyar sa mga technique,” sabi ni Angelo Diego, mag-aaral
sa Batangbalang National High School, Agusa del Norte.
Ang tema ng nasabing Lakbay Palay
o Farmers’ Day ay nakapaloob sa benepisyong hatid ng rice competitiveness
enhancement program o RCEF. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)
