You plan to move to the Philippines? Wollen Sie auf den Philippinen leben?

There are REALLY TONS of websites telling us how, why, maybe why not and when you'll be able to move to the Philippines. I only love to tell and explain some things "between the lines". Enjoy reading, be informed, have fun and be entertained too!

Ja, es gibt tonnenweise Webseiten, die Ihnen sagen wie, warum, vielleicht warum nicht und wann Sie am besten auf die Philippinen auswandern könnten. Ich möchte Ihnen in Zukunft "zwischen den Zeilen" einige zusätzlichen Dinge berichten und erzählen. Viel Spass beim Lesen und Gute Unterhaltung!


Visitors of germanexpatinthephilippines/Besucher dieser Webseite.Ich liebe meine Flaggensammlung!

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Showing posts with label Province. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Province. Show all posts

Thursday, June 24, 2021

Physics teacher established a farm in Mindanao to ‘escape’ the quarantine in Manila


by Patricia Bianca Taculao,  Manila Bulletin

Back in March 2020, the Philippines was put under an enhanced community quarantine to help curb the spread of COVID-19 and keep people safe from the virus that put the entire world at a standstill. 

While inside their homes, many people were getting antsy, not only because of the impending threat to their health, but also because of the frustration with their confinement, which offered little to no chance of leaving unless it was to buy food, medicine, and other necessities. 

Many people took up new hobbies to combat their boredom and anxiety. And one of the most popular hobbies taken up during lockdown was gardening or farming. During the previous years, there has been a rise in the number of urban farmers since they found the activity of growing food to be efficient in alleviating their worries as well as keeping their food source sustainable and secure. 

Noel Sablay, a physics teacher by profession, decided to engage in farming during the quarantine as well. But instead of doing it in his house, he and his family decided to travel to Mindanao to “escape” the quarantine in Manila.

Instead of farming in the city, Sablay and his family decided to farm in the province.

Before the pandemic, Sablay was teaching in an international school in China. He has also worked at the Philippine Normal University, along with another international school in Indonesia. 

Artemio Heritage Ecofarm is an agri-tourism and learning spot for livestock, plants, and fish.  It was established in August 2020 at Palomoc-Culasian Rd, Titay, Zamboanga Sibugay, where Sablay and his family retreated to pass the time during the quarantine period.

It was named after the late Artemio Pusta, Sablay’s father-in-law, a retired policeman who was known to locals to have a tough yet kind heart and to have enjoyed family fun. 

“Since we went to Mindanao during the quarantine periods in Manila, we stayed here for a month, and so we thought to develop my wife’s property,” Sablay said. 

His affinity for farming came from his upbringing, as he was born to a family of farmers in Ilocos Sur. At a young age, Sablay experienced planting rice and tobacco; raising goats, cows, and carabaos; as well as managing a backyard piggery. 

Using that knowledge and experience, Sablay and his wife started their farming journey with a piggery that follows the concept of Babuyang-Walang-Amoy, using rice hull substrate in the pigpen. Babuyang-Walang-Amoy is the process of raising pigs without the distinct stench that comes from their pens and minimizing health risks while mimicking the pigs’ natural environment to promote humane practices.

One of the early projects of Sablay and his wife is a piggery that followed the Babuyang-Walang-Amoy concept.

The couple developed the property until it accommodated more elements other than a piggery such as a poultry farm and tilapia pond. They’re also growing green lady papaya and backyard vegetables. 

They started with a grassy hill area which was improved through landscaping, but without changing much of the natural landscape. When the area was cleared, they found it suitable for camping, adventure trails, other crops, a restaurant and function hall, and a training area.



Eventually, the couple developed the farm further to accommodate poultry, a tilapia pond, backyard vegetables, and even a high-value crops section. Now, the couple is nearly done establishing their high-yield crops and dragon fruit section.  

Maintaining the farm 

Each element on their farm is routinely maintained by five staff members who have different roles and specialties in farm management. Through it all, Sablay also plays an active role on their farm as he does the planning and directing. He also trains their staff.

Chickens raised on Artemio’s Heritage Ecofarm.

“Occasionally I would also sleep on the farm for straight seven days and do farming myself. I also take charge of landscaping and beautification of the farm. My wife and son take charge of our e-farming side, which is the online promotion of our farm and services,” he said. 

Presently, their piggery is the most prolific element on their farm. Next are the red lady papaya and the tilapia-koi section. With incoming flowing in from these sources, the couple can continue their daily farm operations. 

The tilapia pond in the farm.

“Our farm works on the farm-to-table concept, which uses our products and produce at our agritourism space. We have a campsite and farm restaurant opening in a week or two, depending on the condition of lockdown due to COVID in the area,” Sablay said. 

According to Sablay, one of their goals for the farm is for it to become the first to practice the farm-to-table concept in their area. They produce what they sell and in the process of doing so, they hope to connect with other farms and inspire them to do the same.

ome of their products include a special large-size lechon that’s directly sourced from their piggery; consumers can choose between three variants such as regular, salty, and seafood stuffed. 

They also offer fresh produce like herbs and naturally-grown vegetables as well as processed items like gourmet tuyo, drip coffee, and homemade jams. Sablay said that they plan to make all these available at their on-site cafe. 

Running off to the province did more for Sablay and his family than to just “escape” the community quarantine in the city. It became a way for them to start their farming journey which allowed them to create a sustainable source of income through the crops, livestock, and farm tourism aspect of Artemio’s Heritage Ecofarm. 

For more information, visit Artemio’s Heritage Ecofarm on Facebook.

Photos courtesy from Artemio’s Heritage Ecofarm on Facebook

Tuesday, July 28, 2020

DTI-DdO distributes livelihood kits to 100 MSMEs


Davao de Oro --- Some 100 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in 20 identified barangays in the province received livelihood starter kits under the DTI’s Livelihood Seeding Program–Negosyo Serbisyo sa Barangay (LSP-NSB) on Friday.



DTI Davao de Oro Provincial Director, Atty. Lucky Siegfred M. Balleque said the first twenty beneficiaries that received a package of livelihood kits amounting to PHP5,000 were residents of barangay Bawani, Mawab. The LSP-NSB also aims to boost micro enterprises by providing basic business advisory and information to qualified individuals affected by natural and human-induced calamities such as pandemic brought by COVID-19.



“This livelihood assistance may be small but with a right entrepreneurial mindset, it can push your business into a better position”, Balleque added.

The MSME beneficiaries of the LSP-NSB program include sole proprietors that are located in identified barangays, including those in Geographically Isolated and Depressed Areas (GIDAs) under the government’s End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC) program. They also underwent four modules of capability building seminar to develop and strengthen their entrepreneurial competencies during the turn-over ceremony.

For his part, Mayor Ruperto S. Gonzaga III acknowledged the government’s program to his constituents in teaching and helping them improve their businesses thru series of sessions.

Rosie T. Ignas, beneficiary from Brgy. Bawani expressed gratitude for granting her as one of the beneficiaries of LSP-NSB program.

“Dako kaayu ning tabang dili lang kay sa akua apil na usab sa uban pang naka-benepisyo sa maong programa gikan sa gobyerno nga magamit ug ma sustain sa matag-adlaw namu nga panginahanglanon labaw na sa kapait sa panahon nga dala sa pandemya,” Ignas added.

The program is in partnership with provincial and local government units. The barangay LGU has a fundamental role in identifying the MSMEs in their areas who have potential of becoming mega business.

DTI-DdO targets to finish the distribution of livelihood kits by the end of October. 

(Rheafe C. Hortizano, Information Division Davao de Oro).

Monday, November 19, 2018

Comval gets 2nd Most Competitive Provinces in Davao Region

... and three towns also win!


Compostela Valley Province--- The Regional Development Council (RDC) - XI together with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) holds a “2nd Regional Competitiveness Awards 2018” on November 7, 2018 at the Pinnacle Hotel and Suites, Sta. Ana, Davao City.



The province of Compostela Valley under Governor Jayvee Tyron Uy has made it to one of the most competitive Provinces in the Davao Region awarded as the 2nd Overall Most Competitive Province.



Receiving the award and the plaque were Assistant Provincial Administrator for Internal Affairs Placido Alcomendras Jr. representing Gov. Uy, Provincial Planning and Development Officer (PPDO) Romeo B. Celeste, together with Atty. Lucky Seigfred Balleque – DTI Comval Provincial Director, Nabunturan Mayor Chelita Amatong and Montevista Mayor Eutropio Jayectin.


Among the five provinces in Davao Region, Comval leaps from last place in 2017 to second in the region as the overall most competitive province in 2018. While in the national level, Comval improved to rank 30 from rank 63 last year.


On the other hand, the municipality of Nabunturan under Mayor Amatong and the municipality of Compostela under Mayor Lema Bolo ranked first and second place respectively as the most overall competitive among the 1st and 2nd class municipalities. Nabunturan also grabbed the most competitive in government efficiency among the 1st and 2nd class municipalities.



Meanwhile, Montevista under Mayor Eutropio Jayectin got the most improved local government unit (LGU) among the 3rd to 6th class municipalities in the region.


The awards and plaques was personally handed to them during the awarding rites by Maria Belenda Q. Ambi – Chairperson, RCC-XI, DTI Regional Director, DTI-XI, with John Carlo B. Tria- VP-Professional Service ventures, DCCCII, and Carolina R. Velasco – Supervising –TIDS, DTI-Competitiveness Bureau.



The awarding ceremony is a regional version of the National Competitiveness Awards, based on the Cities, and Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI) 2018 national rankings for the four pillars: Economic Dynamism, Government Efficiency, Infrastructure, and Resiliency. (Rey Antibo, ID Comval)