Agricultural damage of Typhoons ‘Maymay’, ‘Neneng’ reaches P583.45M — DA

by Jel Santos, MB

The agricultural damage caused by Typhoons “Maymay” and “Neneng” has reached P583.45 million, the Department of Agriculture (DA) bared on Friday, Oct. 21.

FLOOD caused by severe tropical storm ‘Neneng’ shuts down the Claveria Detour Bridge on the Manila North Road in Claveria, Cagayan on Sunday, Oct. 16. (DPWH/Alain Garret Badiang)

Per the DA’s Bulletin No. 5, the areas covered in the estimate are Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Ilocos Region, and Cagayan Valley, devastating 21,986 hectares of agricultural areas. 

Around 21,324 farmers and fishers have been affected by Maymay and Neneng.

The agriculture department pegged the production loss at 36,872 metric tons.

Rice, corn, high-value crops, livestock and poultry, and fisheries are among the commodities affected, the DA said.

The agriculture department explained that the values of damage and losses for Maymay and Neneng have been combined as the “two tropical cyclones occurred in a span of one week and affected the same agricultural areas in CAR, Ilocos Region and Cagayan Valley.” 

According to the DA, it is constantly coordinating with concerned national government agencies, local government units, and other disaster risk reduction and management-related offices on the impact of tropical cyclones, as well as available resources for interventions and assistance.

Mobile Kadiwa centers are being prepared for deployment in areas impacted by Maymay and Neneng in order to stabilize agri-fishery commodity prices and supply, it added.

Here is the list of aid made available by the DA for affected farmers and fishers:

• Rice, corn and assorted vegetable seeds
• Drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry
• Fingerlings and assistance to affected fisherfolk from Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)
• Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan Program from the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) with loanable amount of up to P25,000 payable in three years at zero interest
• Quick Response Fund (QRF) for the rehabilitation of affected areas

PH not producing enough salt – DA

WITH OR WITHOUT SALT A local salt maker continues to produce salt in some salt beds in Barangay Sta. Isabel, Kawit, Cavite on Thursday, Aug. 25, 2022. The Department of Trade and Industry said there is enough supply of salt in the country. PHOTO BY DENNIS ABRINA

By Bella Cariaso, Manila Times

AN OFFICIAL of the Department of Agriculture (DA) on Tuesday admitted that the country is not producing enough salt, resulting in the importation of at least 93 percent of its requirement.

During the hearing of the House Committee on Agriculture and Food, DA Undersecretary Kristine Evangelista said the country outsources most of the salt supply in the local market.

"As far as local production is concerned, admittedly we are not producing enough. The DTI is looking at the supply situation from a different perspective that they factored in importation, that is why they say we have enough but as far as DA is concerned, we must improve our production for us to meet our demand requirements," Evangelista said.

She added that salt makers stopped their operation when their business was affected by various issues, including the lower price of salt.

"We are looking into the production and yield of salt. This will also help our fisherfolks. This can also be another revenue for them. The BFAR (Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources) has a program to help our fisherfolk. I also requested a roadmap for our salt industry," Evangelista said.

"Aside from identifying areas for production, there will always be a need as far as technology is concerned for our marginalized fisherfolks and for them to improve their production level," she added.

Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. President Danilo Fausto earlier said local salt producers were adversely affected by the Republic Act 8172 or the "Act for Salt Iodization Nationwide" (ASIN).

Fausto said that the Department of Trade and Industry failed to comply with ASIN which mandates the agency to assist and support local salt manufacturers in upgrading their production technologies by helping them obtain soft loans and financial assistance for the procurement of iodization machines.

Kabayan party-list Rep. Ron Salo said he filed House Bill 1976 to revive the local salt industry.

PH imports 93% salt needs – Agri group

"We need to ensure comprehensive measures to uplift and revive the salt industry. Otherwise, we will see a completely dead salt industry," Salo said.

The country's yearly salt requirement is pegged at 600,000 metric tons.

In 2021, the country imported 647,000 metric tons of salt — 72 percent from Australia and 18.7 percent from China.

DA declares bird flu outbreak in the Philippines

The Department of Agriculture (DA) declared on Wednesday, March 30, an outbreak of Avian Influenza (AI) or H5N1 in the country.

This, as the DA reported an increasing number of avian flu cases mostly in Central Luzon.

Agriculture Secretary William Dar said duck and quail farms in Central Luzon farms are mostly affected by bird flu, which he reiterated, was caused by migratory birds visiting the country.

Department of Agriculture turns over 9.5 m facilities

DA turns over 9.5M agricultural facilities and other infrastructure projects to Maragusan Multi-purpose Cooperative

Compostela Valley Province---A total of 9.5Million pesos worth of agricultural facilities and infrastructure projects from the Department of Agriculture (DA) Regional Office XI and the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) was officially turned over to the officials, board of directors and members of the Maragusan Multi-Purpose Cooperative (MAMPCO) last October 2, 2019.

The ceremonial turn over was held at the MAMPCO Agricultural Complex, Purok Mangga, Poblacion, Maragusan, Comval.

The program is in partnership with the Provincial Agriculturist Office (PAGRO) of the provincial government of Comval and the Municipal Agriculturist Office (MAGRO) of the municipality of Maragusan.

Attending the program were DA Region-XI representative Engr. Rubelyn Gomez together with Ronald Sibayan Assistant Provincial Agriculturist, Hon. Vice Mayor Cesar C. Colina Sr., Engr. Nelson Ortiz Municipal Agriculturist of the municipality of Maragusan, officers and members of the MAMPCO, MAGRO officials and employees and the provincial and municipal employees.

According to Sibayan, the provincial government assisted in the selection and facilitation of the documents of the requesting beneficiaries.

He added that the project was implemented with the supervision of the PAGRO, MAGRO and the DA.

“Amounting to Php337,969.66 or 20% is coming from the PLGU Comval as counterpart for the construction of the tablea facility,” said Sibayan.

The Tablea Processing and Marketing Enterprise facility has a total amount of Php2,515,348.31 from the PRDP I-REAP of the DA with 20% counter parting of the provincial government of Comval.

Among the agricultural facilities and infrastructure projects from the DA were turned over are the Coffee roasting facility worth Php1,989,109.19; 2 units fermentary facilities - Php496,120.00; 2 units weather drier- Php566,777.17; 1 unit mobile flash dryer- Php2,998,000.00; 90HP Farm tractor- Php1,980,000.00; 1 unit plant nursery- Php497,020.00; 1 unit floating tiller- Php130,000.00 and 1 unit Cassava granulator amounting to Php129, 640.00.

According to Armando B. Escuadro MAMPCO General Manager, a total of 3,458 members of their coop will benefit of the projects.

He added that the actual members that can benefit for the tablea processing project are the 150 individuals or the Cacao farmers. “Amung purpose ani nga ma protektahan ang interest sa among mga farmers nga makavail sila ug taas nga presyo. Kay ang ilang produce amung e process, he said.

“Ang amuang objective nga ang ipagawas namu nga produkto sa amung coop is finish product na para pud madugangan namu ang buying price sa ilang abot ug makaavail na sa taas-taas nga presyo,” the manager added.

Meanwhile, Calixto Saromines a cacao farmer expressed his gratitude to the DA and the provincial government for the said project. “Nalipay kog dako nga naabot ni nga mga project dria kay dako kayo ni ug tabang sa amuang mga mag-uuma isip usa ka myembro sa kooperatiba. Kay daghan mi ug benipisyo nga madawat sa among pagbaligya sa among abot gawas nga dili name maglisod kung asa ibaligya naa pa gyud me madawat nga dividend,” he said.

“Inganyo ug challenge na kaayo me kay mao gyud ni amo gipaabot sukad-sukad sa dugay ng panahon. Dako kayo ni ug tabang nga moangat me sa among panginabuhian,” he added. #YEStoDavaoDeOro (Rey Antibo, ID Comval)