Making milestones: enhancing benefits and services for senior citizens of Ligao City

The City Government of Ligao headed by Mayor Patricia Gonzalez-Alsua (left) conducts Elderly Week every year. Senior citizens who reached the "mileage age" receive cash gifts from the City Government.

To provide more benefits to the senior citizens and give them opportunities to contribute in community development, the City Government of Ligao headed by Mayor Patricia Gonzalez-Alsua through the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) with Chairman Vicente P. Aldea, implement programs and activities that elicit the active participation of senior citizens.

Anchored under the Republic Act 9994, also known as Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010, senior citizens can avail benefits and privileges such as the 20% discount on medical needs, recreation centers, and transportation; and are given priority when transacting in bank, commercial/private, and government establishments.

To avail the benefits and services for senior citizens, elders should be at least 60 years old and must be a Filipino citizen. OSCA issues the Senior Citizen’s ID to those who qualify the minimum requirements. A registration fee of only Php 100 is required to complete the application. The registration fee, which was previously worth Php 60, was raised to increase the amount of burial assistance from Php 1,000 to Php 1,500

Elderly Week

One of the major activities of the City Government for the senior citizens is the Elderly Week which is held every first week of October. However, since some senior citizens are unable to attend due to travel time and expenses, and health risks, the City Government brings the program closer to them. The Elderly Week is held in five clustered units of barangays: coastal unit, upland unit, lowland unit, Mayon unit, and Poblacion unit.

The Elderly Week is held every first week of October. Senior Citizens 

During the Elderly Week, a medical mission is held with free consultation and medicines. Senior citizens also enjoy singing, dancing, and parlor games with cash prizes prepared during the event. Congressman Fernando V. Gonzalez, being a senior citizen himself, joins the Elderly Week to share the celebration of elders. He also gives incentives to senior citizens who actively participate during the showcase of talents.

“Mileage age”

Upon reaching the “mileage age” of 80, 85, 90, and 100, senior citizens receive cash gifts worth Php 500, Php 1,000, Php 1,500, Php 2,000, and Php 20,000 respectively. When a senior citizen reaches the centennial age (100), a bonus worth Php 10,000 is given each year in the preceding years.

103-year old Nacional Divinaflor was awarded as the Oldest Senior Citizen in Ligao last October 2014. 

Senior citizens celebrating their birthdays are advised to report to the Office of the City Mayor on the first week of their birth month to claim their mileage cash gift. For those who are unable to visit the office, the Senior Citizen Federation accompanied by a representative from the City Treasurer’s Office go to the birthday celebrator’s residence to personally deliver the birthday cash gift.

Aside from birthday cash gift, the City Government also gives Php 1,000 cash gift every Christmas to senior citizens who are duly registered.

In addition, the City Government has provided a separate medical and rehabilitation clinic for the senior citizens for their medical needs.

Reaping the benefits

Emiliana Olmeda, a 67-year old senior citizen from Barangay Basag is enjoying the benefits of the government’s programs and services for senior citizens. On 18 November 2015, Olmeda claimed her husband’s pension. Her 73-year old husband was not able to claim his pension personally as he just suffered from stroke. Despite having this challenge, Olmeda is happy to reap the benefits of being a registered Senior Citizen.

For 25 years, Olmeda served as Barangay Captain of Basag and now serving as the President of Senior Citizens in her barangay. She is an active member of the Senior Citizens Federation and attends to all activities of the City Government for the senior citizens. Participating in different activities and programs keep her busy and active with her lifestyle. It makes her feel needed by the community.

Added benefits in 2016

In 2016, senior citizens can look forward to better services and added benefits as the City Government will allocate an annual budget of Php 11,700,000 for the senior citizens.

Office of  the Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) Chairman Vicente P. Aldea announces new benefits that senior citizens will receive in 2016.

According to OSCA Chairman Aldea, the minimum mileage age will be adjusted to 75 and cash gift has increased by Php 250, which results to the following cash gift amounts:

• 75 years old – Php 500 
• 80 years old – Php 750 
• 85 years old – Php 1,250
• 90 years old – Php 1,750
• 95 years old – Php 3,000 
• 100 years old – Php 20,000 (Plus yearly bonus of Php 10,000) 

Furthermore, the City Government will allot Php 50,000 in 2016 for senior citizens who will be celebrating their golden wedding anniversary. The allocated fund shall be divided to the celebrating couples. Lala Penafiel | albay3d.blogspot.com

PhilRice introduces climate change-ready technologies to Bicol farmers

Farmers tour around the PhilRice Bicol station to learn new farming technologies and methods developed PhilRice.

With the theme, “Pabago-bagong klima, kayang kaya basta may tamang teknolohiya,” The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) Bicol Station introduced new knowledge and climate change-ready technologies for rice and rice-based production systems to local farmers during the Farmer’s Field Day on 19 November 2015 at PhilRice Bicol Station, Batang, Ligao City.

 

PhilRice has developed a cost-effective method for mushroom production that is suitable to the weather conditions of Bicol.

PhilRice researcher demonstrates the process on how to culture a mushroom.

Seven stations were prepared for demonstration of new technologies and information including Intensified Rice-based Agri-bio System (IRBAS), mushroom production, learning center, varietal demonstration, Palayabangan 10-5 challenge, modified direct seeding, as well as machineries for farming.

PhilRice researcher explains Azolla production to farmers during the field tour.

The technologies developed by PhilRice are based on the researches conducted within the Bicol region considering the environmental conditions of the locality. These technologies were designed to help the farmers overcome the negative effects of climate change in rice production and help them minimize or prevent production losses.

Farm machineries developed by PhilRice were also showcased during Farmer's Field Day.

One of the new technologies installed at PhilRice Bicol station is the Flat-bed Dryer. This facility is used to dry harvested crops such as rice and corn, coffee, and legumes. It can dry six tons of rice in 8-10 hours. 

One of the newly-installed climate change-ready facility in PhilRice Bicol is the flat-bed dryer.

PhilRice has also developed cost-effective methods and eco-friendly techniques such as the use of rice hull in mushroom production and as an alternative to LPG to fuel a stove.

PhilRice is continuously developing new technologies to achieve a more sustainable production of rice and other agricultural products, and address the need to feed more Filipinos in the next 20-25 years despite the industrialization of several areas in the country.Lala Peñafiel|albay3d.blogspot.com

PhilRice-Bicol hails 428 farmer-graduates of upland rice production training

On stage with the graduates: National URDP Leader Ruben R. Miranda, PhilRice Bicol Branch Manager Dr. Reynaldo C. Castro, PhilRice Executive Director Calixto M. Protacio, and Congressman Fernando V. Gonzalez.

The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) Bicol Station conducted a regional Recognition Day for 428 Farmers Field School (FFS) students on 19 November 2015 at PhilRice Bicol Station, Batang, Ligao City. The FFS is a training program on rice production implemented under the Upland Rice Development Program (URDP) by the Regional Agri-Pinoy Team composed of PhilRIce Bicol, Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 5 (DA RFO5), DA Agricultural Training Institute Region 5 (DA-ATI 5), Provincial Local Government Units (PLGUs), and Municipal Local Government Units (MLGUs). The graduates consist of:

• 32 farmers from Ligao City
• 27 farmers from Milagros, Masbate
• 43 farmers from Irosin, Sorsogon
• 31 farmers from Casiguran, Sorsogon
• 39 farmers from Banquerohan, Legazpi
• 36 farmers from Cagbagong, Legazpi
• 30 farmers from San Vicente, Buhi, Cam. Sur
• 100 farmers from Labawon, Buhi, Cam. Sur
• 36 farmers from Lubgan, Bula, Cam. Sur
• 54 farmers from Garchitorena, Cam. Sur

The graduates of Ligao City; Irosin, Sorsogon; and Lubgan, Bula, Camarines Sur

The farmer-graduates of Casiguran, Sorsogon; Cagbagong, Legazpi; and Labawon, Buhi, Camarines Sur

The farmer-graduates of Bula, Camarines Sur and Milagros, Masbate

The training program is one way of addressing the challenges in sustaining and improving rice production in the country, especially in areas with unfavorable environmental conditions for certain rice varieties.

According to PhilRice Executive Director Calixto M. Protacio, the Philippines will be facing a bigger challenge in the next 25 years considering the continuous population increase and land conversion. "Paano natin tataasan ang produksyon na paliit na paliit ang ating lupa dahil sa dumadami ang Pilipino, nagpapagawa ng bahay, subdivision, mga highways, mga malls. Kinukuha ang ating mga sakahan [How can we increase the production of rice if the agricultural land area is declining due to increase in population, development of subdivisions, highways, and shopping malls? Our farm lands are being taken],"said Dir. Protacio.

In 2040, if the average rice production remains at four tons per hectare (4 tons/ha) and the agricultural land area will remain the same or continue to decrease, the Philippines shall have to produce 8 million tons of rice in order to feed 150 million Filipinos, explained Dir. Protacio while estimating the numbers based on the status quo of rice production in the country. "Paano kaya natin mapapakain ang 150 million sa 2040 [So how do we feed the 150 million Filipinos in 2040?]," asked Dir. Protacio explaining the challenge being faced by PhilRice and the agricultural sector.

The Agri-Pinoy Team conducts training programs to introduce new technologies and farming practices to achieve a sustainable production of rice

PhilRice aims to develop technologies that will help the agricultural community adapt to the challenges brought by unfavorable environmental conditions and industrial development. The FFS is a way of introducing new methods and technologies that will help farmers overcome these challenges.

National URDP Leader Ruben R. Miranda said that while many farmers are still using traditional methods of planting rice, the training aims to teach farmers how to properly manage their farm lands using the appropriate rice variety adaptable to their area.

Congressman Fernando V. Gonzalez, who launched the training program on rice production and named as the Father of PhilRice Bicol, said that the establishment of the Bicol station helps address the need to improve the production of rice using new technologies. This will eventually help the local farmers increase their production and income, minimize the expenses, and easily recover from production loss.

Congressman Gonzalez also encouraged the farmer-graduates to maximize the use of technologies and practice the skills and knowledge they learned from the training as this will benefit them in the long run.

Ligao City Mayor Patricia Gonzalez-Alsua also considers the establishment of PhilRice Bicol as a blessing to the agricultural sector of Bicol. Being the home of PhilRice Bicol, Ligao City is building a strong partnership with PhilRice and other government agencies to support local farmers by sponsoring training programs such as the FFS. Lala Peñafiel|albay3d.blogspot.com