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

Housewife trains to become welder

Behind the welder's helmet: Minerva H. Bañas, a 33-year old housewife trains to become a welder.

In a male-dominated vocation, a housewife has stepped beyond her boundaries to join the industry and prove that women can likewise take on heavy jobs. She is Minerva H. Bañas, a 33 year-old mother of two from Malama, Ligao City.

Minerva is one of the first 22 trainees enrolled in the Shielded Metal Arc Welding NC 1, a training program implemented by the City Government of Ligao in partnership with Congressman Fernando V. Gonzalez and Technical Education and Skills Development Auhority (TESDA) under the Special Training for Employment Program (STEP).

Minerva spends more than an hour to travel from her house at Barangay Malama to the training center at Robredo Bldg., Tuburan, Ligao City. She also leaves her two children aged six and four to her mother-in-law everyday to attend the training. Despite the challenges she faces as a housewife, she did not hesitate to enroll in the program.

Furthermore, Minerva felt motivated to join the program to develop her skills that she can use to earn additional income. Her husband, who works as a laborer, earns a weekly income of Php 1,700. Minerva, on the other hand, does not earn any income by herself. She wanted to help her husband and her parents but could not afford to due to financial constraints.

Empowered

When Minerva knew about the training program, her husband encouraged her to join in. She also knew from her husband that construction firms are accepting female welders and that he currently works with a few of them. She was then convinced that she too can do it.

Unlike other housewives, Minerva was more interested to undergo training on welding rather than take on the usual inclination of women in dressmaking, tailoring, beauty care, and cosmetology. Although she finds some parts of the training difficult (i.e. grinding and cutting) due to her slender built, she is able to keep pace with her fellow trainees.

Future direction

When asked about her plans after the training, Minerva said she wants to apply abroad for greener pasture. However, if they are able to afford all the resources to build a local welding shop, she would decide to stay and live with her family.

Minerva completed the training on 26 October 2015 together with her fellow trainees. She is now preparing for the Competency Assessment to get her National Certificate.

Minerva also wishes that the program will continue so more people can benefit from the program and Ligao can build a community of competent individuals capable of creating their own success. Lala Peñafiel \ albay3d.blogspot.com

200 BUB-SLP farmer-recipients receive starter kits for organic rice production

Ligao City Mayor Patricia Gonzalez-Alsua and Pastor Jun Prena of LPRAT assisted the distribution of starter kits to BUB-SLP farmer-recipients.

Two hundred farmer-recipients of the Bottom-up Budgeting- Sustainable Livelihood Project (BuB-SLP) from Ligao City received starter kits for organic production on 9 October 2015 at Jesse M. Robredo Bldg., Tuburan, Ligao City. The starter kit consist of one head carabao, PCIC insurance premium for the carabao, Biologics for the carabao (dewormer and vitamins), one kilogram of Agrican Night Crawler, one rake, one spade, and one hoe.

The farmer-recipients underwent two-day training on organic rice production last June 2015 conducted by the City Agriculture Office (CAO). The training is a prerequisite for the recipients to receive the starter kits which they can utilize to enhance their farming activity.

The farmers also received carabaos marked with "BUB", the acronym for Bottom-up Budgeting.

Aside from the training, CAO will be offering technical assistance to the beneficiaries including free veterinary services for the carabaos.

According to Ligao City Mayor Patricia Gonzalez-Alsua, the City Government will assign a monitoring team to check if the starter kits are properly utilized.

Pastor Jun Preña of the Local Poverty Reduction Action Team also inspired the farmer-recipients to help each other share the benefits they have received.

Earlier this year, three livelihood programs were completed including Dressmaking and Tailoring, Hairdressing and Tailoring, and Organic Vegetable Production. Lala Peñafiel \ albay3d.blogspot.com

Building partnerships for sustainable management of Bicol marine resources and poverty reduction in coastal communities

Building partnerships: Italy Ambassador Massimo Roscigno with local government officials led by Congressman Fernando V. Gonzalez, BCDI-SAC representatives, and fishers and residents of coastal communities join together during the project launching

To improve the livelihood of coastal communities and increase the quality of marine resources in the Bicol region, the Bicol Consortium for Development Initiative (BCDI) and its member-partner Social Action Center (SAC) Diocese of Legazpi launched the “Partnership for the Sustainable Management of Municipal Waters in Burias Pass, Bicol Region for the Benefit of the Disadvantaged Sector” at Catburawan, Ligao City on 10 September 2015. The project is funded under the Philippines-Italy Debt for Development Swap Program and shall be implemented until December 2017.

Twelve (12) barangays from four city/municipalities in the Third District of Albay were chosen as project sites. These are:

• Marigondon, Malidong, Basicao Coastal, and Banawan (Pioduran)
• Maonon, Cabarian, and Catburawan (Ligao City)
• Badian and Cagmanaba (Oas)
• Pantao, Talin-Talin, and Rawis (Libon)

Local government officials of the four municipalities including Albay 3rd District Representative Fernando V. Gonzalez, signed the Memorandum of Agreement on July 29 – August 4, 2015.

Aside from Albay West Coast, 12 barangays from municipalities of Claveria, Donsol, Pilar, and San Pascual of Sorsogon Province were also chosen as project sites.

The project seeks the partnership and participation of Local Government Units (LGUs), Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), Private Organizations (POs), and fisher folk organizations to work on the three components: 1.) Policy and Advocacy Enforcement 2.) Natural Resource Regeneration; and 3.) Livelihood Activities.

Further, the project is a continuation of the Coastal Resource Management (CRM) to sustain the livelihood programs and preservation efforts in the coastal areas. Since the CRM implementation, significant accomplishments have already been presented in several municipalities in Bicol.

In a report presented by SAC-Legazpi, 12 Fish Sanctuary ordinances and four (4) coastal resource management plans were already approved. The municipalities of Libon, Claveria, Oas, San Pascual, Donsol approved Water Delineation ordinances while several policy dialogues were conducted with LGUs and government agencies.

The project also concentrates on preserving marine resources and enforcement of anti-illegal fishing policies. The Community Based Monitoring and Enforcement System (CBMES) was launched and established in the coastal communities. The municipalities also conducted (at most four) Municipal Water Patrolling every month. Additional ten (10) trained fishers were deputized as Bantay Dagat per municipality to enforce fishing laws.

It is expected that the “incidence of commercial fishing and illegal fishing in Burias Pass [will be] reduced from 20 per day to 5 in 3 years after project completion,” based on the report.

Furthermore, 100 hectares of mangroves and 100 hectares of near shore forest were rehabilitated. It is projected that by the end of year two, 60% of mangroves and 50 % of forest areas are already rehabilitated.

Aside from protection of marine resources, the project also aims to provide the communities with improved water supply and source of livelihood. According to SAC-Legazpi, two (2) Level II water supply systems were established in Imelda, Claveria and Lagaan, Pioduran benefiting 890 households or 5,287 individuals. If this will be sustained and the number of beneficiaries will increase, water borne diseases will be reduced in the communities.

The project is also targeting at least 80% of households in 24 coastal barangays to engage in kitchen gardening and produce a steady supply of vegetables for family consumption. As of this year, 100 kitchen gardens and 24 communal gardens were established in the project sites. In addition, 150 small fishers were involved and now earning from social enterprise.

As of 2015, there are 3,740 small fishers who are direct beneficiaries the project while 10,151 individuals or 3,384 households are indirect beneficiaries of the project.

It is expected that the project will strengthen the partnership of the stakeholders to amplify the preservation efforts in the coastal areas of Bicol and improve the economic status of coastal communities to achieve sustainable development. Lala Peñafiel | albay3d.blogspot.com 

Source: Social Action Center Diocese of Legazpi

Bill seeking establishment of National Technical -Vocational High School in Ligao City approved

Congressman Fernando V. Gonzalez (far right) during the presentation and sponsorship speech on House Bill No. 4982 at the House of Representatives. Photo courtesy of Roger Evangelista

The Committee on Basic Education approved the House Bill No. 4982, an act establishing a National Technical-Vocational High School in Barangay Nasisi, Ligao City, on 16 September 2015 at the House of Representatives. The school shall be known as Ligao City National Technical-Vocational High School.

Congressman Fernando V. Gonzalez, the author of HB 4982, explained that the establishment of the Technical/Vocational school will provide the students an opportunity to learn technical skills and gain employment.

He further stated that the school would help the students “accelerate their learning skills and qualify for NC 2 after their Junior High School and accelerate to NC 4 after graduation from Senior High School.”

Furthermore, the out-of-school youths will also have a chance to reenter formal education with affordable fees.

The establishment of the National Technical/Vocational high school will also address the increased demand for personnel with technical and vocational knowledge and skills to widen the services rendered by the city as a developing urban center.



Source: House Bill No. 4982. House of Representatives