by admin | Apr 26, 2008 | Features
SHIFTING to high yielding varieties of rice from the traditional varieties can spell so much difference for farm yield, assures a top agricultural technology promotion officer in Bohol.
“Once a farmer uses the high yielding varieties in his seeds, there would be an incremental increase in his production per unit area” Engr. Eugene Cahiles, of the the Bohol Agricultural Promotion Center bared at the weekly Kapihan sa PIA Thursday.
This as he underscored that the seed shift alone raises rice production dramatically so Bohol could quickly respond to the goal of rice sufficiency.
“Even without altering production factor other than a shift to either high yielding hybrid or at least certified rice seeds, a farmer can get more than half his usual yield, he claimed.
The difference, Bohol Provincial Agriculturist Liza Quirog pointed out is a matter of 72 bags of rice per hectare compared to his usual 48 bags yield per hectare for hybrid rice.
The two top agriculture officials in Bohol appeared at the weekly forum aired live over DYTR to elucidate on the government initiatives in responding to the rice shortage, which the country feels at present.
Both also agree that the problem is not that alarming in Bohol, which is able to produce almost 80 thousand metric tons and continuing to reap some 99 thousand metric tons by June of next year.
Data from the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics bared that Bohol’s rice sufficiency is still about 83%, meaning the province’s farmers have been able to produce about 83% of its total rice consumption.
The data also pushed Governor Erico Aumentado to issue a rice shipment regulation so as not to deplete local rice stocks and therefore allow the province to keep a buffer for local consumption.
The regulation, Quirog explained is based on the data from the previous bulk of the province’s regular trading, not more than that.
To quickly recoup the production setback, Cahiles added that “by expanding the production area using certified seeds and hybrid seeds, Bohol could be more rice sufficient.
From 1900 bags of hybrid rice planted by farmer adoptors last year, Cahiles said the APC is on to a 5,000 bags distribution target for irrigated as well as rain-fed lands this year.
Bohol has about 47, 376 hectares of ricelands, only about 21,000 hectares are irrigated while most at 26,000 are rainfed. Now we are also focusing on how to make rainfed areas productive as well, he said.
Quirog quickly followed on as she pointed that land development in areas covered by Bayongan Dam is ongoing.
She reported that 2,000 hectares would be operational this year, while the rest [of the areas would be operational] in the near future.
This as the national and the provincial government has poured in roughly P37M and P13.786M to sustain the goal of making Bohol 100% rice sufficient by 2010, Engr Cahiles added.
According to Quirog, the provincial Government through the Sangguniang Panlalawigan presiding officer and Agriculture Committee chair Vice Governor Julius Caesar Herrera approved the P13.7M. twice as much as the 6.4M allocation for the Bohol Seed Assistance Program.
Adding to the lady agriculturist’s statements, Cahiles said the national government is pakcing up a bag of interventions in the rice crisis, as he cited the President’s pronouncements at the recent national food summit.
He said the government allocated P43.7B for Fertilizers, Irrigation facilities, Education and training, Loans, Driers and other post harvest facilities and seeds subsidies.
The package encompasses the most extensive government intervention to sustain the growth of the rice industry in the country, Cahiles added. (rachiu/PIA)
by admin | Apr 25, 2008 | Features
JUST as President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo pressed anew Congress to affirm the government’s amnesty proclamation, communist rebel returnees in Bohol also urge the government to continue localized peace talks.
With Congressional concurrence, communist rebels who are still hopelessly clinging to their lost cause can rejoin mainstream society and live in peace soonest.
On the other hand, with localized peace talks, the government can isolate top communist leaders to reconsider the government peace offer.
Former Bohol red fighter Bernard Banal has formally asked Presidential Assistant Felix Guanzon to keep the government’s offer for peace talks open to the rebels who are still fighting a lonely war.
Banal, now a government partner in reform is echoing the sentiments of his former comrades who have finally decided to walk the way of peace.
The Banal formula defies the Communist Party of the Philippines New People’s Army National Democratic Front (CPP/NPA/NDF) official stand of rejecting localized peace talks while only the top communist leaders are to negotiate with the government of the Republic of the Philippines on matters of peace agreements.
Guanzon, the President’s assistant for the Visayas accompanied the Royal Norwegian Government Facilitation Team in a visit to Bohol recently to visit rebel returnees and assess the localized government’s initiatives of peace for the communist rebels.
Banal, who has touted as key movement propagandist and indoctrinator said top communist leadership could be left without influence if disgruntled fighters leave them and start talking peace in their levels.
Isolating the top leaders would render them powerless and without the support of the local movement anymore, they would be forced to accept the government’s terms, he explained to Guanzon in Cebuano.
This as the President continued to press for the Congressional nod to the government amnesty proclamation while visiting Negros recently.
“(Kaya) nanawagan tayo sa Kongreso na sana i-confirm na nila itong ating amnesty proclamation na magkakaroon ng pagkakataon na makabalik muli sa lipunan itong ating mga kapatid na galing sa loob ng kilusan,” the President said in her brief message.
Congressional confirmation of her amnesty proclamation would enable the communist rebels to rejoin society and live with their loved ones again, the President said.
She pointed out that aside from the rebel returnees she has met, many more rebels in Negros Oriental and other parts of the country have expressed their willingness to surrender their arms and end their rebellion but are waiting for Congress to affirm the amnesty proclamation.
In Bohol alone, some 185 rebel returnees have risked getting hailed in court for acts committed while in the movement. The decision to peaceably settle for good and avail of the informal offer for peace at the local levels ahs finally allowed them to rejoin society.
But without the amnesty, there is still no real assurance that they would be given total absolution from any criminal offenses while in the movement, local officials also claimed.
The rebels have expressed apprehension that once they give up their armed struggle and rejoin society, they would be charged with rebellion and other criminal complaints. (rachiu/PIA)
by admin | Apr 24, 2008 | Features
STAMPING Bohol identity and character into its built heritage and infrastructure puts up an added value to Bohol tourism, hints heritage icon and architect Augusto Villalon, during the recent conference at the Metro Center Hotel.
The conference, which gathered Bohol’s leading architects, engineers, builders, contractors and artists is billed “Architecture of Place, Putting Bohol in its Tourism Infrastructure and Facilities.”
As such, “it tends to lend to the Bohol tour a new vigor as Bohol now could be seen at a new facet: in the light of how local history and milieu contributes to the robust and complex system which the people showcase in their built heritage,” adds Arch. Rosario Encarnacion-Tan during a presentation.
“Beset with the recent sprouting of Swiss chalets, Spanish villas, American homes, Boholano vernacular architecture seem to cower in humble submission that a tourist or visitors fail to fully discern the local spirit,” conference organizers said.
Now, acting promptly on the observation that the present Bohol architecture is hardly reflective of its culture, the conference moved Ayala Foundation, Filipinas Heritage Library, Bohol provincial government and Holy Name University to expose participants to the traditional and the vernacular architecture as a common fiber to which new designs can develop.
Encarnacion, along with Villalon took turns at the conference in detailing the need to instill the gist of Philippine if not Boholano Architecture in the built structures to showcase the Boholono soul.
According to Encarnacion, the Philippine concept of space surrounding a space is an interesting theme prevalent in almost all old heritage structures.
Encarnacion, who has had a long list of veritable Filipino architecture designs fitted into modern structures now off her drawing boards said “spacing means putting up balconies that gaze out to gardens, emphasizing visual layers and sectional walls that open to create more spaces.”
Moreover, its is always a Boholano penchant to build their houses on stilts, one that allows more space and adds value to a unique ventilation, she said.
Putting up structures need not be expensive, she stressed, just as the use of in-expensive but indigenous materials, can easily blend with modern structures to create interesting textures. She noted that locals do not run out of ideas with amakan, bamboo, rattan, coconut and woven materials and native motifs.
The combination of local materials reasonably settling with the modern building materials can always go together, a good blend of local artisans using local technology and good designers with a feel of how to live good as a Boholano, one having a workable knowledge of Philippine Architecture and culture could bring out an owner’s final vision of the finished structure, Encarnacion said.
Over all this, tourists homing in on the structure can connect with the owner’s soul, one memorable appreciation in their journey, she pointed out. (rachiu/PIA)
by admin | Apr 23, 2008 | Features
WHY Bohol’s Chocolate Hills was deleted off the list of nominees in the current search for new seven wonders of the world, local officials and tourism stakeholders here want to know.
To compound the problem, not only is the Chocolate Hills off the list of nominees, it also could not be re-nominated either.
Several Boholanos presumed that it could be a nasty job of a computer hacker.
A hacker intentionally gains access to a secure internet website, navigates and controls any information therein as he taps into the system website.
But Boholanos, again united in campaigning for votes to finally put the wondrous hills into the top seat were all speculations about the de-listing, as of Tuesday.
The Chocolate Hills was just recently nominated and saw a dramatic climb from nowhere to number 6th last week.
But just how fast it rose, was how it got off the list Monday, when online voters and noted the sudden disappearance of the hills from the list.
“The thing is, we could probably understand if the nominee loses its place in the top seven in a day, but to be totally out of the list is unthinkable,” claimed an web-surfer who was about to cast his vote.
He also confirmed that, attempts to re-nominate the Chocolate Hills also prove to be another problem as online nominations seemingly get bounced out.
Wanting answers, Bohol Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) Tourism Committee Chair and Board Member Ester Corazon Galbreath prodded the provincial lawmakers to launch an appeal to the search organizers. She said the organizers should explain how Bohol’s marvelous Chocolate Hills and Mayon Volcano were deleted from the list.
On his part, Vice Governor Julius Caesar Herrera steered the SP to make a formal communication to the Department of Tourism to ask for enlightenment on the matter, reports said.
Bohol First District Representative and House Tourism Committee Chair Edgar Chatto, upon knowing about the incident said in interviews that would personally lead a Congressional inquiry as to why it also happened.
Rep. Chatto told the Provincial Tourism Council chairman Peter Dejaresco that he to call the DOT and the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization to ask about the possible de-listing of the wondrous hills from the nominees to the new seven world wonders list.
The search is organized by New7wondersFoundation, and it aims to undertake documentation and conservation works of monuments worldwide under the motto “Our Heritage is our Future”.
As of Saturday, April 19, Bohol’s haycock hills, 1268 of them in almost similar shape and size, rose to sixth place after staying at the seventh place among the nominees for the world’s natural wonders search.
Chocolate Hills, those coralline hills in the heart of Bohol is considered the peak of all tourist destinations here.
Its natural and yet mysterious formation puts it into the prestigious search for the global wonders of the world.
Governor Erico Aumentado appointed Tagbilaran City Mayor Dan Lim to spearhead the fever pitch campaign for the Chocolate hills.
While starting way down the list, campaigns intensified with practically every Boholano spreading the call for online votes through text brigades, tourism stakeholders adding spiels in their tours while internet buffs spread the call through their chat groups. (rachiu/PIA)
by admin | Apr 22, 2008 | Features
CONTRARY to the belief that Bohol is rice sufficient, the province still needs P13.786M to attain full rice sufficiency in two years, a technical working group (TWG) tasked to make develop Bohol agriculture said.
For this, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan led by Vice Governor Julius Caesar Herrera Tuesday passed the appropriations to satisfy a request from Governor Erico Aumentado for Bohol to put up key mobilization fund for Bohol’s Rice Accelerated Enhancement Response (RacER).
RacER is recommended by the TWG.
The TWG, composed of former Department of Agriculture regional technical director Dr. Jose Quitazol, Provincial Agriculturist Liza Quirog, Agricultural Promotions Center Manager Eugene Cahiles, National Food Authority’s Nestor Rey Alcoseba, Bohol Poverty Reduction and Management Officer Antonieto Pernia, Provincial Environment Officer Eduardo Inting, Irrigation Officer Modesto Membreve and still some unnamed technical men recommended the amount to be taken from the Provincial Government cash boxes to improve agriculture here.
Of the amount however, only the P1400 revolving fund subsidy for each bag of hybrid of rice seeds that go to irrigators associations and technical trainings, seminars would go directly to the farmers. The rest covers incentives to technologists, rice technicians, municipal agriculture officers and coordinators.
Many critics and farmers openly said “this is disheartening.”
“While the technicians get salaries from the government, it is us who are asked to produce so the best farmers should be the one’s getting the incentives, not them,” a farmer who asked not to be named, complained.
The complaint also goes in line with Hongkong Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) stand on subsidies which it said is perhaps politically opportune, [are] but hardly the answer to the current rice woes.
On subsidies, HSBA said “it would have perverse impacts, by prolonging the adjustment process that is required.” The bank recommended instead, for farmers to be given more incentives for improved production.
RACER
RAcER, as adopted by Bohol, sets to motion multi-component approaches to food sufficiency, reports said.
Racer attempts to address the remaining 17% gap in the province’s rice sufficiency, which now only amounts to a little over 82%, data from form the Office of the Provincial Agriculture stated.
Meanwhile, in the country, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has committed P43.7 billion to the agricultural sector to ensure an “abundant, affordable and accessible” food supply.
The amount will be used to fund the administration’s “FIELDS” program.
FIELDS stands for fertilizers, infrastructure and irrigation, extension and education, loans, drying and other post-harvest facilities, and seeds.
Moreover, she instructed government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) and government financial institutions (GFIs) to allocate five percent of their 2007 budget surplus for projects in rice production, low-cost consumer and medicine outlets, Philhealth and micro-finance.
The president issued this via Administrative Order No. 1, dated April 1 and mandating all projects to be started not later than July.
In addition, the DA shall “draw up a plan to utilize idle lands for rice and other food production, consulting with Senator Edgardo Angara who has advocated additional cultivation of one million hectares.”
Rice shipment regulation
Days ago, the governor issued an executive order regulating rice shipment out of Bohol in efforts to curb indiscriminate selling of milled rice and palay outside Bohol.
The order was effected to avoid draining local rice stocks especially with the onset of the lean seasons in July to October, aside from discouraging hoarding, thus depleting local supplies.
The governor however said it is palliative solution to the problem.
Seed subsidy
Aside from putting the recent rice shipment regulation as key Racer component, the government taps irrigators’ associations whose farmers agree to be trained on hybrid rice cultivation for the Bohol Seed Assistance Program (BSAP).
BSAP uses hybrid rice adopters, whom the DA subsidizes P1500 of the P2900 bag of seeds they grow, while the farmers shell dip from their pockets the remaining amount.
But now, instead of the farmers paying the remaining amount, the Provincial government subsidizes the P1400.
Farmers in the program pay to their associations only after harvest, all to ease their burdens from the low yielding rice seeds.
Levying heavier taxes on arable idle lands
As Vice Governor Julius Caesar Herrera suggested, the province is now into expanding agricultural production areas by raising higher taxes to idle but arable lands.
Herrera, who sits as SP Agriculture Chair also added that Boholanos could go producing other alternative food crops, common rice substitutes.
Citing the Local Government Code, the governor said idle lands can be subjected to 5% more realty taxes, while adding that the government can also forfeit uncultivated lands in favor of a private entity who would be willing to invest in it.
Expanding rice and corn fields
He said he already met with mayors on the expansion of rice and corn fields’ hectarage, one he foresees to add another thousand hectares by the year-end.
Te governor also said he has instructed NIA Engr. Modesto Membreve to fast-track the land leveling program at the BHIP 2 service area while water in the Bayongan Dam is still available.
He has also told agriculture technicians to determine areas only with slopes of between 12-18 degrees for biofuel production, those with 18 degrees for endemic trees to maintain biodiversity. (rachiu/PIA)
