Ilocos farmers brace for ASEAN integration

By Leilanie G. Adriano

Staff reporter

Laoag City—As the Philippines gears up for the ASEAN market integration, Ilocos farmers here have expressed their commitment to increase their productivity and improve the quality of their produce through sustainable organic farming.

Backed by the Department of Agriculture (DA) jointly with the provincial government of Ilocos Norte, a number of outstanding farmers’ groups and associations in Ilocos Norte are making waves in producing organically-grown high value crops such as fruits and vegetables ready for the ASEAN market integration.

On November 2007, ASEAN leaders including the Philippines signed a blueprint for the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) by 2015 to create a single market and production base by ensuring a free flow of goods, services, investment and skilled labor.

As a result, ASEAN products and services starting this year will now have zero import duties while ASEAN member states will now also be allowed to work anywhere in the region without a work permit.

In Ilocos Norte, farmer-entrepreneurs here have welcomed this development as the integration is expected to boost investments, job creation and income.

According to provincial agriculturist Norma Lagmay, Ilocos farmers continue to adopt new technologies and innovations geared towards modern agriculture and sustainable development.

As of this posting, the Provincial Agriculture Office continue to organize farmers’ field day to showcase outstanding farmer-scientists best practices in the region and for them to be inspired along the way.

To boost farmers’ productivity, Ilocos Norte has partnered with high end retail stores in the province include the Vegetable Importers, Exporters and Vendors Association of the Philippines (VIEVA) to bring their products closer to the local and international market.

Comments

Free dormitories eyed for Nueva Era students in LC, Batac

Nueva Era mayor Aldrin Garvida By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Nueva Era , Ilocos Norte—The municipal government here, headed by Nueva Era mayor Aldrin Garvida is planning to establish dormitories in the cities of Laoag and Batac that will exclusively cater to college students from the said cities. “Sapay la kuma ta maituloyen iti mabiit tay ar-arapaapen tayo ken iti munisipyo a maipatakderan kuma dagiti annak tayo a college students nga agbasbasa idiay siyudad iti Batac ken Laoag iti libre a dormitoryo a bukod da ngem inggana nga awan pay ket an-anusan mi paylaeng nga ibaklay kenni apo bise mayor iti pagbayad da iti kasera aggapu iti bukod mi a suweldo malaksid dagitay it-ited iti munisipyo ken iti barangay nga stipend da kada semester, ” Garvida said. Garvida added that the proposed establishment of dormitories would be a big help to the students’ parents as this would shoulder the expenses of their children for rent and likewise they would feel more secured

Empanada festival: A celebration of good taste and good life

By Dominic B. dela Cruz & Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporters BATAC CITY—If there is one thing Batac is truly proud of, it would be its famous empanada-making business that has nurtured its people over the years. Embracing a century-old culture and culinary tradition, Batac’s empanada claims to be the best and tastiest in the country with its distinctive Ilokano taste courtesy of its local ingredients: fresh grated papaya, mongo, chopped longganisa, and egg. The crispy orange wrapper and is made of rice flour that is deep-fried. The celebration of this city’s famous traditional fast food attracting locals and tourists elsewhere comes with the City Charter Day of Batac every 23 rd of June. Every year, the City Government of Batac led by Mayor Jeffrey Jubal Nalupta commemorate the city’s charter day celebration to further promote its famous One-Town, One Product, the Batac empanada. Empanada City The Batac empanada festival has already become an annua

P29 per kilo rice sold to vulnerable groups in Ilocos region

BBM RICE. Residents buy rice for only PHP29 per kilo at the NIA compound in San Nicolas town, Ilocos Norte province on Sept. 13, 2024. The activity was under a nationwide pilot program of the government to sell quality and affordable rice initially to the vulnerable sectors. (Lei Adriano) San Nicolas , Ilocos Norte —Senior citizens, persons with disability, and solo parents availed of cheap rice sold at PHP29 per kilogram during the grand launching of the Bagong Bayaning Magsasaka (BBM) Rice held at the National Irrigation Administration compound in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte province on Sept. 13, 2024. “ Maraming salamat Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. sa inyong pagmamahal sa Region 1 lalong-lalo na sa bayan namin sa San Nicolas,” said Violeta Pasion, a resident Brgy. 18 Bingao in this town. The low-priced grains were sourced from the National Irrigation Administration’s (NIA) contract farming with irrigators' association members in the province. Along with Pasion, Epi

The Ilocos Times

Search This Blog