The Ilocos Times

Laoag City —With the recent PHP167 million worth of losses in agriculture due to severe tropical storm “Ineng” [Bailu], Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc appealed to the Department of Agriculture (DA) to fund its palay buy-back program. A brainchild of former Ilocos Norte Governor, now Senator Ma. Imelda Josefa “Imee” R. Marcos, which started in 2018, the buy-back program is an agreement between the Provincial Government and qualified palay and rice traders and farmers. The agreement states that the provincial government shall buy some of their stocks at fair market value, ensuring the province sufficient rice supply. Stated in a letter addressed to DA Secretary William D. Dar, Mr. Manotoc wrote “...[W]ith the tarrification and lifting of import restrictions on rice which resulted to decline in its market price, we appeal for funding of our buy-back program to help our local farmers get more from their hard work.” In a measure to make the food staple more af

Manila —Senator Ma. Imelda Josefa “Imee” R. Marcos has sought to quell the panic of local rice farmers over cheap imports that threaten to push down the buying price of palay even more when harvest time begins in late September. Local farmers have lost as much as 41.6% of their investment in August, with the farmgate price of palay plunging to as low as PHP7 per kilo, compared to their average production cost of Php12. Marcos asserted that a number of near-term solutions were available to the government to at least bring back the 17-peso support price of palay, like activating provisions in the six-month-old rice tariffication law, tapping into existing support programs, and considering solutions adopted by other Asian countries. “Let’s not exaggerate that the situation of our rice farmers is hopeless and that little can be done,” Ms. Marcos said. The senator said that the government can provide more funding support for rice farmers by activating Section 7 of the

Inbatad ni provincial agrarian reform program officer II Vic M. Ines a dagiti laeng legal a processing fee ti mabayadan kadagiti serbisio nga ipapaay ti Legal Division iti Department of Agrarian Reform-Ilocos Norte. Karaman kadagiti serbisio nga ipapaay ti Legal Division ti DAR Ilocos Norte ket ti pannakaited aksion kadagiti aplikasion para iti DAR clearance , certification ken conversion . Kuna ni Mr. Ines, libre wenno awan mabayadan kadagitoy a serbisio malaksid laeng iti bassit a processing fee a maikkan pay ti opisial a resibo manipud iti gobierno. Malagip nga adda dagiti paglintegan a mangipawpawil ti panagdawat wenno panagawat dagiti empleado ti gobierno ti kuarta manipud kadagiti umili nga agpatpatulong kadagiti opisinada. Kuna ni Mr. Ines a sursuruten ti DAR Ilocos Norte ti tema ti selebrasion ti Philippine Civil Service Anniversary iti daytoy a tawen nga “Upholding Integrity and Building a High-Trust Society” wenno pannakapatibker ti integridad ken talek k

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter LAOAG CITY—Farmers in Ilocos Norte were all smiles as they received multi-million worth of aid courtesy of the Department of Agriculture. For 75-year-old rice farmer Guillermo Cacal of the Zanjera Tubburan Irrigators Association, Inc. of Brgy. Tubburan in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte, he said they are thankful for the one unit of hand tractor worth PHP137,798 which his group received. “This is a great help for us to improve our way of living,” said Cacal in Ilokano language after he got hold of the project certificate along with the brand new hand tractor unit from the DA led by the newly-appointed Agriculture Secretary William Dar at the Mariano Marcos State University covered court in Batac City. After awarding a total of PHP335 million worth of projects to Ilocos Norte, Mr. Dar said the agency has raised their focus on farmers to ensure food security while strengthening partnership and collaboration with local governmen

Laoag City —For the sixth consecutive time, Provincial agriculturist Norma Lagmay and assistant agriculturist Dr. Luz Tabora of the Provincial Agriculture Office received their Outstanding Agricultural Extension Workers award from the Department of Agriculture (DA) during the 2019 National Rice Achievers Award held at a hotel, this city, on July 25, 2019. Dr. Tabora, one of the awardees and also the Provincial Rice Program Coordinator, expressed her joy on receiving the said award: “ Matagal nang nakilalahok ang probinsiya natin sa patimpalak ng DA— mula 2013 hanggang ngayon. Dito natin ipinakikita ang mga kontribusyon natin sa pagtamasa sa food security and self-sufficiency. Dahil dito, anim na beses na kaming pinaparangalan, kasama si Mrs. Lagmay,” she stated. Also included in the list of this year’s awardees from the Provincial Agriculture Office are Lorna Lubera, Lolita Raposas, and Danilo Arado. Mr. Arado is thankful to the Provincial Government and remarked,

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter LAOAG CITY—Almost 3,000 farmers and fisherfolks in Ilocos Norte will get free insurance coverage courtesy of the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte and the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation. From July 11 to 31, 2019, field workers from the Office of the Provincial Agriculture will reach out to registered farmers and fisherfolk associations in the entire province to conduct technical briefing among target beneficiaries. For life insurance premiums pegged at PHP375 per beneficiary, the Ilocos Norte government allocated over P1 million for 2019. Meanwhile, the PCIC will shoulder the crop, fishery and livestock of the program beneficiaries. “The insurance program will be of great help to our farmer and fisherfolk beneficiaries since it guarantees that they can recoup farm losses that they may incur due to natural calamities,” said Dr. Luz Tabora, Provincial Agriculture Office officer-in-charge. Ms. Tabora explained th

Zaragoza , Nueva Ecija—Farmers here have started to engage in special rice agripreneurship addressing the demand of province’s rice cake vendors and in Tarlac. In a ceremonial activity in Brgy. Mayamot, farmer-members of PhilRice’s Rice Business Innovations System (RiceBIS) Community Program planted special rice in a demo farm managed by the Ugat-Uhay Farmers Association (UUFA), June 21. The varieties included NSIC Rc 15 (Malagkit 2), 21 (Malagkit 5), and 402 (Tubigan 36), 428 (Sahod Ulan 19), and 430 (Sahod Ulan 20). Joel Pascual, PhilRice community development facilitator, said the association selected special rice because rice cake vendors place a premium on this type of rice. Demand on rice flour from special rice were also raised. With 40 farmer-participants, the program involves season-long capacity enhancement on agripreneurship and Farmer Business School to help them increase their income from rice farming. To sustain the enterprise, farmers were encouraged to

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter Batac CITY—With the adverse impact of climate change in Ilocos Norte, the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte in collaboration with various national government agencies and the extension directorate of the state-run Mariano Marcos State University continues to empower farmers and teach them practical ways to sustain crop productivity in climate vulnerable areas. Through the establishment of Science and Technology Community-Based Farm (STCBF) on Climate Resilient Technologies, farmers groups are being trained at the MMSU-University Training Center to assist them how to improve their farming practices across the province. Following a recent farmers training in Batac City and attended by some 40 farmers representing at least four Zanjera organizations in the towns of Solsona, Marcos, Vintar, and Piddig, MMSU President Dr. Shirley C. Agrupis urged farmers to adapt to the current challenges posed by climate change. “You a

MR . Bueno Antonio, 98 years old, receives his land title (certificate of land ownership award) from provincial agrarian reform program officer II Vic M. Ines (center) and chief administrative officer Rudy G. Acacio (first from left). Mr. Antonio is the oldest agrarian reform beneficiary (ARB) of Barangay Capurictan, Solsona, Ilocos Norte. At least 69 land titles were recently distributed to the ARBs in the said barangay. (Jorge Richard P. Guerrero)

Laoag City -- a bid to further decrease its poverty rate, the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) distributed a total of 338 cattle among Ilocano farmers within the first quarter of the year. In 2010, Ilocos Norte Governor Ma. Imelda Josefa “Imee” R. Marcos established the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) Office to conform to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) MDGs. It was later renamed to Sustainable Development Center (SDC) in 2015. The PGIN patterned and localized the SD goals set by the UNDP in ending poverty likewise fighting inequity and injustices tailored for the province.    Likewise, SDC head Edwin Cariño stressed that the provincial government has been very attentive to the needs and requests of its constituents. “It is just one of the programs that reduced poverty. Together with other immediate programs, itong cattle dispersal program ay sumusuporta sa mga indigent residents natin na kailangan ng additional income. Halimbaw

By Bernardo B. Ver II Contributor San Nicolas , Ilocos Norte—Specialists from “FutureRice Farm” of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) introduced drone farming at Brgy. Catuguing, in this town recently. The drone will monitor rice growth and can also be used in direct-seeding and mechanical trans-planter for rice farms. Fertilizers and herbicides will also be applied using the drone spreader and sprayer systems. In just 20 minutes, the drone can provide fertilize a minimum of 1-hectare area—or an equivalent of 3 hectares an hour. Far faster than the old-school-type of farming in the province. The FutureRice Farm’s study on drone and other modern farming technologies is in partnership with Crop Protection Division, Rice Farming Mechanization and Modernization Program, and the New Hope Corporation. For the meantime, the drone is available is for rent at PHP850 per hectare.

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter LAOAG CITY—Fish cage operators in the four provinces of Region 1 has been warned of a possible fish kill due to the effects of El Niño which is likely to occur with the onset of summer. Lilibeth L. Signey, regional director of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Region 1 said that as part of the El Niño mitigation plan for the fisheries sector, it is better for fish cage operators to partially harvest their stock to avoid fish kill. Ms. Signey explained El Niño may have a negative impact on aquaculture since high temperatures hasten the decay of organic matter and promote plankton bloom that could result in a fish kill. “We advised our fish cage operators to harvest those marketable size already to prevent further losses and to command a better price,” said Ms. Signey. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration ( Pagasa ) announced weak El Niño conditions are already presen

Engr. Rudy G. Acacio (third from left), chief administrative officer of the provincial office of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Ilocos Norte, leads the reorganization of the Barangay Agrarian Reform Committee (BARC) at Brgy. Salsalamagui, Vintar. Among the functions of BARC is to mediate and conciliate parties involved in agrarian disputes at the barangay level. DAR Ilocos Norte is set to reorganize and strengthen the BARC in all barangays in the province. (Jorge Richard P. Guerrero)

Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Vic M. Ines ( first from right, first row ) leads the signing of memorandum of agreement with the beneficiaries of Convergence on Livelihood Assistance for Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Project   (CLAAP). CLAAP is a joint program of the Department of Agrarian Reform and Department of Social Welfare and Development which aims to increase the household income of farmers by developing and improving their agri-business enterprises. Seven agrarian reform beneficiaries’ organizations in Ilocos Norte received assistance from CLAAP. (Jorge Richard P. Guerrero)

Typhoon Ompong lashes the province. (File photo) By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—Various fisherfolk associations in the coastal city and towns of Ilocos Norte received various fishery livelihood projects on February 19, 2019 courtesy of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR). Composed of 56 payaos and two gillnets, BFAR Regional Field Office I Director Lilibeth L. Signey handed them to the beneficiaries in a simple turn over ceremony held at the Centennial Arena, this city. The fishermen association of Pasuquin who were among those hit hard by typhoon “Ompong” got 16 payaos and gillnets worth PHP2.7 million next to Laoag’s PHP1.59 million worth of fishing gears; Pagudpud and Currimao received gears worth PHP1.2 million each. Other recipients include fisherfolk associations in the towns of Bangui, Burgos, Bacarra, Badoc and Paoay. “We are thankful for the government support. This is a big help for us to boost our livelihoo

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) distributed on a total of 1,614 certificates of land ownership award (CLOA) to 711 farmer beneficiaries in Ilocos Norte. Covering a total land area of 583.6947 hectares in the towns of Bacarra, Badoc, Banna, Burgos, Batac, Marcos, Paoay, Piddig, San Nicolas, Sarrat, Pasuquin, Bangui, Pagudpud and Vintar, Atty. John R. Castriciones, DAR Secretary said in an interview it was a long tedious process but with the convergence of all concerned government authorities, the intended farmer beneficiaries finally got hold of their CLOAs on February 22, 2019. As he climbed up the stage to receive an authentic copy of his land title at the Laoag Centennial Arena, 84-year old Isidro V. Calma Jr. from Bacarra said he is thankful that at last, he has acquired an evidence that he is indeed the owner of a 1,395 square meter lot his father has long tilled when he was younger. Under the exten

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter Piddig , Ilocos Norte—The small farming Brgy. Maruaya here is developing itself as the first flower capital in Ilocos region with thousands of sunflowers and other edible flowering plants and lowland vegetables ready to wow visitors. Located about 22 kilometers, or less than an hour drive from Laoag City, the Piddig Organic Farmer’s Association established the huge flower farm in time for its grand opening on February 14, 2019. Inspired by various world-class attractions being frequented by tourists here and abroad, the Piddig flower farm features picturesque landscape of sunflower maze, bougainvillea, blue ternatea , roses and assorted vegetables. According to former Piddig Mayor Eduardo “Eddie” Guillen, who serves as adviser of the farmer’s organization here, he said local farmers here are shaping their agricultural town into an agri-tourism destination where visitors can relax, learn and take advantage of their organic

Ni Rey E. Andres Adda risgo nga itden ti saan nga umno a pannakaaramat dagiti kemikal a ganagan ken pestisidio iti panagtalon. No maabuso ti pannakaaramat kadagitoy a kemikal, apektaranna ti salun-at dagiti tattao ken dagiti ayup. Ngem saan laeng a ti panagaramat kadagitoy a kemikal ti nasken nga annadan dagiti mannalon. No maminsan, tumaud ti risgo kadagiti apitda nga isu ti angipangta iti salun-atda ken dagiti tarakenda nga ayup. Maysa kadagitoy ti dakes nga epekto dagiti buot a kadawyan a tumubo kadagiti apit a mangparnuay kadagiti makasabidong nga elemento a mangdadael iti salun-at dagiti mangan kadagiti apitda. Pagarigan, iti biang ti mani ken mais, kadawyan a tumaud kadakuada ti makasabidong nga elemento a parnuayen dagiti buot. Maawagan dagitoy nga elemento iti mycotoxins. Adda dagiti sumagmamano a klase ti mycotoxins a parnuayen dagiti buot ket maysa kadagitoy ‘tay maaw-awagan iti aflatoxin. Kuna dagiti sientista a napeggad ti aflatoxin iti salun-at dagiti