20th National Tuna Congress Broke Records!

Ms. Rosana Contreras, Executive Director of Socsksargen Fishing and Allied Industries Incorporated (SFFAII), Friday, said that the 20^th National Tuna Congress in General Santos City is generally successful and broke congress records.

Held on September 5-7, 2018 at the Trade Halls of SM City General Santos with the theme, “20 Years and Beyond; Continuing Remarkable Convergence.”

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In an interview, Contreras said that 2 days before the event, they are expecting around 700 domestic and foreign industry players for this has been the number for the previous congresses. Due to the security threats caused by bombings in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat, some foreign delegates withdrew their attendance because of fear to be a victim and travel bans released by their state, the organizers struggled to reach the number this year. So, they came out to an idea, to reach the potential players of the industry. This caused the breaking to more than 800 from 700 delegates expected.

This year, more delegates are local compared to the previous congresses. Aside from companies, private groups, and government agencies, students from colleges offering fisheries and tourism joined the 2-day congress proper.

The congress started on Wednesday with the traditional caravan, Eucharistic Mass, and the opening of the Trade Exhibit graced by Marine Industry Authority (MarInA) Administrator Leonardo Rey Guerrero. The exhibit hosted 185 for the expected 176 from 82 companies which is another record.

Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Emmanuel “Manny” Pinol spoke before the delegates as keynote speaker on the first day of the congress proper.

14 plenary discussions was lined up including salient features of the Phillipine Safety Rules and Regulations; updates on the development of the Philippine Economic Catch Documentation and Traceability System; updates on the certification and sustainability efforts; and, the presentation of new technologies for small-scale fisheries on monitoring vessels including catch and location.

Senator Cynthia A. Villar, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Food and Agriculture graced the congress on the second day expressed her support to the Tuna Industry and congratulated the industry players with their success.

During the congress, SFFAII has launched their first-ever coffee table book entitled “Tuna: At the Hearth of General Santos”; a summit for tuna handline fishing sector; and a job fair with the various fishing companies and allied industries.

The congress ended with the updates on the 19^th Tuna Congress Resolutions and the presentation of the 11 resolutions concerning the industry to the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA).

The traditional farewell dinner was served at the roof deck of the parking building of SM City GenSan where the best booth, and the groups and personalities behind the success of SFFAII and Tuna Congress were recognized.

SFAII and the congress organizers expressed their thanks to all who became and has been their partners, the security, the industry players, Department of Agriculture (DA), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), other government agencies, and the local government of General Santos City for supporting.

20th. Gensan Tuna Festival

General Santos City – Albeit the unfavorable weather and security situations, the 20^th Tuna Festival concluded on Wednesday, September 5 successfully and safely.

       The celebration of this year’s Tuna Festival has been faced with many challenges.                          Regardless, the city government of Gensan and the Philippine Fishport Authority, the organizers of the festivity, pushed through a merry and event-filled Tuna Festival.

       Mayor Ronnel C. Rivera, during the Closing ceremony of the Tuna Fest at Oval Stadium, told that he was happy that the celebration was able to continue without any incidents.                                       He also thanks to the residents of Gensan for their support to the festivity.                                             “I also thank the people of Gensan for their continuous support. Without you, this event won’t be successful,” the Mayor said.
                                                                                                                                                                           Rivera also acknowledged the efforts of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in beefing up the security of city throughout the duration of the festivity. The closing day of the Tuna Festival featured a street dancing competition among four schools in the city; General Santos City National High School, General Santos City School for the Arts and Trade, Fatima National High School and Dadiangas North High School. All these contingents performed routines and moves that are reminiscent of the Mardi Gras Festivity.

       The Dadiangas North High School bagged the first place, seizing the Php 250,000. Grand prize.     Aside from the street dancing competition, there were also other notable events that were held throughout the course of Tuna Festival.

       Fishport, Sugbahan sa Dalan, Mr. and Ms. Tourism 2018, Tuna Congress and Bancarera. These included the Fish Fest at Fishport

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DA distributes P168-M farm machines toRegion-12 LGUs, farmers groups

Tupi, South Cotabato. The Department of Agriculture 12 released on Monday, June 18, 2018, P168-M worth of farm machines and postharvest facilities to local governments and farmers’ associations.

The activity which was done at the agency’s research and experiment station here is in connection with the intensified farm mechanization program of the DA.

Secretary Emmanuel Piñol spearheaded the mass distribution of farm machines which were received by local officials coming from the four provinces and two cities covered by the region.

Some of the farm machines being turned-over were rice and corn combine harvesters, tractors, among others.

Secretary Piñol has said that the Philippines has one of the lowest farm mechanization rates among ASEAN-member countries prompting the administration of President Rody Duterte to pour billions into the procurement of farm equipment for distribution to farmers and fisherfolks.

“The DA is also offering the Agriculture and Fisheries Machinery and Equipment Loaning Program for associations and cooperatives who would like to acquire additional implements.” He added.

The AFME loaning program, he said, is handled by the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC), an agency under the DA which extends loans for the purchase of tractors, harvesters and other equipment at two percent (2%) interest per year payable in eight years.

DA creates loaning facilitation teams in provinces

At the sidelines of the mass distribution event, Secretary Piñol has announced that the DA is set to launch loaning facilitation teams in provinces nationwide.

He further disclosed that with the on-going implementation of his brainchild, the Production Loan Easy Access (PLEA) program through the ACPC, the agency has already established teams that will accept and facilitate loan applications from the farmers.

“Their main task is to only entertain your application for loan and prepare the documents,” the agri chief said.

He observed that some of the setbacks why farmers opt to go to private lending entities rather than availing of government loans are because of the complicated process and the endless list of requirements.

“That is why we created the loaning facilitation teams in the provinces… they will be in charge not just in assessing your application but as well as preparing the documents for you… we will get rid also of the tedious process,” Sec. Piñol emphasized.

He also noted that the team will conduct close coordination with the provincial local government units.

PLEA program was launched last year which caters to loan application of farmers who are members of a registered cooperative or association. This financing program has a six percent (6%) annual interest.

Farmers can avail of financing support up to P50,000 which they will use to purchase seeds for planting, fertilizer and other production support.

This made-easy-for-farmers credit facility of the government is the antidote to the delayed delivery of seeds caused by the long and tiresome government procurement processes.

“We will no longer procure seeds… with the long bidding process, we cannot timely deliver the seeds because farmers have already finished planting… sometimes if we wait longer the seeds will have low germination rates,” Sec. Piñol explained.

He said that the loaning program is an alternative for farmers where they can freely choose the best quality of seeds.

DA to construct 2,000 solar-powered irrigation projects until 2019

“I will request DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government) Secretary Año to send memorandum to local governments to submit to us listing of areas which could be served by solar-powered irrigation,” Piñol noted during the event.

The DA plans to put up 2,000 solar powered irrigation system projects all over the country until 2019 which could approximately provide water to 100,000 rainfed rice areas.

With these areas provided by enough water, additional 1,000,000 million metric tons of rice will be produced.

Meanwhile, the agri czar urged local chief executives in the country to initiate water impounding programs in their localities. This will serve as their counterpart to the DA’s advocacy of solar-powered irrigation system.

“We can be rice sufficient, if we have enough water,” he said.

Last year, President Rodrigo Duterte switched-on the prototype of this project in M’lang, North Cotabato, and the DA has completed the first fully-operational SPIS project in Matalam, North Cotabato. Around 169 similar projects are expected to be completed by the end of this year.

IP groups ink market deal for ube, camote

Members of the tribal communities in Central Mindanao have entered into a marketing deal with a Bulacan-based organic food processing company for the supply of organic purple ube and camote.

Leaders of the Manobo and B'laan tribes who live in the mountains of Central Mindanao came down on Monday to meet with young businesswoman Almay Gaw-See, owner of Oh, So Healthy! Foods to enter into a supply agreement which would earn the tribes an estimated P300, 000 every month.

The market linkage started when Secretary Manny met Almay Gaw-See during the International Food Expo (IFEX) event last month at the World Trade Center in Manila.

The aggie chief shared that Gaw-See had a booth which displayed fruit and rootcrop chips which she produced organically and were packaged beautifully which caught his attention.

During their talk, she confided to the secretary that one of her problems was where to get her supply of organically grown purple ube and camote.

She said she needed an initial supply of 10 metric tons every month and that she was buying the crops at P35 per kilo.

When the secretary confirmed the availability of the supply in Central Mindanao, the tribal leaders were asked to meet with Almay Gaw-See. The deal was sealed with a handshake.

After their dialogue with the buyer, the tribal leaders went home hopeful of a better life and said they will start digging for the ube and the camote in their ancestral lands.

Secretary Piñol said that the DA will also help the tribes in planting more ube and camote.

The secretary has expressed his happiness after the signing of the deal between the previously neglected people and an enterprising young businesswoman. (CULAguillon/LMSalvo/DA-RAFIS 12 with reports from MannyPiñol FB page)

Photo Caption:

Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol turns-over more than P168-M worth of farm equipment to local officials of Region 12 during the mass distribution of farm machines held at DA's research and experiment station in Tupi, South Cotabato on June 18, 2018.

New agri lab in Region 12 eyed to thwart animal diseases threats

General Santos City. Animal and human health concerns in Region 12 will soon be easily addressed with the inauguration of renovated and improved laboratory as well as facilities of the Department of Agriculture 12 (DA 12).

The new Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (RADDL) of the DA 12 located here was inaugurated on June 04, 2018 to unravel concerns such as enhancing prevention, detection, treatment and eradication of zoonotic diseases, and human transmission.

This project was implemented under the Cooperative Biological Engagement Program (CBEP) of the United States Defense Threat Reduction Agency (US-DTRA), proposed by the DA through the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) and Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards.

Lance Brooks, the Program Director of CBEP, and Dr. Ronnie Domingo, the OIC-Director of the DA-BAI, were the guests-of-honor during the inauguration rite. They were also joined by the delegates from the US-DTRA, the top management of the DA 12 and local officials.

DA 12 Regional Executive Director Milagros Casis said that this project aligns fully with the priorities set out in the vision of the DA, specifically, to develop national laboratories and regional integrated agricultural laboratories.

“This project is in line with the prescription of the Department Order 4, Series of 2017 entitled Department Policy on Rationalizing and Strengthening DA National and Regional Laboratory Services,” she said.

Casis added that the project could surely prevent outbreaks involving animal diseases which not only have negative impacts in the agricultural production but also on the exposure of humans to zoonotic pathogens as this pose direct threats to human health.

Meanwhile, Director Brooks noted that the project is a defense against the increasing number of severe risks from animal diseases set to occur in the Asia-Pacific Region.

“The reported cases could occur either as epidemic or endemic not only in your country but also across national boundaries and territories,” the foreign official added.

The inauguration was just part of the P230-Million Enhancement of the Biosafety and Biosecurity Capabilities at the DA Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratories which also covers the construction of new facilities and improvement of labs of RADDLs in Regions 2, 3, 7, 10, and 11, and as well the lab at the DA-BAI in Quezon City.

The project components included the construction and renovation, provision of laboratory and IT equipment, supplies for sustaining capacities for disease diagnosis, and training for lab personnel.

In the country, routine and primary diagnosis is performed at the RADDLs. (CULAguillon)

Approved for release by:

MILAGROS CAPAO-AN CASIS, CE

      Regional Executive Director

FCI 3rd Commencement Exercises