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Business Mirror

B3

Photo release

Photo Release:  DA recently provided farmers in Albay province with a mini-tractor and 15 sets of pump engine for shallow tube wells worth P9M to help them increase farm productivity and incomes. 

Business Mirror

A7

Butch del Castillo

Looming crisis in agriculture

Smuggling of agricultural produce into the country has become so easy and rampant. Local livestock producers and aquaculture operators have a good reason to be adamant.

TheManilaTimes

B2

James Konstantin Galvez

Philippine eyes farm trade with Seychelles

The Philippine government will enter into bilateral talks with theRepublicofSeychellesfor possible agricultural and trade cooperation. This will include the possible exportation of agricultural goods fromManila, as well as the granting of fishing rights to Filipino farmers.

The Philippine Star

B8

CzerizaValencia

DA seeks agri, fisheries cooperation with Seychelles

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The Philippine Star

5

Perseus Echeminada

Noy urged to dismantle rice cartels

ABONO urged NFA to increase its palay procurement from local farmers to 30 percent of total production of P105 billion worth of palay harvest this year.

Philippine Daily Inquirer

A8

Smuggling pummels local rice sales

Because of the entry of smuggled rice into the country, rice millers from three northern Luzon provinces said they would not be able to buy palay from local farmers in the next harvest as  their warehouses are still full and do not have money to buy additional stocks.

Manila Standard Today

A2/B1

Robert Evora

Fishing season boosts tuna catch

The fishing season imposed by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in the waters of the Visayas andMindanaoseas has increased the tuna catch in this island and boosted the region’s fishing industry.

TheManilaTimes

A2

AFP

Farmers hope for coco craze windfall

According to Sec. Alcala, while coconut water holds the potential of improving the lot of impoverished coconut farmers, logistical issues held the industry back.

Business World

S1/11

AFP

Farmers look to coco water windfall

-do-

Philippine Daily Inquirer

A6

Norman Bordadora

Senators seeks probe of tax perks given Thai firm

Sen. Kiko Pangilinan is seeking a congressional inquiry into the BOI grant of a six-year tax holiday to a Thai food company, a concession that could result in losses to the local livestock industry.

Business World

6/S1

Raymond Potillo

Gov’t swine project to hike raisers’ revenue

The project Private-Public Partnership Application of Animal Genomics to Increase Productivity and Improve Efficiency of the Philippine Swine Industry is a three-year program that will help swine producers reduce production costs through early detection of swine disease. It is collaboration among BAI, PCAARD, PCC, and ASBAP.

Malaya Business Insight

A8

PH may import 200, 000 tons of rice

Agriculture Sec. Proceso Alcala said that the 150, 000-200, 000 tons of rice to be imported this year will serve as buffer stock for the leans season, which he said is expected to be shorter this year.

Malaya Business Insight

A8

Banana exports recovering; US allows entry of Davao, Samal mangoes

The BPI reported that the Philippine banana exports to markets other thanChinaare increasing. It reported that theUShas allowed the entry of 3, 000 metric tons of Cavendish bananas since December last year.

Manila Standard Today

B1

Anna Leah Estrada

Peking duck exports

ThePhilippineswill start exporting ducks toJapanand HongKong this year, SPJA said. He noted a high demand for Peking ducks, especially inJapan.

Balita

4

Jun Fabon

Secretary Alcala, kinasuhan sa Ombudsman

Sinamapahan ng kasong kriminal sa Office of the Ombudsman si DA SPJA sa hindi maipaliwanag na paggamit nito ng kanyang Priority Development Fund o PDAF noong siya ay kongresista pa lamang.

Pilipino Mirror

15

Monchet Larano

Pinas ligtas sa peste

Sinertipikahan na bilang pest-free mango plantations area ang Pilipinas, maliban sa lalawigan ng Palawan, ng USDA APHIS, ayon kay BPI Dir. Claron Barron.

Business Mirror

B3

PNA

DA 12 helps Compostela Valley farmers become productive again after Pablo

Task Force Alayon of DA 12, which is tasked to extend assistance to the farmers, reported that about 244 hectares have received rehabilitation assistance from the agriculture department.

Business Mirror

B3

Mauricio Victa

Philip Morris eyes Abra towns for tobacco production

Philip Morris-Fortune Tobacco field training officer Domingo Agme said the towns of Villaciosa, Luba,San Isidro,San Juan, and Pilar were found to be suitable for tobacco farming.

Philippine Daily Inquirer

A16

Delfin Mallari

Left farmers’ group backs probe of palm oil imports

Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and the claimants movement Coco Levy Fund Ibalik sa Amin (CLAIM) declared support for a move to have Congress investigate the importation and selling of palm-based cooking oil by sequestered oil mill.

Manila Times

A5

Erwin Tulfo

Dead shot: This NIA Director should be axed

CAR Irrigation Director John Sucalo should not be allowed to remain in his office one day more. He was alleged by contractors and the LGU to be arrogant and refusing to follow orders from his superiors inManila.

Pilipino Mirror

3

Butch del Castillo

Walang patumpik-tumpik:Dapat ituring na ‘economic sabotage’

Marapat na putulin an ang patuloy na pagbaha sa ating merkado ng mga puslit na bigas, karneng baboy at manok, at iba’t iba pang produktong agrikultura na galing sa mga karatig bansa sa Southeast Asia. 

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Business Mirror

B3

Photo Release:  DA Sec. Alcala urges top official’s to ensure the country’s sufficiency in major staples like rice and corn during the agency’s 2013 first-quarter national management committee meeting inLegazpiCity, Albay province on January 30 and 31.   

Manila Standard-Today

B3

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Philippine Daily Inquirer

A2

Cynthia Balana

Agri chief faces graft raps form his time in Congress

DA Sec. Alcala was slapped with graft and falsification charges in the Office of the Ombudsman for the allegedly fraudulent disbursement of some P3.5M in pork barrel funds intended for farmers during his term as congressman of the second district of Quezon from 2007 to 2010.  Ramon Talaga said that in 2008, Alcala allotted P3.5M of his PDAF to support a project of an organization called Sir Pelagio Alcantara Development (Spade) Foundation Inc. entitled “Proceso para sa Kabuhayan ng mga Piling Magsasaka ng Ikalawang Distrito ng Quezon.”  He said the project was supposedly intended to provide livelihood assistance to poor farmer-families in his district. 

TheManilaTimes

A3

John Cordon

Agri Sec. Alcala faces P3.5-M graft raps

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People’s Journal

3

Jun Legaspi

Aggie chief sued over pork misuse

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People’s Tonight

1

Jun Legaspi

Ex-Lucena mayor files raps vs DA chief

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Manila Bulletin

13

Chito Chavez

Mayor files complaint vs. Alcala

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The Philippine Star

B4

CzerizaValencia

Phl bananas cleared for export to US

ThePhilippinescould proceed with the shipment of highland Cavendish bananas to theUSwithin the first quarter of the year, the BPI said yesterday.  BPI Dir. Clarito Barron said Kelan Evans of the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) formally informed him of the importation ruling during their meeting yesterday. 

Business Mirror

B3

Marvyn Benaning

Agri dept reduces rice imports to 150,000MT

One hundred fifty thousand metric tons (150,000MT) of rice may be imported this year to serve as buffer stock for the lean June-to-August period, according to DA Sec. Alcala.  The figure is lower than the 500,000MT of the staple imported last year.    

Business World

S1/3

Raymond Portillo

Rice imports estimate raised

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Manila Standard-Today

B1

Anna Leah Estrada

PH importing rice

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TheManilaTimes

B3

James Galvez

PH eyes less rice imports this year

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Balita

3

Jun Fabon

NFA target: 615,985 metriko tonelada ng palay, bibilhin sa magsasaka

Inihayag ni NFA Admin. Orlan Calayag na ipagpapatuloy ng ahensiya ang malawakang pamimili ng palay para makamit ang target na 615,985MT ngayong taon sa kabila na may sapat na supply ng bigas ang bansa. 

Manila Bulletin

6

Ellalyn de Vera

WB reviews DA development projects

Two flagship rural development projects implemented by the DA will undergo review by the World Bank (WB) for duplication in the entire country.  DA Sec. Alcala said the MRDP and PRDP help attain and sustain sufficient and affordable food for the people.

Business World

6/S1

Raymond Portillo

Q1 launch of agri program eyed

The DA targets to launch this quarter a six-year project costing more than $600M that will help improve the lives of farmers and fishermen nationwide.  DA Sec. Alcala said the DA will launch the PRDP this month or in March. 

People’s Tonight

7

Livestock, poultry business papatayin ng CP – AGAP

Nangangamba si AGAP Partylist Rep. Briones na kung hindi mapipigilan ang dayuhang kumpanyang Chareon Pokphand (CP) ngThailanday mamamatay ang industriya ng livestock at poultry sa bansa.  Sinabi ni Briones na multi-billion company ang CP pero nakapagtatakang binigyan ito ng BOI ng 6-year tax holiday o tax free ng gobyerno.   

Business Mirror

B3

Mia Gonzalez

Senate passes amendments to meat inspection code, 2 other laws

Senate Bill 3388 seeks to amend RA 9296, otherwise known as the Meat Inspection Code of thePhilippines, to end the proliferation of so-called botcha or double dead meat in the markets through stiffer penalties on its sale, transport and handling.

People’s Journal

3

Bernadette Tamayo

Senate okays bill vs double dead meat

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People’s Journal

3

Thai firm will kill local livestock, poultry industry

According to AGAP, the BOI didn’t even consult the stakeholders of the livestock and poultry industry, even DA.

Business Mirror

B3

Agri-fisheries conference opens in Tagaytay Feb. 6

The event will convene the agricultural and fisheries IKM community to draft the terms of reference of information and knowledge management staff, propose information and knowledge management staffing policies, and validate and finalize a capacity development program on IKM.

Business Mirror

B2-5

PNA

Cebu customs earns P5.8M from sale of smuggled sugar

BOC in thePortofCebuearned P5.8M from the sale of 5,118 bags of smuggled sugar that were confiscated in 2012 and forfeited in favor of the government last month.

Business Mirror

B3

PNA

DA officials bats for soil analysis of farmlands

Dr. Ernesto Guzman urged agriculture technicians and officials in the region to encourage farmers to let their farm soil be analyzed by experts so that the right fertilizers and pesticides would be recommended to enhance rice production.

Business Mirror

B3

InterAksyon.com

Govt forecasts 8% increase in 2013 abaca exports

FIDA forecasted an 8% increase in abaca exports this year on the back of the market shift toward eco-friendly and renewable materials.

People’s Journal

5

WB backs inclusive agri-fishery growth

WB is supporting the country’s rural poor, particularly farmers and fishers through DA-MRDP and hopefully and hopefully the entire country through the PRDP.

Abante Tonite

8

Pulitika sa food sovereignty bill tututulan

Sa ilalim ng panukala, ang DA at DTI, sa pakikipagtulungan sa National Food Requirement Plan, ang siyang naatasang tutukoy sa food requirements ng Pilipinas at dedetermina sa mga rehiyon na magpo-produce ng specific food requirements.

Business Mirror

A7

Butch del Castillo

Looming crisis in agriculture

The government’s seeming inability to stanch the continuous flooding of the local market with smuggled rice and other agricultural goods, plus its incoherent policy direction on agriculture have put the sector on the very edge of an unprecedented agricultural crisis. 

The Philippine Star

B4

Rey Gamboa

Good and bad news on rice in 2012

Reports that the 2012 palay production reached 18 million metric tons is good news. For the first time, the highest ever attained output of 16.8 MMT in 2008 was bested as well.

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The Philippine Star

C3

CzerizaValencia

Alcala orders agri attaches to promote Phl farm products

DA Sec. Alcala has instructed the country’s agricultural attaches to find new ways to increase the exports ofPhilippinesfarm commodities and address the trade deficits. Alcala urged the attaches to help the private sector sustain the exportation of non-traditional products – like premium rice and meat products – beyond trial shipment periods.

The Philippine Star

C3

CzerizaValencia

DA in talks with European investor for local bioethanol production

A European investor with a Filipino partner is interested in putting up a plant in thePhilippinesfor the production of bioethanol as fuel blend, according to DA Sec. Alcala.  Alcala said these investors, who are pitching the investment proposal to a potential Japanese partner, are eyeing 50,000 hectares of contract growing areas for cassava and sweet sorghum in several crop cultivation expansion areas in earlier identified by the DA.   

Pilipino Mirror

15

Monchet Laraño

Foreign investors magtatayo ng planta ng bioethanol

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Business World

3

Raymond Portillo

DA to add areas to intercropping program

The DA is expanding its coconut-corn-intercropping program as it sets an 8MMT target for the grain this year. 

The Philippine Star

A28

Aggie group hits operation of Thai firm

Agricultural Sector Alliance of the Philippines (AGAP) party-list Rep. Nicanor Briones yesterday expressed feat that if the operation of Thai firm Chareon Pokphand (CP) will not be stopped, the livestock and poultry industry in thePhilippineswill die.  He said the BOPI did not even consult the stakeholders of the livestock and poultry industry, even the DA, before it allowed the Thai firm to put up it business in the country. 

Balita

3

Mary Ann Santiago

Livestock, poultry industry, nanganganib malugi

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Pilipino Star Ngayon

2

Butch Quejada

Livestock, poultry business sa Pinas namemeligro – AGAP

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Remate

2

Macs Borja

Livestock at poultry business sa Phl papatayin ng foreign firm

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Abante

6

Noel Abuel

Livestock at poultry business apektado

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Tonite

8

Noel Abuel

Pagkamatay ng livestock at poultry sector ibinabala

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People’s Journal

3

Bernadette Tamayo

Aggie-fisheries bill okayed

The Senate recently passed on final reading the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Bill which aims to “expedite” the modernization of the agriculture and fisheries sector. 

TheManilaTimes

B2

James Galvez

NFA to buy nearly 616,000 MT of ‘palay’ this year

The NFA over the weekend said it plans to buy 615,985MT of palay this year to ensure enough supply of rice and food security buffer stocks.  In a statement, NFA admin. Orlan Calayag said that the grains agency hopes to reach its target volume through intensified local procurement, instead of importing rice from outside sources.   

Manila Bulletin

B17

Leonard Postrado

Abono: Check rice cartels, smugglers

ThePhilippineswill never attain rice sufficiency this year unless the Aquino administration will immediately address the perennial problem of rice cartels and smuggling, a group of rice traders, millers and farmers warned yesterday.  Abono party-list chairman Rosendo So called on members of the Congress to conduct an inquiry into the operation of the rice cartels and rice smugglers purportedly  not only to unmask the personalities behind them, but also to come up with remedial legislation to effectively neutralize them.  

Business World

11

Sarwell Meniano

Agriculture dep’t seeks to reduce rice wastage

The DA is calling on rice consumers insEastern Visayasto minimize wastage of the staple and consider alternative sources of carbohydrates.   

Business World

6

Raymond Portillo

Gov’t to create more sugar blocks

SRA will implement phase two of its sugar block farming project within this quarter to increase sugar production and sugar farmers’ income.

Manila Bulletin

B10

Danielle Venz

Abaca exports seen to rise 8% in 2013

According to FIDA Admin Cecilia Gloria Soriano, Philippine abaca exports are projected to increase by 8% as more countries opt for eco-friendly products and renewable materials.

Business Mirror

B3

PNA

Rice produced in Eastern Visayas up 1.1% last year

According to DA-Region VIII focal person Rufino Ayaso III, the provinces of Samar, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar andSouthern Samarcontributed significantly to last year’s improved production.

Philippine Daily Inquirer 

B6

Ernesto Ordoñez

Programs imperative to support policy

For 2013, DA and its attached agencies will have a much larger budget of P73 billion. It is imperative that this budget be used for programs in strategic roadmaps that will support our policy of food security and increased farmer and fisherfolk incomes.

Manila Standard Today

A4

Alvin Capino

The imported administrator

It is said that Alcala thinks that Calayag who is an American citizen is the best to assume the NFA post. We are sure that there are scores of people close and loyal to him who are qualified, not to mention the many career executives of DA. With many other options, why did Alcala insist on an imported NF Administrator? 

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Manila Bulletin

2

Chito Chavez

Organize agri-tourism organic farms – DA

The DA yesterday called on farmers, entrepreneurs, hobbyist, OFWs to establish organic farms that will serve as agri-tourism sites.  DA Sec. Alcala earlier cited a model organic farmer from Laguna, Ronald Costales, by presenting him a certificate as an accredited technology extension provider during the recent 26^th anniversary celebration of the DA’s ATI. 

Business Mirror

B3

DA to promote organic farming, agri-tourism

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Balita

5

Leonel Abasola

Modernong kagamitan makakamtan: Agriculture, fisheries modernization bill ianprubahan ng Senado

Modernong kagamitan sa pagsasaka at pangingisda ang makakamtan ng mga taga-nayon matapos aprubahan ng Senado sa huling pagbasa ang panukalang batas na nagsusulong dito noong Lunes.   

Business World

6

Firms get import licenses for frozen chicken, pork

A total of 130 companies were granted licenses to import frozen poultry.  A notice from the Minimum Access Volume (MAV) Management Committee said the firms will import frozen poultry totaling 23,490MT, which is the total volume that the DA can allocate for this year.   

The Philippine Star

B4

CzerizaValencia

Agri trade deficit widens

The country’s agricultural trade deficit widened by 34.13% to $2.41B in the first nine months of 2012 from $1.79B a year ago, the BAS reported yesterday.

Business Mirror

B3

Manuel Cayon

Agri dept prepares fruit, crop seeds for program

Fruits and cash crops would comprise the bulk of planting materials being readied at the south-central regional office of the DA, according to DA RED Amalia Datukan.  Datukan said the DA undertook its own planting activities last year, giving 4,000 planting materials toKoronadalCityinNorth Cotabatoto province and 10,000 seedlings to Gen. Santos City.

TheManilaTimes

A4

Rhaydz Barcia

P1.2b set aside to level up irrigation of Bicol farms

Pres. Aquino’s administration saved P1.2B to irrigate the waterless farmlands in Bicol region to perk up sufficiency goal of the government. The P1.2B worth of projects from the NIA aims to improve and construct new irrigation facilities that would spur agricultural productivity in Bicol this year.   

The Philippine Star

A29

CzerizaValencia

Scale insects infest coco trees in 9 Batangas towns

Coconut plantations in nine towns in Batangas are still grappling with scale insects infestation but efforts have made to control the spread of the insects, according to the PCA.  PCA Admin. Forbes said his agency has put up five laboratories for the mass rearing of predators to be used as bicontrol agents and for the field testing of both chemical and non-chemical pest control agents.   

Business World

11

RJRP

Agency warns of possible fish kill

The BFAR has reported an elevated sulfur occurrence in lake surrounding an active volcano south of Metro Manila (TaalLake) that may cause massive fish kill.  About 200 square meters of the lake within the areas of Bgy, Tumayaw and Buco in Talisay have been affected by the event. 

Business Mirror

B3

Manuel Cayon

BFAR project opens additional 50 hectares in Maguindanao to seaweed production

A P1.9 million BFAR project opened up an additional 50 hectares to seaweed production off the coast ofMaguindanaoprovince to increase the number of fishermen engaged in it.

Manila Times

B3

James Konstantin Galvez

DAR starts rolling out P1B loan for farmers

The joint undertaking by DA, DAR and Landbank provides for a P1B fund to support credit requirements of agrarian reform beneficiaries nationwide.

Daily Tribune

3

Noy names new language commissioners, judges

President Aquino appointed Lilibeth Signey as acting regional director for BFAR.

Business Mirror

A7

Butch del Castillo

No letup in rice smuggling

Its ironic that just last week, Pres. Aquino boasted to the world that thePhilippinesmay achieve self-sufficiency this year and export a surplus for the first time. This prediction of course was based on Sec. Alcala’s optimistic projections of bumper rice harvests in the countryside. At the rate the smugglers are bringing in the contraband rice, it would not be long before local grain inventories attain surplus levels.  

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Malaya

A7

Photo Release: The country’s agriculture industry – bannered by the crops, poultry, and livestock subsectors – grew by 2.92% in 2012, grossing P1.4B at current prices.  DA Sec. Alcala said the crops subsector played a major role, as palay and corn posted record harvest of 18.03MMT and 7.41MMT, respectively.  (With Asec. Recide, Usec. Serrano and Asec. Salacup)

Malaya

A7

Agri attaches asked to help craft export strategy

DA Sec. Alcala recently asked 12 agricultural attaches to prepare a national strategy to increase agricultural and food exports.  Alcala asked DA’s foreign agriculture service corps (FASC) to help conclude trade transactions, understand the country’s products and find ways to break barriers to benefit Filipino farmers, fishers and agri-fishery stakeholders. 

Business Mirror

B3

Max de Leon

Overturn $2.3-B negative balance for agri items, DA urges attaches

DA Sec. Alcala ordered Philippine agriculture attaches to work harder in helping exporters to close more deals so that the country can turn around its huge $2.387B negative trade balance for farm goods. 

TheManilaTimes

B2

James Galvez

Alcala presses farm exports

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People’s Journal

3

Joel dela Torre

PNoy not happy with aggie exports

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Business Mirror

B3

Max de Leon

Govt aims to pant 175M coco seedlings this year

The government aims to plant 175M coconut seedlings using part of the P1.7B budget allocated to the PCA this year.  It seeks to accomplish this goal even without using the so-called coco-levy fund amounting to about P70. The fund remains on escrow. 

The Philippine Star

B6

CzerizaValencia

150-ha coco estate planned

The DA thru PCA is mulling the creation of a 150-hecatre industrial coconut estate to encourage investments in the coconut industry and establish thePhilippinesas the “center of coconut oil trade inAsia.”

Pilipino Mirror

15

Monchet Laraño

Presyo ng isda tumaas

Inamin ng BFAR na may bahagyang pagtaas sa presyo ng ilang isda na nakukuha sa karagatan. Ayon kay BFAR Dir. Perez, sa kanilang monitoring ay tumaas ng P2-5 ang presyo ng hasa-hasa, alumahan, tamban at galunggong, tuna. 

TheManilaTimes

B3

Govt pushing tunner driers for SME development, fish drying

The PhilMech is encouraging more enterprises involved in the production of dried fish to invest in multi-commodity solar tunnel driers (MCSTDs) to vastly improve the quality of their products and improve their operations. 

Business World

6/S1

RJRP

More fruits sought for processing

The DA and theWesternPhilippinesUniversityare identifying fruits endemic toPalawanfor possible commercial production and processing, the BAR said. 

The Daily Tribune

9

Rubber trees used as shied for environment, livelihood

The municipality of Magsaysay, Davao del Sur, a third class municipality east of its more famous neighbors Digos City, is turning into rubber trees to mitigate erosion and landslides for its hilly and sloping terrain while bringing additional income to local farmers.  Magsaysay municipal agriculture officer Eugenio Tumuran Jr. said they approached their program on rubber tree planting via the public-private-[partnership wit the DA providing technical assistance, the DTI giving them training on how to commercialize the rubber trees, and a private partner, Sagittarius Mines Inc. providing them with P200,000 worth of rubber tree seedlings and other farming implements. 

People’ Tonight

5

Manny Balbin

Rubber trees, proteksiyon vs landslides

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People’s Journal

12

Ire Jo Laurente

Mindoro town emerges as PH tuna capital

Local executives and agriculture officers in Sablayan, Occ. Mindoro expressed confidence that this once remote town will be declared ‘tuna capital of thePhilippines.’  The town’s waters was preferred by exporters compared to those coming fromMindanaoarea as theirs are caught using kawil or hook, line and sinker that guarantees the quality of the fish. 

Balita

5

Rommel Tabbad

Zamboanga, positibo sa red tide

Ipinagbabawal ng BFAR ang panghuhuli, paghahango, pagbebenta at pagkain ng lahat ng uri ng shellfish mula sa dalawang baybaying lugar ngMindanao.

Philippine Daily Inquirer

B3

Niña Calleja

Wanted:Agri experts, technologists, managers

Officials of SRA and UPLB signed a memorandum of understanding for a scholarship study and fellowship program to encourage and help students pursue courses in agriculture, chemistry and chemical engineering related to sugar technology.

Philippine Daily Inquirer

B6

Niña Calleja

Sugar output may exceed target

According to SRA Admin. Regina Bautista-Martin, favorable weather condition and the effects of the El Niño phenomenon in the last quarter of 2012 helped in boosting production of most sugar plantations.

Business Mirror

B3

Mia Gonzalez

Senate OKs agri, fisheries mechanization measure

The Senate has passed on third reading an act promoting agricultural and fisheries mechanization development to help sustain the country’s positive outlook by modernizing the long-neglected sectors.

Balita

5

Bert de Guzman

Binagyong banana farmers, paano tutulungan

Ayon sa PBGEA, puminsala si bagyong Pablo sa may P26.5 bilyon sa sektor ng agrikultura, kabilang ang mga plantasyon ng saging saMindanao.

Manila Bulletin

B14

Franco Regala

Irrigation projects in Pampanga bared

NIA has allocated a P144 million budget for irrigation projects in the province this 2013. P68.05M has been allocated for the towns along the Porac-Gumain River Irrigation System, while towns along the Pampanga Delta River Irrigation System will benefit from the P76.217M project.

Business Mirror

B3

Paul Anthony Isla

SSS, irrigators’ association expand coverage to nearly 200 farmers

SSS said that nearly 200 farmers will benefit from its coverage under a new agreement between the pension-fund agency and a local irrigators association that will subsidize the agricultural workers’ contributions and entitle them to bigger benefits and loanable amounts. 

Manila Times

5

Tony Lopez

Aquino has priorities upside down: 1)tourism, 2)agriculture, 3)infrastructure

The President mixed up his priorities. They should have been 1)infrastructure, 2)agriculture, 3)tourism in that order, not the other way around. The fact that thePhilippinesmissed its 4.6 million arrivals target is proof you cannot pump-prime tourism with mere sloganeering and rap-rap rhapsody. 

Newspaper

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Manila Times

A5

Erwin Tulfo

Good news: We will be self-sufficient inj rice this year

The Agriculture chief is optimistic that rice production will go twice this year because of the introduction of the three-harvesting seasons of palay compared to previous years.

Philippine Daily Inquirer

A15

Yolanda Sotelo

Thai firm’s tax perks not OK with Palace – DA

Alcala said the President shared his concern over the BOI decision that granted Thai food firm Charoen Pokphand Foods pioneering status and tax incentives.  

Manila Bulletin

4

Ali Macabalang

Maguindanao: Rising Halal chicken hub

The President, through Sec. Alcala, has offered theprovinceofMaguindanaoa major poultry project aimed at making the province the country’s lead producer of halal chicken.    

Business World

2/S1

Raymond Jun Portillo

Coconut exports grow 1.49% last year

The volume of coconut exports grew last year but still fell short of the government’s target as the country’s major markets are still recovering from economic slowdown.

TheManilaTimes

B3

James Konstantin Galvez

Coconut exports drop 21 percent in 2012

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Business Mirror

B3

InterAksyon.com

Coconut exports down 21.57% in 2012

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Malaya

A3

PCA to set up processing estate for coconuts

PCA is proposing the establishment of an agro-industrial estate for processing coconuts into high value products. Thirty nine coconut products and by-products were among the country’s leading agricultural exports last year, with export earnings totaling $1.5 billion.

Tempo

5

Jenny Manongdo

Anthrax infects animals in Abra

The Bureau of Animal Industry and DOH are working together in the investigation of 23 anthrax cases reported in the province.

People’s Journal

12

Lee Ann Ducusin

DoH issues advisory vs anthrax

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Abante   

4

Tina Mendoza

Pagkalat ng anthrax, alarming

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Business World   

2

Louie Pacardo

DA Central Mindanao gets P1.29B budget

The budget, which is 62% higher than the P795 million allotted last year proves that the National government trusts the region’s capability to produce food.

Manila Bulletin   

14

Mike Crismundo

Gov’t funds livelihood with P6M

Aiming to increase their production and improve their living condition, farmers and fisherfolks from the San Agustin Fisherfolk Organization and San Vicente Farmers and Fisherfolk Association received funds from DA-MRDP.

Business Mirror   

B2-6

Mera Grace Apuya

MRDP bridge offers refuge during floods

The bridge is a P7.6 million rural infrastructure project under MRDP of DA pursued in partnership with the local government. 

Business Mirror

B2-5

Manly Ugalde

COA: Additional P4-M claim on ADB-funded road project falsified

The abandoned P64-million farm-to-market road in Guinobatan Albay which asked for additional P4-M from the ADB has been falsified linking the town’s former mayor, municipal engineer, municipal agriculturist, and two contractors. Documents showed that the project in under the DA INFRES for two packages of road projects.

Busienss Mirror

B3

Marvyn Benaning

Over 20, 000 farmers benefit from anti-poverty project

The EU has bankrolled a poverty-alleviation project that has helped 22, 000 farmers in six provinces. Implemented by SEARCA, Cirad, and Worldfish, the project focused on the provinces of Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, orientalMindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Camarines Sur, and Camarines Norte.

Business Mirror

B3

Liza Agoot

Pollution at Chico River affecting rice production in Kalinga

 Rice fields in the province depend on theChicofor irrigation, especially in producing organic rice. The river stretches fromMountainProvince, covering Bontoc, Sandanga and Besao; flows down to Tabuk, and ends in Cagayan province.

Business Mirror

B3

PNA

Legislators seek government aid for banana growers

Partylist Rep. Maximo Rodriguez Jr. of Abante Mindanao and Ref. Rufus Rodriguez, 2^nd district CDO filed House Resolution 2991 urging the House Committee on Agriculture and Food to hold the inquiry to see how the government can alleviate the suffering of the affected banana farmers.

Business Mirror

B3

Marvyn Benaning

Tubbataha damage ‘negligible’—BFAR chief

Dir. Asis Perez said the direct damage on the reef has been set at 1, 000 square meters, or 10 percent of 1 hectare of the World Heritage Site that covers 97, 000 hectares.

Malaya Business Insight

A2

Amado Macasaet

We’ll soon export rice. Really?

Yes we have enough rice. But is it cereal produced in our farms? Definitely not. The cereal is abundant in two ways. We import huge volumes principally fromThailandandVietnam. We even smuggle the cereal, probably in equal volumes if not more.

Abante

4

Jake Macasaet

Bigas

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Remate

4

Atty. Ariel Enrile-Inton

Kanin

Ayon sa mga eksperto medyo mahirap daw makamit ang pangarap na ‘rice self-sufficiency’ sa ngayon lalo pa at hindi halos tantanan ang Pilipinas ng mga bagyo.

Manila Bulletin

B11

Manny Villar

Coco craze: what about farmers?

In my view, encouraging farmers to increase production by planting new trees and other programs should include measures to take the middle men out of the policy chain and ensure that farmers benefit directly from higher prices and from new income streams from new products like coconut water.

Tempo

7

Manny Villar

Coco craze: what about farmers?

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Newspaper

Page

Writer

Article

Business Mirror

B3

Photo Release:  DA Sec. Alcala leads a ribbon cutting ceremony to kick off the 83^rd anniversary celebration of the BPI in San Andres, manila on January 24.  (With HVCDP Program director Jennifer Remonquillo and BPI Dir. Clarito Barron)

Malaya

A9

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People’s Journal

10

Photo Release:  DA Sec. Alcala swears into office 38-yar old Orlan Agbin Calayag, who was recently appointed by Pres. Aquino as the new administrator of the DA’s NFA.   

Business Mirror

B3

Marvyn Benaning

Sugar industry reaches 50 percent of production target for crop year

Sugar output has reached 50% of its total production target for the year, SRA said.  SRA Admin. Martin said this augurs well for the industry, which has targeted a total yield of 2.356 MMT for crop year 2012-2013. 

TheManilaTimes

B1

James Galvez

PH sugar production on track

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Business World

S1/5

RJRP

Favorable weather boosts sugar production

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The Philippine Star

11

P-Noy questions perks granted to Thai firm

Pres. Aquino has questioned the BOI for granting a foreign firm six-year tax holiday, aside from a 30% incentive for the importation of corn and other raw feed as industry pioneer.  DA Sec. Alcala said the President shared his concerns over the BOI decision in favor of Thai-owned Charoen Pokphand (CP), which has been strongly opposed by almost all major agriculture stakeholders, for fear it would kill domestic hog and poultry growers.   

Manila Bulletin

14

PNA

NIA expansion

The NIA is targeting to restore and open around 2,000 hectares of agricultural production areas in parts ofSouth Cotabatoprovince in the coming months as part of its continuing expansion and rehabilitation program for the area. 

Balita

5

Wilfredo Berganio

NIA: Magsasaka, magtipid ng tubig

Umapela ang NIA-MRIIS sa mga magsasaka na magtipid ng tuboig sa kani-kanilang bukirin. Ayon kay NIA-MRIIS Operations Manager Mariano Dancel, hindi dapat na naaksaya ang patubig sa bukirin, lalo at simula sa susunod na buwan ay mababawasan ng 15-25% ang irrigation division requirement ng ahensiya. 

Philippine Star  

A23

CzerizaValencia

Red tide alert raised in Zambo provinces

The red tide alert inDumanquillasBayin Zamboanga del Sur andMurcielagosBayin Zamboanga Occidental is still up and all types of shellfish and alamang gathered from these waterways are not safe for human consumption.

Philippine Daily Inquirer  

A6

Niña Calleja

BFAR warns vs red tide in 2 Mindanao areas

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People’s Journal  

5

NEDA: Fisheries to benefit from PPP

NEDA said public-private partnerships for infrastructure and value-chain development would be strengthened this year to sustain growth in the agriculture sector.

Malaya 

A3

Gov’t sets PP projects to boost agri

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Business Mirror  

B3

Marvyn Benaning

Farmers to receive loans worth P1B from government

Farmers belonging to the Task Force Mapalad are set to receive loans worth a billion pesos that were promised to them by the Aquino administration after the Land Bank of thePhilippines, DA and DAR signed an agreement for their release. Under the deal, P165 million will be earmarked for farmers in N. Occidental and P43 million for N. Oriental.

Bandera

4

Ramon Tulfo

Column: Target ni Tulfo

Ang palagiang pakikipagpulong ni Sec. Alcala sa mga farmers at pagbibigay ng kahalagahan sa kanila ang dahilan kung bakit magkakaroon ng surplus hindi lamang sa bigas kundi maging sa gulay din.

Philippine Daily Inquirer

A20

Ramon Tulfo

Bringing down prices of vegetables

Alcala deserves the title of food czar for bringing down not only the price of rice, but also that of vegetables because of their steady supply in the market.

Newspaper

Page

Writer

Article

Business World

7

Raymond Jun Portillo

Palay production forecast to be reviewed

Sec. Alcala has ordered BAS to revise its first half palay production forecast since PAG ASA changed its forecast on El Niño.

The Philippine Star

B4

CzerizaValencia

El Niño won’t harm palay output

DA said that palay production in the first half of the year would likely be spared from the adverse effects of the El Niño phenomenon in the summer as irrigation facilities have already been put in place and the transfer of the bulk of palay cultivation in the early part of the year.

Pilipino Mirror

15

Monchet Larano

Apela ng DA sa vegetable farmers

Presyo ng gulay wag itaas

Umapela sa mga maggugulay sa Metro manila ang DA na huwag magtaas sa presyo ng gulaygayang repolyo, broccoli, carrots at patatas na angmumula sa CAR.

Business Mirror

B3

PNA

No looming rice shortage in South Cotabato despite scheduled closure of irrigation facility

An agriculture official inSouth Cotabatohas allayed fears of a possible rice shortage as a major irrigation system, which supports 12,000 hectares of ricelands there, is set to be closed for rehabilitation and maintenance operations.

People’s Journal

5

BPI’s key role in food sufficiency called

Sec. Alcala stressed the important role and contribution of BPI in the government’s goal to attain food sufficiency during the agency’s 83^rd anniversary celebration. 

Business Mirror

B3

Max de Leon

Use dryers for better output, dried-fish producers urged

PhilMech is encouraging enterprises producing dried fish to acquire multi-commodity solar tunnel dryers to improve their operations and the quality of their products, as well as prepare them for tougher competition from other Southeast Asian countries.

Business Mirror

B3

Isabela farmer, grand-prize winner at TOFARM Awards

A farmer fromSan Mateotown, Isabela province, Mamerto Rarangol who values education and uses scientific methods to maximize the yields of his land, was named Farmer of the Year at The Outstanding Farmers of the Philippines Awards held inMakatilast Thursday.

Manila Standard Today

A6

Isabela province planter named Farmer of the Year

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People’s Tonight

12

Liway Manantan-Yparraguirre

P’sinan agri project cited

Pangasinan won on the local government unit category in the search for TOFARM.

Malaya Business Insight

A5

AP

Corn edges higher wheat, soybeans fall

Corn for March delivery rose 3.5 cents to end at $7.2425 a bushel Thursday. March wheat edged down 6.25 cents to 7.6850 a bushel and March soybeans fell 1.75 cents to $14.3525.

Remate

5

Jun Briones

Project ni Tuason busisiin at Roxas bingi sa Region 8

Napaulat kamakailan lang ang pambabraso ng isang grupo ng contractors na nagpakilalang mga “striker” sila ng LP (Balay Group). Ito ang grupo nila Sec. Mar Roxas kung saan ang milyones na projects ng DA ay kanilang binabakuran.  

Pilipino Mirror

15

Monchet Laraño

Shellfish ban sa 3 lalawigan

Nananatiling nakataas ang red tide toxins saDumanquillasBaysa Zamboanga del Sur at saMurcielagosBaysa Zamboanga del Norte at Misamis Occidental.   

Business World

7

Raymond Portillo

Value of agriculture insurance grows

The total of value of agriculture insurance grew by 74.09% last year to P11.38B from 2011’s P6.59B, preliminary data from the PCIC.   

Business Mirror

B3

PNA

PHL rice farmers to access new mobile application developed by rice agency

Rice farmers in the country will mow receive nutrient-management recommendations tailored for their fields with the help of a new mobile application launched late last week at the Asian Institute of Management Conference Center in Makati City.  The Application, called the Nutrient Manager for Rice (NM Rice), promotes mobile and Web-based agricultural tools among farmers. 

Manila Bulletin

B3

Melody Aguiba

Pig farms get LBP financing

The Land Bank of thePhilippinesis financing carbon recovery projects of 14 pig farms and three landfill operators which will have equivalent carbon emission reduction value estimated $4.040M. 

Manila Bulletin

15

Mike Crismundo

Postharvest facility for Butuan

Farmers in Butuan City ‘s fast-rising capital city continue to benefit from the support received by the city government, with a farmers’ organization receiving funds for a Village-Type Corn Post-harvest Processing Center. 

Manila Bulletin

15

PIA

Dairy farm

Camiguin is set to receive some 25 heads of dairy herds from the NDA this March to provide for the establishment of the Camiguin Pilot Dairy Production Farm.