DA launches National Year of Rice in Bicol

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Created on Wednesday, 06 February 2013 10:24

Published on Wednesday, 06 February 2013 14:40

Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala (inset) enjoins Bicolano farmers (foreground) and other rice industry stakeholders to continue working together to further boost the region’s distinction as a surplus rice producer, during the launch of ‘National Year of Rice’ or NYR advocacy campaign, January 31, 2013, at the J.M. Robredo Coliseum, in Naga City.

Last year, Bicol produced more than 1.17 million metric tons of palay, 9.6% more than in 2011, posting a 113% sufficiency level. The event was attended by 2,000 farmers, fishers, other agri-fishery industry stakeholders and partners, and local government and DA officials, among them were Naga City Mayor John S. Bongat, Atty. Leny G. Robredo, DA assistant secretary and national rice program coordinator Dante Delima, Philippine Rice Research Institute director Eufemio Rasco, Jr., DA Bicol regional director Abelardo Bragas, former DA Bicol regional director Jose Dayao, National Food Administrator Orlan Calayag, and National Irrigation Administration regional manager William Ragodon.

DA grants Albay farmers P9-M farm equipment

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Created on Tuesday, 05 February 2013 13:55

Published on Tuesday, 05 February 2013 14:59

The Department of Agriculture recently provided farmers in Albay with a mini tractor and 15 sets of pump engine for shallow tube wells worth P9 million to help them increase their farm productivity and incomes. Photo shows Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala (3^rd from left) handing over a certificate of turn over to Albay Governor Joey Salceda during a simple ceremony at Peñaranda Park, Old Albay, Legazpi City, on January 30, 2013. Also shown (from left) are: former DA Bicol regional director Jose Dayao, who now serves as a special assistant to the Secretary; newly-appointed DA Bicol regional director Abelardo Bragas; and Assistant Secretary Dante Delima (partly hidden), who serves as the DA national rice program coordinator. (Photo by DA Bicol Information Div.)

Sec Alcala urges DA officials to ensure rice sufficiency

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Created on Monday, 04 February 2013 10:14

Published on Monday, 04 February 2013 12:04

Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala (left photo) urges top officials of the Department of Agriculture to ensure that sufficiency in major staples, particularly rice and corn, are attained this year, during the DA’s 2013 1st quarter national management committee (ManCom) meeting, February 30-31, in Legazpi City, attended by all undersecretaries, assistant secretaries, heads of regional offices, bureaus, attached agencies and corporations, national banner programs, OSEC services, and foreign-assisted projects. He said while there are still many who doubt that rice sufficiency could be attained, President Aquino himself is confident that it could be done. Thus is the big challenge to all DA family officials, said Secretary Alcala especially so that 2013 has been declared by President Aquino as ‘National Year of Rice,’ (Photo by Jose Lucas, DA Information Service)

Phil-Seychelles cooperation underway

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Created on Tuesday, 29 January 2013 11:34

Published on Tuesday, 29 January 2013 11:35

Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala (left) and Seychelles Ambassador to the Philippines Philippe Le Gall (right) discuss possible agricultural cooperation between the two republics, specifically in fishery and aquaculture, during the latter’s recent courtesy call at the Department of Agriculture office. Seychelles, a small archipelago in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar, is well-known for its tuna, and majority of workers in its tuna canneries are Filipinos. (photo by Rino Resurreccion)

BPI turns 83

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Created on Monday, 28 January 2013 09:11

Published on Monday, 28 January 2013 09:11

Agriculture Sec. Proceso J. Alcala (right) kicks off the 83rd BPI anniversary with the ceremonial ribbon cutting which formally opens the celebration themed “Organikong Paghahalaman: magsasaka’y kikita, kapaligiran sasagana”. With him are BPI Dir. Clarito Barron, DA-High Value Crops Development Program Dir. Jennifer Remoquillo, and BPI Dep. Director Henry Carpiso.

Rice, corn sufficiency program on the right track

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Created on Monday, 28 January 2013 08:51

Published on Monday, 28 January 2013 08:51

Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala (top photo, left) shares with the officers and members of the Rotary Club of Manila (RCM) the agricultural sector milestones achieved by the Aquino administration, during the Club’s January 17, 2013 meeting at the Manila Polo Club. He proudly reported that the country has produced record harvests of palay (unmilled rice) and corn in 2012, at 18.03 and 7.41 million metric tons, respectively, and that efforts of the Department of Agriculture in partnership with farmers’ and fishers’ groups, local government units, and the private sector, including socio-civic clubs like RCM are on the right track towards attaining self-sufficiency by end of 2013. Also shown are RCM president Roberto Pagdanganan (2nd from right), and Rotarians (from left) Hermie Esguerra, Jujut Enriquez, Oscar del Rosario and Rauol Villegas. (Photo by Alan Jacalan, DA Information Service)

DA crafts disaster preparedness program

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Created on Monday, 28 January 2013 08:34

Published on Monday, 28 January 2013 08:34

Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala (standing) urges top DA officials to harmonize their efforts and resources in a crafting a comprehensive disaster preparedness, response and rehabilitation program to cushion off the destructive impacts of typhoons and floods on the country’s agriculture and fishery sector. He said the entire DA family should be prepared to surmount the challenges posed by natural calamities and protect the gains and livelihood of the country’s farmers and fisherfolk, including public investments like irrigation systems, postharvest facilities, and farm-to-market roads. He issued the directive during a disaster preparedness workshop, January 17-19, 2013, at the PICC in Manila, attended by 300 participants composed of DA undersecretaries, assistant secretaries, regional directors, heads of bureaus and attached agencies, and commodity program coordinators. (Photo by Kathrino Resurreccion, DA Information Service)

DA Chief swears in new NFA Administrator

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Created on Monday, 21 January 2013 15:56

Published on Monday, 21 January 2013 15:56

Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala (left) swears into office 38-year old Orlan Agbin Calayag, who was recently appointed by President Benigno S. Aquino III as the new administrator of the DA’s National Food Authority (NFA). The DA chief has instructed Calayag to improve and expand the palay procurement services of NFA to serve and benefit as many farmers as possible, particularly in remote areas. Calayag is a business marketing graduate at Enverga University in Lucena City, and pursued MBA studies at De La Salle University, Manila. Before his appointment, he worked at several companies in Washington, USA, as a mortgage consultant, auditor and bank loan officer. He also headed an NGO (executive director of Progressive Community and Ecological Services Organization) that assists farmers, fisherfolk, and rural women and youth on livelihood, employment generation and environment protection. (Photo by Kathrino Resurreccion, DA Information Service)

P17.1-B crop insurance signed

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Created on Thursday, 17 January 2013 16:08

Published on Thursday, 17 January 2013 16:09

Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala joins hands with Agrarian Reform Undersecretary Jerry Pacturan and DA-Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation Jovy Bernabe after signing the memorandum of agreement on the P17.1-billion worth of crop insurance protection program for the agrarian reform beneficiaries to be implemented over the next two cropping seasons. The comprehensive insurance protection plan which covers rice, corn, high value crops, and even livestock animals is the first of its kind collaboration between the Departments of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform and the biggest group plan ever issued by the DA-PCIC. (Photo by: Jose Lucas, DA-Information Service)

DA Chief vows to strongly support Filipino livestock farmers

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Created on Tuesday, 15 January 2013 11:31

Published on Tuesday, 15 January 2013 11:31

The Department of Agriculture will continue to nurture the continued development and modernization of the country’s livestock industry to make it globally competitive. Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala (at rostrum) made the commitment at a ‘Multi-Sectoral Agricultural Summit,’ January 11, 2013, in San Juan City, organized by the Swine Development Council, composed of 23 agri-industry, livestock organizations and party lists. He said the DA remains firm in supporting Filipino livestock farmers and industry stakeholders by providing technical, postharvest and marketing assistance, coordinating with the Bureau of Customs to curtail ‘technical smuggling’ of meat and meat products, and protecting their interests by addressing incoherent government investment policies. (Photo by Kathrino Resurreccion, DA Info Service)