iSIQUIJOR GOVERNMENTNEWS #Empowering Communities
Siquijor rice farmers receive hybrid rice seeds
Distribution of hybrid rice seeds to Siquijor rice farmers. (Photo from MJB/DA-PATCO)
The Department of Agriculture 7 (DA) through the Provincial Agricultural Technology Coordinating Office (PATCO) Siquijor recently turned over 134 bags of hybrid rice seeds to rice farmers. The intervention is under the Quick Response Fund (QRF) allocated for rice farmers affected by Typhoon
Odette late last year, said the DAPATCO in a press release. The report said the variety of rice seeds distributed were based on farmers’ preferencee, of which farmers from the municipality of Larena received 25 bags of SL-20H variety, Siquijor with 30 bags of Mestiso 20, San Juan with
20 bags of Habilis Plus, Lazi with 28 bags of LongPing 534, five bags of Mestiso 20, and eight bags of SL-20H. Farmers from Maria received 13 bags of Habilis Plus and Enrique Villanueva with five bags of LongPing 534. Based on the damage assessment report from the province of Siquijor, 125 rice farmers reported damage to crops due to flooding during the onslaught of Typhoon Odette, of which some are in vegetative state. A total of 18.08 hectares were reported to be partially damaged with a total loss of P843,534, the report said. A total of 100 bags of hybrid rice seeds were also distributed to eight farmer associations engaged in hybrid rice farming, as support to the implementation of Community Hybrid Rice Farming (CHRF). CHRF is under the Farm and Fisheries Clustering and Consolidation program of the Department of Agriculture which seeks to advance the interest and condition of Filipino small rice farmers by encouraging them to adopt the strategy of clustering and consolidation of their agribusiness activities. (RAC/PIA7 with reports from Mary Jane Banglos)
LGU Larena opens 2022 sports clinic for the youth The municipal government of Larena officially kicked off its first Physical Fitness and Sports Development Program for the Youth at the Larena Queengate Center. Dubbed as “Larena Sports Clinic”, the program is open to males and females ages 7-25 years old determined to learn and further improve their skills in sports. Larena Mayor Cyrus Vincent Calibo said that he believes that sports play an important role in healthy and
Young people as they underwent free training and coaching sessions at the Larena Queengate Center. (Photos from Cindy Bonachita)
optimal development; thus, the municipal government made sure to have a sports clinic aiming to gather the youth during school break and make use of their time in sports while building friendship, camaraderie, and teamwork. “It also teaches our kids values of discipline, sportsmanship, and hard work,” he said. Mayor Calibo also added that the clinic is an opportunity for young sports aficionados to hone their athletic skills for future competitions and scholarships. As of now, the sports clinic offers a series of free training and coaching sessions focusing on basketball and volleyball. The schedule for those who will utilize for volleyball clinic is Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and for basketball clinic is Tuesday and Thursday from 1p.m. to 3p.m. (Municipality of larena FB post)
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THE OFFICIAL E-NEWSLETTER OF THE PHILIPPINE INFORMATION AGENCY - SIQUIJOR | WWW.PIA.GOV.PH and the DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY - SIQUIJOR | WWW.DOST.GOV.PH VOL. 10| No. 29 August 17-24, 2022
Larena’s SAVEGA: Reaping fruits of their labor Members of SAVEGA nurturing their “Gulayan sa Barangay” in Sabang, Larena, Siquijor.
It’s harvest time, and it seems that the Gulayan sa Barangay (GSB) project in Larena and other towns in Siquijor province have flourished. True to its goal of ensuring food sustainability, the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Larena has successfully implemented the GSB, a project introduced by the Depar tment of Agriculture (DA) in collaboration with the different LGUs to help locals cope with the challenges that threaten food security, especially during the pandemic. Established and prioritized in mostly nutritionally vulnerable barangays, the program aims to “ensure households access to diverse nutritious food via community and backyard gardening as it hopes to address problem on food sufficiency particularly vegetable production.” Provincial Agriculturist Emigdio Coretico in his previous statement said the province of Siquijor is hoping to become self-sufficient when it comes to vegetable production. “There is a consistent supply of vegetables in the province, but it can’t meet the demand of the population,” Coretico noted. But at least with the flourishing Gulayan sa Barangay, fully backed up by the municipal and barangay LGUs, DA,
and other government line agencies, achieving food sufficiency may not be that far anymore. One visible success is that of Sabang Vegetable Growers Association (SAVEGA) which members are now reaping the fr uits of their labor, having harvested hundreds of kilos of vegetables from tending their communal garden, shared Cindy Bonachita of the Larena LGU Information Office on the municipality’s official Facebook page. “As of July 27 this year, the Gulayan sa Barangay in Sabang has so far harvested 122 kilos of eggplants and were sold to households and drop buyers in town,” Bonachita said. O t h e r f r e s h p r o d u c e l i ke cucumber, tomatoes, squash, okra, and yellow corn were previously harvested in huge volumes and were sold to vegetable retailers who display their goods during the Sunday Market at the Larena Queengate Center, she added. S a b a n g B r g y. C a p t . M ay Gumahad said the program has greatly improved the livelihood of the residents in the barangay and helped promote good nutrition, which has resulted in more food on the table for the locals and better economic condition of the community. “Sa una, wala’y mga trabaho ang kasagaran nga mga housewives
dire. Karon, at least naa na sila’y income. Aside sa makabaligya, naa pa sila’y makuha nga mga utanon anytime para pang-sud-an (Housewives here used to have no jobs. At least now, they have an income. Aside from selling their produce, they can have vegetables anytime for their own consumption),” Gumahad said. Ordinance No. 02, series of 2020, otherwise known as “Gulayan sa Matag-Panimalay,” was passed by the Sangguniang Barangay of Sabang mandating each household to establish their own backyard garden, and a compost pit for biodegradable waste. SAVEGA is composed of 31 members managing a total of 1,200 square meters of vegetable land and a total of 4,000 square meters of land for cultivation. Larena Agriculture Technologist Cameron Tañara said the Larena LGU is happy that the locals are actively engaged in programs that help promote food sufficiency in the community. “Sa Gulayan sa Barangay, kung wala sila (SAVEGA) ani gabuhat, magkumpra pa sila sa tiyangge. Karon, imbes katong ilang ipalit sa tiyangge ug mga utan, i-save na lang nila ilang kuwarta, plus naa pa silay additional income para sa ilang pamilya (If SAVEGA did not implement the Gulayan sa Barangay, they would have to buy vegetables in the market. Now, they can save their money, aside from the additional income for their family),” Tañara said. He added that the success of the project would not have been possible without the collaboration of the barangay officials and the community with the support of the municipal government and DA. SAVEGA’s schedule of harvest is every Wednesday and Saturday. Those who wish to avail of their fresh produce may contact SAVEGA President Rosalie Avila at 09365263904. (RAC/ PIA7 Siquijor with reports from Cindy Bonachita, Larena LGU)