Mahinog Central School receives Gulayan sa Paaralan Project Award

By Arnel F. Maestrado

Contributor

MAHINOG Central School was recently adjudged by the Provincial Government as Model School and Best Implementor for Gulayan sa Paaralan Project.

Dr. Rosario M. Viñan, school principal, receives the award from Camiguin Congressman Pedro P. Romualdo during the Camiguin Day awarding ceremony held at Camiguin Sports Complex last January 7, 2012.

The award honors successful models and programs in agriculture among public schools in the province.

The school worked hard to win the award. It was made possible through the collaborative efforts led by the principal along with the support of the teaching staff, general PTA officers and stakeholders.

The school was evaluated based on criteria used to assess school performance. The award, which brought honor to the entire district of Mahinog, has made the school a show window in school vegetable garden projects.

Boy Scouts join fight vs Public Enemy No. 1

By Arnel F. Maestrado

Contributor

SIXTEEN Boy Scouts from Mahinog Central School together with their scout masters participated in the campaign against rat infestation, tagged “Public Enemy No. 1 locally known "Bagtok" or "Elaga” at the rice fields in Poblacion, Mahinog, Camiguin last March 26, 2011.

The primary objective of said activity is to make the ricefields rat free in preparation for the next planting season.

The Anti-Rat Campaign was initiated by Municipal Government of Mahinog through the Sangguniang Bayan Committee on Agriculture along with the Municipal Agriculture Office, Department of Education-Mahinog District and Mahinog Farmers Association.

The general public was encouraged to join this activity to have a big impact in the campaign to reduce rat infestation in the municipality. Rice is the number one staple food of Mahinog residents.

It has been observed in the previous years that the rice harvest of the farmers decreased due to rat infestation in their rice fields especially during pre-harvest season.

A cash reward of Php 5.00 was given for every rat caught by the participants to encourage them to participate in the activity with interest and enthusiasm.

Camiguin welcomes I-Rice positively

MANY poor families in the island depend on the government-subsidized rice to meet their day to day needs, but few were aware of the iron enriched variant.

To boost up its acceptance and usage, the government simultaneously launched this week the “I-Rice” project, renamed from its old Iron Fortified Rice Program to give it a fresh and competitive stance.

Various sectors, retailers and consumers’ group expressed their support to the National Food Authority (NFA) during the I-Rice launching at the Mambajao gymnasium.

Camiguin Governor Jurdin Jesus M. Romualdo, acknowledged the importance of the project with his presence, to convey to his constituents the need and advantages of patronizing I-Rice, as an intervention to combat poverty by keeping a healthy citizenry.

Meanwhile, NFA Camiguin Chief, Mila P. Tanguamos, encouraged consumers to patronize I-Rice saying that fortified rice is best for children and lactating mothers, to help counter risks in malnutrition due to iron deficiency or anemia.

I-Rice is available in all accredited grains retailers outlets in the province at the price of P27.00 and P28.00 per kilo for regular and well milled rice, respectively.

Also present during the launching were Councilor Rodolfo D. Salcedo, President of the Camiguin Retailers Asso., Telesfora G. Madelo, Provincial Nutritionist and Dietician, and, Dr. Annabelle Cacho, Mambajao Municipal Health Officer. (Jorie C. Valcorza-PIA 10)

Mahinog to declare state of calamity due to rat infestation

Vice Mayor Rogerio C. Acle, presiding officer of the 18th Municipal Council of Mahinog

THE municipal government of Mahinog is now considering the possibility of declaring a state of calamity to deal with the worsening infestation of rats in several rice farms here.

Through a resolution passed by the municipal council last Monday, local officials are urgently asking the municipal agriculture office to assess the extent of the damage wrought by the infestation in the municipality’s rice areas and come up needs analysis to allow the local government to properly address the problem.

“State of Calamity” is a condition involving mass casualty and/or major damages to property, disruption of means of livelihoods, roads and normal way of life of people in the affected areas as a result of the occurrence of natural or human-induced hazard.

In same resolution the municipal council is also asking the Regional Office of the Department of Agriculture to immediately address the problem and to possibly provide for the procurement of rat baits or rodenticides to control rat infestation in the municipality which ravaged Mahinog rice farms putting in peril the people's food security.

The resolution was authored by Councilor Liberato E. Babanto, chairman committee on agriculture and unanimously approved by all councilors.

Councilor warns vs. influx of hogs in Camiguin starting to affect backyard raisers

Councilor Liberato E. Babanto

MAHINOG, Camiguin – A town councilor here expressed alarm that if situation will remain that big time hog traders from mainland continue to supply and dominate the local market, the province’s swine industry will be affected and can eventually kill the livelihood of local backyard hog raisers in this island province of Camiguin.

In a privilege speech he delivered at the municipal council session this morning, Councilor Liberato E. Babanto proposed for a regulation on trading and entry of hogs in Camiguin.

He said local hog raisers can not compete with mainland hog traders due to the high cost of inputs prevailing in the island province.

He observed since the influx of stocks from mainland, backyard pig farmers have hard time to sell their pigs to local meat vendors who opted to buy stocks from mainland traders since they offer much lower price.

Present farm gate price of pig from local backyard raisers is P95 to P100 per kilo. But in order to compete with the mainland traders, local farmers are forced to drop prices way below production cost.

“This is a very big concern and government needs to do something to address the plight of small hog growers in the province," Babanto said.

“Before, it is easy to sell live pigs since there are many buyers even coming from nearby provinces and there were even times when supply of local hogs deeply declined,” he said.

“Today, local hog farmers now have difficulty to sell their products to the local butcher since they prefer mainland hogs due to lower price,” the councilor lamented.

But despite this, consumers have still wondered why meat prices in the local market have never gone down.

The issue was referred to the committee on agriculture to come up with possible recommendation to address the concerns of backyard hog raisers.

Mahinog eyes infra projects under MRDP

THE World Bank-funded Mindanao Rural Development Program (MRDP) is considering the PHP 1.2 million worth of projects proposed by the Municipal Government of Mahinog.

The project includes level II water system for barangay San Roque. This will replace the old transmission pipelines with larger diameter pipes to meet the increasing water requirements of populace in the area.

The other project is the construction of two (2) units multi purpose drying pavement and a warehouse at Queobe in barangay San Miguel, which will dry and stock agricultural products during drying period and before the delivery to market outlet.

“We have already made preliminary presentations of the feasibility studies, detailed engineering design and environmental and social impacts of the proposed projects to the Regional Technical Working Group last Nov. 5 at Philtown Hotel,” said OIC-municipal agriculturist Sospis Leo U. Tabuan.

He added, however, that these project proposals were already “good as approved” as soon as municipal government can comply with "minor" requirements set by the regional technical working group.

Tabuan said that technical personnel from the municipal government is set to present the final proposal and requirements to the Regional Project Adjudication Board (RPAB) this coming November 25, 2010.

Mayor Alex R. Jajalla said that said projects are needed in the municipality to ensure water security for domestic and agricultural use in one hand, and help farmers increase productivity and income, in the other hand.

As this developed, the municipal council last Monday passed 3 resolutions to form part of the requirements set by MRDP.

First was a resolution expressing intent, willingness, and commitment of the municipal government of Mahinog to avail of MRDP and for the municipal government to shell out at least fifty percent of the total project cost. The total project cost is Php1,221,000.00.

The second resolution was for the municipal government to undertake the feasibility studies, detailed engineering design and the right- of- way negotiations and construction supervision as parts of LGU’s equity.

The other resolution was to allocate the site for the construction of two (2) units solar dryers and a warehouse at Queobe Eco-Park, also part of LGU's share.

The Mindanao Rural Development Program (MRDP ) is a Department of Agriculture’s World Bank-funded poverty reduction program, which aims to improve the incomes and food security of the rural poor and indigenous communities of Mindanao.

Kalanrakas sa Guinsiliban winners

Kalanrakas sa Kabataan 2010 Festival Queen winner:

Lyka A. Roxas - Guinsiliban Central School

Guinsiliban Central School: Kalanrakas sa Kabataan top two winner

Cabuan Elementary School: Kalanrakas sa Kabataan top two winner

Gunsiliban, Camiguin (Oct 20) - Here is the list of winners of Kalanrakas sa Guinsiliban 2010 held yesterday Oct 19 at Guinsiliban plaza. Kalanrakas sa Kabataan is one of the highlights of the 31st Camiguin Lanzones Festival.

Kalanrakas sa Kabataan top two winners:

Guinsiliban Central School

Cabuan Elementary School

Kalanrakas sa Kabataan 2010 Festival Queen winner:

Lyka A. Roxas - Guinsiliban Central School

Liveliest contingent:

Maac Elem School

Best in musicality:

Guinsiliban Central School

Best in costume:

Guinsiliban Central School

Mahinog LGU intensifies measures against coconut theft

New members of Mahinog Sanitary Pulis (SaPul) recently took their oath of office before Mayor Alex R. Jajalla. Among the functions of SaPul is to enforce anti coconut theft ordinance in addition to their primary responsibility to implement the Lex's Clean Mahinog Program

BEFORE you harvest coconut or sell copra in Mahinog, get a permit from the barangay of origin. Said permit would be issued by the barangay captain to prove you are the lawful owner of coconuts being harvested or sold.

This is contained under Municipal Ordinance (MO) No. 8-1988 as amended by MO No. 2008-110 that the Municipal Government of Mahinog is vigorously implementing right now.

The ordinance requires anyone to obtain first a permit from the barangay captain before harvesting coconut. The measure was aimed at both deterring coconut thieves and helping law enforcement identify stolen coconuts or copra once brought to the market or found in anyone's possession.

In an executive order, Mayor Alex R. Jajalla in effect had authorized the Sanitary Pulis (SaPul) to enforce the ordinance in addition to their primary authority to implement the Lex's Clean Mahinog program.

The mayor said this move is in answer to earful of complaints from coconut owners who had been complaining of low harvest from their plantation due to thievery.

"Without a special measure to address this problem, coconut will remain as it has been in the past the favorite resort of thieves," he added.

In applying for a permit, applicants have to disclose the following: name of declared owner of the property; address; location of property; approximate no. of coconut trees to be harvested; date of harvest, among others. The applicant shall pay a permit fee to the barangay treasurer in the amount of Twenty Pesos per harvest.

The municipal government has worked closely with copra buyers to ensure that individuals who sell copra to them has a permit earlier secured from the barangay captain.

According to the ordinance, it is the responsibility of copra buyers to report to authorities if seller has no permit. Failure to do so shall be the ground for the revocation of business permit. In case buyer has no business permit, he/she shall be penalized by a fine of One Thousand Pesos or imprisonment of ten days.

Any person without a permit found selling, transporting or possessing coconut or copra shall be fined One Hundred Pesos or imprisonment of not more than ten days for the first offense; Two Hundred Pesos or imprisonment of not more than twenty days for the second offense; Three Hundred Pesos plus confiscation of coconut or copra or imprisonment of not more than sixty days for the third and succeeding offenses. This is apart from the appropriate crimes penalized in the Revised Penal Code.

According to the mayor, the implementation of this ordinance will surely benefit coconut farmers aimed to improve their income and living condition.

Farmers undergo training on organic vegetable, rootcrop production

VEGGIE, ROOTCROPS TRAINING: Councilor Liberato E. Babanto, chair SB committee on agriculture, talks to farmers during the training on vegetable and rootcrops techno project conducted by the Municipal Agricultural Office

29 July - The Municipal Agricultural Office here in coordination with the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) and the Provincial Agriculture Office have conducted today a one-day training for small farmers entitled: "Vegetable and Rootcrops Techno Demo" at the Rural Based Organization Building.

Mr. Javier P. Andalan, Agriculturist III from ATI El Salvador City said this training will enhance the capacity of farmers to produce "organically grown and insecticide free" vegetables and rootcrops using organic farming method.

Organic farming has proved to be cost effective and eco friendly, Andalan said, since farmers and consumers will benefit greatly in terms of improving soil characteristics, increased income, health and environmental awareness.

After the training, vegetable and rootcrops techno demo project will be implemented. Farmers- cooperators will be chosen from among the participants to manage the demo farm.

The program is in support of "Agricultural Productivity" program under the 4-point development agenda mentioned in the mayor's inaugural address.