Author: Venus Ladaga

The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) Bohol Provincial Office through its Coconut Development Officers
(CDOs) is fast-tracking to conduct the evaluation among Boholano coconut farmers to come up with the legitimate
beneficiaries of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) worth P5,000 each from the Department of Agriculture
(DA) through the PCA.
Emiliano Romero, Bohol PCA Manager said that based on the random selection by the PCA National Head
Office from among the coconut farmers nationwide, there are about 346,000 coconut farmers to be the beneficiaries
of the program wherein 22,729 of these are for the Boholano coconut farmers.
Romero said that they have been asking the barangay officials to help the CDOs to expedite the evaluation
considering their very limited numbers of CDOs which have only 10 to cover the entire province as what they have
agreed during their zoom meeting with PCA Regional Director Brendan Trasmonte last Nov. 28, 2020. 
He bared that they only received the information regarding the program last November 15, 2020, and they have
given the deadline to submit the list of the legitimate beneficiaries on December 11, 2020.

QUALIFICATIONS

Romero disclosed that based on the given guidelines the beneficiaries of the program only those coconut
farmers who have not received SAP through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), not 4P’s
beneficiaries under Unconditional Cash Transfer (UCT), not government employees, not a member of the family of
elected officials and not belong to a well-off family.
He said that based on the trend of the ongoing evaluation only a few of the total numbers of the registered
Boholano coconut farmers are illegible to receive the SAP considering that most of them were already recipients of
the previous programs of the government.
Bohol has a total number of 174,781 coconut farmers comprising from 65,777 in the First District, 38,600 (2nd
District) and 70,404 for the 3rd District, he said.
Romero said that after the evaluation, the list of the illegible Boholano coconut farmers of the program would
be submitted to the PCA Regional Office on December 11, 2020, and then the regional office will submit it to PCA
National Office and finally to the DA wherein the money was being downloaded for the nationwide payout through
M Lhuillier.
Romero explained that actually of the P5,000, only P3,000 cash subsidy a beneficiary will be receiving because
the remaining amount will be in kind: rice worth P1,000, chicken meat (P600) and eggs (P400).
COCO FARMERS ONLINE REGISTRATION

PCA Senior Agriculturist Primo Galendez urged the Boholano Coconut farmers who have not registered
themselves to PCA to avail the online registration to National Coconut Farmers’ Registry System (NCFRS) through
the given link: bit.ly/magniniyogakosaregion7 
Galendez said the coco farmers must avail the online registration at the soonest possible time considering that
the deadline will be tomorrow for possible inclusion of the program. (AtoyCosap)
Validations for SAP coco farmer
beneficiaries fast track

SAP FOR COCO FARMERS. Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) Provincial Manager Emil Romero (right) and
PCA Senior Agriculturist Primo Galendez are calling the Boholano coconut farmers who have not registered
themselves to PCA to avail the online registration for possible inclusion of the program. They are also urging
the farmers to plant early maturing coconut such seedlings are available at the PCA nursery in Ubay, Bohol.

In a bid to lessen the problem of the hybrid rice farmers in Bohol to market and boost production, the Provincial
Government of Bohol (PGBh) launched the Advanced Rice Technology 160 (ART 160) Buy-Back program.
The program has allotted P48 million intended to purchase the 10% of the 3,000 hectares (has.) planted hybrid
rice at P20 per kilo for the wet season of 2020 (May-October 2020).
Assistant Provincial Agriculturist Larry M. Pamugas, Gertrudes Fuentes, Chief-Crops and Productivity Division-
Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA), and Provincial Rice Coordinator Lorebien Lagapa said that the project
impact of the program of Gov. Art C. Yap’s administration would redound to sustainable food security in the entire
province of Bohol carrying the following objectives: to directly buy local palay at prevailing market price in the
locality plus P1 per kilo; to eliminate or prevent the adverse effect on the implementation of the Rice Liberalization
Law among the rice farmers in Bohol;
To ensure in attaining food security by empowering palay farmers to have substantial income; to alleviate
poverty in the palay farming communities in the province; to ensure supply of rice for supplemental feeding
programs in the province of Bohol; to ensure buffer stock of rice for calamities and disasters; and to encourage
buying local produce by instituting the culture of patronizing local products to start within the PGBh employees.
                                            FARMER-RECIPIENTS
Some 11 Local Government Units (LGUs) with a total of 22 Irrigators’ Associations (IAs) identified with around
15,000 farmer-members are engaged in palay production, namely: Pilar (CARLIM, United PROHANCE IAs),
Batuan (Cansaway), Ubay (GABIBU, SANBABUE, SANLIP RALES), Alicia (Bohol BAGAICO, Kawasan –
Cayacay), Talibon (JOSSIDCO, ISIDJO, CEPLA), Dagohoy (Dagohoy Communal Irrigation System (CIS), San D
Mil), San Miguel (Lateral F, MAMAMIA, SAN BABUE), Bilar (ROXVIL, KUMILAW CIS), Carmen (Guadalupe
CIS, Villarcayo CIS), Candijay (Tugas CIS) and Loboc (Himilian CIS), they said.
They explained that the farmer-members of these IAs will have to sell their palay produce of at least 10% of their
expected gross yield to PGBh then the PGBh is responsible for the stocking, milling and packaging the palay at the
Rice Processing Complex (RPC) located in Poblacion, Pilar.
The support price is P19 per kilo clean and dry which is 14% Moisture Center (MC) palay plus P1 per kilo to
entice farmers to sell their palay produce to PGBh.
The buying price is based on the standard pricing that follows an equivalent net weight in the computation of the
palay price as cited in the following parameters: 14% MC of dried palay, purity of at least 98%, no discoloration or
damage in the palay grain.
There is a corresponding decrease in the price of palay if the moisture content will not meet the requirement,
percentage of purity, and higher percentage of discoloration and damage.
The PGBh through the OPA’s direct role for the program is to buy the palay of the farmer-recipients and pays the
equivalent amount, milling and packaging/ bagging to RPC; while the Provincial Economic Enterprise Management
Office (PEEMO) is the responsible office in the marketing aspect of the milled rice to the identified clients together
with OPA enterprise development section. The proceeds of the sales will be remitted to the Provincial Treasurer’s
Office (PTO).
If there are no changes the product name “Sun Rice” which is 100% Boholano rice will be formally launched this
month of which the premium rice has been sold at P2,100 per sack (50 kilos) or at P45 per kilo and the broken rice
to be sold at 1,200 or at P24 per kilo.
They said the ART 160 Program for the rice industry in Bohol is first of its kind. This is what our farmers need
to be secured of market for their produce every cropping season and with guaranteed price higher than the prevailing
price of the market.
They added that it is noted that the production cost per hectare of rice farming in Bohol is estimated to reach
P50,000 for hybrid rice to include the seeds, fertilizers, pesticide and insecticide, herbicide, labor and other related
expenses in rice farming. The estimated net profit of a farmer is P110,000 per hectare per cropping season or
P27,000 as income per month.
They viewed that the buy-back component of the ART 160 program it surely improves the income and lives of
our Boholano farmers in particular. It also contributes to the decrease of poverty incidence in our Province.
The program would also encourage the Municipal Local Government Units (MLGUs) to allocate funds to buy all
production yields of hybrid palay from their respective localities as a way of helping the farmers who have been
affected by the Rice Tarrification Law (RTL) that allows rice importation. (Atoy Cosap)

ADVANCED RICE TECHNOLOGY (ART) 160 Project under the administration of Gov. Art C. Yap
through its ART 160 Buy-Back Program helps the Boholano farmers to market and boost production. The
program intends to buy the 10% of the 3,000 hectares (has.) planted hybrid rice at P20 per kilo dried palay
with 14% moisture content this wet cropping season much higher compared to P16-P18palay prices from
local traders. FOTO Lorebien Lagapa, OPA Staff

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh) through the Office of
the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) is preparing for Ubi Festival in the early part of next year following
the minimum health standard protocols set by Bohol Inter-Agency Task Force (BIATF).
The Ubi Festival is the annual activity of the provincial government aimed at giving awards and
recognition of the Boholano Ubi growers who have continued to engage in planting Ubi especially the
Ubi Kinampay.
Rosanna G. Lamdagan, Chief-Agribusiness Division, OPA said that usually that the festival be
conducted on the 3 rd week of January, however, this time of pandemic activities would be limited.
She said that during the Management Committee (ManCom) meeting of OPA last Monday presided
by Assistant Provincial Agriculturist Larry M. Pamugas it was agreed that the festival would be
celebrated for the duration of five days at the CPG Park fronting the Bohol Wisdom School, CPG North
Avenue, the ART Tabo sa Bohol venue with only three contests namely: Highest Volume Ubi Display,
Pinaka and Most Outstanding Ubi grower who is a member of Bohol Ubi Growers’ Association (BUGA)
unlike the past Ubi festival celebrations.
Last January 28-31, 2020, the festival was savored by the different contests with big prizes at stake to
wit: Best Booth, Ubi Eating, Literary & Musical Contests (BugnosaRondalya, UbiBalitaw, Doble Kara),
Pinaka, Best New Ubi Processed Product, and Highest Volume of Ubi Display contests.
The BUGA has now preparing their Ubi production to be sold at the festival.
EsmeraldoMaligsa, BUGA president said that few of the more than 150 members of BUGA scattered
in the 26 known Ubi towns in Bohol have started to harvest their planted Ubi.
Maligsa said that during their meeting last Wednesday held at the BUGA Ubi Demo Farm in Pandol,
Corella they agreed to reserve much of their harvests for the festival.
He said that the province could expect the big volume of Ubi tubers to be produced this harvest
season considering the big areas being planted with Ubi.
The association with the strong support given by the PGBh through the OPA has established a demo
farm in Pandol, Corella in an area of 1.2 hectares (has.) wherein this cropping season about .8 ha. of these
has been planted with the different varieties especially Kinampay.
Rufa Ugay, High Value Crop Development Coordinator, OPA said that in the Ubi Demo Farm during
the planting season on April and May about 12,100 kilos of Ubi planting materials had been given by the
provincial government to BUGA of which the BUGA president would be very grateful to the PGBh as he
also thanked the Provincial Agricultural Technology Coordinating Office (PATCO) who also gave 300
kilos of Ubi planting materials.
The OPA has to outline any measures to ensure that the minimum health standard should be strictly
followed or implemented in this time of COVID-19 pandemic in the celebration of Ubi Festival’21.
(AtoyCosap)

BUGA PARTICIPATION. The Bohol Ubi Growers Association (BUGA) members lead by its President
EsmeraldoMaligsa has been very busy in constructing a rest house at the side of the BUGA Ubi Demo Farm
in Pandol, Corella to shelter for them to shelter in time when they harvest their planted Ubi next month.
Foto: GENARO JOHN MIGRIÑO-OPA Staff

The Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh), Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Philippine Center for
Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) are expecting that the Boholano farmers would incur low
cost of production this coming dry cropping season by December 2020 and January 2021 and high yield this coming
harvest season inn March 2021.
This developed after several agricultural machineries were turned over to the Farmers’ Cooperatives and
Associations (FCAs) in Bohol in the ceremonies conducted last October 8-9, 2020  held at the Bohol Agricultural
Promotion Center from the DA and PhilMech through its Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEP).
The farm machineries being distributed to the FCAs were: four-wheel tractors (16 units), hand tractors (39),
floating tillers (47), rice precision seeder (1), walk-behind rice transplanters (13), riding-type rice transplanters (4),
rice combine harvesters (13), rice reapers (17), rice threshers (21), and rice mills (7).
The recipients are Bentig-Farmers-Fishermen Association in Calape, Hagbuaya Multi-Purpose Cooperative
(Catigbian) in First District; LapacanNorte-Magkaya Farmers and Small Water Irrigators Association (Buenavista),
BontodCaluasan Irrigators’ Association, Inc. and San D Mil Irrigators’ Association, Inc. (Dagohoy), Danao
Agrarian Reform Cooperative (Danao), Santo Tomas Land Farmers Association and Banlasan Rural Improvement
Association (Trinidad), and Triple C & T Irrigators Association (Ubay) in Second District;
Bohol Bagasico Irrigators Association, Inc. (Alicia); Kangwasay Irrigators Association Inc. (Batuan), Cabacnitan
Farmers Association and Riverside Farmers Association (Bilar), Cadapdapan Farmers’ Association and Tugas
Farmers Association (Candijay); Lucky Mountain Farmers’Association and Nueva Vida Este Del Carmen Farmers’
Association (Carmen), Madua San Isidro Irrigators Service Association, Inc. (Duero), Canayaon – Manaba Irrigators
Association Inc. (Garcia Hernandez), Danicop Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative and Sta. Cruz Palayamanan
Farmer – Patners Association (Sierra-Bullones), and La Victoria Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (Valencia) in
Third District.
During the ceremonial turnover last Friday, Atty. Salvador D. Diputado (Regional Executive Director, DA-
RFO7), Dr. Larry M. Pamugas (in behalf of Gov. Art Yap), Rep. Edgar M. Chatto (1st Dist. of Bohol), Rep. Erico
Aristotle C. Aumentado (2nd Dist.), Winston Bayron (in lieu of Congressman Kristine AlexieBesas-Tutor in 3rd
Dist.), Rodelo Divinagracia (read the prepared message of Baldwin G. Callorina, Director IV, PhilMech), Leidelyn
(Jai) Hinautan from the Office of the Senator Villar and Roman Dabalos, Center Chief, Bohol APC asked  the
recipients to take care of the farm machineries they had just received because the money being used to purchase
were taxes from the people.
Atty. Diputado said that we still have more machineries intended for Bohol but there are problems on shipment
due to strict implementation of health standard protocols set by the Bohol Inter-Agency Task Force (BIATF).
Diputado stressed that they will conduct constant monitoring of all the machineries given and when proven that
the units are being neglected, the associations/cooperatives would be blacklisted and could no longer receive any
assistance from the DA especially farm machineries.
Dr. Pamugas said he is hopeful that this development could be a great help to the farmers because their
production costs would be reduced and the labor force would be minimized.
Rep. Chatto and Rep. Aumentado assured the Boholano farmers that as lawmakers they always make sure that
the DA through Sec. Dar would have a big share from the national budget for seeds, fertilizers, mechanization
assistance among others.
They also urged the farmers to take care on what they had received so that more assistance will be received in the
future from the government.
Bayron for and in behalf of Rep. Tutor cited the bill of the solon that aims to strengthen farmers’ associations as
he relayed the message of the congresswomen also urging the beneficiaries to take care of the farm machineries and
maximize its utilization.
Jallorina in his prepared message as read by Divinagracia stressed that deserved to be given priority in Central
Visayas is Bohol because the province has a great contribution in the food security of the country.
He emphasized that the RCEF-Mechanization Program of PhilMech aims to support the Filipino farmers to
increase food production and income.
Within six years of implementation, the program has also wanted to promote and introduce to the farmers the use
of farm machineries to modernize farming, he said.
Jallorina assured that the budget intended for the program would be properly used on its purpose and would not
go into the pockets of those who have personal interest.

He said “Be the best mechanized farmer group as you can be. So together, we can transform the future of
Philippine Agriculture.”
Senator Villar who chairs the Senate Committee on Food and Agriculture, and Sec. Dar on their video messages
also assured the Boholano farmers for their constant support to the Filipino farmers as they urged them to continue
supporting the plans and programs of the government.
Leidelyn Hinautan who represented Sen. Villar suggested to the associations/cooperatives to set aside funds to be
used in the maintenance of the equipments so that they could not encounter problems on whatever expenses incurred
if it will undergo repair.
As in response, Michael Garcia, Sr., chairman, Bagasico Irrigators Association in Alicia, Bohol and one of the
recipients thanked the PGBh, DA and PhilMech for the agricultural machinery support extended to them which is
truly indeed important in farming activities. (AtoyCosap)

TURNOVER CEREMONY. Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office 7, Provincial Government of Bohol
(PGBh) and Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) officials lead in
the ceremonial turnover of agricultural machinery to the Farmers’ Cooperatives Associations (FCAs) last
Friday to be held at the Bohol Agricultural Promotion Center (B-APC), Tagbilaran City.

Amidst COVID-19 pandemic, the Province of Bohol has been producing more locally grown
vegetables to cater the needs of the Boholanos that reducing the demands of supply coming from other
provinces for Bohol.
Rosanna G. Lamdagan, Chief-Agribusiness Division-Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) said
that most of the vegetables are being sold at the Agri-fishery Retail Terminal (ART) Tabosa Bohol at the
CPG Park fronting Bohol Wisdom School, Cogon, Tagbilaran City every Monday and Thursday;
Poblacion, Albur (every Tuesday), and in Poblacion, Dauis (every Wednesday and Sunday).
However, Lamdagan clarified that the province is still dependent on the supply of banana (lakatan),
cabbage and rootcrops from Bukidnon, and Cagayan; and spices from China, Nueva Ecija and Ilocos
Norte.
Lamdagan said that the vegetables produced by the Boholano farmers are eggplant, beans, squash,
sayote, ampalaya, opo, okra, pechay, and kangkong.
She added that even in the wet markets we can buy locally grown veggies.
Earlier, Assistant Provincial Agriculturist Larry M. Pamugas disclosed that during this crisis the
Boholanos, whose jobs have been affected by pandemic, are engaged in planting vegetables orin farming.
Pamugas said that the Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh) through the OPA has continued to
encourage the farmers to plant vegetables so as not fully dependent on the supplies from other provinces
as the OPA has continued to give veggies seeds.
RufaUgay, High Value Crop Development Program (HVCP) Coordinator, OPA bared that annually
the OPA has a regular budget and budget realignment for the purchase of veggies seeds.
Ugay said that this year’s budget amounted to P800,000 was already utilized or the seeds were being
distributed to the farmers who have demo-farm, semi-commercial assisted farm and walk-in clients at the
OPA.
She explained that to date, the seeds distribution at the OPA has been continued under the P700,000
calamity fund while awaiting the delivery of the already purchased seeds worth P360,000.
Ugay said that he noticed since August, September and this month the walk-in clients who have
trooped to the OPA to ask veggies seeds havebeen significantly declining compared to the months of
March, April, May and June when the province was under Enhanced Community Quarantine.
She suspected that the displaced workers due to the pandemic have already returned to work
considering that the business are gradually opened and they have no time already to engage in farming or
plant vegetables. (Atoy Cosap)

ART TABO SA BOHOL. Fresh agricultural products mostly from the Boholano farmers have been being sold
at the Agri-fishery Retail Terminal (ART) Tabo sa Bohol at the CPG Park fronting Bohol Wisdom School, CPG
North Avenue, Cogon, Tagbilaran City every Monday and Thursday of the week.

The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) like other departments of the Provincial Government
of Bohol (PGBh) conducted the tree planting activities in observance of the culmination of the 120 th
anniversary celebration of the Philippine Civil Service (PCS) last month.
The tree planting activities by the different departments were conducted separately which the OPA
had done a mangrove planting in Laya, Baclayon last Thursday.
Assistant Provincial Agriculturist Larry M. Pamugas led the mangrove planting of almost one
hundred employees of the OPA.
Dr. Pamugas expressed elation on the activities as the PGBh is fast tracking to plant and grow 3
million trees including fruit trees and 4 million mangroves in three years.
The close to one thousand pieces of mangrove seedlings planted in Laya, Baclayon would add the
347,600 pieces of mangrove propagules and seedlings that had been planted as of Wednesday of the other
week since January this year.
Earlier, Remedios Regacho, Chief-Fishery Division, OPA reported that Island Barangay Cabul-an,
Buenavista has the highest number of mangrove propagules and seedlings planted this year that would
reach to 93,000 pieces (pcs.) followed by Nasingin Island, Getafe (60,000); San Francisco, Talibon
(50,000); Loon (21,000); Loay (13,000); Taguihon, Baclayon and Canigaan, Sandingan Island at 1,300
pieces each and other coastal municipalities in Bohol.
Also on the same day other employees planted coconut seedlings at Bohol Agricultural Technology
Center (BOATECH) in Gabi, Ubay and at the Balilihan Provincial Plant Nursery in Del Carmen Sur,
Balilihan.
The PGBh appreciated much the chief executives of the Municipal Local Government Units
(MLGUs) who have been helping the endeavor aimedat protecting coastal areas from big waves, to
control soil erosion, to serve as maintenance of fisheries or nursery ground of fish, and to filter sediments
from upland. (Atoy Cosap)
CAPTION.
Assistant Provincial Agriculturist Larry M. Pamugas (extreme right) leads employees of the Office of the
Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) in planting mangrove seedlings in Laya, Baclayon last Thursday in observance
of the culmination of the 120 th anniversary celebration of the Philippine Civil Service last month.

Even though that the rice standings in the province of Bohol are in the dough and ripening to maturing stages, the
seeds for the Advanced Rice Technology (ART) 160 (hybrid rice) and ART 120 (inbred rice)  programs are now
ready for the cropping season next month.
Gertrudes Fuentes, Head – Crops and Productivity Division – Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) and
Lorebien Lagapa, Provincial Rice Coordinator bared that the Department of Agriculture (DA) under its Rice
Resiliency Project (RRP) has allocated hybrid seeds good for 21,500 hectares (has.) of irrigated areas and PhilRice
under its Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Program (RCEP) has allocated inbred seeds to be planted for 18,500
has..
According to Fuentes and Lagapa that aside from the hybrid and inbred rice seeds allocation, the DA and PhilRice
are likewise provided the fertilizer subsidy of which for every buy of two bags of Muriate of Potash Fertilizer the
farmer would be given three bags of Urea Fertilizer for hybrid rice and for every buy of two bags of Muriate of
Potash Fertilizer the farmer would be given also two bags of Urea Fertilizer for inbred rice.
The farmers would only present the receipts as proof that they could buy the fertilizer for them to avail the
fertilizer subsidy.
They said that the farmers need not worry regarding the rice seeds in the next cropping seasons because the
allocation of the Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh), DA and PhilRice would increase next year.
During the Rice Technicians Coordination Meeting last Wednesday and Thursday at the 3rd Floor, Capitol
Building and at the Bohol Agricultural Promotion Center (BAPC) Dormitory Hall, Dao, Tagbilaran City
respectively, Assistant Provincial Agriculturist Larry M. Pamugas and Roman Dabalos, Head-Provincial
Agricultural Technology Coordinating Office (PATCO) stressed the strong determination of the PGBh with the
collaboration of DA and PhilRice to boost rice production in the province of Bohol to retain its title as “Rice
Basket” in Central Visayas.
They underscored the importance of the Municipal Agriculturists/ Municipal Agricultural Officers (MAs/MAOs),
rice technicians and local officials as frontliners in agriculture in guiding and giving technical assistance to the
Boholano farmers.
Cecile Opada, DA-Regional Focal Person on rice program presented the updates on the rice programs in the
region amidst the COVID-19 pandemic of which Bohol has given the big allocation.
Dr. Pamugas bared that Bohol has 47,378 has. of potential rice areas and through the ART 160 and ART 120,
Governor Art C. Yap has a high hope that rice production here would be boosted.
Gov. Yap has strongly urged the Boholano farmers to plant hybrid rice on their tilled irrigated areas because it
produces high yield that would reach up to 160 sacks per has. and also to plant inbred rice for areas who have
reliable sources of water and rainfed which also shows good yield performance. (Atoy Cosap)

PREPARING THE RICE SECOND CROPPING. Assistant Provincial Agriculturist Larry M. Pamugas
(2 nd from right) and Roman Dabalos (extreme right), Head-Provincial Agricultural Coordinating Office
(PATCO) have setting the tone for the next rice cropping season by October through assuring the Boholano
farmers for free hybrid and inbred rice seeds and fertilizers subsidy during the Rice Technicians
Coordinating meeting last Wednesday at the 3 rd Floor, New Capitol Building, New Capitol Site, Cogon,
Tagbilaran City.