Author: Venus Ladaga

The Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh) through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) will once again conduct the Ubi Festival on January 26-30, 2023 at the Old City Airport, Cogon, Tagbilaran City.

The 5-day fest is the annual activity of the provincial government showcasing the different varieties of Ubi such as: Baligonhon, Binanag, Gimnay, Binato, Iniling, Tam-isan, Kabus-ok, and the famous Kinampay.

Gertrudes S. Fuentes, Chief- Crops and Productivity Division – OPA who is also the focal person of the festival said that the event will be kicked-off with a motorcade contest at 1pm on January 26, 2023 passing through from Capitol Grounds – New Capitol Site Road – Hangos Street – J. A. Clarin St. -City Hall Grounds – Calceta St.- St. Jude Hospital – CPG Avenue – City Airport Road – down to the venue for the opening program. 

In the opening program, Gov. Erico Aristotle C. Aumentado will deliver his inspirational message while the three solons; Representative Edgar M. Chatto (1st District), Rep. Maria Vanessa C. Aumentado (2nd Dist.) and Rep. Kristine Alexie B. Tutor (3rd Dist.), Dir. Joel A. Elumba (OIC-Regional Executive Director, DA-7) and Dr, Gracia F. Arado (OIC-Center Director, ATI-7) will give their messages of support as Vice-Governor Dionisio Victor A. Balite will deliver his welcome message after Dr. Larry M. Pamugas (Acting Provincial Agriculturist) could acknowledge the guests and participants.

After Gov. Aumentado could deliver his inspirational message, he will lead the turn-over of Ubi planting materials/fruit seedlings to beneficiaries, turn-over of RPC to new partner farmer organization (PIWARDEP), and the ribbon cutting and opening of exhibits.

As usual, the festival will be highlighted with the different contests to be participated by participants coming from municipalities who have Ubi display at the booths they will be constructed at the Old City Airport which will be done on the second day (Jan. 27, 2023).

The contests with prizes at stake are the following: Most Participative LGU, Pinaka Contest, Balak Contest, Jingle Contest, OPM Singing Contest (Female Category), OPM Singing Contest (Male Category), Kuradang Contest (Classical not Modern Kuradang), Cook-Off and the Motorcade.

Of all the contests, only the  Cook-Off Contest will be done on the third day to be facilitated by Bohol Tourism Office with product sampling from Destileria Barako.

The awarding of winners from the different contests and the recognition of the participating LGUs will be done on the fifth day (Jan. 30) wherein Gov. Aumentado will lead in the activity.

Also in the culmination program of the Ubi Festival, the winners of the 22 different categories of the Suhid sa Malampusong Mag-uumang Bol-anon 2022 and its assisting technicians will receive their awards and recognition. 

The 22nd Ubi Festival would be the first festival in the administration of Gov. Aumentado and Vice-Gov. Balite which aims to award and recognize the Boholano farmers and fisherfolks who have been helping in the agricultural endeavour of the provincial government. (Atoy Cosap)

The fish buy-back program of the Provincial Government of Bohol ( PGBh ) will formally kick-off after the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) had finally signed last Wednesday during the simple but fitting program held at 2^nd Floor, Provincial Planning and Development Office, New Capitol Building.

The signing was made and entered into between the Provincial Government of Bohol ( PGBh ) represented by Gov. Erico Aristotle C. Aumentado,  presidents of the 17 Peoples Organizations and 10 traders in the province of Bohol that was witnessed by Acting Provincial Agriculturist Larry, Provincial Fishery Officer Candido Samijon, Provincial Cooperative Coordinator Maria Conrada Fuentes and Cecilio Clarete from Land Bank of the Philippines.

Gov. Aumentado in his inspirational message said that the high prices of fish is a great challenge to us which need to be addressed.  

Gov. Aumentado bared that aside from addressing other pressing problems in the province, the  ( PGBh ) has also focusing now the” Isda Program” which has a strong collaboration with the Peoples Organizations (POs) and local traders.

Executive Assistant for Agriculture Engr. Ricardo Oblena who is also the chairman of the Task Force Isda Program said that he is hopeful that after the signing of MOA , the program could take off.

Oblena said that as of now as initial stage of the program, the POs have displayed and sold fish from the local fish catch, Surigao and Zamboanga at the Old City Airport, and Dampas Public Market while continued to negotiate the city government to secure the areas at the Causeway, Manga and Cogon markets for the said purpose with the prices that are cheaper than those at the wet markets and malls.

He emphasized that the program aims to penetrate in the entire province so that the Boholano fish buying public may feel the efforts of the provincial government under the Gov. Aumentado and Vice-Gov. Dionisio Victor Balite administration in answering the problem on high prices of fish here in Bohol.

Oblena explained that under this program, the POs will supply fish to the traders and the traders will sell it to the identified areas with a mark -up of only P20/kilo.

Provincial Fishery Officer Samijon for and in behalf of Dr. Allan L, Poquita, BFAR-7 Regional Director said that this program would greatly help the fisherfolks and lessen the marketing layer in selling of fish in the markets.

Samijon said that it is sad to note that the price of fish from the fisherfolks can be bought at only one hundred pesos per kilo but when it arrives at the wet markets, the price will double.

He said that they strongly support this program, in fact they offer their reefer van to be used in freezing the unsold fish.

Argeo Melisimo, Committee Member, Task Force Isda Program, on the other hand cited the important of media in this program.

Melisimo believed that this project would create a big impact to the Boholanos as he excited to wait the result and thankful to the provincial government, POs and traders to come up with this program.

Renato Auxtero, PO president from Talibon was very thankful to the program which enable them to borrow money at the Land Bank of the Philippines with the lowest interest rate to purchase fishing paraphernalia for their livelihood.

Auxtero thanked the provincial government in having this program. 

Clarete said that the Land Bank of the Philippines which is the second largest commercial bank in the Philippines serving the Filipinos for about 60 years and already 32 years of operations in Bohol would not hesitate to finance loans to the POs with only 2% interest per annum because they know the good intention of the project.

He said that hopefully in the future if the operations of the program would be smooth and successful, there might be a possibility that they will offer a grant to the POs for this project. 

THE 17 PEOPLES ORGANIZATIONS

The 17 POs proposed to have an initial loan in the amount of P18,000,000.00 broken down into the following: Bien Unido Poblacion Small Fishermen’s Association ( P1,000,000.00), Nagkahiusang Mananagat sa Puerto San Pedro (P1, 000,000.00), Nagkahiusang Gamay’ng Mananagat sa Pinamgo ( P1,000,000.00), Berhin sa Kalooy Fishermen’s Association ( P1, 250, 000.00 ), Tabon Seaweeds Farnmers Association ( P1, 250, 000.00 ), Cataban Fisherfolks Development Association ( P1, 250, 000.00 ), Busalian Crab Pickers Association ( p1, 250, 000.00 ), Eastern Cabul-an Fisherfolks Association  ( P3, 000.000.00 ), Western Cabul-an Fisheries Association ( P2, 000, 000.00 ), 

Getafe Fisherfolk Marketing Cooperative (P800, 000.00), Kahugpongan sa mga Gagmay’ng Mananagat sa Jandayan Sur ( P 880, 000.00 ), Banacon Growers of Seaweeds and Mangrove Association ( P 1, 000. 000.00), Pandanon Mananagat Association (P500, 000.00), Purok 1-Pandanon Marginalized Fishermen Association ( P500, 000.00 ), Great Women’s Association of Pandanon ( P700, 000.00 ) and Managhiusang Mananagat sa Pandanon ( P620, 000.00 ). 

THE 10 TRADERS

The 10 traders who will buy the fish catch from the fishermen’s associations and cooperatives are namely: Edgardo Bag-ao (Chairman-Poblacion Norte, Bicao, Katipunan, Guadalupe, Buenavista Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Carmen ), Eufemio Abaniel ( Chairman-Carmen Samahang Nayon, Poblacion Sur, Carmen ), Melchor R. Daniel, Sr.( Chairman – Bohol Community Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Poblacion, Loay ), Maria Regielou C. Café (VP/External Affairs Officer, Tubigon Fresh Fish Vendor’s Association, Inc., Poblacion, Tubigon ), Pablo M. Chiong ( Chairman- Tawala Fishers Association, Tawala , Panglao ), Bonifacio Bermoy ( Chairman- Bayanihan, Poblacion, Talibon ), Ammon Dennis R. Tirol ( Chairman- Bohol Fish Producers Cooperative, BFAR, Dao, Tagbilaran City ), John Cyrus V. Salaga ( Chairman, Buon Pastore Agriculture Cooperative of Loboc, Pob. Sawang, Loboc, Bohol ), Marvin C. Bihag ( Chairman- Bohol United Small Entrepreneurs Organization (BUSEO), Catarman, Dauis ), and Salvio I. Makinano ( Chairman- Bohol Diversified Development Service Volunteers, Inc., Purok 3, Looc, Jagna ). (Atoy Cosap)

The three-day first Organic Agriculture Festival in Region 7 conducted by the province of Bohol last Wednesday to Friday at the Bohol Cultural Center, Tagbilaran City was significantly a success.ADVERTISING

The Provincial Government of Bohol through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA), Kapunungan sa Bol-anong  Organikong Mag-uuma (KBoOM), Department of Agriculture (DA), Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) and other agri-line agencies aggressively conducted the festival which is the first of its kind in Region 7 comprising the four provinces to wit: Cebu, Negros Oriental, Siquijor and Bohol.-ADVERTISEMENT-

According to KBoOM president Marilou Escalona the festival aims to spark awareness of the need of having a healthy lifestyle by advocating organic methods and practices, encouraging more farmers to adopt natural “ organic farming”, establish sustainable organic agriculture in the province of Bohol, transform conventional farming methods into organic farming practices, create a network of organic enterprise that farmers can use for collaborations and further develop their businesses. 

Escalona added that the festival serves as a venue for major marketing promotional event that highlights the agri-fishery display of fresh, organic agricultural and processed products coming from different farming communities to be integrated with tourism circuits in the province.

In the opening program, Governor Erico Aristotle C. Aumentado in his prepared inspirational message read by Executive Assistant Gil Bongato, the governor lauded those who worked for the success of the first Organic Agriculture Festival in Bohol which is first in region 7.

Gov. Aumentado said that agriculture remained to be the biggest sector in our province in terms of the working populace and with that our province remained to be considered a food granary in Central Visayas Region.

He said that today is a great day for us Boholanos as we are able to celebrate our first Organic Festival and witness our organic and naturally grown local products.

Indeed, it is also a celebration of the collective efforts of the organic practitioners that would also show the greater collaboration among agri-line agencies to continue building momentum for the accelerated development of agriculture.

In his message, Vice-Gov. Dionisio Victor Balite who is the chair of the Committee on Agriculture in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Bohol said that he proposed that this activity would be institutionalized and be conducted annually.

Vice-Gov. Balite emphasized that organic farming helps in healing our mother earth from calamities wrought about by climate change. 

Regional Technical Director Wilberto Castillo, DA-7 said that DA has continued its strong support of organic farming so as to produce safe and good foods.         

He said that DA is balancing its program in promoting organic and conventional methods of farming to ensure sufficient food supplies in the region.

Congressman Edgar M. Chatto (1stDist.)  represented by Atty. Abeleon R. Damalerio, Board Member Lucille Y. Lagunay (1st Dist.), Tagbilaran City Mayor Jane Censoria Cajes-Yap, Garcia Hernandez Mayor Jess Baja for and in behalf of League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) Bohol Charter President Dave Duallo expressed their strong supports to organic farming.

On the second day of the activity, some topics were discussed by the best resource persons.

Professor Jose T. Travero talked about Organic Agriculture Practices, Updates on the Organic Agriculture program were discussed by Mae E. Montecillo (Regional Organic Agriculture Focal Person), while Dir. Antonio Jesus (Jet) C. Orbida (Member, National Organic Agriculture Board) also gave the Updates on Participatory Guarantee System. 

Prof. Travero defined organic farming as an agricultural production system that avoids or largely excludes the use of synthetically compounded fertilizers, growth regulators, pesticides, livestock, additives, and genetically engineered products. It combines tradition, innovation, and science to benefit the shared environment and promote fair relationships and good quality of life for all involved.

The three days organic agriculture festival bringing the theme “ Display of Organically and Naturally Grown Local Products “ was participated by 38 exhibitors namely: LGU-Duero, LGU- San Miguel, LGU Albur, LGU-Dagohoy, St. Claire Organic Farmers Association, Lacto Pafi, Marcela Farms, Kaabag ni Bro, PARECO Management Services, Green  Gardens of Hope, Behind Suba Integrated Farm,  Merfe’s Organically Grown Garden, YACO’S Farm, Kapunungan sa Bol-anong Organikong Mag-uuma, Mely’s Farm, Dungaw Farm, JQL Organic Farm, Atbang Farm, Egay’s Farm,The FRMCY, Lasang Farm, CHC Agritech, Cecee’s Organic Farm and Cacao Nursery, Liboron Organic Farmers and Cacao Growers Assssssociation, Omamalin’s Farm, SS Mushroom Farm, Bohol Purple Women Association and South Farm. (Atoy Cosap)

The Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh) is ready to tie-up South Korea for new technology in the
improvement of organic agriculture in Bohol and other provinces in Central Visayas.

This was the statement issued by Governor Erico Aristotle C. Aumentado when he delivered a message during the 6th Regional Organic Agriculture Congress (ROAC) held at Reynas The Garden and Haven, New Calceta, Cogon, Tagbilaran City.

Gov. Aumentado was in South Korea at the middle of this month eyeing the direct importation of farm
equipment for the development of agricultural program in Bohol.

The governor emphasized that even though that the provincial government has been advocating the conventional method of farming for high production we still promoting the organic agriculture focusing not only for the household consumption but also for the tourists who have been visiting and staying in the different tourist destinations, hotels and resorts in the province.

Aumentado after delivering his message led the signing of the pledge of commitment to support organic farming as he said that agriculture is also a priority in his administration.

KEYNOTE SPEECH

Director Bernadette A. San Juan, Director-National Organic Agriculture Program (NOAP)-DA Central Office
who was not able to come-up during the congress, in her prepared keynote speech delivered by Lea C. Deriquito, Chief-Advocacy and Policy Division, NOAP said the she was elated that after more than two years since the pandemic came to our shores, the conduct of ROAC is finally back, stronger and better.

She said that the development of the agricultural sector, particularly the Organic Agriculture industry is
challenging these trying times therefore, our responses are decisive, innovative, integrated, and strategic.

San Juan said that she knows that we cannot do everything at once as much as we want to, but holding relevant gathering like this ROAC serves as the pivotal point to spur participation and collaboration among and between our OA stakeholders, agripreneurs, farmers, our local chief executives, and government officials.

Fervently, the NOAC is particularly toughening up for the global challenges ahead that could dampen our food productivity and mitigation of climate change: our farmers are feeling the pinch of global rising fuel prices and costs of fertilizers, which have now tripled; the entire world has been subjected to high consumer price inflation brought by the disruption of global food supply chains during the pandemic; climate change and natural disasters are upon us, and frequency of typhoons are making agricultural damage a common sight.

San Juan said that because of these reasons, we find solutions and on the ground actions: we in the program are prioritizing the Certification of Participatory Guarantee System (PGS); establishment of OA livelihood programs; massive production of organic fertilizer and soil ameliorants through the composting facilities for Biodegradable wastes (CFBW) and Small Scale Composting Facilities (SSCF); inventory and promotion of OA zones per municipality and city.

She said that all of these will aid the dynamic and changing needs of our OA practitioners and will definitely ease the effects of climate change.

San Juan disclosed that by next year they will conduct information caravan to any part of the country to inform the public regarding the importance of R.A. 11511 that mandates the responsibility of the chief local executives to help in the promotion of OA in their respective areas.

MESSAGE OF ENCOURAGEMENT

Director Joel B. Elumba, OIC-Regional Executive Director, Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office
(DA-RFO) 7 said that in order to have food safety and sustainability we should go back to Organic Agriculture it doesn’t matter if it takes a long time for the effect.

Director Elumba emphasized that originally the method of farming that has been practiced by our early ancestors is the organic agriculture. Only in 1970’s that the inorganic agriculture or method of farming using synthetic chemicals was introduced in the Philippines, he clarified.

Elumba said we should think about our health and the future health of the next generation as he encouraged the youth to take up agriculture course.

Dir. Antonio Jesus C. Orbida, Member-National Organic Agriculture Board (NOAB) on his message via on line emphasized the importance of Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) for the solution to the problem of organic practitioners in marketing of their products.

Dir. Orbida said that NOAB is offering scholarship for the youth to mitigate the impact on the aging organic farmer-practitioners problem.

ISSUES AND CHALLENGES IN ORGANIC AGRICULTURE

During the presentation and discussion of OA profiles per province and FY 2023 onwards Plan and Budget
Proposals of PLGUs to be done by Maricel Barloso, Provincial Focal Person (PFP), Office of the Provincial
Agriculturist (OPA)-Bohol; Mirabel Amado, PFP, OPA-Cebu; Joshua Demerre, PFP, OPA-Negros Oriental and Rio Duhaylungsod, PFP, OPA-Siquijor, it was known the key issues and challenges in promoting OA in their respective locality.

Some of which are lack of support from the MLGUs in OA program implementation, less allocation of budget compared to other programs, poor monitoring and evaluation, lack of focal persons assigned in the LGU affecting data generation, less promotional campaign compared to conventional farming, lack of organic farming research, too many requirements for PGS certification, laborious, and lack of organic farming inputs.

Meanwhile, Mae E. Montecillo,Regional OAP Focal Person, DA-7 and Ma. Gracia S. Pungay, Regional OAP
Focal Person, ATI-7 also presented and discussed the OA Program Highlight of Accomplishments and FY 2024 onwards Plan and Budget Proposals.

The one-day congress carrying the theme “ Maunlad na Pagsasaka, Garantisado sa Organikong Agrikulturang Sinaliksik” was formally closed by Gracia F. Arado, OIC-Training Center Superintendent II, Agricultural Training Institute (ATI)-7. (Atoy Cosap)

6th REGIONAL ORGANIC AGRICULTURE CONGRESS. Gov. Erico Aristotle C. Aumentado delivers his message during the 6th Regional Organic Agriculture Congress (ROAC) held at Reynas The Garden and Haven, New Calceta St. Cogon, Tagbilaran City last Wednesday.

The province of Bohol will be the host of the 6 th Regional Organic Agriculture Congress (ROAC)
slated on October 26, 2022 at the Reyna’s the Haven and Garden, New Calceta Street, Cogon, Tagbilaran
City.

This will be the second time after the province also hosted the 2 nd ROAC last 2016. It can be
remembered that the first congress was conducted in Cebu last 2015, the 3 rd was in Siquijor, 4 th (Negrosn Oriental), and 5 th (Cebu). There were no congress being conducted on 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19 pandemic.

The Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh) through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist
(OPA), Department of Agriculture (DA), Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) and other agri-line government agencies have been balancing their efforts for the promotion of organic farming as well as conventional method through hybridization program which aims for high production.

Within the whole day ROAC activity, Director Bernadette A. San Juan, National Organic Agriculture
Program will deliver the keynote speech after being introduced by Ms. Mae E. Montecillo, Regional
Organic Agriculture Program Focal Person, DA-7.

Gov. Erico Aristotle C. Aumentado; Agriculture Assistant Secretary Atty. Salvador Diputado; OIC-
Regional Executive Director Joel A. Elumba; and Dir. Jet Orbida (virtual), Member, National Organic
Agriculture Program will give their messages after Agricultural Provincial Coordinating Officer Roman
Dabalos could acknowledge the participants and Acting Provincial Agriculturist could give the welcome
remarks.

Provincial Focal Person Ms. Maricel C. Barloso, OPA-Bohol; Provincial Focal Person Ms. Mirabel Amado, OPA-Cebu; Joshua Demerre, OPA-Negros Oriental; and Rio Duhaylungsod, OPA-Siquijor will present and discuss the organic agriculture profiles per province and FY 2023 onwards plan and Budget Proposals; while, Ms. Ma. Gracia S. Pungay, Regional OAP Focal Person, ATI-7 and Montecillo will present and discuss the organic agriculture program highlight of accomplishments, and FY 2023 onwards Plan and Budget Proposals.

After the presentation and discussion, the ATI-7 representative will give the synthesis of the whole day affair.

Each province has an exhibit of their organic products from their respective locality.

The whole day activity will be formally closed by Gracia F. Arrado, OIC- Training Center Superintendent II, ATI-7.

The PGBh is very determined to help the organic program in the province in tandem with the conventional method of farming.

In fact, the provincial government has an annual program which is the Suhid sa Malampusong Mag-
uumang Bol-anon wherein there are some categories with big prizes at stake intended for organic such as; Outstanding Organic Agriculture Practitioner (Individual Family), Outstanding Organic Practitioner
(Association), Outstanding Young Farmer (Practicing Organic Farming) and Outstanding Organic
Technician. (Atoy Cosap)

Erico Aristotle C. Aumentado will lead the Boholanos to join the whole world in celebration of the World Food Day on Tuesday, October 25, 2022.

The Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh) through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) has
prepared a program to fit the celebration to be held at the Bohol Cultural Center this city to start at 9 in the morning.

In the program, Gov. Aumentado will deliver the inspirational message while Vice-Gov. Dionisio Victor A.
Balite will give the welcome remarks while Director Joel A. Elumba, OIC- Regtional Executive Director,
Department of Agriculture (DA)-7 will give the message of support as Dr. Gracia F. Arado, OIC-Center Director, Agricultural Training Institute (ATI)-7 will explain the rationale.

Other activities being lined-up in the one- day affair to include: Agri-Fishery Situationer And Major Programs ofOPA to be shared by Acting Provincial Agriculturist Larry M. Pamugas; Sharing of Best Practices on Organic Farming by Jose Travero, Organic Farming Practitioner; Integrated Farming System (Celencio Maligsa, Farmer); Vegetable Production and Marketing Enterprise (Casino Monil, Farmer Entrepreneur/Owner, Bilar STEM Vegetable Farm); Sharing of Best Practices: Rice Wine Processing Enterprise to be shared by Vanessa Panugan,the owner of Jzaki Rice Wine (“The First Rice Wine Produced in Bohol”); Mushroom Production Enterprise to be taken by Rona Denque, CEO-Green Thumb Farm, Corella; and Tilapia Production Enterprise by Eleno Evangelista, Upland Aquaculture Section Head-OPA).

There will be an open forum to give chance of the participants to ask clarification or questions to the sharers.

Joining the World Food Day Celebration is one of the annual activities of the provincial government geared towards the strengthening of the relationship with national and international ties to fly together into greater height as the celebration this year brings the theme “Leave No One Behind”. (Atoy Cosap)

The relentless move to bring down the prices of fish will continue until the supply can reach the various public markets, and not just at the Old City Airport.ADVERTISING

Former Loboc Mayor Leon Calipusan who is on the frontline of this advocacy said the core group manning the entry of more fish supplies has targeted December this year to have the distribution chain operational.

He said the much-awaited operation of a huge refrigerated van now stationed at the old City Airport is targeted this week as the required electrical connections were ordered done the fastest it could be completed. The van can accommodate 15 tons of fish and marine items. 

“The target of this operation is to bring the low-priced fish supplies up to the public markets, not just in the city, but in the towns as well,” Calipusan stressed.

Earlier this week, fish supplies from Zamboanga City and from the Talibon area were sold at a lower price which triggered prices of fish at the Fish Terminal in Causeway Drive having to be reduced also so as to compete with that at the airport.  The first shipment of fish supply from Zamboanga effected a reduction of borot-borot fish to P170 per kilo and P160 at the various markets in the city.

Calipusan said the Task Force Isda is starting to “negotiate” with fish suppliers in Pasil, Cebu which is the major selling point of fish in the entire Central Visayas. Other targeted suppliers are in Plaridel and General Santos.

The Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh) is gradually achieving in the quest to modernize agriculture in
the province.

Last Thursday, Governor Erico Aristotle C. Aumentado led the ribbon cutting and the blessings of some farm machinery and farm facilities at Bohol Organic Agriculture Technology (BOATech) Center in Gabi, Ubay, Bohol.

The farm machinery and facilities which are worth P68,900,000 are as follows: Combine Corn Harvester-4
rows (picker, sheller, and stalk chopper) with trailers; Brand New Movable Trailer-Mounted mechanical dryer 4 to5 tons capacity; Portable Feed Mill; Corn Flour Mill (25 tons corn/day);120 HP Tractor with Complete Accessories (disc plow, furrow ridge, harrow); 95 HP Tractor with Complete Accessories (disc plow and harrow); Cassava Chipper and Cassava Uprooter; and Cassava Dryer (6-8 tons) options diesel-electric-rice hull or corn cobs fuel.

Gov.  Aumentado has cited the importance of farm equipment to boost the agricultural products in Bohol.
Acting Provincial Agriculturist Larry M. Pamugas said that the objectives to purchase of the machinery above are to increase the production of quality corn and cassava for human consumption, feeds and industrial uses; to empower the farmers and increase their income, thereby improving the quality of life; to facilitate the production of local feeds for livestock and aqua intended for backyard raisers; to reduce the production cost of livestock and fishery products; to showcase the complete value chain for corn and cassava; to enhance farm efficiency compared to manual labor; and to have access to modern agricultural equipment for the farmers thereby reducing production cost for corn and cassava.

Dr. Pamugas bared that the direct beneficiaries are the Boholano corn/cassava farmers who will be given
production support through the provision of affordable and efficient machine services during the land preparation, harvesting, and other postharvest activities.

Pamugas emphasized that the distribution of the machines will be focused on the four clustered areas of corn and cassava in the province such as; Cluster 1 (Dimiao, Valencia), Cluster 2 (Carmen, Sagbayan, and Sierra- Bullones), Cluster 3 (Dagohoy, Danao, San Miguel, and Trinidad), and Cluster 4 (Anda, Alicia and Ubay). Each cluster will have a machine shade based on the approved proposal from the Development Bank of the Philippines. He said that the equipment will be stationed in strategically clustered areas for easy access to the beneficiaries. It will also serve as the workshop and focal ground of the team and operators managing the machine.

The rental and payment mechanism for the use of the machinery will be based on the approved ordinance of the provincial government.

The province of Bohol has more than 20,786 corn farmers and the existing areas utilized for corn production are at 6, 243 hectares (has.) but it can be expanded to 20, 000 has. If appropriate support will be provided. (Atoy Cosap)

Gov.Erico Aristotle C. Aumentado leads the blessings of the farm machineries and facilities at Bohol Organic Agriculture Technology (BOATech) Center in Gabi, Ubay last Thursday. He is assisted by Provincial Administrator Asteria Caberte and his mother Former First Lady in the Province of Bohol Mrs. Greeny C.Aumentado. Photo by Alfredo Amora Jr.