Press Release

The 42 hours Cloud Seeding Operations (CSOs) to the watershed and agricultural areas in the province of Bohol have almost completed..Coupled with the intermittent rainfall from the usual weather vagaries have brought water to Bohol’s irrigation dams.

Leon Parac, Jr., cloud seeding focal person said that of the 42 hrs. CSOs contract, the Pegasus Air Services Inc., the winning bidder of the project had already consumed 33 hrs. for 20 sorties of CSOs as of July 13, 2019.

Parac said the operation was suspended for three days from Tuesday to Thursday and just resumed last Friday after the pilot could renew his license and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) had granted the request of Junne P. Abejuela, Director of Marketing and Business Development, Pegasus Air Services Inc. to issue another permit for the operation after the first one was expired last July 10, 2019.

Captain Romel D. Candingan, Assistant Director-General II-FSIS has granted the letter request of Abejuela dated July 8, 2019 requesting to conduct Cloud Seeding operations over the vicinity of Bohol to utilize one Piper Cherokee type of aircraft with Registration No. RP-C2872.

CAAP CONDITIONS FOR SEEDING

The CAAP gave the following conditions to Pegasus Air Services Inc. in granting the request that must be conducted during VMC only, must be conducted from 11 July-10 August 2019 only, must be subject to Air Traffic Control, must be conducted at a maximum altitude of 8,500 ft. AGL only, must advise Mactan approach Control of the actual altitude to be flown in feet AMSL, must squawk on assigned transponder code when required by Mactan Approach Control, must advice Mactan Approach Control of the start and termination of said activity, must maintain continuous communication with Mactan Approach Control during the conduct of the activity.

Parac confirmed that due to CSOs which was started last June 8, 2019 several towns in Bohol have been experienced rainfalls that would add the water level of the major dams in the province.

He said that last week they conducted the survey and they found out that the dams have been releasing irrigation water to the service areas.

The cloud seeding focal person bared that as of July 10, 2019 the water elevation of Malinao Dam in Pilar was registered at 148.50 meters (ms.) against 150 ms. at full; Bayongan Dam in San Miguel had 44.52 ms. against 52 ms. at full; Capayas Dam in Ubay at 33.51 ms. and 36.5 at full; and the Talibon Dam in San Pascual, Talibon had 25 ms. against 30 ms. at full.

Parac said the Boholano farmers now have been very busy of the land preparation and rice planting in irrigated and rainfed areas on this wet cropping season. (WITH REPORT FROM Atoy Cosap)

The micro-entrepreneurs in Bohol are on a high hope that the next administration in the Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh) under Governor-elect Arthur C. Yap would be very supportive on their plights to uplift their enterprises.

During the two-day midyear assessment and planning workshops conducted last Thursday and Friday at the Level 007, J.A. Clarin St., and at the Conference Hall, Bohol Provincial Capitol Building, New Capitol Site, Cogon, Tagbilaran City, the entrepreneurs enumerated the accomplishments and outlined their plans and programs for the development of their businesses.

The Mabini Federated Rural Improvement Club (RIC) has an ongoing project of Squash Pretzels Processing; Balilihan Association for Women’s Development (BAWOD) has Squash Noodles Production; Bohol MADe-Banana Chips Food Processing; Association of Individuals Moving (AIM) for Progress in Balilihan-Cassava Chips Processing; Catmonan Small Coconut Farmers Organization (SCFO)-Calape-Seaweeds Processing;

Bohol Gardeners and Landscapers Association (BGLA)-Cut Flowers and Ornaments Production; Canjulao League of Women (CLOW) in Jagna-Tableya Processing; Pederasyon sa mga Gagmay’ng Mananagat ug Mag-uuma sa Loon (PEGAMALO)-Bahalina Processing & Marketing Enterprise.

The chairmen and business managers who were most of the participants reported during the assessment and planning workshops that they need necessary financial support from the government through OPA and from the Department of Agriculture (DA) for their business to survive and develop.

They proposed in their three-year plan the expansion of their business buildings, additional budget for hiring of additional workers that would create additional production.

Early this month, Yap met agri-stakeholders and emphasized that his administration would be very supportive to the agriculture sectors so as to produce high yield and helping them not to become the mere farmers but an agri-entrepreneurs.

The governor-elect said that he will continue the program of outgoing Governor Edgar M. Chatto of bringing the impacts of tourism to the countryside so that the farmers would know their responsibilities  or tasks to feed not only the 1.3M Boholanos but also the millions of tourists who have come in the province and to be aware of that there are markets on all their products.

During the opening preliminaries in the first day of the enterprise assessment & businesses planning, Helen Igot from the Agribusiness Division- OPA, on her statement of purpose said the activities aim to strengthen the micro-entrepreneurs and identify commodity champions as what Governor-elect Yap has wanted to do of the OPA.

Rosanna G. Lamdagan, chief-Agribusiness Division, OPA said the participants were the prioritized Philippine Rural Development Program-Rural Enterprise Assistance Project (PRDP-REAP) proponents who are processors of various agri-commodities like; banana, squash, coconut, sweet potato and seaweeds. (Atoy Cosap)

In an effort to identify the next immediate measures; share relevant ideas; and to come up with an action plan for one year, the Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh) through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) constantly conducts the midyear and year-end assessments of the assisted micro-entrepreneurs in Bohol.
Rosanna G. Lamdagan, chief-Agribusiness Division, OPA said that annually there are two assessments to identify hindering and facilitating factors and to identify the issues and concerns including suggested solutions.
In relation to this, Lamdagan said the two-day midyear assessment and planning workshops will be conducted on Thursday and Friday at the Panda Tea Garden, Dao, Tagbilaran City to be participated by the business managers and treasurers of the micro-enterprises.
She said the personnel from the Agribusiness Division of the OPA and Agribusiness Marketing and Assistance Division (AMAD) 7 will be the facilitators of the activities.
The chief, Agribusiness-OPA emphasized that the provincial government has been technically assisting 34 micro-entrepreneurs in running their enterprise for income generation.
She said that the PGBh under Gov. Edgar M. Chatto would also give assistance including transfer of technologies and skills in product development, business planning, provisions of processing equipment and credit assistance.
In the next administration under Gov.-elect Arthur C. Yap, the assisted micro-entrepreneurs would expect to taste another blend of assistance to uplift their way of living. (Atoy Cosap)

The Cloud Seeding Operation (CSOs) might be conducted this week if the cloud seeding clearance from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has been secured and the vacuum dried salt, personnel from Philippine Air Force (PAF) and Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) as cloud seeding officers have been made available.

Junne Abuejela from Pegasus Air Services, Inc. Based in Plaridel, Bulacan, said that they already sent a formal letter to CAAP the other week to secure the neccessary clearance for them to start the operations.

Pegasus Air Services, Inc was the winning bidder of the 42 hours contract of CSOs worth P2.3 million such fund was allocated and approved late last year by the Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh)

Abuejela said that probably within this week the vacuum dried salt imported from China and the Aviation gas might be available as the PGBh through the Ofiice of the Provincial Agriculturist is now negotiating with the Bohol Panglao International Airport Management to allow such materials to be stocked at the airport for the smooth implementation of the operations.

Leon Parac, Jr., CSO Focal Person said that the Province had already informed the BSWM that the notice to proceed (NTP) for the CSOs has been readied.

Parac explained that the BSWM would coordinate with the PAF in setting their schedule to come to Bohol for the CSOs.

He said that once the materials and aircraft are available the personnel from the General Services Office (GSO) of the PGBh will do the inspection before the conduct of the operations.

Parac disclosed that aside from the P2.3M budget from the PGBh, the BSWM through the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office (DA-RFO)7 also allocated in the tune of P2.5M and ready for implementation.

He said that most likely after the 42 hours CSO contract would complete, the operations to be funded by the BSWM would be followed immediately of which the winning bidder was the Royle Airways based in Dumaguete City.

Earlier, Parac and Engr. Erwin Renos from the BSWM has conducted the joint area assessment of the service areas of the four major dams in the province wherein they found out that the water level conditions are insufficient to be used for planting if there will be no heavy rains to happen.

The plan to conduct the CSOs has been push through even though the water elevations of the four dams are above critical levels considering the actual irrigation water are insufficient for planting.

The isolated light to moderate rains occured last week in the province couldn’t add the water levels of the four dams and much more couldn’t supply water to the rain fed areas.

During the Provincial Coordination Committee on Agri-Fishery (PCCAF) regular meeting last Wednesday held at the Reynas the Haven and Garrdens, New Calceta St., Cogon, Tagbilaran City, Mary Grace Baay from the National Irrigation Administration (NIA)7 reported the El Nino situation of the Bohol Integrated Irrigation System as of May 28,2019.

The water elevation of the Malinao Irrigation System which covered the service areas in towns of Pilar, Dagohoy,Alicia, San Miguel and Ubay: actual 151.94 meters (ms.), at full 152.00ms, critical- 146.5 ms.; Bayongan Dam which is serving San Miguel, Ubay and Trinidad Irrigation areas: actual-15.16ms., at full- 52.00 ms., critical-41.00ms.; Capayas Dam in Ubay which covered in the service area in the town: actual- 33.17 ms., at full-25.92 ms., at full 30.00 ms., and critical 21.00ms.

Baay said during the dry season no damage on crops was reported in the service areas of Malinao and Talibon Dams; while in the service area of Bayongan Dam in was reported that out of 3,107 hectares (has.) planted with rice, 9 has. Or 0.29% was reported damaged to the total planted areas for the dry season.

In the service areas covered by Capayas dam, all areas were already harvested and reported that 10 has. Or 1.22% were damaged out of the 819 has. Planted with rice.

Baay bared that they are now doing the daily monitoring of irrigated areas, strict implementation of the water delivery schedule, and continued implementation of alternate wetting or drying.

Assistant Provincial Agriculturist Lary M. Pamugas said the PGBh through Gov. Edgar M. Chatto once to ensure that all rice land areas in Bohol could be planted with rice this wet cropping season, thus the could seeding operations would be conducted.

The province of Bohol has 86,913.21 has. Of rice fields of which 32,919.53 has. Are rain fed and 23,993.65 has. are irrigated. (Atoy Cosap)

The Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh) through the Office of The Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) through the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) will conduct the Cloud Seeding Operations (CSOs) in Bohol if no heavy rains that happen in the province until the end of this month.

During the El Nino Task Force Meeting last May 10,2019, Leonard Samar from the local Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA) reported that based on the El Nino and Climate Outlooks, the provinces of Bohol, Cebu and Southern Leyte in Visayas has experienced dry spell.

Samar said that according to PAG-ASA El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) Alert System Status, the  weak El Nino continues to persist in the Tropical Pacific; majority of climate models suggest El Nino condition to continue through June-July-August 2019 season.

While based on the model forecasts, it indicates weak strength El Nino conditions for the May-August and has continued into September to December 2019 season.

Leon Parac, Jr., CSO Focal Person said that last week there were 18 towns in Bohol had experienced moderate to heavy rainfalls namely: Candijay, Bilar, Ubay, Talibon, Getafe, Bien Unido, Calape, Dagohoy, Sierra Bullones, Danao, Sagbayan, Carmen, Batuan, Catigbian, Guindulman, Duero, Jagna and Pilar.

However, Parac said that according to the rice technicians the rain could easily absorb to the ground and could not be used for land preparation for the next cropping season.

He said that supposed to be at the middle of this month the farmers have already started the land preparation or the sowing of rice seeds to ensure for planting on the first week of June.

Parac disclosed that last May 15-16, 2019, he at the OPA and Engr. Edwin Renos from the BSM had conducted the joint area assessment of the service areas of the four major dams in the province of which they found out that the present water level conditions could not suffice to be used for planting if there will be no heavy rains to happen to elevate the water level conditions of the dams.

As of May 17, 2019, the water elevation of Malinao Dam in Pilar was 151.79meters (ms.) against 152ms. At full; Bayongan Dam in San Miguel 44.58 ms against 52 ms at full; Capayas Dam in Ubay (33.14 ms) while at full is 33.5 ms and  Talibon Dam in Zamora, Talibon – 25.82 ms against 30 ms at full.

Parac bared that as of now there are stand by funds intended for cloud seeding from DA-BSWM worth P25M which was already downloaded at the DA-Regional Field Office 7 and the P2.3M from the PGBhwhich was alrady approved last year and the notice to proceed (NTP) was already processed by the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of the Provincial Government and only the signature of the governor has been awaited.

The province of Bohol has  86,913.21 hectares (has.) of rice lands of which 32,919.53 has. Are rainfed and 23,993.65 has. are irrigated. (AtoyCosap)

The production of high value vegetables and fruit crops in the province of Bohol are expected to increase following the completion of the 155 participants to undergo the two months “Season Long Technology Transfer Training under Protective Culture and Open Field Techno Demo on High Value Vegetable and Fruit Crops last February 26 – April 25, 2019.

Gertrudes Fuentes, Chief Crops and Productivity Division, Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) said the participants were trained in three separate venues of which of the 155 participants, 64 were from Ubay and trained in Bohol Organic Agriculture Technology (BOA Tech) in Gabi, Ubay ever Tuesday; 56 (tubigon) and trained in Maca-as, Tubigon nursery every Thursday and the 35 participants from Dagohoy who were trained in Candelaria, Dagohoy every Wednesday by the trainers/facilitators from the Harvest Agribusiness Corporation.

In the graduation program held at BOA Tech last Friday, Leonard A. Mirador, Central Visayas Manager, Harvest Agribusiness Corporation presented the candidates for graduation and confirmed by Assistant Provincial Agriculturist, Larry M. Pamugas.

Pamugas is optimistic that the productions of vegetables and fruit crops will increase as he encourage the newly trained to put into practice on what they have learned of the new technology in the training to grow vegetables and fruit crops through greenhouse or protective culture and open field.

He said the Boholano farmers are facing some challenges for the increase of vegetables, fruits and flowers productions.

However, he said that Bohol’s vegetable production has been increasing due to the 44 hectares (has.) of vegetable areas in Cantaob, Sierra Bullones and the three of the 23has. fully developed in Taytay, Duero.

Glenn Doloritos, chief-General Services Office (GSO) thank and congratulated the participants who have just undergone the training.

Doloritos said the Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh) through Gov. Edgar M. Chatto has kept on giving some interventions or technology to Boholano farmers for them to uplift their way of living.

The Harvest Agribusiness Corporation was the winning bidder to construct the greenhouses in Candelaria, Dagohoy, BOATech Gabi, Ubay and Maca-as Nursery, Maca-as Tubigon and to teach the participants regarding the new technology in growing high value vegetables such as; Eggplant, cucumber, bitter gourd, tomato, chili, squash, and fruit crops such as; watermelon, honeydew melon, musk mellow among others.

In the program, MarcialOdarve head-Facilities Section OPA gave the welcome remarks, as Rufa S. Ugay, head-HVCDP Section OPA acknowledge the guest and participants, while Avita A. Perez, head,

But did you know that there is a free government insurance coverage for crops, livestock, fisheries and even non-agricultural assets for small subsistence farmers who are plowing the fields for food security?

But, this is not automatic to all farmers, they have to apply for it, says Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation’s (PCIC) division chief AnicetoRebayla over at the recent Kapihansa PIA.

In the government’s effort to motivate farmers into food production, it is giving those that carry the burden of feeding the nation enough safeguards and protection for cropping failure in these times when the world is so messed up and against the effects of climate change, PCIC said.

Through the PCIC, the government is now extending agricultural insurance to palay,corn,high value crops, livestock, fisheries and even non-crop agricultural assets from natural disasters, accidents and loss of the above mentioned assets through natural causes.

Speaking at the Kapihansa PIA, Rocky Tidon of PHIC Bohol Tagbilaran City Service Office, said the government has allocated funds for the free insurance coverage of those who were in during the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture(RSBSA).

With Tidon at the radio forum which was aired over DyTR were PCIC Regional Office personnel under Boholano Regional Director CrescencioDeligero Jr.: AnicetoRebayla and Felix Rosales.

For example, PCIC gives out P20,000.00 multi-risk insurance for every hectare of palay and corn per cropping from planting to harvest.

By multi-risk, PCIC means natural disaster like droughts, typhoons, floods, earthquakes and major pests and diseases like rice blast, sheath blight, bacterial leaf blight, grassy, ragged stunting and tungro or pests like armyworm, stem borer, rats , rice bugs, black bugs and plant hoppers.

For corn, PCIC insures against diseases like bacterial stalk rot, downy mildew, or pests like locust, corn borer, army worm, cutworm and rats,according to Rebayla.

Aside from rice and corn, PCIC also covers High Value Crops like mango at P3,000 per tree, coconut at P280.00 per tree, banana at P100.00 per plant, and separate packages for vegetable.

The insurance covers a maximum of five hectares for all crops combined for each household, a minimum of ten trees and a maximum of 100 for each applicant, according to the PCIC.

For livestock, PCIC insures 7 months old to 17 years old cattle, carabao for P15,000.00, 1 year to 12 years old horse for P15,000.00, six months to four years old swine raised for breeding at P7,000, 45 days old to 6 months old swine for fattening at P5,000 and four months old to seven years old goat at P3,000.

Per household, the maximum number of livestock heads for coverage is ten for cattle, carabao and horses, ten heads for swine breeding, 20 heads for swine fattening, 25 heads for goats, and forpoultry: 50-5,000 heads broiler, 50-1000 heads layers and pullets insured per prevailing market.

For fisheries, PCIC also insures fish cages of up to a maximum of 1000 square meters (sqm), in land fish ponds for 2,500 sqm (maximum) and seaweed farms of 1,000 sqm (maximum).

In fact, because fisheries can also be dependent on non-crop assets, PCIC also insures fishing boats of 3 units of either motorize or non-motorize at P40,000.00 to P5,000 respectively.

To avail the benefits, sustenance farmers only need to get to the nearest Municipal Agriculture Office to check on their names on the list of eligible farmers for the insurance coverage, says Rebayla, who added that the PCIC is partnering with the LGUS and other government offices to better implement this at the grassroots.

What happens when one farmer is not on the list?

PCIC Rosales said the government has still one portfolio for these marginal farmers: Republic Act 10000 or the Agri-Agra Reform Credit Act.

Agri-Agra Reform Credit Act mandates banks to allot atleast 10% of its total loanable funds to agrarian reform beneficiaries and 15% for farmers and fisherfolks.

Now at the disposal of PCIC, farmers can tap this fund to help them tide up amidst the long dry season that the state weather bureau has said, could go until two more months.

The insurance portfolio has been set-up by the Department of Budget and Management, of which Central Visayas has been allocated P286 million, Rebayla said. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)