NEWS

The Quick Response Infestation Team from the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) in the Provincial
Government of Bohol (PGBh) immediately took actions to prevent the spread of Fall Army Worms (FAW) attacking
the whirling or vegetative stage of corn plantation in the 11 known corn growing municipalities in Bohol.

According to Leon Parac, Jr., Provincial Corn Coordinator in Bohol, the team led by Joseph Roy Dando sprayed
the FAW using the insecticides from Regional Crop Protection Center (RCPC)-7 the worms attacking the corn areas
in Trinidad last Tuesday and 50 hectares (has.) of corn areas in Danao last Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Parac said that next week the team will go to the town of Dagohoy whose corn areas also badly damage by a
global invasive pest which can feed on more than 350 plant species including corn, rice, sorghum, sugarcane, and
vegetable crops by feeding on leaves, fruits, and grains causing significant yield loss if not well managed.

Other towns whose corn plantation have been attacked by army worms are: Getafe, Sierra-Bullones, Carmen,
San Miguel, Dimiao, Valencia, Mabini, and Talibon.

The Provincial Corn Coordinator in the province said that there are no reports from the team on additional areas
that have been infested aside from the earlier reported 325 has. last the other week.

Parac explained that in case the RCPC-7 will encounter the shortage of chemical supplies, the team will force to
ask the owner of the corn farm to purchase such chemicals for them to continue the spraying of the dreaded worms
to crops.

He said the corn areas have been attacked by FAW are those corn planted on the last part of May and the month
of June, 2024 with different varieties such as: Open Pollinated Variety (OPA), University of Southern Mindanao
(USM) 35 Variety who are susceptible or unresistant to pests and diseases not like with the Genetically Modified
Organism (GMO) corn who can resist the FAW, corn borer and other pests and corn diseases.

However, Bohol has an existing ordinance strictly prohibiting the entry of GMO corn in the province that
imposes stiff penalty to the violators, Parac concluded.

In Bohol, corn is next to rice as staple crop which has 4.3 kilograms (kgs.) per capita consumption of 1.4M
Boholanos lying at a great distance from rice who has 115 kgs. per capita consumption. By Atoy Cosap

Liza Quirog, Provincial Agriculturist of Bohol, informed the Bohol Chronicle that Mr. Junne P. Abejuela and
his company Pegasus Air Services did not deliver P2.5 million out of the P7.0 million contracted cloud seeding
services despite being awarded contracts in 2023 and 2024.

Per Quirog, the first contract worth P2.5 million pesos was awarded on October 27, 2023, following a bidding
process in July of same year.

This agreement stipulated 42 hours of cloud seeding flights at a rate of P53,000 pesos per hour.
Another contract for P4.5 million pesos was reportedly without bidding on June 4, 2024, providing for 50
hours of cloud seeding at P81,000 pesos per hour.

On November 29, 2023, Mr. Abejuela wrote proposing changes to the agreed-upon terms, including a switch
from a twin-engine aircraft to a single-engine plane, which she said was not written in the contract’s specifications.
“By the end of 2023, Mr. Abejuela had still not provided any cloud seeding services,” Quirog said.

Cloud seeding, a weather modification technique used to induce rainfall, is seen as a key strategy in the
Philippines’ efforts to mitigate the impacts of El Niño.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has warned
that El Niño conditions could persist until the first quarter of 2024, potentially leading to reduced rainfall and
drought in parts of the country.

The provincial Capitol led by Governor Aris Aumentado had earlier insisted that failure to implement the
cloud seeding project as planned could leave Bohol province, known for its agricultural production, vulnerable to
weather-related challenges.

The procurement process took a long time, after the bidding in July 2023, and the Contract Agreement on
October 27, 2023, the Notice to Proceed was given to Pegasus Air Services on November 24, 2023 as represented by
Mr. Abejuela and was given 5 days to deliver the services for cloud seeding.

“During the BAC [Bids and Awards Committee] meeting, some members required Mr. Abejuela to have a
ready contract to rent an airplane.

The members assumed he had access to an airplane, but Mr. Abejuela’s plane was not guaranteed during the
bid opening,” a member of BAC’s Technical Working Group revealed.

Quirog revealed that she furnished letters to Abejuela on December 6 and December 16, 2023, reminding him
of his contractual obligations and the need to commence cloud seeding operations to address the ongoing El Niño.
However, she said in spite these communications no cloud seeding was conducted.

The Ubi industry in the province of Bohol is operating in micro/small scale level only especially in the
“Kinampay” variety.

This was the statement issued by Engr. Dennis B. Jomoc, Associate Professor 5, Faculty in CANR-DABE,
BISU-Bilatr Campus as well as the Chairperson, College Research (Designation); Ubi Project Leader (Designation)
last Wednesday when he presented the findings of their research entitled “Ubi Industry Status in Bohol” during the
Sandugo Agri-Fair Food Fair Assessment Workshop held at the Panda Tea and Garden, Dao, Tagbilaran City.

This too even that he reported that the status of production volume showed in their research that Bohol is
identified as the top producer of Ubi in the country, contributing an average of 38% of the national production (PSA,
2021, averaged based from 2010-2020 production.

According to Engr. Jomoc the Ubi production area in Bohol had decreased by 65% having an annual average
decrease rate of about 3.3% based on 2013-2017 (0.5% increase in 2018-2020).

He pointed out the issues/problems of Ubi industry in the province such as: low quality and limited planting
materials, unfertile soil resulting to low productivity, low mechanization status, cultural degradation, genetic erosion
for white yam, climate change, low buying price, high cost of labor, lack of market, limited capital, and pest
infestation and disease incidence.

Along with these issues and problems, Engr. Jomoc said they have concluded that the disease incidence, pest
infestation, poor quality of planting materials, poor production practices, unfertile soil; and the poor/limited linkage
between producers and processors are the primary contributing factors to a low productivity in Bohol.

He said that the numerous issues and problems also contribute to the diminishing interest among Boholano Ubi
growers into Ubi production.

Engr. Jomoc said that with this scenario, they have some recommendations which are the following:
strengthening the organization of Ubi growers within the municipality particularly the identified Ubi growing
municipalities; annual updating of the list of Ubi growers including the number of hills planted, planting distance
adopted, and varieties planted;

Strengthening the marketing assistance provided to the Ubi growers; strengthening production input support such
as investment to production machineries/equipment, fertilizer subsidy, planting materials (Kinampay) and
transportation support; provision of supports to value adding activities.

Executive Assistant for Agriculture Ric Oblena said that what is his being known in Bohol that to market the Ubi
tubers is not a problem but really the production.

The former Department of Agriculture 7 Regional Director said that aside from being limited production of Ubi
especially the Kinampay variety, there is a so called “Ubi Smuggling” wherein the aromatic variety of Kinampay
planting materials be brought to other provinces in bulk and will be planted there. And if the DA has dispersal
program for Kinampay, they will buy planting materials from other provinces whose palatability is different with the
Kinampay in Dauis, Panglao, Baclayon, Albur in Bohol which has and aromatic smell.

Oblena remarked that if this smuggling of Ubi Kinampay would not be stopped, time will come that there is no
pure Ubi Kinampay in the province which is the legacy from our forefathers . By Atoy Cosap

The 94 nominees for the Suhid sa Malampusong Mag-uumang Bol-anon search 2024 will be evaluated starting
tomorrow.

The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) had just created the evaluation teams coming from the
employees of the said office and representatives from agri-line agencies such as: Department of Agriculture (DA) 7,
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) 7, and from the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) 7.
The 94 nominees will vie for the 22 different categories of the tilt with prizes at stake to include cash and farm
equipment.

The 22 categories with its corresponding prizes are the following: Outstanding Farmers Association Program
Based with a cash prize of P15, 000 + Garden Cultivator and Power Tiller (mud boat), Outstanding 4-H club (P15,
000 + Garden Cultivator), Outstanding Fishermen’s Association (P15, 000 + 2 units of 16 HP Marine Engine Mega
and 2 units of Chest Type Freezer), Outstanding Organic Practitioners Association (P15, 000 + Garden Cultivator
and Hand Tractor), Outstanding Organic Agriculture Individual Pactitioner (P10, 000 + Garden Cultivator),
Outstanding Farmer on Integrated Rice Based-Farming System (P5, 000 + Power Tiller (mud boat) and Hand
Tractor with Trailer), Outstanding Hybrid Corn Farmer (P5, 000 + Corn Sheller), Outstanding OPV Corn Farmer
(P5, 000 + Corn Sheller), Outstanding Integrated High Value Crops Farmer (P5, 000 + Garden Cultivator),
Outstanding Cacao Grower (P5, 000 + Mechanical Pruner), Outstanding Cassava Farmer (P5, 000 + Hand Tractor),
Outstanding Banana Grower (P5, 000 + Garden Cultivator), Outstanding Ubi Grower (P5, 000 + Garden Cultivator),
Outstanding Tilapia Culture Commercial Pond (P5, 000 + HDPE Liner/Pond Liner 1.5mm 5.8mx50m),
Outstanding Tilapia Culture Backyard Pond (P5, 000 + HDPE Liner/Pond Liner 1.5mm 5.8mx50m), Outstanding
Bangus Culture Cage (P5, 000 + 2 units of 16 HP Marine Engine Mega, Chest Type Freezer), Outstanding
Municipal Agriculturist (P5, 000 + Garden Cultivator), Outstanding Rural Rural Woman (P5, 000 + Garden
Cultivator), Outstanding Organic Technician (P5, 000 + Garden Cultivator), Outstanding Rice Technician (P5, 000 +
Garden Cultivator), Outstanding Corn Technician (P5, 000 + Garden Cultivator), and Outstanding HVCDP
Technician (P5, 000 + Garden Cultivator).

This will be the second year of the tilt that the Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh) through the OPA will
give the additional farm equipment aside from the cash prizes to the winners of the SUHID.

According to Acting Head-OPA Larry M. Pamugas after the evaluation, the results will be consolidated and
ranked to find out who will be the winners of the 22 categories. Only those who will emerge as the number one of
each of the category will receive the prizes.

There were supposed to be 24 categories of this year’s search but there were no nominees for the Outstanding
Fishery Technician and Outstanding Bangus Culture Pond submitted from the Municipal Agriculturists/Municipal
Agricultural Officers (MAs/MAOs) to the OPA.

Dr. Pamugas said that the awarding and recognition to the winners is scheduled on the last week of October, 2024. By Atoy Cosap

Some 325 hectares (has.) of corn areas in the different towns of Bohol have been damaged after being attacked
by Fall Army Worm (FAW).

Based on the reported data from the Municipal Agriculture Offices received by the Office of the Provincial
Agriculturist (OPA), there are 11 municipalities whose corn areas have been affected with FAW to wit:  Getafe,
Dagohoy, Trinidad, Sierra-Bullones, Carmen, San Miguel, Dimiao, Valencia, Mabini, Danao, and Talibon.

The province of Bohol has 817.81 has. of planted corn areas this planting season scattered in the 43 known corn
municipalities namely: Alicia, Anda, Anteguera, Baclayon, Balilihan, Batuan, Bien Unido, Bilar, Buenavista,
Calape, Candijay, Carmen, Catigbian, Clarin, Corella, Cortes, Dagohoy, Danao, Dauis, Dimiao, Duero, Garcia
Hernandez, Getafe, Guindulman, Inabanga, Jagna, Loboc, Loon, Mabini, Maribojoc, Pilar, Pres. Carlos P. Garcia,
Sagbayan, San Isidro,Sam Miguel, Sevilla, Sierra-Bullones, Sikatuna, Panglao, Talibon, Trinidad, Ubay and
Valencia.

According to Leon Parac, Jr., Provincial Corn Coordinator that the pest attacked the whirling or vegetative stage
of planted corn and the extent of the damages to the existing standing crops of corn would be wider if the FAW
Quick Response Infestation Team could completely submit their reports.

Acting Head-OPA Larry M. Pamugas immediately created the team after receiving reports from the Municipal
Agriculturists/Municipal Agricultural Officers (MAs/MAOs the presence of FAW in their respective corn farms in
order to prevent or minimize the impact and extent of damage infestation to the existing corn areas in the province.

The members of the team who are all employees of OPA are designated to address with the following functions
to wit: coordinate the Regional Crop Protection Center for their possible intervention and technical support; conduct
extensive monitoring to the existing crops of corn; coordinate with the office of the MA for possible control of FAW
through any means on the assessment of the team; and submit daily report to Pamugas for the daily activities of the
team.

Fall Army Worm is a global invasive pest which can feed on more than 350 plant species including corn, rice
sorghum, sugarcane, and vegetable crops by feeding on leaves, fruits and grains causing significant yield loss if not
well managed.

The FAW can damage a seedling by chewing through its stem. It also defoliates corn leaves, damages the corn
tassel and corn ear cobs.

The Crop Pest Management Division (CPMD) of the Bureau of Plant Industry said the FAW infestation can be
suppressed through physical and cultural method (handpicking, destroying egg masses and larvae), biological
control (use of attractants and pheromones, use of parasite, parasitoids, predators and entomopathogens), chemical
control (botanical pesticides, inorganic pesticides).

Spray some botanical insecticides to manage the FAW infestation and apply insecticides approved by Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) only when needed based on economic threshold, according to CPMD. By Atoy Cosap

The Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh) through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) could
not conduct Cloud Seeding Operations (CSOs) despite the experienced dry spell of Bohol because the province is
not under the State of Calamity (SoC).
During the meeting of the Bohol Provincial Task Force on El Niño yesterday at the Ceremonial Hall, 3 rd Floor,
New Capitol Building, Cogon, Tagbilaran City participated by the representatives from National Irrigation
Administration (NIA), Department of Agriculture (DA), Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), Bureau of Fisheries
and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (PDRRMO), National Food
Authority (NFA), Provincial Health Office (PHO), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR),
Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Office of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development (OPSWD), Bohol
Water and Utilities, Inc. (BWUI), and OPA. It was found out that there have been none crops damages being
reported.

Engr. Maria Donesa Autida from NIA Region 7 said that they have not received any report from farmers group
of crops damages so as with the DA according to Cecil Opada of DA – Provincial Agricultural Technology
Coordination Office (PATCO).

Engr. Autida reported that the four major dams in Bohol: Malinao Dam in Pilar, Bayongan Dam in Pilar,
Capayas Dam in Ubay, and Talibon Dam in Zamora, Talibon and even the Communal Irrigation Systems (CISs) in
Binliw and Ilaya in Ubay and the Ilijan Reservoir Irrigation System in Ilijan, Tubigon have enough water level to
supply the necessary needs for the reproductive stage of crops standing until harvest this dry cropping season and
the remaining irrigation could possibly use for land preparation to selected irrigated areas in the next wet copping
season while waiting the normal rainfall condition on June forecast by PAG-ASA.

Autida disclosed that in the province there are 19,000 hectates (has.) are irrigated areas of which only 17,500
has. were being planted and the 1,500 has. had not been planted because they are located at the elevated areas.
Opada said that Bohol has 58,222 has. total rice areas of which 30,000 has. of these are rainfed which surely
face problem when dry spell condition would continue on June.

Leonardo Samar reported that Mature El Niño is expected to continue and show signs of weakening. Majority
of global climate models suggest that El Niño will likely persist until March-April-May 2024 season with a
transition to ENSO-neutral in April-May-June 2024 season.

Samar added that based on their forecast Rainfall conditions, Bohol will experience below normal rainfall on
March-May 2024 and on June-August 2024, Bohol will experience near normal rainfall conditions in most part of
the country; and Visayas: higher probability for above normal in June and August except July where below normal.
It was recommended by the Task Force that the monitoring will continue as the declaration of the State of
Calamity as of the moment is still premative.

The task force emphasized that the damage reports are necessary for the declaration of SoC as the major
requirement for the release of the Quick Response Fund (QFR) worth P2.5M and the P5M ready fund from DA
through Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) for the Cloud Seeding Operations (CSOs). (Atoy Cosap)

EL NINO TASK FORCE MEETING. Dr. Anthony R. Damalerio, Head-PDRRMO, presided over the meeting
of the Bohol Provincial Task Force on El Nino as Gov. Erico Aristotle C. Aumentado, the Chairman, was on his trip in
Germany as the task force has recommended to still continue monitoring the effects of dry spell to agriculture before
taking possible declaration of State of Calamity for the conduct of cloud seeding operations.