SAADvocacy For Agriculture & Fishery Prosperity In Antique, Apayao, Bukidnon, Davao De Oro, Kalinga, Lanao Del Norte, Occidental Mindoro, Samar, Sarangani, Siquijor, Sultan Kudarat, Surigao Del Sur, Zamboanga Del Norte

This is the first time in my writing & editing career of almost 5 decades, print as well as digital, when I have a long titlefor anything I have written, essay or technical paper or book: 30 words. Why? Because I’m excited by the news as well as the online newsletter – congrats to Jhomai S Canlas, Editor-in-Chief!

Above, you are looking at the cover of SAADvocacy, “The official newsletter of the Special  Area for Agricultural Development Program” (SAAD) of the Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA), which is under Secretary of Agriculture William Dar, since August 2019. A biannual, this is Vol 3 Issue 6.1, available online, downloadable, free. The cover headline says Misamis Occidental farmers are to receive strawberry production interventions from SAAD, which is a DA program designed to encourage and assist farmers and fishers to have and to hold livelihood projects and enterprises. I don’t know him from Adam, but I can see Myer G Mula is inspiring as Program Director.

In this SAADvocacy issue, 12 pages in all, we can read on these pages:
3 – “11-day Validation Sets SAAD CAR Implementation Standards“
4 – “Siguijor Farmers Take A Step Towards Agripreneurship”
6 – “Four Fisherfolk Cooperatives In LDN Earn More Than Php 3M”
10 – “SAAD Association In Apayao Calls For Greener Prosperity, (Provides) Health Care To Famished Children”

SAAD is fruitful and multiplies!

Of the total 81 provinces of the  Philippines, SAAD has a priority of 30:

1.     Agusan del Sur

2.     Antique

3.     Apayao

4.     Bohol

5.     Bukidnon

6.     Catanduanes

7.     Davao De Oro

8.     Eastern Samar

9.     Kalinga

10. Lanao del Norte

11. Lanao del Sur

12. Leyte

13. Maguindanao

14. Masbate

15. Misamis Occidental

16. Mt Province

17. Negros Occidental

18. Negros Oriental

19. North Cotabato

20. Northern Samar

21. Occidental Mindoro

22. Oriental Mindoro

23. Sarangani

24. Sorsogon

25. Southern Leyte

26. Sultan Kudarat

27. Sulu

28. Surigao del Sur

29. Western Samar

30. Zamboanga del Norte.

Here is an example of how SAAD works, as written by Ruth Esther Bermundo, SAAD Region 10 Information Officer:

Misamis Occidental, 26 May 2021 – Forty-five farmers in Don Victoriano are set to receive from the Department of Agriculture-Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program’s Strawberry Production Project this 3^rd quarter to support the existing production in the area… A total of Php 771,000 worth of strawberry seedlings, knapsack sprayer, plastic mulch, shovel, seedling tray, garden net, plastic drum, sprinkler, and polyethylene… bags will be delivered.

Municipal Agriculturist Nylvyn Tugano expressed his gratitude (for) the implementation of the program in the municipality… With its unspoiled land, the town is situated in the highlands with conducive climatic conditions suited to high-value crops such as strawberries, potatoes, cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower…

SAAD recognizes the potentials in its pilot provinces – amidst the poverty. 

The DA fully funds SAAD – If the USAID or World Bank contributed some millions to the program, it would be more fruitful and multiply more!@517

Overwhelming – UPLB’s “2nd International Conference On Governance And Development”

UPLB’s College of Public Affairs & Development (CPAf) sponsored last March 21-25 “The 2nd International Conference on Governance Development (ICGD2)” held via Zoom and Facebook Live. “Overwhelming” is my one word for it. Watch now!

Trisha Jasmin DM Cañeda has written about it – “DOST-PCAARRD Supports The 2nd International Conference On Governance And Development[1]” (15 June 2021, PCAARRD.dost.gov.ph). Ms Trisha writes that PCAARRD supported the governance and development (GaD) conference that was co-sponsored by the Philippine Extension and Advisory Services Network. The GaD conference was for “addressing the challenges due to the Covid-19 pandemic to governance actors and… society through identifying innovative teaching technologies in the ‘new normal.’”

Great! I’m an old blogger (since 2005) and an ancient teacher (UPLB ‘65), so I appreciate the new aim of “identifying innovative teaching technologies in the ‘new normal.’”

“Innovative teaching technologies.” So, Ms Trisha tells us PCAARRD and UPLB worked together in holding the GaD conference with the theme “Governance For Development In Post-Pandemic Communities: Innovations For The New Future” and 3 sub-themes: “Emergent Governance Issues And Innovations,” 2) “Innovation Systems In The New Future,” and 3) “Development Dilemmas For Communities, Lessons Learned, And Promising Insights And Perspectives For The New Future.”

“Perspectives For The New Future.” Very ambitious. There is more where all that comes from – Ms Trisha says more than 100 papers were presented in those 5 days in March. On one hand, UPLB Chancellor Jose V Camacho opened the event and “highlighted the importance of translating the lessons learned from the pandemic into sustainable policies.” On the other hand. PCAARRD Executive Director Reynaldo V Ebora  “emphasized the essence of practicing governance foresight in preparing for future opportunities and threats.” The keynote speaker was Claudia Nancy Avellaneda of Paul H O’ Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs of Indiana University; USA, and she “shared her expertise in governance and public management in developing countries.”

Ms Trisha says:

The virtual conference served as a venue for exchanging perspectives and insights on governance as a development input and (an) outcome in an envisioned post-pandemic future.

And that, my dear, is the problem. From 100 papers, how is anyone going to distill the presentations and write some consolidated recommendations?

Even I, with a minimum of 30 years actual experience in all-digital writing, editing and desktop publishing, will have a hell of a time!

As convenor, CPAf could have asked for advanced copies of individual summaries of those 100 papers – even at 1 page summary each, that would mean 100 pages to work on. But it would have been workable.

But the deed is done, and what is left is a lesson:

For a digital conference, among other people, you need the services of a Versatile All-Around Digital Writer and Editor from Beginning to End.

Then you could have your Digital Conference come out in a combined, condensed digital file that could be distributed in a portable document format (Adobe) andcommercially printed (on paper). All I can tell CPAf and PCAARRD right now is:

Experience is the best teacher!@517

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[1]http://www.pcaarrd.dost.gov.ph/home/portal/index.php/quick-information-dispatch/3768-dost-pcaarrd-supports-the-2nd-international-conference-on-governance-and-development?fbclid=IwAR1_ZwHplgV6SU16dbb77SPJ-AdnU9bBw2UYrNuC043E7okoXuVhP1Chgpw

World Bank On PRDP As “Model For Capacity Building” – Congrats, Secretary William Dar!

Above, in the issue of Philippines Economic Update June 2021, the World Bank features the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) as “A Model for Capacity Building.” The PRDP is funded by the World Bank and implemented by the Department of Agriculture (DA). Congratulations, Secretary of Agriculture William Dar!

A total of 56 pages, the Update says in the Preface:

The Philippines Economic Update… summarizes key economic and social developments, important policy changes, and the evolution of external conditions over the past six months. It also presents findings from recent World Bank analyses, situating them in the context of the country’s long-term development trends and assessing their implications for the country’s medium-term economic outlook. The update covers issues ranging from macroeconomic management and financial-market dynamics to the complex challenges of poverty reduction and social development. It is intended to serve the needs of a wide audience, including policymakers, business leaders, private firms and investors, and analysts and professionals engaged in the social and economic development of the Philippines.

Here is what the Update body says on the PRDP, in Box 10:

The Philippine Rural Development Program: A Model for Capacity Building

The PRDP is the national government’s flagship project for agriculture and rural development and provides best practice examples for capacity building. The PRDP promotes sustainable and equitable growth in productivity and the income of farmers and (fisherfolk) through science-based planning and synergistic partnerships among national government agencies, provincial and municipal governments, and the private sector. The PRDP has championed the local government’s adoption of science-based tools and provided them with the capacity to establish systematic and objective decision-support platforms devoid of political biases. This has allowed local government’s to design holistic roadmaps for local agricultural development, which are embodied in the Provincial Commodity Investment Plans.

“Devoid of political biases.” Well and good.

But the PRDP is only one of major national concerns in our archipelago today. Yes, I have a major problem with this World Bank update: Its intense total is economic. As a poor man’s son, I appreciate it, but man does not live on bread alone, even as the Bible says. The June 2021 report does notcover the social dimensions of the Philippines today while “navigating a challenging recovery.”

I trace this World Bank’s lack of sociological development coverage of my country to the fact that the team that produced the Update is made up of all economists.

The team leader, Kevin Chua, is a Senior Economist, and the rest of the team is made up of 29 other economists, from Kevin Cruz (Economist) to peer reviewer Chadi Bou Habib(Senior Economist) to Kai Kaiser (also Senior Economist). With inputs from other economists.

Aside from the exclusive economic coverage, there is another not-so-glaring if unintentional construction – the exclusive technical content. The Update’s appreciative readers are only those who understand economics. Only economists understand economists.

And so, those of us who are not economics savvy are having an extremely difficult time understanding and/or appreciating this World Bank report. Better luck next time!@517

Here’s DoST Accounting For Its Institutional Accomplishments In The Last 63 Years!

15 June 2021 – The Department of Science & Technology (DoST) is celebrating “63 Years Of Serving The People Through Science, Technology, And Innovation.” I ask: What exactly is/are there to celebrate for? DoST is not saying!

The image above, from the Facebook page of DoST itself, “#ScienceForThePeople,” is as is: Empty. Somebody forgot? Or somebody didn’t do his/her homework! “63 years of serving the people through science, technology and innovation,” and all that can be shown is an empty (an incomplete) circle? There must be a good explanation, and I am going to search for it now.

(1)  No, it is not for lack of warm bodies!

DoST has the following attached agencies[1] (Biosafety Clearinghouse of the Philippines):

2 councils: Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research & Development (PCIEERD); Philippine Council for Health Research & Development (PCHRD);

11 service institutes:

(1)   Advanced Science & Technology Institute (ASTI)

(2)   Food & Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI)

(3)   Forest Products Research & Development Institute (FPRDI)

(4)   Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI)

(5)   Metals Industry Research & Development Center (MIRDC)

(6)   Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical & Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA)

(7)   Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI)

(8)   Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI)

(9)   Science Education Institute (SEI)

(10)  Science & Technology Information Institute (STII)

(11)  Technology Application and Promotion Institute (TAPI).

(2)  No, it is not for lack of accomplishments.

Not complete, but here is proof. “DOST Bares 5 Major Achievements In 2017” written by Ma Christina Arayata  (01 January 2018, PNA.gov.ph):

1.   Research & development (R&D) assistance – DoST assisted more than 1,000 R&D projects undertaken by its 11 attached agencies.

2.  Assistance to MSMEs – For 2017 alone, DoST provided 574 firms with hardware and software to upgrade their technology capacities.

3.  Assistance to startups – DoST assisted 400 startups in 2017, with money, services, calibration etc.

4.  Human resource development – The same year, the DoST provided scholarship funds to 22,000 students.

5. Weather radars– “To further improve weather forecasting capacity,” 4 Doppler radars and 2 flood forecasting & warning centers were completed in 2017.

(3) In 2019, there were signal accomplishments in the fields of transportation, healthcare, and disaster mitigation.

The Philippines ranked #50 in the Global Innovation Index (GII), up by 19 notches from 73 in 2018 and 2017[2] (Ma Christina Arayata, 03 September 2020, “PH Up 4 Notches To 50th Place In 2020 Global Innovation Index,” PNA.gov.ph). GII is based on 7 pillars: institutions, human capital and research, infrastructure, business sophistication, market sophistication, knowledge and technology outputs, and creative outputs.

My listing is incomplete, but it shows there is much to report. So, why the lack of a combined 63-year DoST report? Guessing:

(1)  Science heads were wary of health threats of Covid-19 in gatherings. So, no serious attempts to meet.

(2)  Nobody in DoST has mastered digital desktop publishing 100%. This is the technique of gathering texts & images, data & information, and combining all those for the agency’s consolidated report, safely digitally,

Safely, I am charging it to DoST’s pandemic distraction!@517

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[1]https://bch.dost.gov.ph/agency-links/attached-agencies

[2]https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1114214

PH Lesson: How To Assist Indigenous Peoples? Help Them Help Themselves!

Same assistances, different peoples. That is what the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) are jointly doing for the great many PH indigenous tribes from Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao.

The assistance is to generate livelihoods and at the same time “safeguard the customs, traditions, values, beliefs, and interests of the communities,” says Edelmira Luminarias, DA Caraga 4K Program Focal Person (Kent Warren H Fugoso, 27 February 2021, “Bridging Knowledge, Closing The Gap: IPs In Agriculture,” PIA.gov.ph). Caraga is in northeastern Mindanao.

I am looking at 3 reports on the communities of indigenous peoples (IPs): from Bataan, Caraga, and Surigao. In these and other locations, the DA has partnered with the NCIP.

In Bataan, according to the PIA, the partnership has launched a program with a very long name! 32 words in all: “Ayta Ambala Kabuhayan at Kaunlaran para sa Kababayang Katutubo Indigenous Peoples Culturally Responsive, Socioeconomic, Ecology, Agro-Aqua Technology, and Special Services Integrated Ancestral Domain Development Approach (4Ks-IP CREATESS IADDA)[1]” (Big News Network). I would spell “Ayta” as “Aeta.” “Integrated Ancestral Domain Development Approach” – I take it that “integrated” signifies that no projects stand alone, and “development approach” means everything must be sustainable: technically feasible, economically viable, environmentally sound, and socially acceptable. Nothing less.

In short, the program is “Kabuhayan at Kaunlaran para sa Kababayang Katutubo” (4 Ks) – “Livelihood & Progress for Indigenous Compatriots” (my free translation). This is for all regions in the Philippines. Implemented from 2020 to 2022, 4 Ks is a 3-year nationwide  program to help indigenous communities develop. Initially, one community per province is identified as a pilot before the program is introduced on a wider scale.

JB Agrifino says in Benguet, Sitio Domolpos in Tinongdan, Itogon has been identified as a pilot area. attended to by the Domolpos Ansipsip Ancestral Domain Indigenous Peoples Organization (DA-CAR RAFIS, Facebook post). Necessary social preparations have been conducted within the month of May 2021 particularly on data gap analysis and need prioritization by the community. Domolpos is somewhat special in that the NCIP had initiated assistance in 2019 but still sees the area needs further help from government, according to 4 Ks Program Regional Focal Person Charles Picpican. In fact, the Domolpos 4 Ks is in an ancestral domain shared by Itogon, Benguet in Region CAR and Kayapa, Nueva Vizcaya in Region 2.

Thus, in Sitio Domolpos in Benguet, the cooperating IPs are set to receive an estimated  P9.5 million worth of packaged interventions from the 4 Ks Program: P3.6 million for crop production and P5.9 million for livestock and poultry.

For specific assistances, agricultural production interventions, particularly Arabica coffee and native pigs, were being readied for distribution to the beneficiaries of Domolpos. The coffee and native pigs were being produced at the Baguio Animal Breeding Research Station, one of the research outreach stations of DA-CAR, located in Dontogan, Baguio City.

Meanwhile, the identification of pilot areas in the remaining 5 CAR provinces are underway. Not to forget intended 4 Ks for all over the Philippines.@517

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[1]https://www.bignewsnetwork.com/news/269293592/da-ncip-provide-livelihood-assistance-to-ips-in-bataan

A-Okay Leadership & Followership In PH Agriculture Seen In Japan Meat Exports

11 June 2021, ANN says the latest good news from Secretary of Agriculture William Dar is this: “In addition to ‘chicken yakitori;’ the Philippines can now export processed meat products to Japan.”

The news is titled, “Phl Can Now Export Processed Meat Products To Japan[1]” (Author Not Named, DA.gov.ph). Now, let us read between the lines.

Why did it take so long?!

ANN says:

Since 2003, the Department of Agriculture (DA), through its National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS), has implemented the mandatory application of the HACCP program in all licensed “Triple A” (AAA) meat establishments. HACCP is a science-based, systematic protocol that identifies hazards and measures for their control to ensure food safety.

After 18 years, the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) certified that the Philippines has passed the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point-based (HACCP) hygiene management standards.

That tells us that it takes highly dedicated leadership to implement high standards of performance.

Mr Dar said:

We are pleased that we have successfully hurdled Japan’s stringent food safety and hygiene management standards.

This is definitely a big boost for our livestock producers, and food manufacturers, meat processors and exporters, as we continue to look for market opportunities to jumpstart the country’s economic recovery amid the pandemic.

The HACCP go-ahead is good for PH meat producers, food makers and meat processors all the way to the exporters. During and after the pandemic.

It is also a testament to our commitment in providing safe, healthy and world-class quality food for both domestic and export markets, and Japan is a discriminating market. Thus, we look forward to penetrating more export markets.

Now then, meeting HACCP standards, the Philippines can now start exporting beef, carabeef, pork, chevon, mutton and their by-products to the Land of the Rising Sun. Article 11 of Japan’s Food Sanitation Law provides that only meat products applying HACCP procedures and protocols may be imported into the country.

According to NMIS Director Jocelyn Salvador, before the HACCP thumbs-up was given for processed meat products, Japan only accepted PH chicken meat, mainly used for grilling as “yakitori.” For yakitori, bite-sized pieces of chicken, beef, pork and other meats or fish are put on skewers, which are then grilled and served.

Ms Jocelyn said:

The HACCP certification implies that the systems of certification of the Philippines are (now) at par with global standards. The significance of this move by Tokyo is that they rely upon and trust our systems of certification. This means that if the Philippines certifies certain establishments and meat products, Japan will automatically accept this certification without question.

As of today, there are at least 70 PH meat establishments – including slaughterhouses, meat-cutting plants, poultry dressing plants, and cold storage facilities – that have “AAA” certification from the PH DA NMIS, and the list has been furnished to Japan’s MHLW.

Mr Dar said:

This is a victory, and we are now reaping the rewards of the DA’s continuing efforts to educate Philippine food manufacturers to adhere to global food safety standards.@517

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[1]https://www.da.gov.ph/phl-can-now-export-processed-meat-products-to-japan/?fbclid=IwAR23wITaN3Sg5ahokdpPAeTZ49YYEYq5wylbuQW7eR-M_6_C2HKIO7HD4G4

12 June 1898 – Is It The Day Philippine Independence Was Proclaimed? No!

Saturday, 12 June 2021, we are celebrating a flawed declaration of Philippine Independence – and you were ignorant of that! I am proud being a Filipino, but I am not proud knowing the incorrecthistory of my country!

No, in the town of Cavite-Viejo, Province of Cavite, on the 12th day of June 1898, what was executed was not a “Declaration of Philippine Independence” but a “Declaration of Philippine Dependence.” 2 letters make an historic difference – It’s time to know correct history!

I had googled for “Philippine Independence Day” and reached the website of Filipino.biz.ph showing the document titled “Declaration of Philippine Independence.”

And this one has an un/pleasant surprise!

Why am I writing this article to correct an historical error when I am not an historian? Because I want you to know that as a journalist, I do not hesitate to search and search again and again for more facts and/or details when I am writing, especially now that we have the Internet as a limitless library and an indefatigable answerer of endless questions.

Because my kind of journalism drives me to historical accuracy – I call it THINK Journalism, and it goes like this:

True? If True is it
Helpful? If Helpful, is it
Inspiring? If Inspiring, is it
Necessary? If Necessary, is it
Kind? If Kind, by all means announce it!

Not True.

At Filipino.biz.ph, I am reading an English translation by Sulpicio Guevara. The 7^th paragraph of the Declaration says it all:

And having as witness to the rectitude of our intentions the Supreme Judge of the Universe, and under the protection of our Powerful and Humanitarian Nation, The United States of America, we do hereby proclaim and declare solemnly in the name by authority of the people of these Philippine Islands…

Those gentlemen, all 95 of them, from #1 Don Segundo Arellano to #95 Don Ladislao Diwa (including a double entry of Don Leon Tanjanque), by signing did “solemnly swear to recognize and defend it (the country) unto the last drop of their blood.”

I quote again: “under the protection of our Powerful and Humanitarian Nation, The United States of America” – there is no mistaking it, that while those 95 gentlemen are declaring these islands’ independence from Spain, they are at the same time invoking these islands’ dependence on the USA!

Not Helpful.

No Sir, the Declaration of Philippine Independence in 1898 did not happen as these Filipino historians claim: Teodoro Agoncillo, Encarnacion Alzona, Renato Constantino,  Horacio dela Costa, Reynaldo Ileto, Ambeth Ocampo, Carlos Quirino, Nicolas Zafra, and Gregorio Zaide.

Not Inspiring enough.

The desire for Independence was inspiring, but from one master to another? From Mother Spainto Uncle Sam!

Was Necessary.

In any case, I’m glad it happened. Under Spain, we were stunted growing as a nation.

Was Kind, Historically.

This declaration paved the way for the USA to completely rule the Philippine Islands in the next 48 years, and we Filipinos learned many American ways: Democracy, Bill of Rights, American English. For those and more, personally, I am glad!@517