DA chief shares with carapreneurs strategies to level up agri sector

Dr. William Dar, the newly appointed secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA), visited the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) to share some of his “new thinking” strategies in the agriculture sector, which he once handled during the administration of Joseph Estrada.

In a program held on August 29 at the center’s national headquarters in the Science City of Muñoz (SCM), Nueva Ecija (NE), the returning DA chief imparted with carapreneurs (a portmanteau derived from ‘carabao’ and ‘entrepreneur’) his schemes to achieve his twin objectives or strategies called “ani at kita” (harvest and income) for clients.

Servant-leader “Manong Willie” as he prefers to be called, tackled in his speech national issues particularly on declining palay farm gate prices with emphasis on Republic Act (RA) 11203 or the “Rice Tariffication Law” that establishes the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Program (RCEP).

He said that RA 11203 allocates Php10 billion per year for RCEP for the next six years. Of the Php10 billion, Php5 billion would be invested for farm mechanization, Php3 billion for the provision of high-yielding seeds, Php1 billion for credit support, and Php1 billion for training of rice farmers.

He also shared the department’s agenda for his first 100 days as agriculture chief such as the proper implementation of the Rice Trade Liberalization Law, skills enhancement of farmers and fisherfolk, meeting with top 30 governors of rice producing provinces and strengthening partnership with the private sector, among others.

In pursuit of inclusive growth and development, Manong Willie had recently put forward eight paradigms that make up the “new thinking” for Philippine agriculture to help realize the DA’s vision of a food-secure country with prosperous farmers and fisherfolk.

These are modernization of agriculture, industrialization of agriculture, promotion of exports, consolidation of small-and medium-sized farms, infrastructure development, higher budget and investments for agriculture, pro-poor legislative support, and road map development.

PCC Executive Director Dr. Arnel Del Barrio, on the other hand, shared PCC’s commitment to the new thinking for carabao value chain players.

He mentioned some of PCC’s program, projects, and activities that are aligned to the eight paradigms. (for further details see http://www.pcc.gov.ph/new-thinking-the-pcc-way/)

Meanwhile, Manong Willie commended PCC for strengthening its alignment with the new thinking for Philippine agriculture.

“PCC is one of the best performing agencies under the DA with support from the provincial government,” he said.

He also opened the avenue for local government unit of the SCM to encourage institutions of agriculture in the city to have a city-wide-agriculture extension system that will be part of the provincial agricultural extension system.

“Bring them together and I’m now directing them to really sustain the image of SCM as a science city and be a model of using modern technology,” he averred.

Present during the program were Agriculture Spokesperson Noel Reyes, Regional Technical Director Crispulo G. Bautista Jr., Provincial Governor Aurelio Umali, San Jose Mayor Kokoy Salvador, SCM Mayor Nestor Alvarez, Senior Technical Adviser Dr. Santiago Obien, Central Luzon State University President (CLSU) Dr. Tereso Abella, Former CLSU President Dr. Fortunato Battad, City Veterinarian Dr. Jerry Rigos, Provincial Agriculturist Serafin Santos, Private Entrepreneur Danilo Fausto, PHilMech Executive Director Dr. Baldwin Jallorina, PhilRice Acting Executive Director Dr. Sailila Abdula, carapreneurs from Simula ng Panibagong Bukas Primary Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Eastern Primary Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Catalanacan Multi-Purpose Cooperative and Pulong Buli Primary Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Lamac Multi-Purpose Cooperative, and PCC officials and staff.

Carabao-based Family Business Owner Leoncio Callo, Lamac MPC General Manager Elen Limocon, and ACDI Multipurpose Cooperative were also invited in the program.

PCC at CMU gets ISO 9001:2015 Certification

MARAMAG, BUKIDNON—The TÜV Rheinland recently awarded the Philippine Carabao Center at Central Mindanao University (PCC@CMU) with ISO 9001:2015 Certification valid from July 5, 2019 to July 4, 2022.

The center received the official notice of results, Friday, July 5, including the attached copy of audit report. Mary Grace Balobalo, lead auditor together with Rhene Rose Zara led the Stage 2 Certification survey visit last May 2-4, 2019.

TÜV Rheinland is the accrediting company, which worked as an external auditor of the center. According to its website this company is an independent expert’s stand for quality and safety for people, technology and the environment in nearly all aspects of life.

They also inspected the technical equipment, products and services, oversee projects, and help to shape processes and information security for companies.

“This certificate is a proof that what we are doing is good. We will continue to strive harder for our clients who rightfully deserve efficient and effective service,” said Dr. Lowell C. Paraguas, center director of PCC@CMU.

“This is also in response to Executive Order 605 of 2007, which directed all government agencies to adopt the ISO standards as part of the implementation of the government-wide quality management programs,” he added.

The ISO 9001:2015 is focused on risk-based thinking wherein the organizations are now encouraged to use risk analysis in order to address challenges in their business processes besides meeting the customer’s expectations.

The scope of certification includes the following areas: Carabao crossbreeding and strengthening of water buffalo genepool; research for development; enterprise development (provision of social and technical trainings, artificial insemination, bull loan, animal health, semen distribution; supply of various products such as female buffaloes and processing and sales of milk and milk products).

The PCC@CMU`s Quality Management System team was composed of Dr. Paraguas, Vicenta Canatoy, Quality Management Representative (QMR); Thelma Bagongon, Document Control Officer (DCO); Dr. Elena Paraguas, lead auditor and other key staff.

PCC at CMU launches the first ever dairy box in Bukidnon

To widen, promote and increase the market of buffalo dairy products in the province, the Philippine Carabao Center at Central Mindanao University (PCC@CMU) inaugurated the first ever dairy box in Bukidnon at the Door 2, Echalico Building, Sayre Highway, Don Carlos, Bukidnon last July 26.

“This opportunity offered by the PCC to all carapreneurs and cooperatives within the locality to promote the dairy products was in response to imminent and growing demand for locally produced milk,” said by Dr. Lowell C. Paraguas, center director of PCC@CMU during the soft opening of the outlet.

According to Dr. Paraguas, the center will manage the outlet within a year, thereafter, it will be turned over to Muleta Side Buffalo Dairy Association (MUSBUDA) and Don Carlos Buffalo Dairy Farmers Association (DCBDFA) as target beneficiaries.

Meanwhile, the main objective of the Dairy Box is to mainstream the locally produced and processed dairy products of its surrounding community. The outlet sells products such as white cheese, pastillas, fresh milk, flavoured milk (ube, pandan, melon,and strawberry) and other consignment products.

Speaking before the members of MUSBUDA and DCBDFA, Leni Baylo, agricultural technician of Don Carlos shared that hardwork, determination and honesty are the keys to success in this kind of business.

“I hope that the associations will take this project seriously since PCC gave their full support and effort to assist them on how to market their dairy products strategically,” she added.

Moreover, Hon. Rex Mercadera, vice mayor of the municipality of Don Carlos also graced the event and mentioned about the request of Dr. Paraguas to build a mini-processing facility for the associations.

“Putting up a mini-processing facility in the area is very essential to the associations for them to process their own products. We will give our 100% support for the sustainability of this project in our municipality,” Mercadera added.

More than a hundred people have attended and visited the outlet during the launch, which also witnessed the blessings of the two-storey building led by Reverend Father Angel Cumabig. The store is open to the public (Monday to Sunday) from 8am to 5pm.