October - December 2016 Vol. 25 No. 4 President Rodrigo LGU Sorsogon Duterte meets the local chief executives and selected wins P1million as farmers of Camarines Sur “Be Riceponsible” at the Provincial Capitol in Cadlan, Pili, Camarines Sur, advocacy champion three days after typhoon Nina ravaged Bicol. Photo The provincial government shows President Duterte of Sorsogon, Bicol’s lone entry consulting agriculture to the DA-Philippine Rice secretary Manny F. Piñol on Research Institute (PhilRice) DA’s rehabilitation funds. nationwide BeRiceponsible Search for Best Advocacy Campaign was adjudged as champion under the Provincial Government category and won P1 Million cash prize. Hazel V. Antonio, director Pres. Duterte allocates P500 million of the Be RICEponsible campaign led the awarding ceremony which was held at for typhoon Nina rehab in Bicol PhilRice in Nueva Ecija on by Emily B. Bordado (Please turn to page 15) Typhoon Nina devastated three Bicol provinces and wrought heavy damage on the agriculture sector. FULL FLEDGED. Final damage report shows that the number of Agriculture farmers affected from the province of Camarines Sur, Secretary Catanduanes and Albay is 86,735. Of this, 73,757 are rice Emmanuel farmers; 8,387 corn farmers and 4,002 are high value F. Piñol crop farmers. The value of production loss is estimated administered at over P5.1 billion. the oath of office to The total rice area affected planting anew. The assistance our beloved is 59,528.23 hectare; for corn will be in the form of palay Regional 12,727.17 hectare and for seeds to be distributed to the Executive high value crops including affected farmers. Director (RED) vegetables and fruit trees, The president also asked Elena B. de 13,337 hectares have been the recommendation of los Santos as affected. full-fledged Agriculture Secretary Manny Director IV of President Rodrigo Duterte Pinol to increase the amount Department who flew in to Catanduanes by another P50 million if of Agriculture and Camarines Sur 3 days after there is a need for it. But in Regional Field the typhoon has announced the a later statement released by Office No. 5. release of P50 million from the Sec. Piñol, this amount was national government to help increased to P500 million. farmers recoup their losses by (Please turn to page 5) De los Santos is new RED of DA Bicol Dr. Elena B. de los degree in Agriculture major Santos is the newly appointed in Animal Husbandry at the Regional Executive Director of Central Bicol State University the Department of Agriculture of Agriculture major in Animal Bicol. Her appointment as full- Husbandry. She obtained a fledged RED was signed by Master’s degree in Animal President Rodrigo Duterte last Science from the University September 28, 2016. of the Philippines at Los A very simple and unassuming Baños, and a doctor’s degree but well-organized and smart in Development Management lady, Dr. de los Santos is very from the Bicol University. much qualified, and honed for New Through DA admin diligence grounds and the job having been with the dedicationand driveway. she rose from the Old building. department for the past 36 years. (Please turn to page 11) She finished her Bachelor’s The new administration building EDITORIAL Towards a responsible and whereabouts, their travel escapades even on official time and worst in prudent use of social media the company of people they are not Social media is indeed one of are becoming more and more addicted supposed to be mingling with them, the significant developments in to using it. A lot of what could have much so going on leisure trip with them this generation. One of the most been productive time are wasted at because these people have business important advantages of this media work, in school and at home. It is dealings with the office. Even if these is the speed and efficiency in which it also causing relationship problems. travels are made on personal time and allows communication between and Family members even though they expense public employees must have a among people by bridging geographical are sharing the same roof and even sense of delicadeza and must be discreet distances. Breaking news, trends, room are no longer interacting with because under the Code of Conduct videos, photos and other urgent and each other as they are so preoccupied and Ethical Standards (Re. 6713) important information and just about and glued to their personal computer government employees “shall endeavor anything can go viral and can spread interacting with people they meet only to discourage wrong perceptions of like wildfire on social media sites. through the social media. Indeed, this their roles as dispensers or peddlers of Through the social media people social media mania is driving wedges undue patronage. Moreover, officials stay connected to friends and families into people’s real life. Online social and employees and their families shall in today’s fast paced world usually for interactions have not only been starting lead modest lives appropriate to their free or at very minimal cost. It is also a new relationship, but also ending many positions and income. They shall not great way to meet new people and seek existing relationships. indulge in extravagant or ostentatious out groups who share common cause Some people are also using social display of wealth in any form.” or same interests. Social media is also media as their wall, plaftform or We are thus in support of the an invaluable promotional tool as it bulletin board to flaunt the good Memorandum Order of Assistant can reach large and diverse number of things (real or imagined, legit or Secretary for Operations and PRDP people. illicit activities and affairs) they have. National Project Director Ariel T. Social media is also a useful tool Any little bit of accomplishments, Cayanan anent the observance of for farmers and those engaged in milestone, travels, celebrations, prudence on the use of social media agribusiness as it an important and occasions, food, new acquisitions or during official travels /activities being inexpensive source of information just about anything even trivial and conducted by the PRDP. This should about technologies, good practices and inane and crazy or bizarre things are also be adopted by all DA officials and market information. It is also a very posted on the fb or tweeter. Modesty employees. effective channel to connect with buyers humility and decency are indeed dying As Amy Jo Martin aptly puts it: or consumers and suppliers. With its virtues. “Social media is changing the way various platforms, social media can Many social media users however we communicate and the way we be used to share information and give are also unwittingly exposing their are perceived, both positively and directives or directions to a number of personal details and activities on negatively. Every time you post a people and get immediate response. line thus, incriminating and putting photo, or update your status, you But social media has also its themselves under the critical scrutiny are contributing to your own digital downside especially when used of the public. There are government footprint and personal brand.” irresponsibly. One of the adverse employees for example who have the Let us therefore be judicious and effects of social media is that people penchant of posting or bragging their responsible in using the social media. Published quarterly by the Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Information Division of the Department of Agriculture, Regional Field Unit No. 5, San Agustin, Pili, Camarines Sur, Tel No.(054) 477-5113 Fax 477-0381 E-mail Address: [email protected] Re-entered as a Second Class Mail Matter at the Pili Post Office, Pili, Camarines Surunder Editor-in-Chief: Emilia B. Bordado Permit No. 2014-13 on March 26, 2014. Advisers: Writers: Lovella P. Guarin Illustrators: Hermito Antonio T. Privaldos Dr. Elena B. Delos Santos Jayson M. Gonzales Ramon C. Adversario Regional Executive Director Blesilda A. Nuñez Annielyn L. Baleza Circulation: Blesilda A. Nuñez Dr. Edgar R. Madrid Michelle Angela G. Alfigura Lita V. Estrella, Regional Technical Director Bernard Enrique for Research and Regulations Lay-out Artist: Lovella P. Guarin Emil Pasumbal, Photographer/Liason Officer: Salvacion Gonowon Eduardo D. Collantes, Jr. Records Unit 2 UMAsenso October - December 2016 Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) PRDP-Bicol has biggest share in South Luzon’s VCAs, I-REAP project proposals by the PRDP to provide a snapshot of the (I-REAP) component made the biggest industry from production to marketing. contribution of 62 percent to the cluster’s These VCAs are now being translated I-REAP portfolio with a total of 17 sub- into Provincial Commodity Investment projects amounting to P45.98 million. Also Plans (PCIPs), a three-year rolling highlighted were the significant impacts of consensus plan between the Department PRDP-Bicol I-REAP sub-projects’ dry run World Bank Task Team of Agriculture and local government operations. The Abaca Fiber Processing Leader Frauke Jungbluth units (LGUs). As part of PRDP’s effort and Trading Enterprise, being managed by to advance reforms in government-led the Pinoy Lingap Damayan Multipurpose projects, PCIP is being positioned as a Cooperative in Virac, Catanduanes, for strategic plan for convergence. Hubilla example, has generated a net income worth PRDP-South Luzon is on top of the noted that PRDP-Bicol has generated P1.5 P1.18 million from January to October leaderboard among clusters in terms of billion on top of PRDP investments out of 2016. value chain analysis (VCA) approval. PCIPs. Lead Agriculture Economist and This was announced by Philippine Rural “The LGUs were able to fund PCIP World Bank Task Team Leader Frauke Development Project (PRDP) South even beyond PRDP budget/funding.