Regional Technical Working Group for the Recovery of Coconut-Based Livelihoods

MINUTES OF MEETING – THIRD TWG

Date: July 4, 2014, Time: 1:00 - 3:00 PM Venue: Dept. of Agriculture Crops Building, City Attendees: 24 Presiding: RM Jeffrey de los Reyes/Francis Fegarido, Jr., Jaime Montesur and Carmelita Fantilanan

Reading of previous minutes and Third CFTWG Minutes

The participants introduced themselves and approved the minutes of the second CTWG. The agenda included 5 items: review of previous minutes, review and approval of current agenda, updates from FAO/PCA, updates from the partners and other relevant matters. 24 people attended from four institutions including the Coconut Farmers Association. See annex 1 for the list of attendance and contact information.

Thereafter, Ms. Carmelita Fantilanan from the DA reiterated that the CTWG aims at providing services to Yolanda affected communities through the recovery and development period. She spoke about the ongoing support of Region VI and the upcoming interventions by the government and OPARR.

Updates from FAO and PCA (Philippine Coconut Authority)

Dr. Montesur announced the start of FAO's Coconut-Based Livelihood Program and introduced the team headed by himself, Dr. Edna Aguila, and Ms. Brenda Saquing. Program/Field Officers: Kathy Tafere ( and ); Nem Ocampo (assigned in Iloilo and ); Anna Barcos (assigned in Capiz). FAO is targeting 3,331 households in 14 municipalities with funding from DFID and Canada.

FAO presented a map showing targeted sites for its intervention, which include: Aklan – Balete, , Malinao, Ibajay; Antique – Culasi; Capiz – Pilar, Jamindan, , , Maayon, Pontevedra, President Roxas; Iloilo – Carles and Barotac Viejo. FAO will distribute rice, corn, banana, abaca, fruit bearing tree seedlings, rootcrops, fertilizers, livestock and poultry to targeted beneficiaries. It will support livestock and intercropping in the targeted areas.

FAO will conduct baseline assessment in the targeted areas and AAP (Accountability to Affected Population) training for DAs and LGU officers in , Hamungaya, Jaro, and Roxas in July 2014.

Ms. Fantilanan presented updates on the DA initiatives in Region. According to her, the DA has finalized its budget for Cash-for-Work (CfW), farm tools to farmers, procurement of 25 tractors, fuel and other farm inputs. The total budget submitted is 19 million Php including the rebidding for fuel subsidy for the 25 tractors and farm machineries.

Mr. Francis Fegarido informed the partners that the ongoing coconut seed distribution for replanting is funded by the PCA, which also distribute seeds (monggo, and assorted vegetables), fertilizers and CfWs to their targeted beneficiaries with each beneficiary package costing Php64, 000Php. Funding for banana replanting were available pending further guidance from the government. The PCA has 26,000 bags of fertilizers, which will be distributed to farmers with coconut farmers. The CfW project targets farmers who are replanting coconut and intercropping.

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Dr. Edna Aguilar from FAO highlighted the challenges they encounter in providing banana planting materials to farmers. The PCA encourages the use of certified banana planting materials, especially the tissue culture to reduce the risks to disease. However, the PCA does not certify banana-planting materials and lacks the capacity to certify suppliers.

The PCA raised the issue relating to the adoption of IPM (Integrated Pest Management) controls "bugtok" and weevil. Mr. Andy Laurilla, OIC of PCA Capiz, said that Region VI, coconut-planting materials improved after the typhoon. A statement confirmed by Mr. Rudy Gamarcha from PCA Iloilo. Dr. Aguilar recommended IPM and IEC training and technical support to the partners through the CTWG.

Institution updates

ACF

Mr. Nash Modin, Food Security and Livelihood Manager of ACF presented their update.

According to him, ACF works in the provinces of Iloilo and Capiz. They implement WASH, nutrition, social transfers, psychosocial and care, capacity building through training, food security and livelihood projects in the municipalities of Estancia, Sara, San Dionisio, Ajuy, Lemery, San Rafael, Calinog, Libacao, Batad and Concepcion. They also implement projects in sevenmunicipalities of Capiz (Pontevedra and Pilar). ACF cash-based transfer interventions provides 15,000Php per targeted households and 21,000 Php for livelihoods. Their cash transfer initiatives targets beneficiaries in Concepcion, Sara, Batad, Pontevedra, San Dionisio, Lemery, and Calinog.

Action point: ACF to present their baseline and food and nutrition security assessment findings in the third CTWG meeting.

Association of Disabled Persons of Iloilo (ADPI)

ADPI conducted an assessment in Concepcion and Estancia. The results show that there are senior citizens who grow coconut and banana. ADPI wants NGOs and the government to target these individuals who are farmers in their recovery and development initiatives. ACF and FAO confirmed that they are already including them in their targeting. ADPI will be invited to future CTWG meetings.

British Red Cross (BRC) – presented by Jessa Serna

The BRC has two intervention sites Region VI - Balasan and Ajuy. They are implementing cash-based program for 3,500 households. They conduct training for 1,808 rice farmers. The BRC projects include fish and Oyster production enhancement and market-based support. They are exploring partnership with PCA Capiz for coconut farmers' support and DRRM.

PCA on the infestation of Brontispa

PCA in partnership with Concern Worldwide (CWW) conducted farmers training on Brontispa infestation, control and prevention of the disease. The PCA is establishing a laboratory to study Brontispa infestation. Bgry. San Rafael and Iloilo are affected by the infestations and based on reports; Sara and Concepcion have the worst infestation. The PCA does not recommend spraying of chemicals. Note: As clarification Mr. Fegarido was asked after the meeting why the PCA doesn't recommend chemical spraying. He said, "In extreme cases we do recommend spraying of bearing trees. In

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nonbearing [trees], it is alright [to spray]. We would like to retain organic certification of mature/young coconut for higher market value, and in tourist sites like Boracay. Spraying may not give the coconut industry good images.”)

PCA Capiz said that infestation for both Brontispa and CSI has spread not only in Iloilo but also in Capiz. PCA is now in close coordination with the Regional Crop Protection Center. Meanwhile, there are report of weevil infestations in Alimuyan and Balasan.

Dr. Aguilar asked if the Regional Crop Protection Center constantly monitor the infestation and PCA confirmed that this is done and difficult to quantify infestation. According to Dr. Aguilar, FAO will prioritize Brontispa control, and conduct training using IEC (Information Education Campaign) materials.

Updates from the Philippine Association of Coconut Farmer

According to their representative, the processing of fallen coconut trees is ongoing in Lemery, but these are done through the private sector initiative. The PCA highlighted that the falling or cutting of coconut trees should adhere with the sawing pattern to ensure marketability of the lumber. The shortage of chain saw was one of the difficulties encountered by those involved in the sawing.

Part III: Other Matters

Schedule of CTWG is every 2nd Friday of the month. The 4th CTWG is schedule for 8 August 2014 at the Intergrated Agricultural Research Center (WESViARC) compound in Iloilo City.

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Regional Technical Working Group for the Recovery of Coconut-Based Livelihoods

Annex 1: ATTENDANCE SHEET

Name Designation/Office/Address e-mail Address Contact Number Perlito C.Echeche Chairman, Phil. Association of Coconut Farmers Organization (PASCFO) iloilo 09302087357 Chapter Rolly Ojero PASCFO Lemery 09477963067 Andrew Tiples PASCFO Iloilo Chapter 09293475963 Zoilo L. Suplemento, Secretary, PASCFO [email protected] 09212903521 Jr. Nash Modin Food & Livelihood Manager 09177212574 ACF Jessa Serna Livelihoods Delegate, British [email protected] 09184121057 Red Cross Alexandra Mendoza Association of Disabled [email protected] 09173190355 Persons - Iloilo (ADPI-CBM)

Aging and Disablity Focal Point (ADFP) Cynthia Espinoza ADPI-CBM [email protected] Margie Lou B. ADPI-CBM 09173008347 Domine John Rex Villamin ADPI-CBM Ana Barcos FAO - Roxas Hub 09176259928 Nem Ocampo FAO - Roxas Hub 09276535707 Kathy Tafere FAO - Roxas Hub 09178904795 Edna Aguilar FAO - Manila [email protected] 09178468812 Jaime Montesur FAO - Roxas Hub [email protected] 09292620339 Brenda Saquing Area Coordinator - Roxas Hub [email protected] 09175155152 Jeffrey de los Reyes Regional Manager, PCA Reg 0920981004 VI Francis Fegarido PDO III, PCA Reg VI [email protected]; (033) 5239606; [email protected] 09175247344 Andy Laurilla OIC, PCA - Capiz 09177271071 Rodrigo G. PCDM, PCA - Iloilo 09392085808 Gamarcha, Jr. Gennie Pearl PCA, Reg VI [email protected] (033) 333 0006 Patrona Carmelita Fantilanan OIC Chief, Field Operations Div., [email protected] (033) 333 1378 DA Region VI Jose Pajarillo DA RFU - Iloilo [email protected] 09178375868 Imelda Hidalgo Food Security and Agriculture [email protected] 09173541180 Cluster (FSAC) Coordinator - FAO Roxas Hub

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