Holy Name University

City of Tagbilaran

ACTION PLAN ON SUSTAINABILITY

OF RICE PRODUCTION IN THE
MUNICIPALITY OF BILAR
(Cultural Education 211: Culture & Governance)

Chona B. Lugsanay
Masterand

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Sustainability of Rice Production in the Municipality of Bilar

Title
I.

Introduction

Page Number
1- 3

II. Background Information

4-5

III. Sectoral Analysis

6-8

IV. Recommendations

9 - 10

V. Conclusion

11

VI. References

11

MUNICIPALITY OF BILAR

MAP OF BILAR

Sustainability of Rice Production in the Municipality of Bilar

INTRODUCTION

The Fertility Guide Maps of Bohol (2010) showed that the Municipality of Bilar
is one among the towns in the Province of Bohol suitable for agriculture. As an
agricultural town, it is grace by the Divine Providence with arable land comprising
27.12% (or 3, 683.9911 hectares) of its entire land area. No wonder that half of its local
residents earned their living through farming. The Municipal Agriculture Office reported
that local farmers plant rice as staple food as well as corn, vegetables, fruit trees and root
crops.
As a local resident of Bilar and being raised by a humble family whose mainstay
is farming, the researcher is cognizant of the plight of the farmers especially in her own
barangay. The researcher also personally witnessed the persistence and hard work of
local farmers in tilling their farmlands. Fortunately, this love and passion for farming is
well reciprocated by the Local Government Unit as evident by its allocation of funds to
the agriculture sector of the town. Through the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO), it
implemented various programs to empower farmers become productive growers and
consequently help the entire municipality become self-sufficient in terms of rice and root
crop production.
This year, as the new mayor sits in office, he envisioned to make Bohol as one of
the rice granaries in the province of Bohol while at the same time he also dreamt of a
town where the local farmers are also benefited or well compensated from their hard
labor as they provide food to the populace. In consonance with this, the researcher felt the
burden of conducting this study with an end in mind that this study will shed light on the
problem faced by the town concerning the decrease of farmers due to the stigma that
farmers are always oppressed by businessmen in the market. Furthermore, this research is
in consonance with the vision of Bilar to become a community that is productive,
economically stable, self-reliant and environment friendly.

II. DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION/ BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Bilar is one of the 48 municipalities in the Province of Bohol. It consists of 19

barangays. It has an IRA share of P57, 892,810.0 AS OF 2015. It is classified as a 4 th
class municipality.
As of 2010, the total population was 17,098 which is one percent (1%) of the total
population of Bohol. Barangay Zamora is the mostly highly populated while Barangay
Bonifacio is least populated among the barangays.

Location
The municipality of Bilar is bounded on the north by the town of Batuan, East by
Dimiao, Southeast by Lila, South by Loboc and West by Sevilla. It is in the interior
portion of Bohol and is 40.9 kilometers from Tagbilaran City and is accessible by land
transportation within one hour and twenty minutes. The town is geographically situated at
90 42 39 and 1240 6 24 longitude.
The town being in the interior part of Bohol is surrounded by hills, forested
mountains and valleys, and with vast forest areas. There are abundant supply of water
flowing towards the lower level of Dimiao, Lila and Loboc river. The forested area of
Bilar has become a watershed for the NPC hydro-electric.
As previously discussed, the municipality of Bilar had a big land area. It included
the towns of Sierra Bullones, which seceded from the mother town I 1863. Sevilla
became an indepdnent town in 1872. Carmen was organized into a new town in 1874 and
the last to secede from Bilar was Batuan whose residents petitioned to organize
themselves into a new and separate municipality, which was officially approved on
October 3, 1903.
Bilar is 1,200 feet above mean sea level.
Land Area
It has a total land area of 13, 581.9737 hectares. Of the entire area, 3,913.0 area
agricultural area (27.12%) and 9,897.98 hectares are non-agricultural or 72.88%.
Of the total agricultural area, 1,158.92 hectares (31.46%) are devoted to rice
production. The area planted to rice due to favorable condition is 1,095.92 hectares or
4

94.6%. The rest maybe cultivated if these condition are available. However, it has a
potential area of 63.00 hectares to be devoted to upland rice.
These rice areas are distributed in the 18 barangays with the five major rice
producing barangays namely: Bugang Sur, Zamora, Campagao, Riverside and
Cabacnitan.

Topography
The terrain of the municipality is characterized by rolling hills extending between
Villa Suerte and Riverside. The central parts of the town is an open area devoted to rice
farming, and in between hills throughout the municipality where level lands are found are
likewise devoted to rice farming. Although some areas are mountainous or hilly, local
residents still utilize them.

Climate
Bilar falls under type IV where rainfall is more or less evenly distributed
throughout the year. Maximum precipitation occurs during the month of June to October
with the flow of Southwest winds, though typhoons are not frequent as evident with the
record on the occurrence of typhoons. Situated in the interior, the climate is usually cool
and humid.
The town is considered the little Baguio of Bohol because of its cool climate.
Planted and natural grown trees contributed to maintaining the cool climate of the town,
which has attracted local and foreign tourists.
Most of the areas devoted to agriculture, particularly, rice farming has good
gravity irrigation system. As to sustainability, these irrigation systems likewise depended
much on weather changes. Prolonged drought or El Nio Phenomenon could greatly alter
the efficiency of these irrigated rice lands.

Soil Classification
There are four types of soil found in Bilar. These are Batuan Faraon Clay Type
Clay Loam, Loam Soil and Batuan Faraon Complex.
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III. SECTORAL ANALYSIS

The Bilar Municipal Rice Road Map for 2012 to 2016 reveals the following
challenges experienced by the town: (1) decreasing number of farmers, (2) fluctuating
farmers income, (3) proliferation of inorganic farming practices (e.g. use of commercial
fertilizers), and (4) Lack of farm equipment and irrigation system. These problems are
not unique to this municipality; it is also common among neighboring towns in the
province.
The decreasing number of potential farmers is attributed to aging of the farmers
population, the lack of interest among their children and fluctuating farmers income. The
waning interest among potential farmers is due to their negative experiences during
harvest season where they are always at loss. Rice buyers buy rice at a very cheap price
yet they sell it at an overly expensive price. Because of this unfortunate condition, Bilar
and other agricultural towns experienced shortage of farmers and decline in rice
production. In response, it is suggested by the researcher to the government to consider
the proper regulation of prices in the market to check the proliferation of unjust pricing of
rice and other crops. It was also highlighted the urgent need to launch programs and
seminars that would encourage the youth to love farming and also motivate them to enroll
in Agricultural degree programs. Moreover, the government should strengthen its support
to the farmers through the farm to market road programs.
Another problems faced by the municipality are the proliferation of inorganic
farming practices and lack of farm equipment and irrigation systems across the town. As
revealed in the road map and Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP), the lack of
awareness on sustainable agriculture, lack of supply of humus and other organic
fertilizers and less support from the LGU on organic farming resulted to the wide
embrace of inorganic practices among farmers. According to experts, if this practice will
continue it can lead to increased acidity level of the soil/farm lands and will eventually
affect the production of rice in Bilar. Other potential results are water contamination due
to pesticides and other environmental pollutions and disruption of the ecosystem which
might cause mutation of various pests. It is hereby suggested to the LGU that there
should be an implementation of municipal ordinance on the prohibition of rice straw
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burning and other farm wastes; production of organic fertilizers such as vermi culture and
making of compose pit for recycling of biodegradable waste. Lastly, the lack of farming
materials and equipment should also be looked into by the government by giving
provision in the purchase of farm equipment, production and post-harvest facilities

Findings/Observations

Implications/
Effects

Observed Cause(s)

Interventions/
Recommendations

Decreasing number of
farmers

Aging and lack of interest of the Shortage of farmers and rice

farmers children
production.

Interference of Middlemen/Price
Control
Fluctuating Farmers
Income

Due to typhoons and other natural

calamities (e.g. Queenie)

Proliferation of Inorganic
Farming Practices (e.g. use
of commercial fertilizers)

Lack
of
awareness
on
Sustainable Agriculture
Lack of Supply of Humus and
other organic fertilizers
Lack of support from the Local
Government Unit.

Demotivates the farmers

The farming industry will

be put in jeopardy and
nobody will wish to
become farmers.

Increased acidity level of

the soil/farm lands.
Causes
environmental
pollution (e.g. water
contamination)
Disrupts the ecosystem

Encourage the youth to love

farming
by
conducting
seminars and workshops on
sustainable agriculture.
Encourage the youths to
enroll degree programs in
Agriculture.
Proper regulation of prices
in the market

The Government should

strengthen its support to the
farmers through the farm to
market road program.
The Government should
properly regulate the pricing
of rice in the market.

Implement municipal
ordinance on the prohibition
of burning rice straw and
other farm waste
Production of organic
fertilizers (e.g. making of

and can cause mutation

of various pests.

compose pit for

biodegradable waste or
garbage, vermin culture)
Conduct series of training to
rice farmers on organic
farming

Lack of Budget among farmers

Lack of Farm Equipment

and Irrigation System

Prolongs the harvesting

of rice and may lead to
wastage due to some
factors.

Provision of government
support in the purchase of
farm equipment support
infrastructure, production
and post-harvest facilities
through the 85% - 15%
scheme.

IV. RECOMMENDATIONS
PPAS
( Programs, Plans/ Actions)
Conduct Farmers Training responsive to the needs
of farmers with emphasis on the following:
Organic Farming
Modern techniques in farming (e.g.
Integrated pest management)
Introduction of new varieties of pest resistant
crops.
Synchronized planting and water scheduling

Who are involved/ responsible

Farmers of Bilar
Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO)
NGO
Barangay Officials

Resources Needed

Funds
Instructional Materials
Resource Speakers
Specialists/Technicians

Offer Scholarship Programs to deserving students of

poor farmers.
Provide farmers incentive and award system

Organize rice marketing cooperative and the

provision of storage (farm to market road).

Project proposals for the request of farm equipment

and facilities (tractor, thresher and blower,
shredder, flatbed dryer, etc.)

Request financial assistance for rice production

(seeds and fertilizer subsidies)

Rehabilitation of existing irrigation system

(Barangay Zamora, Campagao and Dagohoy) and
construction of new irrigation system at Poblacion,
Bugang Sur, Cabacnitan, Riverside and Cansumbol.

Funds
scholarship

Funds
Infrastructure for the farm
to market road program
Farm products

Funds
Project proposal
Human Resources

Farmers
Municipal
(MAO)
NGO

Farmers
Department of Agriculture
Local Government Unit
NGOs

Barangay officials
LGU Officials
Municipal Agricultural office
Congressman
National Government
NGOs

Barangay officials
LGU Officials
Municipal Agricultural office
Congressman
National Government
NGOs

Funds
Human Resources

Barangay officials
LGU Officials
Municipal Agricultural office
Congressman
National Government
NGOs

Funds
Human Resources

Agricultural

Office

V. CONCLUSION

Farming is the mainstay of the majority of the local residents of Bilar wherein
mostly of them is rice growers. The Local Government Unit of Bilar has already
implemented various programs to address their needs and vouched to support the
agriculture sector by continually finding ways to assist the poor farmers and boost their
rice and crop production. As illustrated in this study, farmers in the town are experiencing
a decline in numbers due to lack of interest among farmers children. This loss of interest
is due to the farmers negative perception on the farming industry where they are always
seen as victims of unjust price regulation. Guided with the LGUs mission and vision and
the flagship program of the incumbent administration, Bilar is now responding positively
on various issues that hampers the rice production in the town. Through the programs
stated in this study, it is hoped that in the coming years Bilar will rise as one of the rice
granaries in the province.

VI. REFERENCES

Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) 2001 2010

Bilar Municipal Rice Road Map 2012 2016

Fertility Guide Maps for the Rice Areas of Bilar, Bohol

Municipal Agricultural Development Plan

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