Production of Catanduanes

Abaca-fiber production in the country’s top abaca-producing province from January to May 2009
went up by 22 percent to 8,646.32 metric tons (MT), said the Fiber Industry Development
Authority (FIDA).

FIDA noted that in January to May 2008, abaca farmers in Catanduanes produced 7,084.23 MT.

The attached agency of the Department of Agriculture said a total of 16,231 farmers were
involved in abaca production in the province in 2008.

FIDA said the island province of Catanduanes is renowned as the “abaca capital of the
Philippines.” The province is now the top producer of abaca fiber, has the largest area planted to
abaca and has the biggest number of abaca farmer-producers in the Philippines.

Joining Catanduanes as the country’s top 10 abaca-producing provinces are Southern Leyte,
Leyte, Davao Oriental, Northern Samar, Davao del Sur, Surigao del Sur, Samar, Sulu and Sorsogon.

FIDA said the province also adjusted its production for the year due to the projected slowdown
in demand for abaca fiber in overseas markets.

Earlier, FIDA revealed that export earnings from abaca fiber and abaca products are projected to
decline by 20 percent to $80 million in 2009 due to slower demand caused by the global financial
crisis.

FIDA said the recession in the United States has caused demand for abaca products to slow down.
The US is one of Manila’s major markets for abaca products.

Sorsogon town among DA’s top rice producers

April 3, 2015 6:50 am
LEGAZPI CITY, April 2 — The local government unit (LGU) of Castilla, Sorsogon, which was one of the national
awardees in the previous year, made it again to the top 15 municipalities registering a production increase of 18.46
percent in 2014 over 2013 production.
The Department of Agriculture also recognized Castilla’s yield increment of 17.69 percent over that of 2013
production, according to Emily Bordado, DA-Bicol regional spokesperson.
The municipality also overshot its production target of 6,341.66 metric tons (MT) by 273.5 percent as it attained a
production volume of 18,985.77 MT.
The over-target production is attributed to rehabilitation and repair of irrigation systems and other production
interventions of the DA, Bordado said.
Another criterion considered in the selection of outstanding LGU rice achiever is the percent of Internal Revenue
Allotment disbursed by the LGU for Rice Program, she added.
The DA recently gave recognition to top rice performers for 2014 during the 4th Agri-Pinoy Rice Achievers Awards
held at the Newport Performing Arts Theater at Resorts World in Pasay City.
Senator Cynthia A. Villar, chairperson of the Senate committee on food and agriculture, and DA top officials led by
Undersecretary for Administration and Finance Antonio A. Fleta, Undersecretary for Operations Emerson U. Palad
and Assistant Secretary for Operations and National Rice and Corn Program Coordinator Edilberto M. de Luna
graced the occasion.
Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala was not able to attend as he was out of the country on an official business.
Castilla Mayor Olivia B. Bermillo and Marilyn M. Quiñones, the municipal agriculturist, personally received the cash
award and trophy from the DA.
They were accompanied by DA-Bicol OIC Regional Executive Director Abelardo R. Bragas, some DA regional staff
and staff of Bermillo.
This year’s rice achievers and champions include ten outstanding provinces, four provinces with special citations and
15 outstanding municipalities/cities.
The 10 outstanding provinces that topped rice production in terms of production and yield increment and production
performance over 2013 targets received Php4 million and a trophy each.
The 15 outstanding municipalities /cities received Php1 million and a trophy each.
The four provinces with special citation received Php200,000 each.
The top provinces are Pangasinan, Isabela, Nueva Ecija, Bataan, Bulacan, Tarlac, Bukidnon, Compostela Valley,
Davao Oriental and Davao del Sur.
The top municipalities/cities, aside from Castilla, are Sta. Marcela, Apayao; Vintar, Ilocos Norte; Cabatuan, Isabela;
Bustos, Bulacan; Calamba City, Laguna; Calintaan, Occidental Mindoro; San Enrique, Iloilo; Bayawan City, Negros
Oriental; Caibiran, Biliran; Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur; Lala, Lanao del Norte; Banaybanay, Davao Oriental;
Koronadal City, South Cotabato and Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur.
On hand to receive the awards were the governors, mayors and other LGU officials accompanied by their provincial
and municipal agriculturists.
The DA also awarded five outstanding irrigators' associations (IA) and three outstanding Small Water Impounding
System Associations (SWISA).
This year, the Bicol Region has no entry for outstanding IA and SWISA.
Last Year, its entry was the San Antonio Farmers Irrigators Multi-purpose Cooperative in Buhi, Camarines Sur.
The awarding of the outstanding agricultural extension workers (AEWs), including the municipal
agriculturists/agricultural officers and local farmer technicians, will be done in their respective regions or clusters,
according to De Luna.
Each AEW will also receive a cash prize of Php20,000 as part of an incentive/bonus mechanism for these
government technicians who continue to support and assist rice farmers from land preparation to production to
harvest and even post-harvest and marketing.
Bicol is being considered as the venue for the awarding of outstanding AEWs in the South Luzon cluster.

CACAO

BARCELONA, Sorsogon—Vladimir Frivaldo negotiates during the weekend a dirt road on a 100cc
scooter to upland farms here, where he will see for himself the progress of cacao plantations
started by village farmers six months ago.

He has in his leather shoulder bag a copy of a story lifted from the online publication of The
Wall Street Journal that provides latest details on the current supply-and-demand situation of
cocoa in the world market, which gives the chocolate industry a vexing problem.

It said “demand for chocolate is stronger than ever, especially now that more consumers in
China and India are buying bars and bonbons long considered an unaffordable luxury. But cocoa
production is down, including a steep slide last year in Ghana, the second-largest cocoa-
growing country. Cocoa prices have jumped nearly 40 percent since the start of 2012.”
He will impart the “good news” among cacao-growing cooperators in villages to keep them
inspired by the good income opportunity awaiting them once they start reaping, two or three
years from now, the fruits of their plants that, from three-month old seedlings, have already
grown to young healthy trees.

While the news expresses that “the production problems worry the industry so much that 10 of
the largest chocolate producers and cocoa processors,” prompting them into putting up an
industry-wide total of billion into a cocoa sustainability program through 2022.

Frivaldo said such problems “keep our own cacao-production program in high spirit driven by
the demand.”

The expressive Frivaldo is a former Sorsogon provincial legislative board member who decided
to leave politics in favor of agricultural cooperativism, which he defines as a way into liberating
the marginalized sector, especially farmers and workers, by putting them in the mainstream of
development and social transformation.

Cooperatives are jointly owned and democratically controlled enterprises rooted in the values
of self-help, self-responsibility, equality, equity, democracy and solidarity, said Frivaldo, who
now works as project coordinator of a massive cacao beans-production program started in the
province last year by the Coop-Natcco party-list.

The program, which intends to make not only Sorsogon province but also the entire Bicol region
as the country’s leading source of this high-value crop, is ongoing with the support of the
Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA).

SEAWEEDS

Commercial production of seaweeds through farming is at present limited to a few countries in

east Asia. The countries noted for the culture of several species of seaweeds with the bulk of
production are: Porphyra, Undaria and Laminaria in Japan: Porphyra,
Laminaria and Gracilaria in China; Porphyra, Laminaria and Undaria in Korea; Gracilaria in
Taiwan (Province of China); and Eucheuma and Caulerpa in the Philippines (Trono, 1987). Of
these seaweeds the species feasible for farming in warm waters are that of the
genera Eucheuma, Caulerpa, Porphyra and Gracilaria.
In the Philippines farming of Eucheuma was initiated in 1967 with the first commercial trial at
Caluyas, south of Mindoro based on studies of Dr. Doty of Marine Colloids. The trial funded by
Marine Colloids was carried out by Mr. V. Alvarez (Delmendo, et.at., 1992). In 1989 production
of red seaweeds was recorded at 269,701 MT. (Anonymous, 1992). The bulk of the production
are that of red seaweed Eucheuma through farming. Caulerpa has been successfully cultured in
ponds at Mactan, Cebu but as yet to be transfered to the other areas in the Philippines (Trono
& Fortes, 1988). Although the technology for the farming of Gracilaria is available, apart from a
few experimental cultures, it has not been commercially applied in the Philippines (Largo
et.al,1989; Uy, et.al., 1990; Hurtado-Ponce, et.al., 1992). Farming trials of Gracilaria were
initiated at Bagacay, Gubat and Mapapac, Barcelona at the eastern coast of Sorsogon by the
project (Delmendo, 1992).

Statistical data on the production of Gracilaria in the Philippines is not available. However,
according to McHugh (1987) 1,470 MT of agarophyte seaweeds classified as other seaweeds
were exported to Japan from the Philippines in 1984. This could be presumed
as Gracilaria which was seasonally abundant in Manila Bay and other parts of the country
naturally.

The main source of Gracilaria is still Manila Bay, although commercial gathering of this species
has been reported from other sites as in Panay and Negros in the Visayas and Davao area in
Mindanao. Approximatelly 2,400 MT of dried Gracilaria were bought by a Chinese trader during
the height of Gracilaria harvesting from 1970 to 1972 (Trono & Fortes, 1988).

Recently, assessment of seaweeds and associated invertebrates in Eastern Sorsogon reveal that
there are at least 97 species of seaweeds (Llana, 1992). Seven species of Gracilaria - G. Changii
(= G. cylindrica), G. fastigiata, G. firma, G. salicornia, G. tenuistipitata, G. eucheumoides and G.
coronopifolia are recognized from Sorsogon area after preliminary taxonomic examination
(Trono, 1992). Estimated volume of Gracilaria being gathered from the wild and traded within
Sorsogon amounts to 57.5 MT per year, about 68 % from eastern Sorsogon and the remaining
from Sorsogon Bay area (Guanio, 1993). The Philippines with over 7,000 islands and having
diversified seaweed resources has great potential in seaweed farming. Seaweeds and seaweed
products now comprise the Philippines third biggest export in the fisheries sector, behind
shrimps and tuna (Llana, 1990).

Seaweed Production Development Project is one of the action programmes recommended by

the National Conference on Fisheries Policy and Planning sponsored by UNDP-FAO in March
1987. The Development objective is to contribute to the improvement of the socio-economic
conditions of fishing communities dependent on coastal. fisheries for livelihood by developing
alternative employment and income opportunities through an expanded and diversified
seaweed farming industry. The project is to develop farming and processing techniques of other
species of seaweeds (such as Gracilaria) other than Eucheuma. The project started the
operation from 21 August 1991. Eastern Coastal area of Sorsogon was initially considered as the
project area. In June 1992, Sorsogon bay was included as project site due to its
natural Gracilaria resource potential.
 EASTERN PART OF ALBAY
Legazpi Albay, officially the City of Legazpi, (Central Bicolano: Ciudad kan
Legazpi; Filipino: Lungsod ng Legazpi) and often referred to as Legazpi City, is a component
city and the capital of the province of Albay in the Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a
population of 196,639.[8] Legazpi is the administrative center and largest city of the Bicol Region, in
terms of population.[9][10] It is one of the centers of tourism, education, health services,
commerce[11] and transportation[4] in the Bicol Region.
The city is composed of two districts: Legazpi Port and Old Albay District. Mayon Volcano, one of the
Philippines' most popular icons and tourist destinations, is partly within the city's borders.[12]
Legazpi City was recognized as the most business-friendly city in Southern Luzon in 2007 by the
Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry.[13][14] In 2014, the city was ranked second among the
top three livable cities in the Philippines in the Livable Cities Design Challenge organized by
the National Competitiveness Council (NCC) and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation.[15][16] In
2016, Legazpi was named overall third most competitive component city in the Philippines by
the National Competitiveness Council.

CAMARINES NORTE
The majority of farms are small (1 ha or less) with 20,000 to 50,000 queen pineapple plants. The
small farms are coconut based located in San Lorenzo, Daet, Basud, San Vicente, Labo, and
Talisay [Bicol, Philippines]. Farming experience ranges from 6 to 30 years. Personal capital is used
to finance queen pienapple production. LBP provided loans to pineapple farmers in the early '90s,
but new loans were not provided in recent years because of farmers' poor repayment record. Two to
four plowings and harrowings are commonly practiced during land preparation. Combinations of
chemicals, hand weeding, and mechanical means are used in weeding. Karmex or Diuron is applied
twice per cropping. Other depend on hand weeding in controlling weeds. Rate of chemical fertilizer
application varies. Those using urea alone apply 2.9 bags/ha, while those who prefer complete
fertilizer apply 5 bags/ha. Farmers who use a combination of urea and complete fertilizers apply 2.6
bags/ha each. Fertilizer application is done once, twice, or thrice per cropping season either through
broadcast method or placement at the base of the plant. Rats, crows, and white grubs as well as
small birds, mealy bugs, ants, and aphids attack pineapple plants. Pest control measures include
baiting with poison for rats; uprooting/replanting and digging/killing of white grubs; guarding and
placing of damaged tape recorders in the plantation to scare off crows/birds. Incidence of diseases is
not alarming .

CAMARINES SUR

Seaweeds production and product

development
Sites for the expansion of sea weeds production areas have been identified in 33 barangays in
the Partido District of Camarines Sur. This will pave way for the production of seaweeds and
the implementation of Seaweeds Livelihood Program. Product development of seaweeds by-
products is also given priority by the province.
Rootcrops production and marketing in Camarines Sur
[Philippines] [1986]
Economic analysis showed average production costs per hectare were estimated at P1,367 for cassava, P1,531
for sweet potato and P2,953 for gabi. Marketing cost per kilogram were P0.07 for cassava, P0.09 for sweet
potato and P0.04 for gabi. Farmers and buyers seldom entered into agreement/contract. The farmers, brought
the produce to the market or respective buyers. There were reports of crop shifting from rootcrops to corn in
the area due to lack of sure buyers for rootcrops particularly cassava and low prices received from sales of such
crops. Prices of rootcrops varied depending upon the size, variety source of supply and type of marketing
intermediaries. Farmers encountered problems such as bad weather, pests and diseases and animal infestation.
Likewise, distribution of rootcrops was hindered by inavailability and high cost of transport and poor feeder
roads. Problems encountered by trader respondents were high transport cost, lack of supply and high buying
prices. Few farmers availed of the services of extension workers. Farmers still awaited extension workers
services in terms of financial and technical advice especially on marketing the produce.

ABACA
Camarines Sur is developing its vast area of idle lands into abaca plantations in a bid to capture the country’s top slot
in fiber production presently held by its neighboring island province of Catanduanes.
“Under our Upland Development Plan, we are now working on the conversion of at least 93,000 hectares of currently
unproductive land within the province into an abaca plantation that upland dwellers could make use as a more stable
source of livelihood,” Lovenia Tolosa, the province’s Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO) chief on
Monday said.
The Fiber Industry Development Authority (FIDA) had a P1-million funding for this abaca revitalization program in the
province and provincial Gov. Luis Raymund Villafuerte is tapping international sources for more funds, Tolosa said.
The money would be needed to acquire disease-free planting materials recently developed by the FIDA, Bureau of
Agricultural Research (BAR) and the Biotechnology Program Implementation Unit (BPIU) of the Department of
Agriculture (DA), she said.
These planting materials are genetically engineered plantlets that are resistant to bunchy-top, mosaic and bract
mosaic viruses whose propagation is an ongoing project started last year and would be completed in 2011.
FIDA regional director for Bicol Edith Lomerio said FIDA scientists have been studying the abaca bunchy-top virus
since 1997 and are working on isolating genes from the pathogens and inserting them directly into the abaca’s DNA.
Once the genes are “expressed” by the abaca, the plant will likely resist infection.
Another method of producing disease-free abaca plantlets is through tissue culture techniques or the growing and
propagation of plant cells, tissues, and organs on an artificial medium under sterile and controlled environment.
At least 124,500 virus-free abaca plantlets are produced from 500 suckers. Tissue-cultured plantlets are sold at
P4.50, a price that is very much lower than plantlets from conventional breeding method that sell at P8 to P10 apiece,
Lomerio said.

SAMAR
Tahong’ production in some Samar towns found declining

Tacloban City - The Regional Office of Bureau of Fisheries And Aquatic Resources confirmed
that the mussel industry in Samar is declining due to the deterioration in the condition of its
waters.
Affected were mussel "or tahong" farms in the towns of Jaibong, Villareal, Catbalogan and
Zumarraga and Tarangnan town which are in Maqueda bay facing the Samar sea.
Ruel Amascual, laboratory analyst, said an 80% decline in the mussel production in some areas
were seen.
The phenomenon was first noticed late May and the initial results of laboratory tests on water
samples taken from the area showed the presence of pathogenic bacteria.
"We suggested that the sediments found in the mussel farm have caused the presence of
bacteria in the area. We are also doing some ways to solve the problem in the place…," said
Amascual.
Amascual also added that this is the first time that this has occurred in Samar.
He said however that they would like to inform everybody that "tahong" is safe for human
consumption and that the growers could still gather and sell mussel despite the phenomenon.
Samar supplies mussel to different provinces in the Visayas and other nearby provinces.

Agriculture Agriculture, as defined, is the science of cultivating land, producing crops and raising livestock;
and these were among the agricultural activities that the Nortehanons farm workers had been actively involved
with. Furthermore, fishery is also another major component of the agricultural sector wherein the province is
home to numerous fishery activities providing livelihood to many Nortehanons. Palay Production Crop
production refers to the growing of crops either for sale or domestic consumption. Palay is one of the major
crops produced by Northern Samar. Generally, the province is best suited to palay production component since
its soil characteristics both in the lowland and upland areas coupled with suitable weather condition are fit and
conducive to cultivation. Major agricultural crops of the province and their contribution to the local economy.
Source Palay Coconut Banana Abaca Corn Cassava Major Fruits Mango Pili Jackfruits Citrus Banana Coffee
Fishery There are fourteen (14) fishing grounds in the province with a fishing area of 13,710.07 hectares.
These are the Pacific Ocean, Biri Channel, Laoang Channel, Palapag Channel, Gamay Bay, Mapanas Bay,
Naranjo Pass, Capul Pass, Timon-Timon Sea, Caglanipao, Veriato, Cabacungan, Alarkahan and Pambujan-San
Roque Bay. These fishing grounds produced a fish catch of 492.74 MT. These also serve as breeding places for
various species such as Spanish mackerel, grouper, tuna, big eyed scad, herring, anchovies, salmon, round scad
and segamid. Other fishery products are crabs, shrimps, shell squid, cuttlefish, lobster and octopus. There are
three classes of fishing that operate in the province: commercial, inland, and municipal.

LEYTE

Alang-Alang, Leyte – Thousands of farmers who were victims of super-typhoon Yolanda in six towns of this
province are expected to benefit from a rice production venture to be funded by the Land Bank of the
Philippines (LBP) which will be operated by Chen Yi Agventures (CYA).

Leyte Governor Leopoldo Domonico L. Petilla (Photo by: Restituto A. Cayubit|Manila Bulletin)

Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico L. Petilla said that the financing agreement was signed recently between
LBP and Chen Yi Agventures Rice Processing Centre.

Patrick Renucci of Chen Yi Agventures is the first fully integrated and sustainable rice business of this scale in
the Philippines, which aims to produce up to 1.25 million sacks of palay for Phase I alone.

Chen Yi will also be the largest producer that will integrate seed growing, planting, farm management,
harvesting and rice production in the Visayas and Mindanao,” Renucci said.

Renucci told reporters in an interview that the rice revolution of the company will increase the yield, quality of
palay and therefore the income of farmers by lowering the cost of production of high quality premium rice.

He said the rice will enable the farmers of Leyte to be as competitive as their counterparts in Thailand and
Vietnam.