Eastern Visayas farm sector expected to grow 5% this year

published December 19, 2009 in BusinessWorld

TACLOBAN CITY -- The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) office here has projected that the region’s agriculture sector will grow by up to 5% this year.

This will be better than the muted 0.5%-1.5% agriculture growth projected nationwide for 2009. The Agriculture department last month revised downward its original 3% growth projection for the year, citing damage to 1.3 million metric tons of palay in Luzon wreaked by storms since end-September. Rice production accounts for 14% of total farm output.

Citing a report from the Bureau of Agriculture Statistics, NEDA regional director Buenaventura C. Go-Soco told journalists here that third-quarter data showed that the decline in production of certain crops in the region has been offset by an increase in fishery output.

"Economic difficulties experienced in crop production such as in copra production were largely overcome by these improvements in the fishery sector. With this performance, the agriculture and fishery sector can experience significant growth in 2009 better than initially expected, perhaps even up to a 5% growth," he added.

Mr. Go-Soco also said the agriculture sector is expected to have performed better in this last quarter, so that "2009 will not be a bad year for this sector after all."

"There is still a quarter left in 2009. We can predict higher production due to higher consumer demand," he said.

Mr. Go-Soco said that while commercial fishing actually declined 18.7%, aquaculture and municipal fishing increased by 12.3% and 12.4%, respectively. Overall, the fishery sector grew by 8.3%. He attributed the decline in the third quarter commercial fishing output to the long duration of southwest monsoon winds that hindered fishing activities.

From July to September 2009, fish production was estimated at P3 billion, with Eastern Samar as top producer and contributing P994 million, or almost one-third of the regional value.

Mr. Go-Soco said significant improvements were made in municipal fishing in Eastern Samar, Leyte, and Northern Samar.

Crops exhibited varying performance in the third quarter.

Late harvesting and tungro infestation affected palay production, which declined by 4.3% in the third quarter from the same period last year. Tungro is a virus causes severe stunting of plants and general reduction in production.

"Coconut production was virtually steady, with a decline of only 0.4%. This decline is attributed to what agriculturists termed as fruiting fatigue which follows a cyclical pattern," Mr. Go-Soco added.

Corn production was up 6.9% but abaca production declined by 4.9%, he reported.

Production of root crops was steady, with sweet potato declining by 1.2%, but taro production increased by 1.8% and cassava production increased by 1%.

"The reduction in (production of) many crops may lead to the conclusion that agriculture did not do well in the third quarter. However, since coconut production experienced only a slight reduction, then it is safe to say that while the economic situation in the agriculture sector suffered some declines, on the whole it remained stable," Mr. Go-Soco said. (Sarwell Q. Meniano)

Coconut processing investments sought to stimulate copra sales

published December 17, 2009 in BusinessWorld

PALO, LEYTE -- A top official of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) here has encouraged more investments in coconut processing to stimulate the market and stabilize the price of the coconut by-product.

PCA Regional Manager Edilberto Nierva noted that the price of copra has remained weak at P17 per kilogram in retail outlets and P12-P13 per kilogram at farm-gate.

"We are encouraging local and foreign investors to concentrate in local copra processing. The demand in the domestic market can help stabilize the price of copra in the long term. We are starting to push for rural industrialization and we continue to advocate for it," he said.

About 80% of the country’s copra production is exported. Only 20% is left for domestic use.

"We want to reverse the scenario but this will take time and effort," Mr. Nierva said.

Eastern Visayas is the second top coconut-producing region with a harvest of 1.9 billion nuts or 525,000 metric tons of copra annually.

About 649,000 hectares of land are devoted to coconut farming. The region hosts eight active coconut oil mills and has some 1.7 million farmers and their dependents. (Sarwell Q. Meniano)

Eastern Visayan fishermen expected to benefit from marine cage project

published December 17, 2009 in BusinessWorld

TACLOBAN CITY -- The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) will implement the rent-to-own marine cage project starting this month to give fisherfolk in Eastern Visayas the opportunity to operate their own cage in established mariculture zones in the region.

BFAR Assistant Regional Director Justerie M. Granali said they launched this project this year to help fishermen who couldn’t manage their own cage due to financial constraints.

This project will initially be implemented in areas covered by mariculture parks in the towns of Basey and Sta. Rita in Samar, Laoang in Northern Samar and Quinapondan, Eastern Samar.

"All materials needed for the cage construction will be procured by BFAR. The investment is about P230,000. It is payable in two years without interest after every cropping," Ms. Granali said.

The first cropping period will be provided as a grace period and amortization payments start upon the harvest of the second cropping season.

"After full payment of the cage, the unit will be turned over to the beneficiary," she added.

Qualified beneficiaries are registered fisherfolk of the locality and selected by the BFAR, local government units, and the Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council. Beneficiaries should undergo a season-long training at the BFAR Regional Fisheries Training Center.

"We will select those with good track records on BFAR-assisted projects," Ms. Granali said. In case of failure of the beneficiaries to pay the cage rental, the unit shall be returned to BFAR and transferred to the beneficiary who is next in line.

The cage which measures five square meters is made of net and bamboo. It will be constructed by the beneficiaries themselves with materials provided by the BFAR. Fingerlings will be provided by the government for the first cropping.

Mariculture parks utilize modern floating cages designed to tolerate up to three meters of waves and last at least five years with little maintenance. A component of the park is the establishment of a grid-type "community" storm mooring system.

Aside from providing the necessary security for the cages during seasonal rough weather, a standardized mooring facility is expected to help prevent problems on uncontrolled growth and expansion, encroachment, entanglement of moorings and navigational hazards.

The establishment of cages was pursued after BFAR noted that bays in the region have been depleted of marine resources due to overfishing.

Mariculture parks have been established in cities of Tacloban and Ormoc as well as in the nearby towns of Leyte and Samar.

From January to November 2009, mariculture operators harvested 1,115 metric tons of aquamarine products, higher than the 1,049 metric tons in 2008. (Sarwell Q. Meniano)

More nurses deployed

published December 17, 2009 in BusinessWorld

TACLOBAN CITY -- Nearly 700 nurses have been deployed following the expansion of the Nurses Assigned to Rural Service (NARS) program to all towns in Eastern Visayas.

Forter G. Puguon, Department of Labor and Employment regional director, said that a total of 688 nurses were deployed under the second phase of the emergency employment program.

In the first phase last April, a total of 575 nurses were hired by the national government and deployed to 115 municipalities.

The nurses spend the first three months working in a government hospital, and the next three months in rural health units.

After their tour of duty ends in March 2010, Mr. Puguon said, they will make a recommendation on whether to make the initiative a regular government program.

"From there, we are going to assess and recommend based on the results observed in the two pilot batches," he said in an interview.

Mr. Puguon said that all municipalities have five nurses.(Sarwell Q. Meniano)

Malirong River tapped as new source for Leyte

published December 15, 2009 in BusinessWorld

TACLOBAN CITY -- The Local Water Utilities Authority (LWUA) plans to tap Malirong River in Palo town, Leyte as a new source of potable water for the province, Presidential Assistant for Eastern Visayas Cynthia R. Nierras said in an interview here late last week.

"The team from LWUA is ready to present the proposal next [this] week. They [sic] will discuss with the Leyte Metropolitan Water District (LMWD) about the investment required, cost sharing and technical aspects of the project," Ms. Nierras said.

He added that the contract to tap the river will be subjected to bidding.

Under an existing plan, a new filtration plant will be built at the state-run Government Center in Palo in order to save on cost, Ms. Nierras said.

LMWD General Manager Nestor Villasin earlier said at least P1 billion is needed to improve the existing system and augment supply.

The utility now produces approximately 30,000 cubic meters of potable water daily at its filtration plant located at the boundary of Tingib, Pastrana, Leyte and Brgy. Hibunawon, Jaro, Leyte.

Water is now drawn from the Hiabangan and Hitugnob rivers in Dagami town.

The bulk, or 70%, goes to Tacloban, where half of the utility’s estimated 40,000 customers are based.

Mr. Villasin said the utility had a supply deficiency of about 25% in Tacloban last year.

The water district also serves Dagami, Tolosa, Tabon-Tabon, Sta. Fe and Pastrana, Tanauan, and Palo, all in Leyte. (Sarwell Q. Meniano)

Richard Gomez seeks congressional seat in Leyte's 4th district

TACLOBAN CITY-Actor and television host Richard F. Gomez will take his role as challenger in Leyte’s 4th district congressional race against the popular Codilla clan who have been holding the post for years and obviously an ally to many incumbent local elected officials.

Running under the Liberal Party, Mr. Gomez filed Monday afternoon his certificate of candidacy at the Commission on Elections Leyte provincial office together with his wife commercial model Lucy Torres-Gomez, who belongs to one of the richest families in Ormoc City. Her grandfather was once a mayor of Ormoc.

In a media interview, Mr. Gomez said that he is offering himself to the people of the fourth district as an alternative from a family who has ruled the district for almost a decade.

“We want a big change for our people and in the district. I am offering myself with God at my side,” he stressed.

He claimed that his young age and media exposure, could be his advantage against his opponent, Eufrocino “Wennie” C. Codilla, Jr. who is running under the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD. He is the son of the three-termer congressman, his namesake.

Mr. Codilla, former spouse of Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia filed his candidacy Monday morning said that he has a better winning chance since he is a native of Ormoc City.

“And I am true Ormocanon. My father and mother are native of Ormoc. Most of the mayors are on our side,” Mr. Codilla said.

For the actor’s part, he said: “It does not matter. What matter most is the platform of government and my intention to serve the people of the district. They have no issues against me that is why they are resorting to mudslinging and misinformation.”

It was learned from Mr. Gomez that he has a complete slate composed of six mayoralty candidates and two board member candidates, Juanito Reyes, Sr. and Mario Larrazabal, who accompanied the actor.

Among the programs that will be implemented by Mr. Gomez if he will win next year are in areas of infrastructures, education and health.

In 2004 elections, he ran under the party-list group which was disqualified by the Commission on Elections and in 2007 senatorial elections.

In Leyte’s first district, former First Lady Imelda R. Marcos’ nephew Congressman Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez will seek reelection next year. He filed his COC, 4:40 p.m., an hour after Mr. Gomez left the Comelec office.

“Local leaders here urged me to continue on what we have done in the past two and a half years and we continue to endeavor that we have set forth and more,” Mr. Romualdez said.

Yesterday morning, Lawyer Feliciano B. Clemencio formalized his bid for the congressional seat against the popular Romualdez clan member. Mr. Clemencio is also a candidate in the 2007 polls but he lost.

“We will launch a massive information drive to help people choose a candidate who is sincere,” he added.

In Tacloban City, Incumbent Mayor Afred S. Romualdez filed his CoC yesterday afternoon with his father as running mate, former Mayor Alfredo T. Romualdez. Their opponents are City Councilor Ranulfo S. Abellanosa (for mayor) and Vice Mayor Arvin V. Antoni. (Sarwell Q. Meniano)