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The Department of Agriculture (DA) Western Visayas’ top officials, project managers, and implementers convened on May 23 to 24 in Iloilo City for the joint Field Operations Division Review to evaluate the progress of their first-quarter objectives, assuring stakeholders from the provinces that it will continuously advance food security efforts.

Regional Executive Director Engr. Jose Albert Barrogo emphasized that all programs, activities, and projects of the agency should be anchored on its primary aim of modernizing the climate-smart, crisis-resilient, knowledge-based, and transformative agriculture sector as mandated in the five-year Philippine Development Plan of the National Economic Development Authority.

“As we pursue our strategic goals centered on ensuring food security, I am reminding our project coordinators in the regional office and our counterparts in the provinces to focus our interventions and funding on our identified priority commodities for competitive production and marketing both in the national and international levels,” said Director Barrogo.

He added that the project planners should adopt the Philippine Development Plan as a guide in harmonizing the local initiatives with the national plans and objectives. Furthermore, integrating value chain analysis and the Provincial Commodity Investment Plans should also serve as a reference for crafting the region’s programs, projects, and services.

On the other hand, Farmer Director Buen Mondejar, who have been monitoring the projects regionwide, advised DA banner program coordinators to consider proper interventions recording and strengthening the Regional Technical Working (RTWG) in preparing correct and detailed specifications of inputs and equipment to avoid unnecessary delay in procurement.

As a cost-efficient strategy, Mondejar also suggested that DA’s Research Outreach Stations should propagate grafted seedlings of cacao and other high-value commodities for dispersal to farmers and farmers’ groups.

Focal persons and report officers of the DA Rice, Corn, High Value Crops, Livestock, and Organic Agriculture Programs have reported their industry situation in terms of the production performance and inventory of the commodities as well as the implementation status of the 2023 targeted projects as of the first quarter.

FOD’s officer-in-charge Ester Ruth Torreverde said they divided participants into breakout sessions where banner program coordinators and their representatives brainstormed with the RTWG members and came up with the appropriate policies and actions to expedite the project implementation and to resolve challenges and key issues encountered on the ground.

To update local agricultural intermediaries across the region regarding new policies and programs for individual and farmers associations and cooperatives (FCAs), the accomplishment review also highlighted the presentations of project implementers from the DA, its attached bureaus, and line agencies.

Dr. Pacifico Lumawag of the DA Regulatory Division tackled recent updates of the African Swine Fever crisis management actions as well as the preventive measures being carried out by the department and LGUs to stop the incidence of Avian Influenza. Meanwhile, Dr. John Roel Hilario of the Bureau of Animal Industry enumerated the guidelines in the local transport and shipment of animals, animal products, and its by products within and outside the region.

Engr. Jimmy Eledia of the DA Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Unit informed stakeholders of the Department of Science and Technology PAGASA Climate Outlook and the DA’s strategic plans to mitigate the effects of the impending El Niño phenomenon to crops, livestock and fishery sectors.

Steve Cordero of the National Irrigation Administration Region 6 assured stakeholders that the Jalaur River Multi-Purpose Project II is nearing completion and will soon provide sufficient irrigation water to boost the crop production and yield particularly of farmers cultivating palay in Iloilo province.

Jean Salisna of the Philippine Coconut Authority stressed that only farmers enrolled in the National Coconut Farmers’ Registry System can benefit from the programs and initiatives of the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan which is consists of the social protection, farmers organization and development, hybridization, community-based farm enterprise development, among other interventions.

Jola Lyn Tingson of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) explained the commission’s Memorandum Circular No., series of 2023 which grants Amnesty for Non-filing and Late Filing of the General Information Sheet (GIS) and Annual Financial Statement (AFS), and Non-Compliance with Memorandum Circular No. 28, Series of 2020 (MC 28). The commission’s efforts to encourage its regulated entities to comply with the reportorial requirements under Republic Act No. 11232, or the Revised Corporation Code, include amnesty, which will take the form of a waiver or reduction of fines.

On the other hand, DA’s Regional Technical Director Zarlina Cuello thanked the provincial and municipal agriculturist and veterinarians for their continuous support in accomplishing the projects of the department. She also pledged to provide the support needed to respond to the contemporary challenges of the farmers through research and development undertakings. (SMHToreno/ DA-RAFIS)

#NewsExpress #Iloilo #RegionalNews

Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) of the Philippines, Inc.
National President Atty. Bienvenida A. Gruta, Dr. Leonida Bayani-Ortiz, Chairperson, 75 th Anniversary Ad-
hoc Committee, and Ms. Neriza B. Llena, National Executive Director, awarded the Blue Triangle for
Exemplary Leadership to Emee E. Saplada (inset), President, Iloilo YWCA Inc. and Vice President for
Administration and Management of the YWCA of the Philippines, Inc. and 4 Stars Award and Most
Participative Local Association during the association’s 75 th Anniversary and 39 th Mid-Biennium Meeting
with the theme: “Y’er’s, Rise Up and Shine!” held at Manila Prince Hotel, Ermita, Manila last April 28-29,

2023. Others in photo are: Dr. Lorena Opong (VP Program and Membership), Rosemarie T. Tarol
      (Chairperson, Training Committee), Young Woman/ Youth Leaders Kimberly Kim Soldevilla, Marie
      Silarde, Josel Ann A. Carado, Airame Aliman and Excel Babe Alcubilla.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has instructed the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) to immediately address the power crisis that brought massive blackouts to the islands of Panay, Guimaras
and Negros last week.
This was relayed by Energy Secretary Raphael Perpetuo Lotilla to Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. with the assurance that the President has been apprised of the situation and that he is closely monitoring the measures
being done by NGCP.
The NGCP has also been told to be transparent and continuously update local officials, distribution utilities, power generators, the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) of
the status of the Visayas grid on a regular basis.
Defensor convened the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and the Provincial Civil Defense Cluster on May 2 so they can immediately act on instructions and information critical in the
immediate resolution of the power crisis.
The governor disclosed that the President has specifically instructed the NGCP to make sure that a massive blackout in the grid will not happen again by synchronizing the “protection relays of transmission,
generation and distribution in the next two weeks.”
The NGCP was also told to immediately finish the third stage of the Cebu-Negros-Panay backbone project (CNP3) which involves linking Negros and Cebu by laying an overhead line from Bacolod City to San
Carlos City then to San Carlos City to Toledo City, Cebu through a submarine cable.
The whole CNP project involves the construction of a 238km long circuit, 230kV capacity transmission line linking the three islands of Cebu, Negros and Panay, which includes the expansion of the Barotac Viejo
substation, the E.B Magalona cable terminal station and the Bacolod substation.
Defensor also disclosed that the NGCP has been instructed by the President “to review the reliability of each Visayas sub-grids” and fast-tract the signing of the Ancillary Service Procurement Agreement (ASPA)
with the ERC.
Ancillary services support the transmission of power from generators to consumers to maintain reliable operations and are necessary to manage power fluctuations.

Treñas orders energy-saving measures in Iloilo City

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas called on all public and private establishments in the city to adopt
energy-saving measures in the wake of recent power outages.
Based on Executive Order No. 49 which he issued recently the energy-saving measures will be
carried out in the City Hall and in the barangay facilities, schools, parks and Esplanade, among
others.
Treñas, said while efforts have been made to expand energy production to cope with the demand,
there are still problems with consumption that result in power outages and unscheduled interruption.
“While we demand from the NGCP (National Grid Corp. of the Philippines) and other energy
suppliers and power distribution companies to improve their services, it cannot be said that one of
the ways to deal with the constantly expanding need for energy and the issues it brings is to focus
on energy conservation,” he said.
The order prohibits the unnecessary use of office facilities while lights, air-conditioning units, and
computer monitors have to be turned off during lunch break, provided they are not considered front-
line service offices.
The use of devices with high electricity consumption, such as electric stoves, irons, and similar
devices, is prohibited while charging cellular phones and similar gadgets is highly discouraged in
office premises.
Street lights in all public thoroughfares shall be turned on at 6 p.m. and off at 4 a.m. the next day
while those in public plazas and parks will be off at 11 p.m., provided minimal lighting is maintained
for safety and security.
“The public is highly encouraged not to roam around these areas once the majority of lights are off,”
the EO said.
Barangays are also encouraged to adopt energy-saving practices while conducting fiesta
celebrations.
The use of high volumes of water is also highly discouraged as the EO calls for the prudent use of
water.
The energy-saving measures take effect immediately until August 30 this year or until such time the
supply and transmission of electricity shall improve and stabilize, the order read.
The mayor has also ordered City Engineer Salvador Pedregosa, City Architect Regie Gregorio, and
City Environment and Natural Resources Officer Neil Ravena to look into the feasibility of
establishing solar charging stations at the plazas and esplanades for the use of the general public.

Ravena, during their executive meeting on Tuesday afternoon, said they would identify the top five
schools with the biggest consumption for an energy audit to determine their high-electricity
consuming facilities. (PNA)