PNoy assures Capiceños of more dev’t. projects

ROXAS CITY, Capiz, Feb. 20 (PIA6) – President Benigno S. AquinoIII assured Capiceños of more development programs and projects for the benefit of the people, particularly for the poor.

The President, was in Sigma, Capiz, February 20, for a meeting with local officials and the community, said that for the Pantawid Pamilya program alone, Capiz has enrolled 37,193 households for the program as of December 2012, which is higher than its household target which was only 37,100 for the said year.

He explained that the program aims to ensure that all children will be given immunization and are attending classes, and that mothers and their children are also availing of free check up.

The President said that the country has 5.2 million families or households living below poverty, hence the government is taking step to address the country’s problem through the provision of assistance for children to finish education and later to have work that will alleviate their living.

He also said that Capiz will be developed into agri-tourism site in the country as he had already directed Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala and Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. to ensure that all programs and projects to the realization of such will be put in place in the province.

President Aquino, who was accompanied by Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas, stressed that the infrastructure projects such as the Maayon communal irrigation project will benefit more farmers.

The irrigation project, he said, will also give employment to 800 workers.

He added that the improvement and upgrading of the Culasi port, river landings and construction of the Roxas City airport terminal will be done this year.

He pointed out that if Capiceños will take steps by deciding and convincing others to join the “Tuwid na Daan” the program thrust of the government will be a success.

In this upcoming election, he said, the people should unite towards a direction that will bring change and reforms for the development and progress of the people and the country. (PIA/Jemin B. Guillermo)

Read more...

PNoy's aggie promise continue to pour in Capiz

ROXAS CITY, Capiz, Feb. 19 (PIA6) – Twenty – five pump and engine sets have been released by the Department of Agriculture (DA) to various farmers associations and cooperatives in Capiz last month.

The farm equipment formed part of the multi-million assistance of the Aquino administration to Capiceño farmers to ensure food security and rice self sufficiency in the province.

The project will complement the much bigger irrigation projects by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) for the province’s rain-fed farmlands.

Based on records of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA), a total of 6,543 laminated sacks and 194 collapsible dryer cases under the DA – Agri Pinoy Rice Program were released to farmers for this year.

In 2012, the DA through OPA released 42 hand tractors, 14 rice threshers, two 4-wheel drive tractors, three rice combine harvester, two rice transplanters and a rice mill were turned over to farmer beneficiaries.

These farm machineries were in line with the Farm Mechanization Program of the DA and were released a few months after Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III pledged the assistance in time for his first presidential visit to Capiz in July 2011.

It also complements on the Adequate Infrastructure Support System thrust of the provincial government under the administration of Capiz Gov. Victor A. Tanco, Sr.

The thrust includes provision of production and post-harvest facilities, rehabilitation of Panay and Mambusao River irrigation systems, road development and construction and improvement of transport facilities, among others.

The national government’s aid to farmers also included the construction of flat bed dryers and multi-purpose drying pavements.

In support to the Rice Self Sufficiency Program, various varieties of registered and upland rice seeds as well as fertilizers were given to farmers identified by OPA in coordination with the Municipal Agriculturists.

“A lot of farm machineries are still up for Capiceño farmers this year,” said Provincial Agriculturist Sylvia dela Cruz.

The provincial government has also provided a counterpart on the various agriculture – related projects. (JCM/Alex A. Lumaque/PIA 6 Capiz)

Read more...

Capiz product expo, garden show net P877,000

ROXAS CITY, Capiz, Dec. 12 (PIA6) – The product expo and garden show of the micro, small and medium entrepreneurs as well as cutflower growers in Capiz was able to net nearly P900,000.

Information Officer Ken Queenie Cuñada of the Capiz Department of Trade and Industry disclosed that the recent four-day Capiz Product Expo posted a gross sales of P642,356.50, with furniture and other crafts accounting for 66 percent of the total sales.

In addition, she said that the week-long Capiz Multi-Purpose Cooperative Garden Show was able to generate P234,927 sales.

She added that the food and wellness group products had 44 percent of the total gross sales during the event.

Among this year’s top earners are Kreyativo Handicraft, Grace 88 Shellcraft, Giner Pottery, Akoni Food Products, and Asia-Pacific Aqua Marine, Inc. (APAMI), she said

The expo was an explosion of palate and palette as 130 new products, product lines and designs were launched to the market for the first time.

Aside from the product expo, Cuñada said that there was also a garden show for the cutflower and ornamental plant growers with 13 exhibitors participated in said show.
On the other hand, Capiz DTI Director Ermelinda Pollentes revealed that the Capiz MPC is now on its 7th year of continued cutfoliage export to Japan.

Pollentes stressed that based on DTI record, the export sales of the cooperative this year alone reached $124,324.85.

She is confident that with the proactive effort of the provincial and city governments, including the Joint Chamber of Commerce, in creating and promoting an enabling business environment here, the province’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Council and the will be another banner year for the Capiz MSMEs.

The Capiz Product Expo and Garden Show with a theme “Unity in Diversity” were among this year’s activities for the Sinadya sa Halaran Festival in Capiz.

The event highlighted the province’s rich and diverse local resources as well as its creative, skillful and resourceful entrepreneurs. (PIA/JBGuillermo)

Read more...

Capiz wins PopCom award anew

POPCOM-CAPIZ TRIUMPHANT: Yolanda Francisco (3rd from left), PopCom-head holds the national award for Best Practice in AYDP implementation during the national congress in Cagayan de Oro City . She was accompanied by PopCom Deputy Executive Director Rosalinda Marcelino (1st from left), PopCom Executive Dir. Tomas Osias (2nd from left) and Marimi Diaz (4th from left), Population Program Officer I. (Photo courtesy of PopCom-Capiz)

ROXAS City — For the second time, Capiz bagged the Commission on Population’s (PopCom) national award for Best Practice in Adolescent Health and Youth Development (AHYD) implementation.

Provincial Population Office – Capiz head Yolanda Francisco PopCom-6 Director Vicente Molejona received the award in a ceremony held during the national congress in Cagayan De Oro City in line with the Population and Development Week celebration.

Capiz was also given the same recognition last year.

The province has achieved the award because of the sustained support of its 52 school-based teen centers, said Francisco.

“The distinction was presented to Capiz Gov. Victor A. Tanco during the 21st Barangay Service Point Officers Congress at the Capiz Gym on November 27,” she said.

Tanco expressed his appreciation for the new feat.

He also challenged the Barangay Service Point Officers to aspire for the award by strengthening their commitment to their duties and obligations. (Karl Patrick Bayhon, FCU/CPPB/PN)

Read more...

Capiz gets ‘best practice’ award for AHYD implementation

ROXAS CITY, Capiz, Nov. 29 (PIA6) -- A national award for Best Practice in Adolescent Health and Youth Development (AHYD) implementation in Capiz was recently received by Provincial Population Office (PPO) in Cagayan De Oro City.

The best practice award, given by the Commission on Population (PopCom) Central Office in time with the Population and Development Week celebration, was received by PopCom – 6 director Vicente Molejona and PPO – Capiz head Yolanda Francisco.

“Our establishment and sustained support to 52 school-based teen centers in the province made us into the award,” Francisco noted.

She added that a documentary on the impact of the adolescent-friendly initiative conducted by a PopCom team in 2011 was presented during the national congress held at the country’s southern city.

The same award was also received by PPO-Capiz from PopCom – 6 last year.

Francisco added that the newest achievement of PPO was presented to Capiz Gov. Victor A. Tanco, Sr. who graced the 21st Barangay Service Point Officers (BSPO) Congress last Nov. 27 at the Capiz Gym here.

For his part, Tanco conveyed his appreciation of the award even as he challenged the BSPOs to also aspire for the award by giving stronger commitment to their duties and obligations to serve their co-constituents.

The chief provincial executive also took time to watch the estimated 20-minute documentary which was shown during the BSPO assembly. (JSC/Alex A. Lumaque-PIA6 Capiz)

Read more...

School on air teaches productivity, environment preservation

ROXAS CITY, Capiz, Nov. 26 (PIA6) –Through the school on the air program, agriculture officials hope to increase productivity and preserve the environment.

Office of the Provincial Agriculturist Information Officer Teodoro Buenvenida of Capiz disclosed that through the School On the Air (SOA) program, the public, particularly farmers, are taught on how to increase their farm productivity that could lead to increased income.

He said that through the program, courtesy of the Department of Agriculture in partnership with the OPA here, the organic farming is being promoted to restore soil fertility as well as for farmers to lessen their expenses on chemical inputs.

“Through organic farming, people will also be consuming natural and more nutritious food which is good for our health,” he said.

Buenvenida revealed that just this month, a total of 337 Capiceños graduated from a nearly five-month School on the Air class focused on organic vegetable production.

He said that of the total graduates, 49 from Cuartero, 32 each from Panay and Sigma, 28 from Jamindan, 27 from President Roxas, 25 from Dumarao, 22 from Maayon, 20 each from Dao and Mambusao, 18 each from Ivisan and Tapaz, 16 from Sapian, 13 are from Roxas City, 11 from Panitan and 6 in Pilar.

Buenvenida also revealed that seven graduates to include Johny Gregorio, Jovelyn Dolencio, Jofritz Mendoza and Harvey Hare, all from the municipality of Dumarao, Lorlyn Cordovero of Cuartero, Rocillo Villeza of Jamindan; and Jenielyn Daños of Panitan, were recognized as achievers during the graduation ceremony.

On the other hand, he said that in their on-going SOA class focused on corn production, which they only target 500 farmers, a total of 582 farmers have enrolled.

The current program will run for four months or 16 airings over a local radio station here every Sunday morning. (PIA/JBGuillermo)

Read more...

Facilities to help enhance economic activities up in Capiz

ROXAS CITY, Capiz, Nov. 15 (PIA6) - A total of 15 river landings in the coastal barangays in Capiz are up for construction, courtesy of the Department of Transportation and Communication.

Capiz Sannguniang Panlalawigan Secretary Zoe Herrera said that the budget for the said river landings, which will be implemented in the towns of Panay, Pontevedra and Pilar, reached more than P34.92 million which was taken from the 2011 appropriation.

Herrera said that the fund for the realization of the said port projects for Capiz was appropriated during the incumbency of then DOTC and now Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas.

He added that of the total river landing, eight of which with a total of more than P17.65-million will be constructed in Panay, particularly in barangays Pawa, Lat-asan, Navitas, Jamul-awon, Agojo, Bantigue, Lomboy and Buntod.

Herrera also revealed that five river landings will be constructed in Pontevedra town, particularly in barangays Tabuc, Hipona, Ameligan, Agbanog and Gabuc, with a total appropriation of more than P12.52 million, while the remaining two river landings with a budget of more than P4.75 million will be constructed in barangays Casanayan and Dayhagan in Pilar town.

He pointed out that with the realization of said infrastructure facilities, more people, particularly the fisher folks in the coastal barangays will be enhance their economic activities.

“This project will not only increase the economic activities of the fisherfolks but also will help our tourism thrust in the province being one of the tourist destinations in the country,” Herrera said.

Aside from the river landing projects, Herrera revealed that a P48-million budget was also appropriated during Roxas’ term as DOTC Secretary for the Roxas City Airport Development Project.

He explained that said project entails the construction of runway extension, perimeter fence and the rehabilitation/expansion of the passenger terminal building.

Herrera also said that the DOTC’s Bids and Awards Committee has likewise invited bidders for the construction of the Roxas City Philippine Coast Guard station amounting to more than P11.47 million. (JCM/Jemin B. Guillermo/PIA6-Capiz)

Read more...

FMR Implementers get thumbs up

ROJECT ACCEPTED. Vice-mayor Alfonso L. Golero of Pres. Roxas, Capiz (middle) signs the Certificate of Project Acceptance during the turn-over ceremony of P23-million Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) – funded farm-to-market road at Brgy. Carmencita in Pres. Roxas town. Also in photo are Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) – Capiz head Ma. Teresa C. Valencia (left) and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 1st Capiz Engineering District Engr. Sonny Boy O. Oropel affixing their signature as partner agencies in the implementation of FMR project as a component of the Agrarian Reform Infrastructure Support Program Phase III (ARISP III). (PIA Capiz photo/A. Lumaque)

ROXAS CITY, Capiz, Nov. 8 (PIA6) – A Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) consultant for rural infrastructure conveyed his admiration to Agrarian Reform Infrastructure Support Project Phase III (ARISP III) implementers in the province during a turn over and unveiling of a permanent marker for Crossing Bayuyan – Santo Niño Carmencita Farm to Market Road in Pres. Roxas town last Nov. 7.

Yukihiro Kawahara, team leader of JICA consultants for rural infrastructure, said that the P23-million JICA funded FMR in the area is an indication of good coordination among ARISP implementing agencies, local government units, barangay councils and concerned community residents.

“Now we have good roads here, I hope construction works for a bridge to start soon,” he said during a turn-over program.

The FMR as a component of ARISP III for Sto. Niño – Carmencita Agrarian Reform Community (ARC) includes construction of a P20-million JICA – funded double lane bridge.

Pres. Roxas town is among the three ARISP III towns in the province, said Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) – Capiz head Ma. Teresa C. Valencia.

The two other municipalities are Sapi-an and Dumalag.

She also cited the cooperation of local government as well as barangay officials and farmer beneficiaries of the ARC as among the important factors in the inclusion for ARISP III implementation.

For his part, Pres. Roxas Public Information Officer Arnold Alarcon said that the FMR will give better access to the three-level Liktinon Falls which is among the new tourist attractions in the municipality.

During the program, Carmencita Punong Barangay Asher F. De Lugar thanked JICA, DAR and Department of Public Works and Highways officials in the province for the project that will provide opportunity for more efficient flow of people and goods in the area.

The project certificate was accepted and signed by Pres. Roxas Vice-Mayor Alfonso L. Golero who represented Mayor Raymund S. Locsin in the activity. (JCM/AAL/PIA 6 Capiz)

Read more...

P205 M irrigation projects up in Capiz

ROXAS CITY, Capiz, Oct. 16 (PIA6) – About P205 – million worth of irrigation projects that would generate an estimated 1,000 hectares of rice fields are being implemented in the province this year.

This was disclosed by National Irritation Administration (NIA) – Capiz Public Information Officer Eng. Julieta Gallardo who said that these projects include the ongoing construction of the Communal Irrigation Projects (CIP) in Maayon town as well as in Badbaran in Dumarao.

“Badbaran CIP’s P34.5-million budget is intended for canal structures and canalization while the Maayon CIP budget of P127.9-million is intended for the construction of dam, irrigation structures and some post harvest facilities,” Gallardo noted.

Also, new pump irrigation projects in barangays Tabuc Norte, Salocon and Pob. Ilawod in the municipality of Panit-an worth P43-million are among the 2012 big irrigation projects in the province.

The multi-million irrigation projects aim to increase rice production in the locality from 60 to 100 cavans per hectare.

Gallardo added that more new irrigation projects are up for the various towns in Capiz next year.

These include gravity type irrigation, pump irrigation, dissiltation of dam, repair of existing irrigation facilities and continuation of unfinished projects.

Recipient towns of the 2013 irrigation projects are Maayon, Panit-an, Panay, Jamindan, Sigma, Pilar, Pontevedra and Dumarao that will cover 221 hectares of rain-fed farmlands.

About 530 farmers are expected to benefit from the projects next year. (JCM/Alex A. Lumaque/PIA 6 Capiz)

Read more...

NFA assures adequate rice supply in Capiz

ROXAS CITY, Capiz, Oct. 9 (PIA6) – Capiceños need not worry about adequate supply of rice.

Information Officer Rose Andalecio of the National Food Authority in Capiz said that as of October 4, the rice stock in the province reached 760,690 which could last in the next 139 days.

She said that of the total rice buffer, the household stocks accounted the highest with 562,800 bags which could last for 103 days while the commercial stock reached 134,270 bags that could feed Capiceños in the next 24.59 days.

Andalecio disclosed that the government stock which is deposited in different warehouses in Capiz totaled 63,620 bags.

She also said that based on their agency’s distribution target of 89,400 bags from January to September this year in the different accredited rice outlets, they were able to distribute 45,901 bags of rice in the 24 Institutionalized Bigasan sa Palengke and 124 Bigasan sa Barangay rice outlets.

On the other hand, Andalecio said that they are intensifying their procurement activities especially with the onset of the harvest season here in order that Capiceños will not worry about supply of rice.

She explained that they are also reaching the individual farmers and other farmer groups through its “Ugnayan” activity in the different towns in the province, particularly the rice producing areas to provide the public with awareness on the recent requirements in the selling of palay with the NFA.

She also stressed that the government support price is P17 per kilogram of clean and dry palay with lesser requirements especially from the individual farmers to lessen the burden in their selling transaction with the NFA.

Andalecio said that so far, the agency was able to buy 23,846 bags of palay from both the individual farmers and farmer groups, which is lower than its procurement target of 114,000 bags for the period of January to September this year. (JCM/Jemin B. Guillermo/PIA6-Capiz)

Read more...

Agri, fishery laborers' registration up in Capiz

ROXAS CITY, Capiz, Oct. 1 (PIA6) – Five hundred seventy one field interviewers (FI) are deployed in Capiz to conduct the Registration System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) from October 1 to November 7 this year.

During the period, about 161,288 households will be interviewed by the FI who will cover the province’s 473 barangays on a house to house basis to interview farmers and fishermen.

National Statistics Office (NSO) – Capiz Provincial Statistics Officer Engr. Frankie Dordas said that the FI underwent a training last month to brace themselves for the registration activity.

“Manual processing will follow at the NSO Provincial Office by December to January before the result will be submitted to NSO regional office for scanning,” noted Dordas.

The nationwide activity is being conducted through the collaboration of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and NSO.

RSBSA is a registration procedure which aims to list or register all farmers, farm laborers, and fishermen nationwide and gather some basic information about them, their household, farm, and farming/fishing activities.

It will essentially address the need for a comprehensive and systematic information system that will help the government identify or locate farmers, farm laborers and fishermen who are target beneficiaries of agriculture-related programs and services, said an RSBSA primer.

The database that will be generated from the registration activity will expectedly address the need for a comprehensive and systematic information system about the basic sectors in agriculture. (JCM/Alex A. Lumaque/PIA 6 Capiz)

Read more...

DOST rolls out mosquito OL traps in Roxas City

ROXAS CITY, Capiz, Oct. 1 (PIA6) – A trainers’ training on roll-out of mosquito ovilarvicidal (OL) trap on public elementary and secondary schools was conducted here recently.

The activity was spearheaded by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and Department of Health (DOH) to lower down dengue cases by controlling the population of dengue-carrying Aedes mosquitoes.

A DOST – Capiz briefer said that ll rooms including comfort rooms, canteens and libraries of all public schools in the city will have OL trap kits.

Along with the briefer are OL trap manual and monitoring form that will be filled up by schools for submission at the Provincial Health Office.

The same kits will also be rolled out to various public schools in the municipalities after necessary preparations and coordination have been put in place.

The training was attended by principals and school heads of the Department of Education (DepEd) – Roxas City Division.

OL trap, a system developed by DOST, is composed of a black container, small strip of plywood for mosquito to lay their eggs on and a larvicide solution to kill the mosquito larvae that will hatch in the strip of wood and in the solution.

Based on the OL trap manual, the scent of the solution invites female mosquitoes to the trap where they lay eggs on the stick and on the solution itself.

The stick moistened by the solution through capillary action is highly attractive for mosquito to lay eggs on.
As soon as the eggs and the hatch larvae get exposed to the solution they die.

The OL trap does not kill the adult mosquitoes, instead its ovicidal and larvicidal effect prevent the next generation of mosquitoes from reaching adulthood. (JCM/Alex A. Lumaque/PIA 6 Capiz)

Read more...

BIR Capiz nets P463-M revenue

ROXAS CITY, Capiz, Sept. 25 (PIA) – Nearly 500-million in taxes was collected by the Bureau of Internal revenue in Capiz. For the period January to August 2012, the Revenue District No. 72 was able to collect more than P463.83 million in taxes, Capiz Revenue District Officer Gil Tabanda disclosed. He stressed that the collection for the eight-month period is higher by more than P11.52-million as compared to the collection goal during the said period. Tabanda added that for August this year alone, the revenue collection reached more than P62.17 million which is also higher than its monthly target. He said that BIR officials in Capiz continue to intensify the conduct of advocacy campaign so that the public, particularly taxpayers, will be able to understand their role and responsibility in the government through prompt payment of exact taxes. “Continuous information and education campaign are necessary so that the people will know the purpose of taxation which is the lifeblood of the nation,” Tabanda said. He likewise revealed that part of their activities to reach and even exceed their collection goal is the conduct of tax mapping, campaign on the issuance of official receipt and the agency’s Premyo sa Resibo, conducting investigation against erring taxpayers and tax evaders through Run After Tax Evaders (RATE) program as well as implementation of Oplan Kandado, among others. Earlier, Tabanda said that they are also closely monitoring the tax compliance in agricultural and fishery activities such as sugarcane and rice farming, livestock, poultry and fishpond operation, including palay and corn trading in Capiz. He said that tax compliance by hotels, resorts and restaurant operators are also being looked into, including the sale of subdivision lots as well as the payment of exact taxes by professionals such as lawyers, engineers and doctors. (JCM/Jemin B. Guillermo/PIA6-Capiz)

Read more...

Pres. Roxas town ventures into organic farming

ROXAS CITY, Capiz, Sept. 18 (PIA6) – The municipality of Pres. Roxas in Capiz will allocate funds for the establishment of a vermicompost as well as organic farm project in the locality.

Pres. Roxas mayor Raymund S. Locsin has instructed Municipal Agriculturist Leornardo Barcenas to accomplish the proposed initiative.

“If the project will be successful, I will see to it that other communities in the municipality will replicate the practice and we will shift to organic farming eventually,” Locsin noted.

The directive came after an observation tour at Buro-Buro Springs and Vermifarm in Talisay, Negros Occidental among department heads of Pres. Roxas town recently in an effort to pursue a more sustainable agricultural industry and at the same time preserving the natural balance of the ecology in the municipality.

The sites are considered pioneer in vermiculture and organic farming in Negros Occidental and the primary training center for Vermiculture and Vermicomposting in the country.

Buro-Buro Springs Vermi Farm is also a home of the African Nightcrawler Worm ( Eudrilus Eugeniae) which is being supplied to various vermicomposting projects since 1998.

An online resource, said that organically grown products are free from harmful chemicals and pesticides and offer better natural flavors of the products.

Chemicals and other synthetic treatments may strip vegetables and fruits of aromas and flavors. (JCM/Alex A. Lumaque/PIA 6 Capiz)

Read more...

Copra production in Capiz hits record high

ROXAS CITY, Capiz, Aug. 30 (PIA6) – A record-breaking 90 tons of copra were bought by the Capiz Small Coconut Farmers Marketing Cooperative (CASCOFAMCO) last July from coconut farmers provincewide.

Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) – Capiz manager Jeffrey Delos Reyes said that the record excludes copra which was traded with at least 33 local accredited copra buyers last month.

“Copra trading at CASCOFAMCO averages only about 30 to 40 tons every month,” he noted, stressing that the fine weather and continuing PCA – initiated coconut fertilization have contributed a lot in the local coconut production.

PCA gears up for the second salt fertilization application this year.

The PCA official said that some coconut farmers sell their copra at CASCOFAMCO as copra traders in the municipalities could not financially cope up with the supply of raw material for coconut-based products.

Aside from copra, CASCOFAMCO also buys whole nuts at P3.00 each.

Delos Reyes added that there are about 60,000 whole nuts at the oil mill in Barangay Ondoy in Ivisan town.

“The high supply of copra has put the average selling price of the product at P12.50 per kilogram,” he stressed.

Based on PCA records, the average selling price of copra in the province has reached P42 a kilo in January 2011 due to the shortfall of coconut production brought about by the prolonged drought in summer of 2010.
Since then, an uptrend in the locak coconut production was observed until this month.
The province has more than 32,000 coconut farmers. (JCM/AAL/PIA 6 Capiz)

Read more...