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Fri-Sat, October 14-15, 2022 3 Aggie NorMin holds info caravan in Camiguin

MAMBAJAO, Camiguin

– To apprise the farmers and the local government units on agricultural programs, projects and services, the Department of Agriculture-10 (DA-10) under the leadership of Carlene Collado, OICregional executive director, conducted an Information Caravan (InfoCar), in the province of Camiguin, October 6, here.

The caravan is an avenue for DA-10 and its attached bureaus such as the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) and the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), and the Philippine Crop Insurance, Corp. (PCIC) to bring their services closer to the farmers.

Through the caravan, DA-10 aims to update the agriculture stakeholders on the DA projects lined up for implementation in their respective areas.

To fuel agricultural development in the islandprovince of Camiguin, DA10 has proposed various agri-livelihood projects for the five municipalities of the province for CY 2023.

The projects include provision of agricultural inputs and materials, farm machinery and equipment, veterinary drugs and biologics, livestock and poultry dispersal, capability training, construction of agricultural facilities and farm-to-market roads.

Such projects are funded under DA regular programs – Rice, Corn, Livestock, Organic Agriculture and High Value Crops Development, and the locally funded project, Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) program.

Carlota Madriaga, DA-10 regional technical director for operations, encouraged the farmers to enroll in DA's Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) and organize themselves as an association to gain better access to DA projects.

“The DA will only grant big ticket projects to government-recognized and accredited farmers' cooperatives, associations. I urge you to organize in your communities with the help of your respective LGUs,” Madriaga said.

She also urged the farmers to practice balanced soil fertilization by using organic soil conditioners as a way of coping with the skyrocketing prices of commercial fertilizers.

For his part, Louis Bollozos, Camiguin provincial board member and chair of the committee on agriculture, called on the farmers to take advantage of the caravan by communicating their queries and concerns to the DA.

He also bared the provincial government's plans for expansive promotion and development of organic agriculture in Camiguin in the coming years.

As a veterinarian, Bollozos urged the farmers to observe biosecurity measures in their farm to guard against the proliferation of ASF.

Highlighting the InfoCar is the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation's distribution of ASF indemnity to 12 beneficiaries.

As of October 3, PCIC has already distributed a total of P944,000 worth of ASF indemnity to 37 claimants in Camiguin.

DA-10 will cap its regionwide InfoCar, in the province of Bukidnon late this month. (DA-10 | PIA-10 | Camiguin)

MRP expands opportunities for women, youth

By Apipa Bagumbaran

MARAWI CITY – The Marawi Response Project has expanded economic opportunities for both women and youth displaced by the 2017 Marawi siege and their host communities.

During the “Women Summit: Stories of Healing, Organizing, Participation, and Empowerment (HOPE)” organized by Plan International Philippines, MRP Chief of Party Marlon Libot highlighted the gains of the project in empowering women and youth to become self-reliant.

“In MRP, we always strive to include women because this is a right and is fundamental to achieving gender equality,” he said.

Libot shared that 68% of the project's training participants were women. Moreover, they have organized various community solidarity groups (CSGs) that are mostly led by women.

“We are also successful in forming six women federations comprised of our CSGs in six municipalities with the intention of them representing their sector in local and special bodies where they can push their agenda,” he said.

The Chief of Party stressed that they targeted women to build their skills and capacities, equip them with tools for their advocacies, and provide spaces to empower them so that they can in turn empower other women. 13 of these women were able to share their struggles, experiences, hopes, and success during the summit.

“We delved into peace promotion initiatives in Baloi with the project RINAWareness. It helps us strengthen positive connections all over the town. I have never seen more girls and women joining advocacy works before but we have been growing in number since we started,” said Norjehan Dimacangun, a member of the Salimbago Youth Volunteers Alliance from the municipality of Baloi.

The youth leader said through their community champions, they were able to go further by creating safe spaces for youth development.

“Girls and women have the capacity to move boundaries and make change happen,” she further stated.

For Sumayyah Abdulnasser, the MRP has helped her regain stability after being displaced by the armed conflict in Butig followed by the Marawi siege in 2017.

Sumayyah and her CSG received sewing machines and fabrics from the project.

“It's a good opportunity that we got machines because our children will also be able to learn sewing,” she said.

Funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID, the MRP seeks to improve economic conditions and strengthen community cohesion among displaced persons and their host communities in Marawi and neighboring areas.

It is implemented by Plan International Philippines together with their local partners, Ecosystems Work for Essential Benefits (ECOWEB) and the Maranao People Development Center, Inc. (MARADECA). (APB | PIA-10 | Lanao del Sur)

BWC chairperson lauds USAID-Plan’s MRP

MARAWI CITY – The Marawi Response Project (MRP) of Plan International Philippines has earned praise from the chairperson of the Bangsamoro Women Commission (BWC).

In her virtual message during the “Women Summit: Stories of Healing, Organizing, Participation, and Empowerment (HOPE)” on October 6, BWC Chairperson Bainon Karon congratulated the organization for the MRP's success in enhancing the self-reliance of displaced persons and communities impacted by the Marawi siege.

“Your effort of giving voice to women, validating their experiences, to giving value to their meaningful contributions is aligned with the Commission's objective of raising the standard of living of women in our society,” she said.

The BWC chairperson emphasized that women are fundamental to the development and shaping of mankind.

“While we are aware of seeing women at home, it cannot be denied that the shaping of our children's consciousness begins with them. Let us remember that the family is the primary unit of our society which is the foundation of nationbuilding,” she further said.

For their part, the BWC head conveyed that the commission will continue to work towards advancing the cause of women and ensuring that the policies being developed are implemented.

Karon also expressed her gratitude to all leaders and peace development partners who continuously provide programs that are beneficial not just for women, but for every member of society. (APB | PIA-10 | Lanao del Sur)