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SUNDAY, JULY 9, 2017
Jimbo Gulle, Editor
Roger Garcia, Issue Editor
LGUs
Local Gov’t Units
mslocalgov@gmail.com
SUCCESS STORY
20-YEAR OFW TURNS HYBRID RICE PRODUCER By Abe Almirol
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EVER CHANGING TIMES FOR TACLOBAN CITY
A FORMER overseas contract worker ,and Tondo-born electrical engineer have turned into becoming a hugely successful agri-entrepreneur who now runs a 36-hectare hybrid rice farm in Nueva Ecija. Having been raised in the streets of Tondo, Manila relatively Danilo Bolos, has never even imagined himself owning such a huge farmland and becoming a full-time rice planter. “I’m not a farmer’s son,” he quipped. It all started when I personally witnessed my wife’s cousins from Sta. Rosa (Nueva Ecija) became so successful in farming and eventually becoming financially independent. I never really dreamt to get rich. Initially, I just wanted to have at most three hectares of land where I can plant and build a modest farmhouse (Bahay Kubo) where I could at least spend some quiet country lifestyle,” he said. For many years he was content at growing registered inbred seeds—then the highest yielding type of rice prior to year 2000 when there was no hybrid rice yet in the market. He bought foundation seeds from Philrice (Philippine Rice Research Institute) and grew those seeds for his own family’s use on an original three hectares of rice field and farm land that he owns.
By Robbie Pangilinan
mualdez. Tourists have started to flock to the famous Kalanggaman Island and since the 2013 calamity, there has been a steady increase of tourist arLMOST four years after suffering from rivals (both domestic and foreign) in the city, according to the regional devastation brought about by Super tourism office. Pre-Yolanda, Tacloban used to have 43 hotels. Today, there are now 75 Typhoon "Yolanda," Tacloban City has hotels and expansions are also under way. recently earned the distinction of being number One of the big malls extended and opened an annex; still another one one in terms of growth rate in the entire Region of is opening in the north. Four malls and a couple of large supermarket chains have also been established recently. Eastern Visayas (Region 8). Other tourist spots in Tacloban City include the Santo Niño Shrine, San And for one fleeting moment, the entire populace have totally forgot- Juanico Bridge, the Memorial in the Astrodome, and the Price Mansion ten all woes and bad memories of the calamity that failed to expunge the which will be open soon. The National Housing Authority builds the houses and the city’s counterhopes and faith of the people of Tacloban as they merrily celebrate the part is the land. We have almost 8,000 homes annual Sangyaw Festival. in the north but we are targeting 15,000 homes The Festival is the city’s way of showing for 15,000 families,” Romualdez said. the world that the future is bright and full of The lady mayor disclosed that the Univerhope for Tacloban and its people. Locals and sity of the Philippines is also moving to that foreign tourist trooped to Tacloban to bear town where a hundred hectares is waiting. witness to the city’s joyful celebration. The regional hospital, ABRMC, is almost finThe month-long celebration was highlightished as well. ed by the Sangyaw Parade of Lights which More than three hectares of the town will features brightly lit and decorated floats and be developed into an eco-tourism zone. with street dancers partying to the upbeat There will also be an agri-tourism zone and “Sangyaw Theme.” industrial zone. The festival likewise featured a host of ac“We want to preserve our downtown area tivities that include a grand motorcade, the but a lot of people live in the danger zones so inauguration of the Sangyawan Park at the we will relocate them and create economic Balyuan Grounds, a Job and Business Fair, activity for them as well as livelihood in that Battle of the Bands, and the Balyuan Rites. area. It’s actually upland and inland so it’s In addition, A Golf Tournament was staged safe from storm surges,” continues Mayor together with National Jet Ski Competition. Cristina. The pageant for Miss Tacloban and the MisTacloban Mayor Cristina Gonzales-Romualdez leads a However, with progress come some probter Sangyaw Tacloban also provided pomp to the month-long event and was capped by successful Sangyaw Festival, where dancers perform on the lems as well, like heavy traffic. streets with costumes laced with LED lights (above). “We’re dealing with the traffic. We might the Annual Sangyaw Foundation Ball, Waray Sonny Espiritu reroute some and bring back the one-way Talents Concert, Fiesta Trade Fair, Fluvial and routes. We are also limiting transportation Land Processions, and Pontifical Mass. Tacloban City’s steady growth has been noted despite the continuing like the tricycles especially in the downtown area. We’re also considering challenges as it has regained its position as the economic hub of the region. moving some of them to the north area to have more transportation op“The city is booming in terms of business, but right now, we’re focus- tions there; also to and from the north,” says the mayor. “Definitely by end of this year, we will come up with the new branding ing on the new townships in the north because after "Yolanda," many people who lived near the shoreline were affected so we needed to look of our city. We are working on it already and we continue to promote the for homes them to live in safe areas,” said Mayor Cristina Gonzales-Ro- city,” ends Mayor Romualdez.
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Danilo Bolos (right) and his son
For the past 20 years, that piece of land was planted, season after season with such inbred seeds. Being high yielding, the seeds gave him 150 to 180 cavans per hectare. He was content at his earning until he had the chance in getting introduced to the hybrid rice growing program of the Department of Agriculture (DA). The program taught farmers how to grow hybrid rice seeds. From then on, Bolos made sure to take farming more seriously and probably on a larger scale this time. He attended seminars provided by the government—DA technicians and municipal agriculturists—that enabled him to soon become an “expert” at hybrid rice farming. “I felt that farming isn’t something that should just be taken as a hobby. But it should be studied very seriously and must be considered as a full-time job,” said Bolos. “When it was just being introduced, many criticized SL-8. They said it was disease-prone, and the rice spoils fast,” he said. “Then, hybrid seeds even sold lower in the market by P1 per kilo compared to other seeds.”
SARANGANI BAY: MINDANAO’S NEW DIVE HAVEN SARANGANI is Mindanao’s new scuba diving haven. This discovery was made by media divers and underwater photographers from Manila, Cebu, and Davao in the recent Sarangani Dive Safari organized by the Provincial Government of Sarangani and the Department of TourismRegion 12. One of the country’s unheralded underrated dive spots, Sarangani Bay has been proclaimed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources as a Protected Seascape and listed as one of the country’s Key Marine Biodiversity Areas.
It covers an area of 215,950 hectares and a 226.4-kilometer coastline, covering the municipalities of Maitum, Kiamba, Maasim, Alabel, Malapatan, and Glan, as well as the City of General Santos. According to Sarangani Gov. Steve Chiongbian Solon, the dive expedition explored other areas in Sarangani Bay in addition to the popular Tinoto dive spot at the Lemlunay Resort in Maasim. A licensed scuba diver, he said the group dived at the Tuka Marine Park in Kiamba, Rocky Beach and Maasim Reef which is both located in Maasim. Meanwhile, tourism regional direc-
tor Nelly Nita Dillera said that diving will be a new addition to the sports and adventure tourism products being offered by Soccsksargen or Region 12. She said the DOT 12 and the dive operators in the region took part in the Dive Resorts Travel Fair in Manila last year promote the area to the international market. Tuka abounds in 2-meters long bumphead parrot fishes, dorid nudis, various chromodiris, batfishes, and sea turtles. Maasim Reef boasts of juvenile white-tipped sharks, huge fan corals and gigantic bat fishes, and astounding gardens of marine flora.
Mediamen and dive volunteers at the recent Sarangani Dive Safari.