The sweet Bugnay Wine of Sunrise Agrarian Reform Community

SUNRISE AGRARIAN REFORM COMMUNITY (Sunrise ARC) in Gattaran, Cagayan produces bugnay wine as a livelihood activity in addition to farming. The ARC is abundant in bugnay fruit wherein the old folks in the community commonly used as a remedy for arthritis, as a cleansing drink to cure imbalances in the body, etc.

Bugnay or Antidesma bunius L. is an edible fruit that dangle in bunches of 40-50 oviod-shaped fruits like small berries and grapes. It is easily mistaken for wild berries or grapes due to its color and size. Bugnay grows in the mountains and is native to the Philippines due to its tropical climate. From yellowish green to pale yellow or bright red to almost black when it is ripe, it is usually abundant from June to September.

It has acquired a higher value as a raw material for wine due to the increasing awareness of the benefits of red wine and has become an alternative to the more expensive imported wines.

A study has established that bugnay wine has phytochemicals, flavonoids, catechin, proyanidins (Procyanidins are  compounds found in red wine that are good for the blood vessels and considered as one of the factors attributed to the long life spans of the people from the southwest of France and Sardinia), vitamin B1 and B2.

The bugnay fruit, according to studies, possibly has compounds with potential cytotoxic properties and methanolic activities. It is rich in anti-oxidants and anti-carcinogenic properties. The anti-oxidants in bugnay wine, like red wine is said to reduce the incidence of coronary heart disease. The alcohol content of bugnay wine also inhibits fat deposits in the arteries, reducing the occurrence of atherosclerosis or arteriosclerotic vascular disease.

After undergoing some training on fruit wine production, the members of the Sunrise Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Gattaran, Cagayan started to process and produce bugnay wine as a cooperative business which proved to be a lucrative endeavour as demand for their bugnay wine has increased.

It is being promoted in trade fairs where is one of the fast selling items. Production, however, is limited by the seasons as bugnay fruit is not available all year round.  However, whenever it is abundant, it is harvested and immediately processed resulting to increase in income of the cooperative. By:christiandsales

Outstanding DOST-SETUP beneficiaries awarded at NST Week celebration

Carne Ybanag of Lighthouse Cooperative is Region 02 awardee

SMX Convention Center, Manila. The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) spearheaded the celebration of the National Science and Technology Week (NSTW) at the SMX Convention Center, SM Mall of Asia with a week-long exhibit, from July 23 to 27 (Tuesday to Saturday), 2013. Dubbed as ExpoScience 2013, it showcases the latest innovations and inventions of Filipino scientists and engineers, etc.

Senator Loren Legarda led the tour of the exhibition booths after the opening program. 

     The exhibit highlighted DOST technologies such as the Advanced MaterialsLaboratory (ADMATEL), a testing facility for semiconductors; the AutomatedGuideway Transit (AGT), an alternative transportation now being used at UP-Diliman; the Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards or Project NOAH which is DOST’s  response for a more accurate, integrated, and responsive disaster prevention and mitigation system especially in high-risk areas throughout the Philippines; DOST’s Certified Seed Production program for improved agricultural productivity; and the other ICT-driven tools to make the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry more competitive, and many others. It also featured the ceremonial switching of Project NOAH’s 1,000 sensors expected to be installed within the year. Also featured was DOSTv, a web channel that provides 24/7 information on the weather.

     The Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) Forum was conducted on the second day of the NSTW celebration wherein sixteen (16) business firms/ SETUP beneficiaries were awarded as Outstanding SETUP Adopters: Tartland Baguio Pasarabo (CAR); Maglaya’s Woodcraft (Region I); Carne Ybanag-LighthouseCooperative (Region II); Amanda’s Marine Products (Region III); MFP Home of Quality Food Corporation (NCR); Farmtec Foods, Inc. (Region IV-A); Mindoro Progressive Multi-Purpose Cooperative (Region IV-B); Belen’s Pinahamis Na Pili, Atbp. (Region V); Trappist Monastic Food Products (Region VI); Total Woodcraft (Region VII); TAP’s Handmade Products (Region VIII); Woodtech Builders (Region IX); Northern Mindanao Federation of Dairy Cooperatives (Region X); Rosario’s Fruit Stop (Region XI); Rafols Machine Shop and Engineering Services (Region XII); and Marjeck Food Products (CARAGA). Farmtech Foods, Inc. later received an award as the National Level Best SETUP Adopter.

     The DOST-SETUP is a banner program of the Department of Science and Technology. It is a nationwide strategy to  motivate, encourage and assist Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in improving their productivity and competitiveness  through the technology interventions like provision of the cost of equipment through Innovative System Support (ISS), technology trainings, product development, plant lay-out, equipment design with training for its utilization, laboratory tests of products, packaging and labelling, trainings on  Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), 5S, Hazard, Analytical, Critical and Control Point (HACCP), Energy Audit, Cleaner Production Technology (CPT), consultancy services through Manufacturing Productivity Extension (MPEX),  Consultancy on Agricultural Productivity Enhancement  (CAPE) and product promotion thru S&T Fairs, product flyers  and website development.

     For the last ten years of the program, it has generated over Php73 billion in sales, generated nearly 44,000 jobs, penetrated over 2,000 new markets and has Php0.5 billion fund for this year.  It is collateral-free, zero interest and proposal-driven funding that is payable to the DOST within a period of three (3) years. by:christiandsales

More photos:https://www.facebook.com/lighthousecoop/media_set?set=a.398816963556911.1073741834.100002858333858&type=1 

DOST, DAR, DA, et. al., sign Convergence MOU

SMX Convention Center. On the occasion of the celebration of the National Science and Technology Week (NSTW) at the SMX Convention Center in Manila, the cabinet secretaries (and  undersecretaries) from the Departmentof Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Departmentof Agriculture (DA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Social Welfare and Development and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) met and signed today a Convergence Memorandum of Understanding on Community-Based Sustainable Livelihood and Development Enterprises in the Countryside.

The Memorandum of Understanding on Convergence would move together the agencies involved and unite their efforts and activities with DOST to provide a combination of multiple services, programs, projects, technologies, and provide access to other developmental interventions that will promote sustainable development and access to programs such as DOST’s Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SET-UP), among others. The DOST SET-UP is a more focused program of assistance for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). SET-UP is a nationwide strategy to encourage and assist SMEs to adopt technological innovations to improve their operations and thus boost their productivity and competitiveness.           This is of special interest to the DAR's agrarian reform communities (ARCs) project where agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) are transforming themselves into being farmer-entrepreneurs and agrarian reform beneficiaries organizations (ARBOs) are now engaging into economies of scale through modernization under the DAR-ARCCESS program and the block sugar farming, among others. 

            This year’s NSTW theme is “Science, Technology and Innovation: The Road to a Smarter Philippines,” emphasizes the role of science and technology in improving the peoples’ future through DOST’s projects and services that will further socio-economic development through DOST’s technologies such as the Advance Materials Testing Laboratory (ADMATEL) which is the testing facility for the nation’s semiconductor industry; Automated GuidewayTransit (AGT) system (currently in use at UP-Diliman), an alternative transportation system; PROJECT NOAH as a tool to address climate change; DOST’s Certified Seed Production Program for the agricultural sector;  and other Internet Communication Technology (ICT) driven tools to make the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry more competitive.

The NSTW runs from July 23-27, 2013 (Tuesday until Saturday) at the SMX Convention Center, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City and will showcase the latest innovations, interventions and inventions of Filipino scientists, engineers and various works by the entire scientific community. /christiandsales

DAR-Cagayan (North) holds regular Legal Clinic in the barangays

The Department of AgrarianReform–Cagayan (DARPO-Cagayan), Legal Assistance Division has adopted another effective strategy in bringing its services to where it is needed most by conducting a scheduled legal clinic in faraway barangays throughout the province.

This is accomplished by a team from the DARPO Legal Division going to a certain barangay in a municipality coordinated with the DAR Municipal Agrarian Reform Office (DARMO). Upon arrival, simultaneous activities such as lectures, legal counselling and mediation groups attend to specific needs of the farmers. If the parties in a case requiring mediation are present, a mediation conference is instantly conducted by assigned legal officers which usually ends up with an amicable settlement.

According to Atty. Fatima Yadao, Chief of the Legal Division of DARPO-Cagayan, many agrarian disputes have been resolved on site, i.e., farmers do not have to travel to its office at the DARPO in Tuguegarao for the resolution of issues affecting landowner-tenant relationship and other agrarian disputes.

           The onsite legal forum also includes lectures and discussions about agrarian laws. An open forum elicits questions from farmers, landowners, farm workers and local officials (barangay and municipal officials) and other CARP stakeholders usually resolves issues that would have concluded in protracted and expensive litigations. Matters requiring more serious consideration are scheduled for resolution at the DARPO if warranted. 
/christiandsales

More photos: https://www.facebook.com/amarophil.cagayan/media_set?set=a.481467975261750.1073741849.100001956556263&type=3

Tuguegarao farmers’ coop receives milk processing equipment

TUGUEGRAO CITY, July18, 2013 - The Integrated Farmer’s Cooperative (IFC) is an agrarian reform beneficiary (ARB) cooperative in the SOUTHCAG Agrarian Reform Community (SouthCag ARC) located at Namabbalan Sur in the eastern part of Tuguegarao city. It has been engaged in small scale dairy production since 2004 through fresh carabao and cow’s milk collection, processing and marketing.

            Through the IFC Milk Processing Shared Service Facility Project funded under the DTI-SSF, the 150-member ARB cooperative received two units milking machines, 6 units milking cans, one vacuum sealer and one bottle sealer. These were turned-over in a ceremony at the Philippine Carabao Center in Tuguegarao City attended by no less than Hon. Randolph S. Ting, Representative, Third District of Cagayan province and other officials of the national government agencies, among others. 

As an ARB cooperative, the IFC is also the recipient of several livelihood assistance, organizational management and skills trainings from LGU-Tuguegarao, the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and Department of Trade and Industry, among others.

           Under this project, the IFC is expected to expand its market, sustain and increase the volume of production of: (1) pasteurized fresh and flavoured (mango, pandan, chocolate, melon and pineapple) carabao/cow’s milk, (2) pastillas de leche, (3) yoghurt, and (4) milk candy bars.Some of the processed milk products produced and processed by the IFC are available in groceries and supermarkets in Tuguegarao City.   by:christian sales

More photos: https://www.facebook.com/amarophil.cagayan/media_set?set=a.480910175317530.1073741847.100001956556263&type=3

PHOTOBLOG: Aggaw Nac Cagayan 2013 Agri-Trade Fair

The provincial government of Cagayan celebrates the 430^th founding anniversary of its civil government this year from June 26-30 (Wednesday-Sunday) and one of the major highlights of which is the AGRI-TRADE SHOW/EXHIBIT where products from the different municipalities are on display and sale (Click on the photo to enlarge or right click photo and open in new page for a bigger view).

Booth of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist

DA-BFAR

LGU-Alcala

LGU-Camalaniugan

LGU-Allacapan

LGU-Ballesteros

LGU-Baggao

LGU-Abulug

LGU-Amulung

LGU-Aparri

LGU-Buguey

LGU-Enrile

LGU-Gattaran

LGU-Gonzaga

LGU-Iguig

LGU-Lallo

LGU-Penablanca

LGU-Piat

LGU-Rizal

LGU-Sancez Mira

LGU-Solana

LGU-Sta Teresita

LGU-Sto Nino

LGU-Tuguegarao

DA-BFAR Booth

LGUs promote ARC products in AGGAW Agri-Trade Fair 2013

TUGUEGARAO CITY- Once again, one of the most anticipated activity in the province of Cagayan is the Agri-Trade Fair during the annual AGGAW NAC CAGAYAN celebration. The local government units (LGUs) in the province have constructed their individual unique booths at the Cagayan Sports Complex and loaded them with goods/products from their municipalities. From booths shaped like giant fruits to some mimicking caves, boats, bridges and church buildings, the trade fair booths do not fail to surprise and amuse people trooping into the trade show grounds.          

The provincial government of Cagayan celebrates the 430^th founding anniversary of its civil government this year from June 26-30 (Wednesday-Sunday) and one of the major highlights of which is the AGRI-TRADE SHOW/EXHIBIT where products from the different municipalities are on display and sale. There are lots of things to buy in these trade shows such as candies made from native fruits, there are also assorted dried fish such as eel, live fat crabs from downstream Cagayan, home-spun fabrics, hand-woven bags made from indigenous materials, the famous carabao skin Chicharabao cracklings and the equally favourite kinds bibingka, etc. Just bring some money and you will go home happy.

Also found in some LGU booths are products from the various Agrarian Reform Communities (ARCs) in the province, such as the In-Shell Roasted Peanut of EASTERN ALCALA ARC; the sweet Bucayu of LABDABES ARC in Allacapan; Carabao Milk Candy from SOUTHCAG ARC in Tuguegarao City; the Kabarangay Sugar Cane Vinegar of MADOVILLA ARC in Piat; and the crisp and glazed sweet Banana Chips of ESTEMARCONBAGA ARC in Amulung, Cagayan. These products are the result of the development trainings provided to agrarian reform beneficiaries’ organizations under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).  

The Aggaw Nac Cagayan Agri-Trade Show is an exhibition organized by the provincial government so that micro/small entrepreneurs in various municipalities can showcase and demonstrate their latest products and services with the assistance of their LGUs. They can also study activities of their competitors so they can improve their products or services and observe recent market trends and spot opportunities. Agriculture is still the major industry in the province of Cagayan. /christiandsales

DARPO-Cagayan is CDA-accredited training provider

TUGUEGARAO CITY, CAGAYAN-The Department of Agrarian Reform Provincial Office of Cagayan (DAR-Cagayan) is now an accredited Cooperative Training Provider after it has complied with the qualifications and requirements of the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA).

     A Certificate of Accreditation was personally delivered and handed over by CDA-Region 02 Regional Director Angelito U. Sacro  to DARPO-Cagayan represented by Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer (PARO) Virgilio M. Acasili on June 19, 2013 at the latter’s office in Tuguegarao City.
     Prior to DARPO-Cagayan’s accreditation, there are no accredited cooperative training provider the Cagayan province.

     The CDA’s accreditation program is mandated under the Cooperative Code of 2008 (Republic Act No.  9520) which aims to institutionalize the conduct of coordinated, rationalized, and standardized education and training for the cooperative and its officers and members. The law requires cooperative officers to attend and complete trainings from accredited training providers as mandatory requirement to develop their competencies in effectively performing their functions in the management of cooperatives.

     These mandatory trainings involve all cooperative officers (board member, general manager, secretary, treasurer and member of audit/election/mediation committee) to attend and complete a series of training courses within two years. The members of the Board of Directors are required to complete nine courses; general managers are required to complete eleven courses; secretaries, treasurers and members of the audit, election and mediation committees must complete four to seven trainings.

     Failure to complete the mandatory trainings will result to the coop’s being declared as non-compliant and it will lose certification of good standing (CGS). Without the CGS, a cooperative cannot secure tax exemption privileges from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) as it is one of the requirements in order be given tax exemption.  

     The accreditation of DARPO-Cagayan as a cooperative training provider shall primarily benefit thousands of agrarian reform beneficiaries who are members of agrarian reform cooperatives throughout the province of Cagayan.  /cds

New CITIZENS' CHARTER up at DARPO-Cagayan

           A Citizens’ Charter is a document which represents a systematic effort to emphasize the commitment of an Office/Organization towards its clients/citizens on the standards of service, information, consultation, non-discrimination, accessibility, courtesy and redress of grievances.  In some cases, it also includes the expectations of the Office from the client/citizen for fulfilling the commitment of the office.

            Thus, the government has declared as a policy of the State to promote integrity, accountability, proper management of public affairs and public property as well as to establish effective practices aimed at the prevention of graft and corruption, and to attain this end, the State shall maintain honesty and responsibility among its public officials and employees, and shall take appropriate measures to promote transparency in each agency with regard to the manner of transacting with the public, which shall encompass a program for the adoption of simplified procedures that will reduce red tape and expedite transactions in government (Republic ActNo. 9485, Anti-Red Tape Law).

Pursuant thereto, the Department of Agrarian Reform–Provincial Office (DARPO-Cagayan) in Tuguegarao City, as directed by its head of office, Virgilio M. Acasili, Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer II (PARO II), has replaced and installed a permanent copy of the Citizens’ Charter on its corridors as a ready reference for its clients to know what do to and where to go for specific transactions pertaining to agrarian reform and rural development. These consists of large tarpaulin posters mounted on aluminium frames and placed on the walls along the office corridors for easy viewing by the public.

DAR’s Citizens’ Charter has the following components: (a) Vision and Mission Statementof the DAR; (b) The procedure to obtain a particular service, e.g., DAR Clearance/Transfer Action, Land Use Conversion, Exemption, etc.; (c) The person/s responsible for each step; (d) The maximum time to conclude the process; (e) The document/s to be presented by the customer, if necessary; (f) The amount of fees, if necessary; and (g) The procedure for filing complaints.  

Republic Act No. 9485 (Anti-Red Tape Law) applies to all government offices and agencies including local government units (LGUs) and government-owned or controlled corporations (GOCCs) that provide frontline services. 

A Citizens’ Charter aims to make the administration accountable and more citizen friendly, to ensure transparency in government transactions and to guarantee the right to information.  /cds

DARPO-Cagayan and CSU sign MOA on ARCCESS

A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Department of Agrarian Reform Provincial Office (DARPO) of Cagayan, represented by PARO Virgilio M. Acasili and the Cagayan State University (CSU), represented by Dr. Romeo R. Quilang, University President was signed on Thursday, May 23, 2013 at the CSU-Andrews Campus, Caritan, Tuguegarao City in the presence of Dr. Dominador O. Tamayao, Vice President for Research and Extension, Atty. Marjorie P. Ayson, DAR Regional Director, Mr. Elpidio Urbanozo, Chief, Beneficiaries Development and Coordination Division, and Mr. Aldwin Addun, Human Development Specialist.

Under such MOA, the DAR and CSU undertake to pursue and implement the Agrarian Reform Community Connectivity and Economic Support Services (ARCCESS) wherein CSU shall conduct the Organizational Enterprise-Needs Assessment and Design Assessment (OE-NADA), which is a major component of ARCCESS project implementation.

The ARCCESS project is a government-led initiative to tap intersectoral (Public-social-private) partnerships to increase farm productivity and improve household incomes of Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) by providing livelihood through the organization of agricultural enterprises managed by ARBs.

         ARCCESS also aims to teach farmers agri-business technologies to help them establish farm enterprises and gain access to credit, better markets and participate in economies of scale.  Another important goal of the ARCCESS program is to enhance organizational management, i.e., strengthen farmers’ organizations where a lot of  Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) are members.

          Target beneficiaries under this activity are five (5) Agrarian Reform Communities (ARCs) in Cagayan province, namely: MADUVICA ARC in Sta. Ana, SUNRISE ARC in Gattaran, SABUNG ARC in Tuao, MADUVILLA ARC in Piat; and MALAUEG ARC in Rizal. 

Under the MOA, the CSU shall undertake the Needs Assessment as a systematic approach to identify the nature and scope of the problem being addressed and the reasons that are causing the problems, to identify the target population to be served, and to determine the services needed to meet the problem/s.

The CSU shall also conduct a Design Assessment to model the theory behind the ARCCESS Project and present a plan for improving the social condition of the target organization/community. The activity intends to improve the capacity of the ARBs in organizing and managing agri-enterprises.

A Final Report shall be submitted by CSU to DAR, wherein such report shall be considered in determining the types of intervention available and suitable for the ARB organization/community under the ARCCESS project, such as provision of common services facilities (CSF), e.g., water pumps, tractors, threshers, harvesters, dryers, etc.,  and/or business development services, etc. /cds