P20M, ready for DA’s Rainfed Program to Alleviate Food Production

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is releasing an initial P20 million in the third quarter for a national rainfed program aimed at raising food production in more than one million hectares of land tended by the country’s poorest farmers. 

DA has partnered with India-based International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) to carry out the Philippine Rainfed Agriculture Research and Development and Extension Program (PhiRARDEP).

DA will work on PhilRARDEP through its staff bureaus, Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR), together with its Regional Field Units (RFU)- Regional Integrated Agricultural Research Centers (RIARCS), Agricultural Training Institute Regional Training Centers (ATI-RTC) as well as selected State Universities and Colleges (SUCs).

“(DA) Secretary (Proceso) Alcala will release P20 million this August for our rainfed program. We will be implementing programs that we have learned based on how the government of India put its money for what is important,” said ICRISAT Director General William D. Dar.

Coordinating agency for the PhiRARDEP will be BAR.  “PhiRARDEP’s components are rainfed farming innovation; community-based watershed management and soil conservation; policy formation; and capacity building. We will train technicians who will help marginal farmers in raising their income,” said BAR Director Nicomedes P. Eleazar.

While the Philippine government has in the past poured majority of its funding and policy support for irrigated agriculture, rainfed areas have been neglected despite its huge contribution to food production.

“Almost half of our food supply comes from rainfed areas. If it’s developed, maybe this can rise to 60 to 70 percent,” said ICRISAT Communications Director Rex Navarro.

The impact on farmers is also immense. “The Philippines is predominantly rainfed. An estimated 20 million Filipinos are in this area. Farmers only depend on rainfall for their water supply which is why their income is limited specially if they plant only rice. What we’ll do is introduce to them other (drought-resistant) commodities,” said Eleazar.

Farmers in rainfed areas may only plant rice once a year instead of twice due to their rain-dependence. Among alternative crops considered to be drought-resistant or those requiring much less water compared to rice are root crops such as sweet potato and cassava and legumes including peanut, pigeon pea, chickpea, and sweet sorghum.

Alcala has also supported the planting of adlai, a rice-like crop known to be a staple of some Filipino natives in Mindanao, and white corn.

The importance of a rainfed agriculture program is expected to intensify due to the manifestation of climate change which poses a threat of reduction of water supply for agriculture along with increasing temperature or hotter climate.

DA-BAR earlier funded the Community Based Watershed Management (CBWM), a rainwater harvesting technique, in four sites—Tarlac, Bulacan, Ilocos Sur, and Bohol.

According to a DA-BAR-ICRISAT report, Uplands represent about 74 percent of the country. Soil erosion is widespread in these areas with devastating impact on farm household. Poverty, poor infrastructure, lack of institutions and policies, unemployment, and poor health and sanitation are entrenched among these communities,

CBWM is a promising strategy to improve livelihood of upland farmers and abate ecological degradation. Pivotal to the success of CBWM is the participation of natives living in these areas and a program that satisfies their economic needs through relevant livelihood opportunities. These include rice farming, fishing, livestock raising and non-farm programs such as handicraft making.

CBWM taught farmers in these areas to conserve water through techniques like contour farming using hedgerows, trash line, and store lines which are systems of constructing plots that collect excess and store rainwater.

However, the major infrastructure program is the construction of weirs, concrete storage tank, small farm water reservoir, and spring development diversion dam.

Organic agriculture is also part of this program including composting, biogas technology, and liquid fertilizer production.

PhiRARDEP aims to replicate a watershed program of ICRISAT in the 464-hectare Adarsha Watershed, Kothapally in India which despite the abject absence of water or surface water sources like rivers has become a successful farming village.

Through a watershed approach that harnesses rainwater in check dams, sunken pits, and mini percolating tanks, farmers in Adarsha Watershed are able to plant many crops like corn, sorghum, and pigeon pea. As Adarsha's dams recharge the groundwater, their dams have become sources of water that have been able to irrigate 60 hectares as of 1998. Adarsha’s irrigated area even augmented to 160 hectares as of 2008.

Because of the success of Adarsha Watershed, the watershed approach's replication has been sanctioned by a national guideline of the Indian government. It has been multiplied in many Indian districts.

"Our compulsion here was for ICRISAT to come up with a good watershed model that approximates agricultural communities. So in this case even the lowest 500-hectare village can be a watershed," said Dar, a former Philippine DA secretary.

Watershed areas may also expand to 1,000 to 2,000 hectares.

"One of ICRISAT’s biggest contributions in watershed management is on India's national policy taking learning from Kothapally. The guidelines have changed as a result of ICRISAT's experience. They used to have just a few hectares. Now they have made it wider, so the impact is bigger. They also included vulnerable groups like women and children and livelihood programs. Before the original watershed program was just on soil conservation and moisture content," said Dr. Rosana P. Mula, CBWM resource person.

CBWM, implemented in the Philippines since 2005, also had a component for coconut-based processed food production including vinegar, nata de coco, and macaroons.

Source: BAR Director Nicomedes P. Eleazar

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DOST-12, Makilala LGU in waste management system

The Department of Science and Technology Region 12 (DOST-12) and the local government unit of Makilala in North Cotabato joined hands to solve the growing solid waste problem in said town.

A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) titled “Technology Transfer on Organic Fertilizer Production Using the Bioreactor Technology” signed this June 21 by DOST-12 regional director Zenaida P. HR Laidan and Makilala Mayor Rudy A. Caoagdan formalized the alliance.

The partnership details a sound and solid waste management system that will permanently solve the mounting garbage problems of Makilala.

“We sought the help of DOST-12 after receiving a third and final warning from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to comply with RA 9003,” Caoagdan said.  RA 9003 is also known as the Eco-Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.

He revealed that the LGU was troubled with solid waste disposal despite intensive public awareness campaign on waste segregation at the household level since last year. 

The local government also opened a new dumpsite in Barangay Leboce to partially solve the community’s growing problem on waste disposal, but this did not fully address the concern.  

Caoagdan recognized the need for a more permanent solution to include reduction of residual wastes and providing employment opportunities to his constituents through the creation of alternative livelihood sources.  Through the technical assistance of DOST-12 and DOST’s Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI) for the design and construction of the bioreactor, the municipality looks forward to having a facility that will recycle the wastes generated by its residents into organic fertilizers.

DOST 12 assisted the LGU in the preparation of a project proposal that will help support the acquisition of a bioreactor for the recycling of biodegradables, which is estimated to be 65% of the total wastes generated by the municipality or approximately four tons daily.   

The bioreactor is the first of the series of technologies for the municipality in this joint initiative. Recycling of non-biodegradable wastes like plastics, glass and others using the ITDI-DOST technology has also been programmed by DOST-12 for Makilala. 

Last year, DOST-12 also conducted an awareness seminar among the town’s barangay officials regarding proper waste segregation and recycling to increase their knowledge in environmental management system.  

Source: DOST-12, Normina Pahm (S&T Media Service)

 
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DOST high impact technologies events via NSTW 2011

Themed “Nasa Siyensya ang Pag-asa”, the 2011 National Science and Technology Week (NSTW) celebrates Filipino genius and ingenuity in the field of S&T that raise the hope of the nation. The event, aptly titled ‘Expo Science 2011’, describes the latest breakthroughs from the Philippine science community to be showcased at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia, Pasay City, 27-30 July 2011.

The event opens with President Benigno S. Aquino III who recently commended the Department of Science and Technology Secretary Mario G. Montejo for being a ‘bringer of good news’ in his administration.

The NSTW features S&T fairs and exhibits, and other events in different venues to give audiences updates on the goings-on within the local science community.  Among these include: Outstanding Young Scientist Summit (July 13, Manila Hotel), Annual Scientific Meeting (July 14-15, Manila Hotel), Science for Kids (July 18-22, DOST-NRCP Auditorium, Bicutan, Taguig City), STARBOOKS launch (July 19, SM Mall of Asia-Nido Fortified Science Discovery Center), Tagisang Robotics (July 28, SM Mall of Asia-Music Hall), S&T Summit and S&T Quiz Bee (July 29, SMX Convention Center), and In Touch With Excellence (July 29, Landbank Auditorium).

Highlighted in the science exposition are the Department’s High Impact Technologies and Services or HITS, the centerpiece exhibit. The latest technologies and services from the DOST system on display include the Mosquito Ovicidal-Larvicidal Trap, brown rice, baby foods, water filter, automatic weather stations, mass transit system, PC tablet, RxBox, PCOS machine, gantry crane, windmills, and initiatives on emerging fields of genomics, biotechnology, nanotechnology nuclear energy.

These technologies will alleviate the socio-economic conditions of Filipinos, provide long-term solutions, strengthen national competitiveness, and contribute to national development.

The NSTW will be participated in by government offices, the business sector, and the academic community, mostly with their respective exhibits. 

Organized by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the Expo Science 2011 overall concept vividly pictures the mission and vision of the Department as it steers the country towards national development.

The NSTW 2011 is co-chaired by DOST Undersecretary Fortunato T. Dela Peña and Director Raymund E. Liboro of the DOST Science and Technology Information Institute.

Source: DOST, Aristotle P. Carandang (S&T Media Service)

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DOST chief statement: ICTO, under DOST in EO 47

DOST Secretary Mario G. Montejo

PRESIDENT AQUINO signed Executive Order No. 47 placing the Commission on Information and Communication Technology (CICT) and its attached agencies under the Department of Science and Technology. 

The decision affirms the President’s commitment to align the government’s ICT infrastructure,  program and plans with the strategy for inclusive economic growth and efficient governance  by integrating ICT policies, programs, and resources  with research and continuing innovation led by the DOST. 

Executive Order  47 will result in  a leaner, meaner and more proactive office that will ensure that our ICT industry will remain competitive in the global market, and Filipinos would experience the benefits of ICT through a more efficient and transparent e-government.

            Executive Order 47 signifies a shift to more strategic ICT policies and the immediate implementation of urgent steps needed in ICT development  by tapping into DOST’s direct links with the academe and industry. 

Under the DOST, the former CICT is renamed as the Information and Communications Technology Office (ICTO). It will continue to put a high priority on e-Governance and the highflying business process outsourcing industry. 

The ICTO under DOST will accelerate the development of a connected government and integrate IT government systems under a unified platform.  Consolidating all government ICT programs will likewise put an end to inefficient ICT projects that are disjointed or duplication of each other.

 The ICTO under DOST will ensure the long-term sustainability of the IT-BPO sector.  The ICTO will concentrate on the areas of human resource development through education in order to produce globally competitive ICT manpower and promoting a climate conducive for further growth.

It will also streamline research and innovation in ICT to address issues such as cyber hacking, disaster risk management, and environment protection.

The DOST in consultation with the sectors concerned will prepare a rationalization plan  as contained in EO 47 and will submit this to the Office of the President within three (3) months.

Source & photo credit: DOST STII

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DOST to design and deploy water hyacinth harvester in July

According to Backpacking Philippines and Asia: “water hyacinths which is commonly and erroneously called water lily were originally from South America and introduced in many parts of the world.  Pasig River and Laguna de Bay are local examples of the mess caused by the aquatic plants in clogging waterways, choking oxygen from the water and breeding of mosquitoes.”

Scientists and engineers at the Department of Science and Technology are in a race to diffuse exploding tangles of water hyacinth clogging freshwater bodies in the country. 

“We are looking at the water hyacinth problem in two ways: how to remove it and how to use it,” DOST Secretary Mario G. Montejo said.

“We are validating the many potential uses of water hyacinth and see what are the most appropriate options at the municipal and industrial levels”, he added. “Do we use it for handicraft or as material for biogas or garments production?”

But DOST’s immediate mission order from Malacañang is to help de-clog major river systems like the Rio Grande de Mindanao, which swamped villages along its banks and portions of Cotabato City because of massive swarm of water hyacinth.

That means a far more efficient mechanical de-clogging system than backhoes sitting on barges. “We expect to test a DOST-developed water hyacinth harvester within July” possibly in the Manggahan section of the Pasig River or in Pampanga, DOST Assistant Secretary Robert O. Dizon said wistfully.

Such harvester will work similar to commercially available models used in other tropical countries in their battle against the aquatic menace. But the design will be adapted to local conditions and will be built using locally available components, he added.

“It will create another problem if the water hyacinth clumps taken out of the river are just left along the banks. The immediate option, we think, is to use it as landfill”, adds Executive Director Amelia P. Guevara of DOST’s Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development.

“Our objective should not be to totally eradicate the water hyacinth, but to control its growth” by cleaning up the rivers regularly, Guevara said. That’s because it helps preserve the ecosystem by purifying river water.

Moreover, PCIEERD is considering water hyacinth as a potential material for biogas production to enhance integrated waste management system at the municipal level.

Other than handicraft, water hyacinth can be processed into animal and fish feeds, charcoal briquette, fiber board, textile fiber, and organic fertilizer, Guevara explained.

Previously, DOST’s Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research and Development “provided technical support to the province of Sultan Kudarat”, which transformed water hyacinth from Lake Buluan to urge province-wide cottage industries churning bags, slippers, and other quaint fashion items, PCAMRD Executive Director Cesario R. Pagdilao also disclosed.    

Sources & Photo Credit: Rodel G. Offemaria, S&T Media Service; Backpacking Philippines

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ADB, CAI-Asia Reports Walkability Assessment in 13 Asian Cities

The poor state of pedestrian facilities in some Asian cities was highlighted in the information given by the Asian Development Bank and the Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities. Ironically, the lowest walkability ratings are found to be along public transport terminals and schools where footpaths, pedestrian amenities and access for persons-with-disabilities are lacking.

Commercial areas get the highest walkability rating followed by residential areas.  The walkability ratings were derived from field surveys where pedestrian facilities and the general walking environment were evaluated. Cities included in the survey are Cebu, Davao and Manila (Philippines), Colombo (Sri Lanka), Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh (Vietnam), Hong Kong and Lanzhou (China), Jakarta (Indonesia), Karachi (Pakistan), Kathmandu (Nepal), Kota (India) and Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia).

 The average walkability rating for the 13 cities was 58 out of 100.

Improving walkability and pedestrian facilities is one of the less prioritized measures for sustainable urban transport by policymakers and development organizations. The Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities Center with support from the Asian Development Bank and the Fredkorpset conducted walkability surveys in various Asian cities to better understand the state of walkability in Asian cities.

The survey used a methodology based on the Global Walkability Index developed by the World Bank, which includes a field walkability survey, pedestrian preference survey and a government policy and institutional survey. The survey provides an overview of the current pedestrian infrastructure and policies in selected cities and will be used to develop and propose pedestrian focused solutions for Asian cities. The "walkability
index" can help raise awareness and generate interest among policy makers and city officials and help them improve walking in their cities.

 “A sad fact is that there is a wide gap between investments made by cities for pedestrians and for motorized vehicles. Asian cities have traditionally been cities of walkers. If pedestrian facilities are more integrated and made comfortable, more people will choose to walk instead of drive resulting to less fuel consumption and less air pollution,” says Bert Fabian, Transport Program Manager of the Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities.

 Jamie Leather, ADB Principal Transport Specialist, expressed that the walkability study supports ADB’s Sustainable Transport Initiative as well as the Decade of Action for Road Safety.

The pedestrian facilities were surveyed by taking into account nine different aspects of walkability, including safety, amenities and disability access. Out of the 4,600 pedestrians interviewed, 41% states that sidewalks are in a bad state and strongly prefer making sidewalks cleaner and pedestrian crossings safer as priority areas for improvement.

The 37% of the survey respondents primarily walk to reach their destination and 30% travel less than three km and another 21% travel within 3-6 km.

The Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities has conducted walkability surveys in 21 Asian cities to date with support from the Asian Development Bank and Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation.

Note:

About CAI-Asia

The Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities (CAI-Asia) promotes better air quality and livable cities by translating knowledge to policies and actions that reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from transport, energy and other sectors. It was established in 2001 by ADB, the World Bank and USAID as part of a global initiative that also includes Latin America and Sub Saharan Africa. Since 2007, this multi-stakeholder initiative is a registered UN Type II Partnership with more than 200 organizational members and eight Country Networks. The secretariat of the CAI-Asia Partnership is the CAI-Asia Center, a non-profit organization, with headquarters in Manila, Philippines and offices in Beijing, China and Delhi, India.

Source: CAI-Asia

 
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Happy Father's Day: A Tribute to my Father

“Tatay”, “Papa”, “Dad,” "Itang" or whatever way you call your father or who acted as a father figure in your life whether as stepfathers, uncles, grandfathers, or “Big Brothers,” Father's day is for all of them!

WED 2011 for a Green Future Worldwide

“Although individual decisions may seem small in the face of global threats and trends, when billions of people join forces in common purpose, we can make a tremendous difference.” 
                  - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon

Yesterday marked the World Environment Day (WED) with the theme: “Forest: Nature at Your Service.”  This highlighted the link between quality of life and the health of the forests and its ecosystems.  Likewise, it also corresponded with United Nation’s declaration this year as the International Year of the Forests.

India is the global host in this year’s WED.  India has a rapidly developing economy with 1.2 billion people with tree-planting system and installed ways to protect agricultural land using windbreaks and shelterbelts.

What is World Environment Day?
WED is an annual event which is the biggest and widely celebrated global day for positive environmental action. WED activities take place all year round culminating every 5th of June yearly, connecting everyone from everywhere.

This annual celebration began in 1972 and has grown to become the one of the main vehicles through which the UN stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and encourages political attention and action.

Through this, the UN Environment Program is able to personalize environmental issues and enable everyone to realize not only their responsibility, but also their power to become agents for change in support of sustainable and equitable development.

This is a day for people from all walks of life to link together to ensure a cleaner, greener and brighter outlook for themselves and future generations. This involves all sectors of society – governments, non-governmental organizations, business, industry, inter-governmental organizations, civil society, media and schools.

Why focus on forest?

It is alarming to know that 13 million hectares of forest are destroyed annually, equivalent to the size of Portugal!

Do you know that forests cover one third of the earth’s land mass, performing crucial functions and services around the world which make the earth alive with potential. It plays a key role in our battle against climate change, releasing oxygen into the atmosphere while storing carbon dioxide.

Forests aid to regulate the distressing impact of storms, floods and fires. They are known as the green lungs of the earth needed by us.

The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) reports that the targeted investments forestry could generate up to 10 million new jobs around the world. However, forests need to become a universal political priority.

"The Green Economy initiative has identified forestry as one of the ten central sectors capable of propelling a transition to a low carbon, resource efficient, employment-generating future if backed by investment and forward-looking policies," said Achim Steiner, UN undersecretary general and UNEP executive director.

"WED is a day for everyone to act in support of forests and to nurture these green shoots of a Green Economy as the world looks towards how best to accelerate, scale-up and above all implement these transitions in Rio in 2012," he said.

How can we participate in WED 2011?

We can organize neighborhood clean-up with the whole community; plant a tree or collective planting; re-using and recycling of materials inside our house or company,; simply putting your trash in the bin; car free and biking moments with family, bird, fish or nature watching; green campaigns nationwide, etc. Thus, all these actions may restore the health of our environment, our planet.

WED encourages us to help preserve our national surroundings. This also promotes the systematic disposal of household and industrial waste that may conserve natural wealth and prevent the proliferation of diseases and unpleasant surroundings.
 

Groups like WWF are sorting information and experience in respect to plantations to maximize biodiversity and ecosystem services.

India has recently approved a national initiative to increase forest cover over five million hectares, improve quality of forest cover over another five million hectares and improve crucial ecosystem services provided by forests, such as hydrological services. The new Green India Plan aims to increase forest-based incomes for three million households.

In the Philippines, Bulacan governor promotes WED by passing the 2011 Environment Code in the province.

  

In essence this is an economic paradigm that each country must include and prioritize in order to unlock the full potential of forests in creating green economies.

This advocacy can be a daily habit to sustain and maintain the beauty of our surroundings and save our planet from global warming/ climate change. As an individual, or in a community, do you have other ways to contribute in our environment or in forest? Drop a note and we will truly treasure and share it.

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