BPHRE Conducts Training on the Operation of Pneumatic Corn Planter in Caraga Region
BUTUAN CITY – The Bureau of Post Harvest Research and Extension (BPHRE), an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture is aggressively pushing its campaign for farm mechanization here in Caraga Region.
Engr. Aldrin Hipolito brief the participants on the component parts of BPHRE Pneumatic Corn Planter.
To materialize its mandate, BPHRE conducted a two day Training on the Operation and Maintenance of BPHRE Pneumatic Corn Planter held at DA RFU 13 Conference Hall, Butuan City last May 5 to 6, 2009.
The said training was participated by farmers’ cooperative such as St. Gabriel Multipurpose Cooperative and Self Reliance Team (SRT) in Butuan City, as well as representative from Provincial Government of Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Norte.
Also present were staffs from different division of DA Regional Field Unit 13 such as Crops Division headed by Ms. Lynn PareΓ±as, Regional Agriculture Engineering Division (RAED) headed by Engr. Rene Morales and Regional Agriculture and Fishery Information Division (RAFID).
St. Gabriel Multipurpose Cooperative is the first recipient of the BPHRE Pneumatic Corn Planter throughout the country through soft loan scheme.
Regional Executive Director Ricardo C. Regis warmly welcomes the resource persons from BPHRE Central Office headed by Director Hugo Tolentino.
During the training proper, Supervising Science Research Specialist Helen Martinez discussed about the Corn Mechanization as well as the Economics of using the BPHRE Corn Planter.
On mechanical aspect, Engr. Aldrin Hipolito BPHRE Research Specialist talked about the Component Parts and Functions as well as the principles on the operation of Corn Planter and its maintenance.
In order for the participants to keep abreast on the corn program, Regional Corn Coordinator Abel Wagas also tackled about the Protocols on Corn Production.
After all of the discussions, an actual operation using the BHRE Pneumatic Corn Planter was conducted at the corn field owned by National GAWAD SAKA Awardee Demetrio Tabelon at Brgy. Tiniwisan, Butuan City.
As of now, BPHRE is currently looking for manufacturers based here in Mindanao to produce BPHRE Farm Technologies for an easy accessibility of the farmers.
Part of the training was the conduct of BPHRE Technologies Licensing Protocol for Manufacturers spearheaded by Division Chief Dr. Eduardo Cayabyab.
It was attended by five Mindanao-based manufactures such as RJR Agro-Industrial Enterprises of Malaybalay City, Bukidnon; MDV Machine Shop and Engineering Works of Surigao City; Marbel Corn Sheller of Maramag, Bukidnon; Allied Shop of Surigao City and Green Valley Agro Industries of Kononadal City, South Cotabato. (Aurell P. Arais/rafid da caraga)
SUCCESS STORY: “ALL THAT GLITTERS IS NOT GOLD BUT TO ELENO PACHEJO ARMENTIA, THERE’S GOLD IN BLACK PEPPER”
Barangay Comagascas is a 20-minute drive barangay in BACODEL (BAYABAS/COMAGASCAS/DEL PILAR) ARC located in the municipality of Cabadbaran, Agusan del Norte. Almost all of the agricultural land area in this ARC was owned by Maraput Agri-Development Inc. (MADI) owned by Don Matias Tirador. To many, they called this place: “HACIENDA TIRADOR.”
Eleno Pachejo Armentia, a high school graduate, married to Cresencencia Iglesia, is a native of Iloilo. The couple is blessed with 2 sons. The eldest, Criselen, is an Industrial Engineer graduated from a prestigious university in Cebu City. He is now working in Cebu City and the second, Eleno Jr., is an Electrical Engineer a graduate from the university of Cebu City, now an OFW working in Qatar.
Forty years ago, Eleno Pachejo Armentia was an administrator and property custodian of the Tirador’s. He was formerly a hired worker as Security Guard of the Tirador Lumber Corporation located in Esperanza, Agusan del Sur owned and managed by Don Matias Tirador. In 1973, the logging company shut down its operation. The employer then transferred him to administer and act as a property custodian of Maraput Agricultural Development Inc. (MADI) located in Brgy. Comagascas, Cabadbaran, also owned by the Tirador. Because of the transfer of his work assignment, he decided to establish his residence in this said barangay. In 1990, the Landowner informed him again that the Development Bank of the Philippines has foreclosed the property.
The golden opportunity knocked on his door on the same year, when the Department of Agrarian Reform, informed all the workers that the Tirador land where they were working turned over to DAR’s CARP for acquisition under GFI scheme. He could hardly believe that the land they were tilling for years and owned by a very influential family in town would be distributed to the workers. With mixed emotions, he diligently continued tilling the land. Farming was the main source of income that time. He received his 3-hectare CLOA in 1994.
Things turned for the better when Eleno attended a seminar about planting High Yielding Variety Crops specifically on black pepper production and coffee production. Inspired and determined, he went to Bataan, Luzon and in an Agricultural School in Iloilo all by himself to learn more about black pepper and coffee farming. Motivated from what he learned from the exposure trips and from the seminars, he applied integrated Farming Technology in his 3-hectare cocoland. Diligently, he did some research works, attended more seminars, and conducted several experiments that enhanced his learnings about Integrated Farming.
Well known of his expertise in coffee and black pepper farming technology, he was hired by JC ADI, owned by the Soriano’s in Sta. Ana, Tubay as farm consultant. He is also the consultant about Pest Control Measures to the farmers engaging in coffee production in adjacent barangays and towns in the province. He is now a supplier of black pepper in some of the provinces of CARAGA Region and in Cebu City. He is also a supplier of coffee seedlings and has expanded his market to the adjacent provinces like Surigao Del Norte and Agusan del Sur.
His hardwork and diligence was honored and was richly blessed by the Almighty, the couple was able to send and sustain the needs of their kids in school until each of them obtained a license of their chosen field of education.
The couple has nothing more to ask for.
Then we raise this question: What can you say about your spectacular success? He quoted: “I owe this golden opportunity from God Almighty and from the program of DAR who transformed me from a lowly ordinary farmworker to the landowner status who happened to plow blackgold in my CARP awarded land, this blackgold is Black Pepper.” (Josephine P. Ceniza, DAR-13/ PIA-Caraga)
SUCCESS STORY: “The Possible Dream”
“Success is not just good luck. It is a combination of hard work, good credit standing, opportunity, readiness, and timing. When the opportunity knocks on your door, you have to be prepared to grasp it. Otherwise, it will go to somebody else. Also, success will slip out of your hand if you will not take care of it.”
Pablo “Paul” Borja was busy attending his stacks of sacks of the certified rice seeds ready for market when we visited him in his small office located in his warehouse in Barangay Basilisa, RTR, Agusan del Norte.
Paul as friends fondly call him is a big-time certified hybrid rice seeds producer and distributor in the province of Agusan del Norte and CARAGA Region. As we interviewed him, this successful ARB-farmer in the province, disclosed his real life story.
MY DREAM
Paul originated from a poor family in Biliran, Leyte. He was the third from the last of 11 broods.
With this number of children, his father adopted an “according to age turn” strategy in sending them to high school. The eldest to be the first, followed by the next elder, and so on and so forth, because they could not afford to send them all to school at the same time. Pondering on the agony of the long wait, before getting a secondary education, he tried to formulate strategies to really go to school, because to his young mind finishing a college degree is the only means of liberating them from their impoverished situation. Not long after his hope arose because right there in their barangay a secondary school was opened , an opportunity he immediately grabbed.
However, the hope again turned to despair because the school was forced to close because of a very low enrollment turn out. Deciding not to put off his dream with this predicament, he did every thing he could to enroll in a private school in town until he finally graduated. College education is even more difficult to hurdle , and he just can’t allow himself to stop, now that he has graduated from high school. Again, on his own, he went to Cebu to achieve the goal he marked out for himself. Finding favor from the Almighty, he was able to work as a Security Guard during daytime and a student in the nighttime. This was his routine, until in his third year in BS Criminology, his dream faded over his strong love for Alicia Dultra who became his wife in 1972.
THE SETBACKS
Both of them stopped attending college school; and settled down in Cabadbaran, Agusan del Norte, Alicia’s hometown. There he was able to work in Manila Mining Corp in Lepanto, Del Pilar, Cabadbaran and able to send his wife to finish her college degree in education. In 1975, the company shut down its operation. Life again became a struggle and was so hard that time, especially with additional 2 children to support. To sustain the family’s daily needs, he decided to venture into farming. He started cultivating the riceland of his in-laws with a certain sharing arrangement just like the previous tenant who vacated the said area. After laboring for a year, he decided that nothing would happen with their life if his earning remained to be that meager.
THE STRUGGLE
Then, he went to the neighboring barangay of Basilisa and was able to find a vacant land suitable for corn. With a lease agreement, he started cultivating hard, ignited this time to once again pursue the dream to succeed he previously left aside. Harvest and income was good in corn farming. Later, with advance technology, he decided to convert the land into rice land. The yield has doubled which he directly sold to the traders. With more experience and self-study, he realized that he would earn even more if he mills his own produce and sells as milled rice. He did just that. Inspired by the result, he expanded his area of cultivation by renting another 8 has. uncultivated rice land. He availed of the Masagana 99 Rice Production Loan in PNB as his additional capital. This time, he begins to experience comfort in life. But, this did not stop him from striving harder, it inspired him even more, making marks in every effort resulting to increased production. He was able to maintain good records keeping, plan the work schedules ahead, review and track down the flow of work and its accomplishment for the week.
ACHIEVEMENTS/AWARDS
In 1983, he was awarded as an Outstanding Farmer, in the Regional Level , of Region 10, and as a reward was given an authority by Samahang Nayon to be a seed producer in the province. He attended technical trainings on Rice Seed Production Technology sponsored by the Department of Agriculture. In 2003, he again received an award as an Outstanding Leader being the President of the Cabadbaran and Taguibo River Irrigation System for the Operation and Maintenance category. In 1998, he became a full-fledged ARB when the land he cultivated through rental arrangement, was awarded to him by DAR.
Until now, he remained committed to meet the needs of the farmers through out the province and CARAGA Region by providing them Certified Rice Seeds where the yield is always guaranteed and proven more than the average.
PAY OFF
To date, he is already a fulfilled farmer, father and husband. His wife is teaching in Elementary School in Cabadbaran town. His first 2 born children finished their college education in prestigious universities in Cebu. His eldest son is a parish priest, the second is an Architect works in DPWH, the third helps him administer the farm, and his only daughter is now in her third year in the College of Nursing in Cebu City. He has employed 12 families as contract workers. He has acquired assets like multi million 2 residential houses, 3 warehouses, 2 solar dryers, mechanical dryer, 8 turtles/tillers, 4 threshers, 1 elf, 1 pick-up, and service Starex van. He has deposits in the bank.
The secrets of his success? He quoted: Just keep on dreaming, work HARD for your dreams and Never put off the fire to achieve your dreams, because every difficulty that you meet along the way makes you wiser and stronger, the essentials leading towards the realization of that DREAM. “To DREAM IS POSSIBLE”
POLICE REPORTS
By PO3 Arturo Suganob Campania
and PO2 Darlin Cabalinan Migullas
Report on illegal gambling
On May 7, 2009 at 1:30 in the afternoon at Purok-3B, Barangay Kapatungan, Trento, Agusan del Sur PNP elements of Trento Municipal Police Station led by PCINSP Mangandog B Arab conducted series of operation against illegal gambling which resulted to the apprehension of the suspect identified as Odencio Otacan, of legal age, married and resident of said place.
Confiscated from his possession one piece calculator; two pieces stab; one filled up tallysheet; two ballpen and cash bet money amounting to Php 76.00 in different denomination.
Suspect and confiscated items were brought to Trento Municipal Police Station for proper disposition.
Also, at 7:45 in the evening of the same date at Purok Alugbati, Barangay Golden Ribbon, Butuan City, PNP elements of Butuan City Police Station 2 led by PSINSP Ronaldo V Plaza conducted operation against illegal gambling known as swertres which resulted to the arrest of the suspect identified as Jason Polpol, usher, 25 years old, single and resident of said place.
Confiscated from his possessions were one ball pen, seven pieces filled up tally sheet and bet money amounting to Pjp 1,030.00 in different denominations.
Suspect was brought to the Office of Butuan City Police Office (BCPO) Vice Control Section for recording and proper disposition.
On May 7, 2009 at 7:30 in the evening at Purok-1, Poblacion, Tagbina, Surigao del Sur, Jerry Doloricon, 38 years old, single and a resident of the above-mentioned place was apprehended by elements of Tagbina Municipal Police Station led by SPO4 Barrios who serves as usher of illegal gambling operation known as last two digits.
Confiscated from his possession were one piece bolantoy tip, six pieces filled up stubs and bet money amounting to PhP100.00.
Said suspect was brought to Tagbina Municipal Police Station for proper disposition. (PNP-13/ PIA-Caraga)
Report on fire incident
On May 7, 2009 at 8:30 in the evening at 4th Street, Pareja Subdivision, Butuan City, a fire incident occurred at the establishment owned by one Danilo Abuzo, 46 years old, married and resident of said place.
Initial investigation disclosed that a certain Nelso Ababon, 31 years old, married and resident of said place (employee) cooked wax on a kerosene stove and left it unattended when it suddenly exploded, causing fire at the kitchen and the two bedrooms.
The fire was put under control at around 9:45 in the evening of same date. (PNP-13/ PIA-Caraga)
Arrest of wanted person
On May 7, 2009 at 9:20 in the morning at Barangay Poblacion, San Francisco, Surigao del Norte, a certain Erwin Go, of legal age, married and resident of Barangay Jubgan, San Francisco, Surigao del Norte was apprehended by PNP personnel of San Francisco Municipal Police Station led by PINSP Alfredo Magdura by virtue of warrant of arrest (WOA) dated May 7, 2009 issued by Hon Judge Rolando T Literato of 1st MCTC Malimono and San Francisco, Surigao del Norte for the crime of reckless imprudence resulting to serious physical injuries docketed under CC number 2057 and with recommended bailbond amounting to Php 10,000.0.
Subject person was subsequently turned over to the issuing court for proper disposition.
Also, on May 8, 2009 at 10:00 in the morning at Barangay Sta Cruz, Socorro, Surigao del Norte, Mario Mecayas Lubrio, 34 years old, married, fisherman and a resident of Purok-2, Barangay Sta. Cruz, Socorro, Sugigao del Norte was apprehended by PNP personnel of Socorro Municipal Police Station led by PINSP Jose Inhaynes, COP, by virtue of warrant of arrest issued by Judge Evangeline Yuipco Bayana of RTC 10th, branch 31, Dapa, Surigao del Norte dated April 20, 2009 for Illegal Fishing docketed under criminal case no. 09-31 with corresponding bail bond of Twenty Thousand Pesos (P20,000.00).
Arrested person is temporarily detained at Socorro Municipal Police Station for proper disposition. (PNP-13/ PIA-Caraga)
Report on shooting incident
On May 8, 2009 at 3:30 in the morning at Lawin Motors Building, Langihan road, Butuan City, a certain Eduardo Josue, 22 years old, single, resident of Purok 9, Barangay Ong Yiu, Butuan City was shot by the suspect identified as one Virgilio Gutual, 26 years old, married, security guard of ARG security agency detailed at Lawin Motors and temporarily residing at Purok 5, Sacor, Barangay Tandang Sora, Butuan City using his issued cal .38 revolver bearing serial number 57440.
Initial investigation disclosed that the group of Virgilio Gutual was drinking liquor outside the convenience store of Lawin Motors Building while the group of Eduardo Josue was also drinking liquor on the other side of the road and when somebody threw empty bottle of the road, a heated argument ensued which resulted to the shooting incident.
Victim sustained lone gunshot wound on the left side of his body and was brought to Agusan del Norte Provincial Hospital for medical treatment while suspect was apprehended by PNP elements of Butuan City Police Station 2.
Suspect also surrendered his firearm with five live ammos and one spent shell. (PNP-13/ PIA-Caraga)
Report on loose firearm
On May 7, 2009 at 10:10 in the evening at Sitio Causeway, Barangay Street Cristine, Lianga, Surigao del Sur, a concerned citizen reported to Lianga Municipal Police Station that the said suspect allegedly possessed firearm.
After receiving the said report, elements of Lianga Municipal Police Station led by SPO2 Florencio Hernandez proceeded to the area, which resulted to the apprehension of the suspect identified as Diosdado Adobas Lolo, 42 years old, married, fisherman and a resident of Purok-1, Diatagon, Lianga, Surigao del Sur.
Confiscated from the suspect’s possession was one unit caliber 38 revolver (Paltik) with defaced serial number, loaded with six live ammos.
Suspect was brought to Lianga Municipal Police Station and further remanded to Sub-Provincial jail in Lianga in an inquest proceedings for violation of R.A. 8294 docketed under criminal case no. L-2280. (PNP-13/ PIA-Caraga)
