DA pushes for aggressive marketing of agri-aqua
products
By Aurelius P. Arais
BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 19 – The Department of
Agriculture (DA) is pushing for an aggressive marketing campaign for high-value
agri-fishery products domestically and internationally.
DA Undersecretary for Agribusiness and Regional
Engagement Bernadette Romulo-Puyat stressed the importance of helping the
farmers through marketing initiatives.
“Aggressive marketing is one of the pillars for a
sound agriculture and fishery industry in the country,” Puyat said.
Puyat emphasized that aside from DA’s support for
the production aspects, it is equally important to support the producers to
link them to the market. DA actively engages in strategic marketing platforms
such as trade fairs and market matching to link agri-aqua producers to buyers.
“Secretary Emmanuel Piñol has personally vowed to
lead the promotion and marketing of our agriculture and fishery products in the
local and international market,” she said.
Currently, DA is looking for potential products to
be included in the marketing portfolio of the country.
In her recent visit in Butuan City during the
Caraga Agri-Trade Expo (CARAT Expo 2017), Undersecretary Puyat expressed her
interest on the Caraga lobster being coined as Caraga’s Best.
As part of an aggressive marketing initiative, DA
Central Office launched the TienDA Farmers and Fishermen’s outlet on July 28,
2017.
“TienDA’s goal is to sell products coming straight
from the farmers and fisher folks directly to the consumer at an affordable
price,” Puyat said.
With the farmers themselves, Caraga’s products sold
during the launching activity held at BPI Compound, Malate, Manila were
pineapple, lemon, and banana (lakatan).
Putting up a TienDA outlet will be a regular
endeavor to promote various products around the country.
Aside from local trade fairs, DA also tapped local
producers to participate in the various international agri-related expo.
As a regional initiative, DA Caraga supported the
yearly conduct of CARAT, showcasing different agricultural products.
In just six days of product display during the
recent CARAT 2017, farmers and agricultural processors accumulated a total cash
sale of P700 thousand. (DA-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
PNP Caraga recognized as best strategic
communication snapshot
BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 19 – Philippine National Police
(PNP) Caraga’s contingent was adjudged as best strategic communication
(StratComm) snapshot during the 4-day seminar held in Davao City, participated
by four Police Regional Offices, Special Action Force (SAF) and Philippine Army
(PA).
PSupt. Daniel Peusca, acting Chief of Regional
Police Community Relations Division of PNP Caraga, received the recognition
from the cascading team led by PSSupt. Victor Wanchakan, Information Operation
Research Center, Directorate for Police Community Relation in Camp Crame.
Aside from 18 participants from the PNP Caraga,
personnel from Region 10, Region 11, Region 12, PNP Special Action Force, and
Philippine Army also presented their StratComm outputs.
StratComm focuses on defense themes, messages,
images, and actions that advance institutional interests, policies and
objectives through synchronized agency efforts supported by other
stakeholders.” (PNP-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
Governor eyes Claver as illegal fishing-free
municipality
By John Glenn A. Platil
SURIGAO CITY, Sept. 19 – Surigao del Norte Governor
Sol Matugas announced that she is profoundly inclined of making an official
public declaration stating Claver as a municipality free from illegal fishing.
The lady governor specifically mentioned barangays
Urbiztondo, Lapinigan and Hayangabon. “Fishermen and anglers must go fishing
without destroying the ecosystem and coral reef,” she said.
"I am planning to set in place for fish
sanctuaries. True enough, I appreciate the positive reports given to me by the
fisherfolks through Mayor Eddie Gokiangkee. There are plenty of marine
creatures and saltwater fishes sprawling in the deep, blue sea,” said Matugas.
Matugas further said that Claver has neighboring
municipalities such as Gigaquit, Bacuag and Socorro that need to be supported.
“We are also studying more livelihood opportunities for those who will abandon
the unlawful activities in the ocean. ‘Puhunan sa Pag-asenso’ is now fully
operational," remarked Matugas.
To top it all, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic
Resources (BFAR) asked Matugas to help provide patrol boats to sustain the
crusade against dynamite and ‘liba-liba’ fishing, and other crimes against the
sea. (PGO-SDN/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
Breaking barriers for PWDs through SLP
By Mary Carmelle C. Jumawan
SURIGAO DEL NORTE, Sept. 19 – “We choose not to
place DIS in our ABILITIES.”
This is the igniting and inspiring slogan of the 35
members of the Persons with Disability Bucas Grande Sustainable Livelihood
Association (PWD BugSuLA) in a close-knitted community in Socorro, Surigao del
Norte. They are a group of men and women who braved their disability with
courage and passion.
Through the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) of
the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the group is now
venturing into Agrivet and Fishing Supplies business. With fishing as the main
source of livelihood, the group agreed to put up said business. This is also en
route to an easier access than picking up much money from their own pockets
just to grab their fishing essentials.
Pushing through despite discrimination and
barriers, the group work hand in hand to successfully open the business to the
community on the 8th day of May 2017. With an unstoppable yearning to learn,
the group underwent skills trainings on store management and merchandising
through SLP, in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)
last March 2017.
One of the members who defied what most would
consider an unbearable sentence is Melyn Ape, a mother of two and an active
member of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. Others may see disability as a
limitation; however, Melyn sees it as an opportunity.
Despite having an orthopedic disability, Melyn
works tirelessly at the shop from 6:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. as a storekeeper and
cashier, to make ends meet for her family and to send her children to school.
She is also in-charge of making the sales reports. As an honorarium, she
receives P3,500 a month.
Yet it was not all difficult for Melyn to learn
work skills because her interest and inclination to work was becoming evident
early on.
“With Ate Melyn’s impressive work ethics, she plays
an important part on their project,” shared by Stephen John Pulido, the
assigned Field Implementer.
“She does her work efficiently and customers love
her because of her excellent service,” he added.
Even though she encounters hardships as a PWD, she
does not allow those to limit what she can do for a living.
For Melyn, the opportunity to work was her chance
to prove that she can do more than the limitations other people have set for
her.
“Gusto ko magtrabaho kay gusto ko makatabang sa
akong pamilya ug tungod ani nabuhian ko ug paglaum na makatrabaho utro (I want
to work so that I could help my family, and because of this I was encouraged
when I learned I will be able to work),” Melyn proudly shared.
“Usa ko ka-PWD pero dili mahimong babag sa akoang
kinabuhi nga molambo (I am a PWD but this is not a hindrance to succeed in
life),” she added.
Like many others, it is hard for her to find work
because of her disability. Prior to her storekeeper/cashier stint, Melyn tried
her hand in all sorts of livelihood sources available in her community just to
suffice the needs of her family.
“Mao ng dako akong pasalamat sa programa ug sa ako
mga kauban na gihatag na oportunidad sa akoa kay dako kayo ni ug tabang labi na
sa akong pamilya (That’s why I am so grateful to the program and to my
co-program participants for the opportunity. It will help a lot especially to
my family),” Melyn concluded. (Social Marketing Unit/DSWD Field Office
Caraga/PIA-Caraga)