ECHAGUE, Isabela (August 19, 2024)—Students and some 487 2024 graduates of Isabela State University (ISU) can avail assistance from the P19.8 million Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) cash program.

This was according to Senator Maria Imelda Josefa Remedios “Imee” Marcos who was the commencement speaker during the ISU Cauayan City Campus graduation ceremonies at the Isabela Convention Center in Cauayan City, Isabela on Aug. 6, 2024.

Kalahi-CIDSS is a poverty alleviation program of the national government implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Marcos was welcomed by university and campus officials led by ISU President Ricmar Aquino.

In her message, Marcos commended ISU for its achievements in recent months and years which include placement in the Times Higher Education or THE World University Rankings and Webometrics, its International Standards Organization or ISO certifications, recognition from the Commission on Audit, and student performances in licensure examinations.

She also emphasized the pressing problems of students such as the lack of student facilities, highlighting the request of ISU Cauayan for a Student Affairs Building, and the need for scholarships.

Encouraging the community to push forward for the welfare of students, Marcos mentioned available programs that can help the graduates after the commencement exercises.

The senator also reminded the graduates to not settle and to continue to dream and try.

She expressed hope for the new generation to “make the transformations that their generation failed to make; changes to pay justice that will encompass the society.”

With decades of experience in local governance that have molded her distinct brand of proactive and innovative leadership, Marcos mentioned her campaign #IMEEsolusyon and inspired graduates to be part of the solutions to real-world problems. LEANDER C. DOMINGO

SNAP said there are 11 graduates, five of whom received Latin honors and two received honorable mentions and whose commencement ceremonies took place at their respective schools in SNAP host communities in Ifugao, Isabela and Benguet provinces throughout July and August this year.

“We are immensely proud of our scholars and their achievements. We believe they are tomorrow’s innovators and change-makers; through them, we hope to realize our vision of a better and sustainable Philippines in the future,” said Joseph Yu, SNAP president and chief executive officer.

Among the lauded scholars is Jezryll Hulog, who graduated cum laude from Benguet State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education.

In a message to SNAP, Hulog shared that being part of the Brights program “has instilled [in her] a profound sense of responsibility and gratitude.”

“Your (SNAP) commitment to nurturing young minds has equipped me with not only academic knowledge but also the determination to contribute positively to society,” she said.

Jennifer Asistido, one of the SNAP-Magat scholars, will be receiving her degree in Management Accounting this August.

Expressing thanks for being chosen as a SNAP scholar, Asistio said “those yeses during the deliberation truly changed my life’s trajectory.”

“A big thank-you to SNAP and everyone involved in the program. You’re making a real difference in people’s lives. I hope to one day be in a position to help others achieve their dreams, just as SNAP has helped me,” she added.

SNAP also held congratulatory luncheons throughout July this year in Magat and Benguet with the scholars and their families to celebrate this milestone while consequently doing another round of screening for new scholars.

It said there are now 12 more scholars who have been accepted to the program for the upcoming school year which totals 115 scholars supported overall since the Brights program’s inception in 2018.

Yu said three former Brights scholars are currently employed in SNAP with Jasmin Montes joining SNAP-Benguet as a corporate social responsibility assistant in 2023 and is now part of this year’s scholarship program screening panel.

“I started building my future with SNAP, and to this day I continue to build it with them. Now I’m also helping others build their future and, in turn, the future of the communities they serve,” Montes said. LCD

BENITO SOLIVEN, Isabela (August 17, 2024)—To enhance recycling efficiency and innovation, the Department of Science and Technology (DoST) in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) recently conducted a technology needs assessment validation for a Small Enterprises Technology Upgrading Program applicant firm based in this town.

DoST’s validation aims to “evaluate and address the technological needs of Isabelino Scrap Trading to support their mission and optimize recycling processes,” says Duane Carodan, project technical assistant of the Regional Project Management Office and Provincial Science and Technology Office (PSTO)-Isabela.

Founded in 2017, Isabelino Scrap Trading was inspired by the idea of repurposing discarded plastic sacks into raw materials to produce plastic chairs intended for schools.

Carodan added, “With the increasing volume of plastic waste in Isabela, the Isabela Scrap Trading’s initiative presents a significant opportunity for both environmental and economic benefits.”

As one of the DoST’s flagship programs, the PSTO in Isabela is implementing the program as a primary means to reach out to Filipino entrepreneurs in Isabela.

This nationwide strategy encourages and assists SMEs to adopt technological innovations to improve their operations and thus boost their productivity and competitiveness.

According to Carodan, the program is DoST PSTO Isabela’s way of supporting and sustaining the growth of micro, small and medium enterprises, and directly and immediately addressing the needs of local businesses to avail themselves of the appropriate technologies. DoST resource person, SME and Review Technical Evaluation Committee (RTEC) members will identify and provide the most suitable technological intervention specific to each firm.

Carodan led the project validation along with Bernardino Mabborang and Rolando Rupac, both RTEC members for the metals and engineering sector.

He said the validation represents a key step for Isabelino Scrap Trading toward operational excellence and sustainability by “addressing technological gaps and recommending improvements.”

The firm can “enhance its recycling processes and contribute more effectively to environmental conservation and economic growth.”

Carodan noted that the improvements will position Isabelino Scrap Trading to “make a significant impact in recycling and tackle plastic waste in Isabela.”

ISABELA (August 5, 2024)—A long-time advocate of education, the Gregorio P. Uy and Lee Peng Scholarship Foundation (GPULP Scholarship Foundation) is looking for a fresh batch of scholars to join its program and is now ready to accept applications for the new academic year.

GPULP Scholarship Foundation Vice President Michael Uy said the scholarship’s successful entrants will get monthly allowances and necessary support for their physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual development up until they graduate.

Uy added that the scholars will also receive monetary grants for accommodation and other fees during their licensure examination period.

He said the GPULP Scholarship Foundation envisions a world where education is inclusive and accessible to all, regardless of economic circumstances, “to ensure that no talent goes to waste and to leave a lasting positive impact on individuals, families, and communities.”

“This program we now call ‘LF: Scholar’ aims to carry on our advocacy of helping end the cycle of economic hardship through education. So, to the youth and our next generation of professionals, never give up on your dreams because there is always hope,” Uy said.

He said qualified applicants include those who are incoming second-year students of the Isabela State University (ISU) or Philippine Normal University-Isabela; taking up majors in Engineering, Accounting and Business, Technology or Education; able to demonstrate their commitment to academic success by maintaining a minimum grade point average or GPA of 85 percent or equivalent; and willing to attend values formation sessions that promote holistic personal development.

Applicants are required to submit documents including Certification of Grades, a copy of their water and electricity bill, a sketch of their home address, and a completed application form, which is downloadable from the GPULP Scholarship Foundation Facebook page facebook.com/gpulpscholarshipfoundation and submit files via email at gpulp.scholarshipfoundation@gmail.com.

The foundation also encourages applicants to join the caravan happening at ISU Cauayan Campus on August 12, 2024, or contact their respective school coordinators for further details.

After careful screening and evaluation, 18 students will be chosen who will be awarded the scholarship grants on August 19, 2024.

The GPULP Scholarship Foundation is the corporate social responsibility arm of Century Ventures Diesel Parts and Supplies Corporation and Ford Tractor Philippines Inc., respectively owned by brothers Gregorio Uy Jr. and Samuel Uy.

Named after their parents Gregorio P. Uy and Lee Peng, whose legacy of kindness and dedication to education drives the Foundation’s goal, the scholarship started in 2011 as a grant offer to more than 30 students of ISU as a way of giving back to their settlement community. It has since grown into a thriving foundation helping students achieve their dreams.

Uy said the GPULP Scholarship Foundation to date has over 140 scholars in the different ISU campuses as well as in Cagayan State University. Of this number, 89 have already graduated, with a 100 percent rate of employability.

“Scholars are encouraged to pay it forward by serving their respective communities using the education they gained, simply to create a ripple effect of positivity in society,” he said.

Follow the GPULP Scholarship Foundation page on Facebook (fb.com/gpulpscholarshipfoundation) or visit the website (gpulp.org) for more details. BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO

ISABELA (August 5, 2024)—At least 600 molave tree seedlings were planted in Cauayan City to address deforestation and promote environmental sustainability.

Diosdado Contillo, an officer of Isabela’s Community Environment and Natural Resources, said the Molave tree propagation project is in partnership with Jollibee Foods Corp. (JFC).

Contillo said the seedlings were planted at Sitio Bantay Pukaw, Barangay Rizal in San Guillermo town.

He said the initiative is part of the effort of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) “to increase forest cover and combat climate change integrating the company’s corporate social responsibility and community involvement.”

JFC Area Manager Franklin Tarun also committed support to the DENR National Greening Program as “we engage our employees and customers in making a meaningful difference for the environment.”

The Molave tree growing activity was also participated by 53 employees and students from Isabela State University-Cabagan and Cauayan campuses.

Contillo said the tree-growing initiative also aims to “build a call to action for environmental conservation by encouraging others to plant and grow trees this rainy season.”

Molave is a timber species which naturally grows in the province of Bohol and is considered the province’s flagship timber species.

It is generally used for furniture hand tools and is known for its durability as beams on bridges and as railroad ties without artificial preservatives.

With its antimicrobial, antifungal, carminative, anthelmintic, and digestive properties, it is also believed to help cure conditions such as poisons, diarrhea, stomatitis, anorexia, blindness, leprosy, worm infestation, rheumatic, swellings, jaundice, and dropsy, among others. LEANDER C. DOMINGO

CAUAYAN CITY (May 11, 2024)—Department of Agriculture (DA) Assistant Secretary for Operations Nichols Manalo lauded the DA Regional Field Office 2 (DA-RFO2) for rewarding the 63 rice farmers who achieved eight to 10 tons of inbred and hybrid rice per hectare in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley).

Among the awardees were 41 hybrid users and 22 inbred users who received certificates of appreciation and agricultural inputs.

Manalo commended DA-RFO2 executive director Rose Mary Aquino for giving tribute to rice farmers considering their important role in achieving self-sufficiency in rice.

He also congratulated the rice farmers, local government units and the DA-RFO2 for initiating the activity which will “surely make an impact on the region’s food production and supply.”

“If all regions will do this, I believe that we will inspire more farmers to continue doing their best in producing accessible and affordable food for Filipinos,” said Manalo, noting that the national average yield is only four tons per hectare.

Manalo added that the DA Rice Program Team is still strategizing to mitigate the effects and threats of El Niño and the coming of La Niña in the critical areas of the country.

Meanwhile, Aquino said this is one way of incentivizing exceptional rice achievers in the region in time with the celebration of Farmers and Fisherfolk Month this May.

“Of course, this is a result of our interventions on inbred and hybrid seeds, mechanization 1and irrigation addressing food security amidst climate change challenges,” she said.

Aquino said the award-giving activity on May 7, 2024 was in partnership with the local government units (LGUs) in line with the present thrust strategic agenda of the DA in achieving food security for the Filipino people through boosting agricultural production.

“We are looking forward to more LGUs who could have their own search for agriculture achievers in cluster and consolidation areas among farmers’ cooperatives and associations to augment incentives for our farmers,” Aquino said.

Through the able leadership of Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., the DA said it is set to incentivize farmers to become more productive.

Aside from the allocation of free seeds, fertilizers and financial assistance, the DA said it is continuously introducing modern ways of farming in collaboration with partners and stakeholders including the private sector.

RAMON, Isabela (March 7, 2024)—SN Aboitiz Power-Magat (SNAP-Magat) turned over and switched on rooftop solar panels with a capacity of 3.3 kilowatts to the Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo National High School (GEANHS) in Ramon, Isabela on February 21, 2024.

SNAP Magat said the project was a collaboration between the school’s General Parent-Teacher-Community Association (GPTCA) and SNAP-Magat volunteers.

Daryl Homer Ramos, SNAP-Magat assistant vice president and plant manager, said the donation could save the school around P5,000 per month from electric consumption, directing potential savings toward supporting the school’s 800 staff and students combined.

“By supporting our communities and promoting sustainable practices, we remain true to our mission to energize a sustainable future,” Ramos said adding that GEANHS is one of the biggest public schools in Ramon town.

He said both school management and students can now be relieved of concerns regarding power outages with power from a renewable and sustainable source to supplement their electricity requirements.

The GPTCA purchased solar batteries and inverters while SNAP-Magat volunteers have committed to providing installation and maintenance support to ensure the optimal functioning of the solar panels.

Ramos said this initiative not only underscores SNAP-Magat and GEANHS dedication to sustainable development but also aligns with the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly in supporting goals related to quality education and affordable, clean energy.

SNAP-Magat owns and operates the Magat hydroelectric power plant which has a nameplate capacity of 360 megawatts (MW) and a maximum capacity of 388 MW on the border of Isabela and Ifugao; and the 8.5-MW Maris hydro in Isabela.

The non-power components such as dams, reservoirs, and spillways are owned, managed, and operated by the government.

SNAP-Magat is a joint venture between Scatec, a leading renewable energy solutions provider accelerating access to reliable and affordable clean energy in emerging markets, and Aboitiz Power (AP) Corporation.

AP is the holding company of the Philippines-based Aboitiz Group’s investments in power generation, distribution, and retail electricity services. LEANDER C. DOMINGO

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO

CORDON, Isabela (August 12, 2023)—The Multipurpose Solar-Powered Speed Drying Tray is a groundbreaking innovation that is transforming the way Thai tea or the “Chiang Mai” tea leaves are processed.

Adopting the use of this technology is the Amancio Nicolas Agri-Tourism Academy (Amancio) in Cordon town in Isabela province which has become an institution of sustainable agricultural practices.

According to the Department of Science and Technology (DoST) in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley), the Amancio has also now become a hub for aspiring farmers who desire to be horticulturists.

The DoST calls this ingenious device “Portasol,” which not only enhances the quality of Chiang Mai tea but also aligns perfectly with Amancio’s core values of environmental stewardship and self-sufficiency.

Noemi Lianco, owner of the Amancio, is currently completing her PhD in Tourism Management at the Maejo University in Chiang Mai Province in Thailand.

It was in Thailand where she learned about the Thai tea leaves which have been renowned for their unique flavor, aroma and vibrant color, captivating tea enthusiasts worldwide.

“It requires a lot of skills to cultivate these precious Thai tea leaves, as well as knowledge and patience,” she said.

In former times, it was a time-consuming process for the Thais to sun-dry these tea leaves. The Thais and other tea producers elsewhere heavily relied so much on weather conditions only to come up with not-so-good quality products.

But with the increasing demand for premium tea, innovators worldwide have come up with different technologies to meet the needs of the environmentally as well as health-conscious market.

In the Philippines, the DoST in Region 2, in collaboration with the Inventors Society Producers Cooperative (FISCPC), came up with a solution.

Solar energy

FISCPC President Popoy Pagayon invented the “Portasol” drying technology that helped farmers dry their produce and at the same time reduced postharvest losses.

The DoST said the Portasol tray, which was designed with ingenuity and sustainability in mind, features a sleek design equipped with several holes to filter extracts from certain commodities.

It said the tray efficiently harnesses the sun’s energy, providing a renewable and eco-friendly heat source for drying the Thai tea leaves proven by the technology’s use at the Amancio.

As a science and technology innovative tray, it is equipped with intelligent temperature and humidity control that ensures the leaves are dried uniformly without losing their essential oils and flavors.

According to the DoST, the tray’s multipurpose design allows it to be adjusted for different crops and produce, making it also a versatile tool at Amancio.

Students from the Nueva Vizcaya State University and Quirino State University in Region 2 and the Apayao State College in the Cordillera region are sent to Amancio to learn about the technology that has been integrated into Amancio’s curriculum.

Liangco plans to make the Amancio an agritourism academy, an ideal hub for imparting agricultural expertise to the next generation of farmers and agriculturists.

The DoST statement said the students gain hands-on experience with the technology, expanding their knowledge of renewable energy applications and modern agricultural practices: “It empowers the students with the necessary skills to drive change in the sector.”

The adoption of this Portasol technology by Amancio is considered a step toward a greener and more sustainable future and exemplifies how agri-tourism can lead the way in responsible agriculture, environmental preservation and economic viability, the DoST added.

According to the DoST, this innovative technology has been gaining recognition due to its potential to revolutionize not just the tea industry but the entire agriculture sector.

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO

CITY OF ILAGAN (August 9, 2023)—A one-stop shop agriculture commercial center for corn farmers called I-Corn Complex will be built here soon.

The P107 million allotted for the project will come from the budget of the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office 2.

The I-Corn Complex, considered the first of its kind in the country, will house the processing and post-harvest facilities for feeds and food to ensure the quality of corn-based products.

On Monday, August 7, Sen. Mark Villar, who heads the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship, and Committee on Banks, Financial Institutions and Currencies, led the groundbreaking ceremony of the corn complex in Barangay Marana 1st in this city.

Jonabel Infante of the Office of the Regional Executive Director (RED) of the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office in Cagayan Valley (DA-RFO2), said the I-Corn Complex will have a mechanical dryer with 150 metric tons per day capacity, multi-crop drying pavement, and truck scale, among others.

Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) comprises the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino and the island province of Batanes.

Villar lauded the city government of Ilagan led by Mayor Josemarie Diaz and the DA-RFO2 led by Officer in Charge RED Rose Mary Aquino, including the support given at the national level for making the construction of the I-Corn Complex possible.

He said that once the I-Corn Complex facility is completed, the income and productivity of farmers will increase.

Villar said the facility is a symbol of progress, unity, and collective effort of the DA and Ilagan city government for the people of this city to harness the potential of the corn industry.

“[This] will also demonstrate the commitment of Ilagan to invest in the future of farmers in ensuring their prosperity long in the future,” said Villar, ensuring his all-out support until the full benefits of the I-Corn Complex are realized.

Diaz said the facility will “catalyze positive change in the corn industry, elevating new standards and settling new precedence for excellence.”

During the event, DA Assistant Secretary for Operations Arnel de Mesa was represented by Rodolfo Panganiban, national program senior officer of Corn, who also lauded the DA-RFO 2 and Ilagan city government for their bid to come up with the I-Corn Complex project.

Panganiban assured that through the I-Corn Complex, the corn and livestock integration will be strengthened, and eventually address common problems in sourcing out feed materials and direct market linking issues.

Earlier, Aquino said the I-Corn Complex is a manifestation of the dedication of national and local government, particularly the Ilagan city government, in engendering interventions to corn farmers.

“This will boost the corn industry making the whole Cagayan Valley region as top corn producer in the country. Our farmers will benefit most from the project, uplifting their economic status as they become more productive,” she added.

Aquino was joined during the groundbreaking by Dr. Roberto Busania, DA-RFO2 OIC of Regional Training Division for Operations and Extension; Engr. Monico Castro Jr., Field Operations Division chief; Paul Vincent Balao, Corn program coordinator; and other national, regional and local government officials.

BY VINCE JACOB VISAYA, The Correspondent

SANTIAGO CITY (July 15, 2023)—The Department of Agriculture (DA) in Cagayan Valley has been intensifying an information drive among cassava farmers and advised them to pull out the cassava crops immediately if they have been infected by witch broom disease or phytoplasma disease.

The announcement came after the witches’ broom damaged about 440 hectares in Quirino and Isabela provinces last month.

Regional Crop Protection Center chief Mindaflor Aquino, in a recent announcement over the DA radio program, said the witches’ broom is difficult to treat since it was first discovered in the region from 2015 to 2016.

However, preventive measures can be done as the cassava seedlings should have planting treatment and the healthy ones should be pruned so as not to be infected by the disease, she added.

Agriculture Regional Director Narciso Edillo said he has been coordinating with the crop protection workers by monitoring and having an extension of crop pest and disease notification and weekly reporting to farmers.

Cassava, mostly used for feeds and flour, has a retail price average of P12.24 to P24.49 per kilogram, according to a Philippine Statistics Authority report.

A hectare of cassava farm may produce yields of up to 80 tons, but the disease would reduce the yield to 30 tons, farmers said.

Cassava farm worker Heherson Pagulayan told The Manila Times that he was saddened by the distorted and dwarfed cassava shoots and fruits caused by the phytoplasma disease planted on his farm in the city.

“We lose money for this harvest. Its shoots and fruits are small due to the disease,” he said, as he and his farm workers harvest what was left of his one-hectare farm.

Phytoplasma disease, researchers showed, commonly causes distorted, dwarfed and yellowish leaves and shoots, while other symptoms include abnormal flower and leaf development, shortened internodes, and shoot proliferation. The flowers of infected plants sometimes develop green, leaflike structures called phyllody.

It was called witches’ brooms because the plants typically are dense clusters of twigs or thickened stems that develop on the branches of woody plants and affected leaves and shoots may become discolored, distorted and dwarfed, further research showed. Early cassava planters were spared though with only minimal damage.

Alexander Bolar, a planter, said he harvested in April, months before the onset of the disease. Some portions of his late-planted shoots, however, were damaged.