Author: Rodolfo Jr. T. Valdez

The Department of Agriculture-Philippine Carabao Center at USM (DA-PCC at USM) in partnership with the Agricultural Training Institute XI (ATI-XI) conferred the almost 200 farmer-enrollees of Davao del Sur as graduates of the first-ever School on-the-Air on Dairy Buffalo Production (SOA-DBP) in Region XI on March 18, 2022 in a ceremony held at the Davao del Sur Coliseum, Digos City.

During the mass graduation ceremony, Dr. Eric Palacpac, chief of DA-PCC’s Knowledge Management Division, highlighted the purpose of SOA-DBP, which is to further reach buffalo raisers or carabao keepers when disseminating knowledge, technologies, programs, and services in dairy buffalo production via radio broadcasting.

“Davao Region is ideal for buffalo production as it is home to almost 145,000 heads of carabao (2020 data). Davaoeños can contribute significantly to developing the local dairy industry by honing their knowledge and skills on buffalo dairying,” Palacpac added.

Likewise, ATI-XI Director Dante Esguerra challenged the graduates coming from the municipalities of Bansalan, Hagonoy, Magsaysay, Matanao, and Kiblawan to practice what they have learned in dairy buffalo production during their four months of learning through the radio.

“It is not about constant practice that makes you perfect, but instead it is correct practice that makes you perfect. I challenge you all to share the new technologies and knowledge you have gained from SOA-DBP,” Director Esguerra said.

Moreover, DA-PCC at USM Center Director Benjamin John C. Basilio gave thanks to the farmers and partner-agencies for their unending support to the carabao development program in the region.

“To the different local government units, agriculture and veterinary offices, we thank you for your unending support and time to be the channel of blessing for carabao development program for the farmers of Region XI. With our collective effort, we make things possible!” Director Basilio exclaimed.

Meanwhile, farmer-graduates shared their gratitude as SOA-DBP opens new door of opportunities in carabao keeping.

“SOA-DBP is a package deal. It gives us new knowledge on how to properly take care of our carabaos. At the same time, it introduced new opportunities to gain profit and to have additional income coming from carabao,” Rene Mark Ybañez, SOA-DBP graduate, said.

The same graduation ceremony will be conducted on March 29 and 30 for farmer-enrollees from Davao de Oro and Davao Oriental, respectively. The SOA-DBP is a radio program with 16 lessons on Feeding Management, Health Management, Breeding Management, Carabao Enterprise, and Technology adoption. It started on November 2021 and aired in DXRD 711Mhz with livestreaming via ATI-XI and DA-PCC at USM Facebook pages.

The DA-Philippine Carabao Center at University of Southern Mindanao in collaboration with Sta. Catalina Multi-Purpose Cooperative launched the first-ever Farmer Livestock School on Dairy Buffalo Production (FLS-DBP) in Cotabato Province.

During the opening program held on March 16, DA-PCC Knowledge Management Division Chief Dr. Eric Palacpac gave emphasis on the importance and goal of FLS-DBP which is to allow the farmers to discover and learn through experimentations and testing until they can develop the right and suitable technologies for their localities, problems, resources and capabilities.

“FLS-DBP offers you a basket of options not a package of technology. We will let you select which practices fits in your preferences or in your area. Unlike with traditional trainings, FLS-DBP gives bite size of information for your easy digestion or intake of knowledge,” Rovelyn Jacang, KMD Staff, added.

In addition, DA-PCC at USM Center Director Benjamin John C. Basilio encourages the farmer-enrollees about the advantage of attending learning events.

“We can gain knowledge by attending different trainings. It is not only the training per se, but also by the shared experiences of your co-attendees we can gain new initiatives that we can replicate in our farms. Fortunately, the FLS-DBP focuses on this approach of learning by collecting ideas, experiences, and practices from different farmers,” Director Basilio said.

On the same day, Jacang together with Cristine Joy Del Rosario, Nasrola Ibrahim, Raquel Bermudez, Airene Rigon, and Rodolfo Valdez Jr. of DA-PCC facilitated the first two lessons which are understanding the FLS-DBP and the potential of dairy buffalo production.

Moreover, former graduates of FLS-DBP such as Jessa Grace Casanillo, Rodante Constantino Jr., and Dominic Paclibar were invited to facilitate and discuss lessons for the succeeding classes.

This year’s FLS-DBP, first-ever in Cotabato province and second for the Region XII, is a season-long workshop that will run every Friday until July 8, 2022, which will be guided by accredited FLS-DBP facilitators.

Meanwhile, Sta. Catalina MPC Operations Manager Wendell Amoronio encourages their 16 selected co-op member-enrollees in FLS-DBP to actively participate.

“One of the bases for you to avail of our buffalo is by attending related trainings. DA-PCC at USM gives trainings for us to be capacitated and competent in dairy buffalo production,” reminded Amoronio.

Sta. Catalina MPC in Pres. Roxas, one of the co-op conduits of DA-PCC under ALAB-Karbawan Project, practices communal dairy farming. Eventually, the co-op decided to dole out the dairy animals for the betterment of their members who have enough knowledge on dairying.

The DA-Philippine Carabao Center National Headquarters and Gene Pool (DA-PCCNHQGP) is recommended anew for Integrated Management Systems (IMS) certification validity after successfully passing the 1^st surveillance audit on the three management system standards.

Worldwide Quality Assurance (WQA) Phils Inc. conducted the audit on March 7 remotely confirming the agency’s commitment to providing quality products and services as well as compliance with legal, statutory and other requirements in accordance with its Integrated Management Systems, which include Quality Management System (QMS) – ISO 9001; Environmental Management System (EMS) –ISO 14001; and Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSMS) – ISO 45001.

During the closing meeting, the auditors cited positive findings and lauded the agency for its teamwork and thorough preparedness and trailblazing efforts to digitize forms for: health monitoring record of staff; request for ICT repair or maintenance; and carrying out authorized approval of request to fortify key processes, among others.

“The DA-PCCNHGP has been certified to ISO 9001 since 2003.  Its commitment to create quality products and services expanded to the demonstration of ecological responsibility and prime concern for the health and safety of employees when the agency decided to integrate EMS and OHSMS, all certifiable to the International Standards.  This made DA-PCCNHGP an IMS-Certified agency in 2012.  Since then, the agency sustained its focus on the improvement of its overall management system and validating the effectiveness of its performance through the annual external audits,” Minda Diloy, DA-PCC’s Integrated Management Representative, stated.

This year, the agency is on its 7th certification cycle on QMS and 4th cycle for both EMS and OHSMS. Currently, eight out of 12 regional centers of DA-PCC have already been certified to ISO 9001. The remaining centers, on the other hand, have also stepped up to the plate and undergone necessary preparations for their certification within the year through the assistance of the agency’s Management Systems Audit Team headed by Ms. Diloy.

(With reports from Minda Diloy)

After nearly three decades, the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Carabao Center (DA-PCC) has remained steadfast in the implementation of the Carabao Development Program (CDP) with significant achievements. As it marks its 29th anniversary, the agency continues to realize its mandate towards national food security.

This year’s theme “PCC at 29: Achieving Milestones Through Grit and Resilience” reflects the challenges that the agency has successfully overcome over the years.

Zadieshar Sanchez, the overall chair of the activity, explained the meaning behind the theme. Accordingly, grit is the mental toughness and determination to achieve long term goals despite the odds, while resiliency is the ability to immediately bounce back or adapt after being exposed to a limiting situation. Therefore, grit and resilience combined form the quality of being able to deliver while overcoming all challenges, both in the short run and the long run time continuum.

It is through grit that DA-PCC stayed relevant even after many years of constant change, and it is through resiliency that DA-PCC was able to deliver beyond its commitments while fazed by the pandemic. Fortifying DA-PCC’s core values, grit, and resiliency give DA-PCC a hopeful confidence amidst the ensuing implications and effects of the Mandanas-Garcia ruling, the election season, and the developments in the global COVID situation.

The following recent milestones, which are considered page-turning events in DA-PCC’s colorful history book, further establish the agency’s presence in the carabao sector: Carabao Industry Roadmap; further expansion of the carabao value-chain through the Carabao-based Business Improvement Network and the Coconut-Carabao Development Project; participation of dairy buffalo farmers in the national milk feeding program; commercialization of the Karabun technology and Dairy Box business modality; registration with IPO Philippines of DA-PCC developed intellectual properties, i.e., Dairy Box, Kardeli, and Nyogurt; creation of the iHealth and iFodder mobile apps; updating of the Dairy Buffalo Handbook; passing of DA-PCC at CSU’s Institutional Herd to the National GAHP Certification; appointment as National Livestock Cryobank; and sustained ISO Certifications.

The celebration will run from March 21-25, 2022 at the DA-PCC National Headquarters, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija. The highlights of the activity include a motorcade, ribbon cutting of the Knowledge Booth, GAD activity, mental and physical health wellness activity, celebration of milestones, KMD webinar, main anniversary program, employees’ recognition and appreciation, and employees’ night. These will be livestreamed through the agency’s official Facebook page.

Meanwhile, DA Secretary William Dar, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform Chairperson Senator Cynthia Villar, and Undersecretary-designate for Livestock Dr. William Medrano will serve as the guest speakers.

The DA-PCC was established in 1992 by virtue of Republic Act No. 7307. Its mandate is “to conserve, propagate, and promote the carabao as a source of milk, meat, draft power, and hide to benefit the rural farmers.”

In 1993, it started its operations through a small central office in Quezon City, supported by a small network of regional centers. Later, in 1998, its national headquarters and gene pool facilities were established in the Science City Muñoz, Nueva Ecija. Currently, the DA-PCC has 12 regional centers across the country, which work together towards achieving its noble mission of improving the plight of its primary stakeholders, the smallholder farmers, along with providing assistance to other actors in the carabao industry value chain.

A situation analysis was conducted recently with key stakeholders and partners in the implementation of the Carabao-based Business Improvement Network (CBIN) and Coconut-Carabao Development Project (CCDP) in Regions 11 and 12.

The “Planning-Workshop on Knowledge Management Interventions for CBIN/CCDP Projects”, facilitated by the DA-PCC’s Knowledge Management Division, was initially conducted for the project sites covered by DA-PCC at Central Luzon State University (DA-PCC at CLSU), DA-PCC at West Visayas State University (DA-PCC at WVSU), DA-PCC at Visayas State University (DA-PCC at VSU), and DA-PCC at University of Southern Mindanao (DA-PCC at USM).

For Regions 11 and 12, among the issues consolidated during the workshop were the standardization of products and Dairy Boxes, provision of post-harvest equipment, continuous upgrading of carabaos that were dispersed for the project, and database management.

During the activity, the agency’s partners expressed their full support to the project by ensuring that the recipients will faithfully and diligently do their part in the contract. 

In response, director Benjamin John Basilio of DA-PCC at USM said DA-PCC will continue to serve as a channel of blessing to industry partners and stakeholders in Mindanao. He then presented an overview of the developments that have happened since the establishment of the project.

All the attendees pledged their commitment of support for the intervention at the conclusion of the activity. The CBIN project is funded by the Office of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food chaired by Senator Cynthia Villar. The same funding support is given to the CCDP in partnership with the DA-Philippine Coconut Authority.

As an institution that fosters gender sensitivity, the DA-Philippine Carabao Center (DA-PCC) signifies support in the advancement of gender equality and women’s empowerment (GEWE) by conducting a number of activities in celebration of the National Women’s Month.

Included in the activity is the “Serbisyo para kay Juana” wherein women clients of DA-PCC’s Milka Krem products outlet will be offered with a one-day 5% discount for all its products on International Women’s Day (March 8) as a form of appreciation for women’s various contributions in the society.

Other activities lined up for the celebration are conducting of Women’s Month Wellness Break (Zumba), wearing of anything purple (recognized as the color of women that symbolizes justice and dignity) on Tuesdays for the whole month of March and organizing of gender and development (GAD)-related learning events such as Orientation on Safe Spaces Act and Magna Carta on March 23, GAD Orientation for Cooperatives on March 29, and Gender Sensitivity Training ++ on March 28.

This year’s celebration is anchored on the theme: “We Make Change Work for Women: Agenda ng Kababaihan, Tungo sa Kaunlaran”, which focuses on including women’s concerns in the government agenda and enabling more women to implement at the same time demand programs and services that can bring the country closer to narrowing the gender gaps and moving towards sustainable and equitable development.

“We, at DA-PCC, are dedicated to provide quality services that are GAD responsive. We make sure that our women clients are not left behind in accessing our services. We also organize activities that recognize valuable roles of women in society for inclusive and sustainable development,” Aimee Fulgencio, DA-PCC’s GAD focal person, stated.

She added that the agency will continue to assess gender equality efforts and look forward to steps leading to the progress in empowering women.

The 2022 National Women’s Month celebration highlights the extraordinary roles of Juanas in the society as trailblazers and harbingers of change.

The Department of Agriculture-Philippine Carabao Center (DA-PCC) at Cagayan State University (CSU) in a formal ceremony held at Piat Campus received the certificate of compliance for Good Animal Husbandry Practices (GAHP) while being the first government agency to be recognized with the award nationwide.

The certificate was presented by Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) Region 2 Veterinary Quarantine Officer Dr. Benjamin Ike P. Paguyu. This was received by DA-PCC OIC Center Director Dr. Rovina R. Piñera and DA-PCC OIC Executive Director Dr. Ronnie D. Domingo.

Also gracing the event were DA Usec for Livestock Dr. William Medrano, DA Regional Executive Director for Region 2 Narciso A. Edillo, RTD for Operations and Extension Dr. Roberto C. Busania, RTD for Research and Regulatory Rosemary G. Aquino, Campus Executive Officer CSU-Piat Campus Vicente Binasoy, and former DA-PCC at CSU Center Director Prof. Franklin T. Rellin.

Prof. Rellin emphasized that the agency also holds ISO 9001:2015 Certification compliant to management system for six years now and is also the first government livestock research agency certified compliant to Animal Welfare Act (AWA).

“What motivated DA-PCC at CSU to vie for GAHP certification? This vision started in one of the Program Management Committee meetings held at the national headquarters of DA-PCC in Nueva Ecija in 2010 where Dr. Libertado Cruz, former DA-PCC executive director, stated that he wants DA-PCC to become a world-class agency,” Rellin narrated.

In his closing message, Dr. Domingo also contended to have the other centers level up with DA-PCC at CSU in upholding exemplary management practices and striving for national and international recognitions.

“We can do it!,” he boosted.

GAHP is a set of principles in good practices and minimum requirements for commercial or backyard rearing of farm animals for food use. The code aims to ensure food safety and quality, protect and promote welfare of animals, promote health and safety of farm workers, and support environmental management.

DA-PCC at Visayas State University with the Knowledge Management Division team from the DA-PCC national headquarters in Nueva Ecija worked in tandem for a strategic communication planning-workshop for ALAB Karbawan project in Region 8 covering the provinces of Leyte, Southern Leyte, Samar, Northern Samar, and Biliran last February 24 at the Visayas State University, Baybay City, Leyte.

Select key implementers and stakeholders of the Coconut-Carabao Development Project (CCDP) participated in the said workshop.

The said activity aimed to determine the issues and concerns in the implementation of the CCDP and identify their corresponding KM Interventions.

Among the identified concerns of stakeholders are inadequate knowledge on buffalo production and management and operational issues related to the full implementation of the Garcia-Mandanas ruling which directs the full devolution of transfer of certain executive branch functions to LGUs.

Following the situation analysis, interventions on learning events through the KMD-Learning Events Coordination Section and strategic communication through the KMD-Applied Communication Section were presented and agreed by all parties.

CCDP is one of the projects being implemented by the DA-PCC and the DA-Philippine Coconut Authority which aims to attain a viable and sustainable carabao-based enterprises in the country complemented by increased coconut farm productivity.

The activity was capped with a pledge of commitment by all attending project partners and stakeholders.