TACLOBAN CITY– Around 35 individual beneficiaries and two associations of northern Tacloban residents were recipients of the Pangkabuhayan Livelihood Kits distribution by the City Government through the City Cooperatives Development and Livelihood Assistance (CCDLAO) Office on Thursday, August 31, 2023.
Representing Mayor Alfred Romualdez during the turnover ceremony at the CCDLAO Function Hall were City Councilor Brian Granados and CCDLAO Head Ruena Mate.
Received by the 35 individual beneficiaries who came from Brgy. 5, Brgy. 45 (Grandstand), Brgy. 83 Cogon, St. Francis Village (105 Suhi), and New Hope Village in Brgy. Sta. Elena were sari-sari store packages worth P5,200 while the Greendale and Guadalupe Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association (GGTODA) and Villa Sofia Homeowners Association, Inc. each received P52,000 worth of goods for their retail store businesses.
A combined 300 members from the two organizations will stand to benefit from the livelihood package.
During the turnover ceremony, Mate said that the assistance package distributed to the Villa Sofia HOA was a fulfillment of the latter’s request when Mayor Romualdez visited them recently.
The CCDLAO head likewise reported that the first batch of beneficiaries of the Pangkabuhayan Livelihood Assistance last year were successful in their business endeavors and were able to sustain the livelihood assistance given to them.
Meanwhile, Councilor Granados encouraged the beneficiaries to persevere and sustain the assistance given to them to improve their lives and benefit their families.
He also assured his continued support for the livelihood programs and initiatives of the local government at the legislative level.
The beneficiaries underwent an orientation on financial management and business proposal-making before the livelihood distribution. And will also be monitored by the office to ensure that they use the assistance given to them well.
ORMOC CITY – It was beyond imagination that the world’s largest wet steam field straddling in the town of Kananga and this city would sustain a very challenging operation following its humble beginnings 40 years ago.
It was long before a worldwide call against climate change and global warming when the Philippine government initiated a journey of securing long-term plans for renewable energy.
Then PNOC Energy Development Corporation (PNOC EDC) Leyte’s Tongonan geothermal power plant (TGPP) answered the quest for futuristic thinking as it started a challenging exploration in the volcanic steam-rich mountains of Ormoc and Kananga in the early 70’s.
Its early stages can be traced when the Philippine government created the Philippine National Oil Corporation (PNOC) as directed by then President Ferdinand E. Marcos by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 334, “to provide and maintain an adequate and stable supply of oil and petroleum products for domestic requirements”.
With this, explorations commenced to discover indigenous energy sources in the country in response to the global oil crisis during that time. After several years of intensive study works, the Tongonan-1 geothermal power plant was inaugurated on July 02, 1983.
From a rated capacity of 112.5 megawatts (MW), Tongonan-1’s yearly gross energy generation ranged from 200 to 400 gigawatt-hours (GWH), marked by an increase to 600 GWH in the 1990s—a boon during a dark period in the country’s history that was marked by frequent power outages.
The use of indigenous energy sources in the country also increased from a mere 5 percent in 1970 to over 50 percent by 2005, in which the Tongonan geothermal power plant (TGPP) undeniably plays a remarkable role in boosting renewable energy in the Philippines’ energy mix.
First Gen Corporation of the Lopez Group acquired PNOC- EDC through a bidding process in 2007 and gave birth to what is known today as the Energy Development Corporation (EDC), which owns the Leyte geothermal facility.
It has a current base load capacity of 711 megawatts and supplies more than 30% of the country’s installed electricity demand.
EDC’s TGPP makes the country proud for receiving numerous recognitions globally for its four decades of well-maintained, demand-responsive, and sustainable operations, surpassing the usual 25-year life span of geothermal systems.
Currently, TGPP has 31 production wells and nine reinjection wells. Tongonan geothermal field is one of the few geothermal fields worldwide that has achieved a milestone of continued production for 40 years.
EDC’s regenerative strategy and environmental conservation efforts were institutionalized through BINHI, its flagship regreening program seeking to propagate endangered, indigenous tree species in order to protect and grow water reservoirs that are critical to geothermal energy production.
The company also launched in 2009 a parallel program on education by inaugurating a foundation to provide technical training (tech-voc) skills to poor but deserving out-of-school youths from its host areas for free.
The KEITECH Foundation, Inc. (KEITECH) has been producing employable workers since 2009 in the fields of construction, metals and engineering, and tourism and hospitality.
Prior to KEITECH, the company adopted and supported two primary and intermediate schools of the Department of Education, particularly from its host barangays of Tongonan, Kananga and Ormoc called ‘schools for excellence’ which provided instructional materials, school supplies, uniforms, and lunch until the launching of the foundation.
At present, several KEITECH beneficiaries are already good earners locally and abroad who also have granted their wishes of extending financial help to their respective families.
For now, EDC has opened new opportunities to the poor out-of-school youth through its SIKAT program, a 4-year college scholarship to the most deserving students in its partner communities.
The program started in 2005 with 5 scholars every year until we shifted to careers/ Sikat in 2011 with 30 students currently enrolled.
There were also several livelihood assistance programs extended to its host local government units.
And during disasters such as Super Typhoon ‘Yolanda’ in 2013 and the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Tongonan served as a reliable home base for EDC’s community support and disaster relief operations.
On its 40th anniversary this year, Tongonan continues to bring distinction to the Philippines as one of the few existing geothermal fields in the world.
Tongonan is the world’s 3rd largest geothermal producer as its Tongonan facility continually provides a reliable supply of clean power to the Luzon and Visayas regions for over four decades now. (ELVIE ROMAN ROA)
ORMOC CITY– A joint operation by the Naval Municipal Police Station and the provincial office of the Bureau of Jail and Management and Penology (BJMP) together with the Philippine Coast Guard conducted an ‘Oplan Galugad/Greyhound Operation’ at a jail facility in Naval, Biliran on Wednesday (August 30) at about 2:30 pm.
The operation yielded negative of any contraband such as illegal drugs or deadly weapons.
The operation, which lasted for over an hour, ended with no untoward incident happening. (ROBERT DEJON)
NSSDEO, Brgy. Burabud, Laoang, N. Samar, 08/07/2023 – The residents and passersby along Bantayan Bay, San Roque, Northern Samar, will be safeguarded by on-going construction of 320.00 meters seawall against potential sea-level surge. This project was implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways – Northern Samar Second District Engineering Office (DPWH-NSSDEO), led by OIC District Engineer Charlito S. Carlobos and OIC Assistant District Engineer Atty. Arthur Eric L. Sabong, funded under General Appropriations Act (GAA) of 2023 with an appropriation of P52.25 million. Furthermore, CDU Construction undertakes the construction work with Contract ID 23II0017 and has contract amount of P 5,0411,055.55.
As of July 31, 2023, it had an actual accomplishment status of 81.05% and a positive slippage result of 54.65%. The project used RC Piles to increase the bearing capacity and to reduce settlement at the site, which are weak compressible soils. Hence, this project may be accomplished earlier than its planned date of completion.
To ensure the quality standard coastal protection project, the DPWH-NSSDEO management assigned, Project Engineer Filoteo T. Delorino to supervise along with Project Inspector Engr. Ma. Luzyl P. Castillo and Resident Engineer Florando Emilio O. Moscare while Engr. Justino E. Serafin, Jr., for the materials quality assurance of the project.
The impact of this project is to provide protection from soil erosion and damage to roads brought by continuous heavy rains. Since the area has the potential for promoting local tourism, the completion of seawall project would benefit the town, as well as the province’s economy. (PR)
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian attended this year annual general assembly of Leyte III Electric Cooperative held in Tunga town on August 26. (Photo Courtesy)
TACLOBAN CITY– Senator Sherwin Gatchalian lauded the Leyte III Electric Cooperative (Leyeco III) and its general manager, Alan Laniba, for their ‘excellent performance’ for the past years.
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian attended this year annual general assembly of Leyte III Electric Cooperative held in Tunga town on August 26. (Photo Courtesy)
The senator was the guest speaker during the annual general assembly of the electric cooperative on August 26 and attended by more than 4,000 member-consumers.
Leyeco III is considered to be among the region’s best performing power cooperatives.
Based on its records, Leyeco III has over 95 percent collection efficiency its system loss is below the allowable limit.
Leyeco III continues to retain its triple A status.
The power cooperative has also reaped several awards which include the National Electrification Administration (NEA) 2023 Golden Dagitab Awards and the 2023 Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association (Philreca) Awards.
Sen. Gatchalian, meanwhile, reminded electric cooperatives in the country to improve their services amid the public clamor for energy sufficiency, privatization and franchise renewal issues. (LIZBETH ANN A ABELLA)
Hercito ‘Tor’ Bibar has transformed his hectare of farm lot in Tabontabon, Leyte as a farm school where young people are taught farming using modern method
TABONTABON, Leyte ‘Magtanim ay di biro Maghapong nakayuko…..’
Hercito ‘Tor’ Bibar has transformed his hectare of farm lot in Tabontabon, Leyte as a farm school where young people are taught farming using modern method
So goes part of a song that is closely associated with how our farmers are being portrayed.
And this image is what a farm school, albeit relatively new, based in this town owned by Hercito Bibar, who hope to change it.
Bibar, ‘Tor’ to his friends, established his one-hectare farm school located in Barangay San Pablo while the pandemic was raging.
While his original plan is just to make the agricultural lot he inherited from his father productive, he got a change of heart when he noticed that some of the farmers in their village are not only using the old traditional way of farming but are also aging.
“For one, most of the farmers in the village were using the ordinary palay seeds with the help of their carabaos,” the 52-year-old Bibar, who is also a radio broadcaster with over two decades experience, said.
Bibar said that he is using the high-yielding certified seeds and a tractor to increase the yield and make farming less physical stressful.
He said that for a half hectare of farm lot, his yield is more than 100 cavans, higher compared to those using ordinary palay seeds which is around 80 cavans.
And by using a tractor, a farmer could prepare the lot for planting in just a matter of two hours, compared to using a carabao which could last even a week.
“This is the reason why some of our young people find farming less attractive as they chose to work outside. They find it dirty and very physical, compare to say working in an office or even as house help,” Bibar said.
Tabontabon is an agricultural town of which out of its 16 barangays, only four have no farming areas as they are all located within the town center. However, it is estimated that only 30 percent of the farmers of the town are into mechanization with a total average production of about 4,000 metric tons. And most of these farm lots rely on rain rather than irrigation system for a sustained supply of water to the farms.
Based on the registry of the municipal agriculture office, the town has about 1,200 farmers. The town has a population of 11,902 based on the record of the Philippine Statistics Authority.
Cheri Gil Tagana, the municipal agriculture officer, said that the municipal government is happy that a farm school like that of Bibar is operating in their town not only to teach new farming methods but also to encourage young people to go into farming.
“We are happy that we have a learning school here in Tabontabon and the beauty of it is that it introduces new farming methods which our farmers can apply,” she said.
“(And) our senior high school students, are being encouraged to attend the training at the Bibar’s Farm, giving them new insights about farming. That it is not all hardship but is also fun to do,” Tagana said.
Bibar said that while almost all activities and movements were either stopped or restricted when the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic hit the country in 2019, their farm trainings were not affected.
For one, he said, the trainings they conducted were held in outside, even under a tree.
“We have only limited participants, 30 at most and we practiced all the protocols like the wearing of face mask and the use of sanitizers,” he said.
Bibar said that they went to the different barangays not only from Tabontabon but nearby municipalities like Dagami and Julita.
The participants were either farmers or children of the farmers.
One of them was Joebert Llagas, 19, who is from Jaro town.
He said that he was encouraged to attend the free training at the Bibar’s Farm for him to learn more about farming.
“They say that farming is tiring and a dirty job but since I attended here, not only I find it to be fun but gives me an idea of how important farming and our farmers are for all of us,” Llagas said.
He said that since he started attending the training, which is just about 15 days, he learn to respect more on the farmers.
“They provide us food. It is just sad that some of the youths today do not find it attractive for a living. They see it as hard and filthy,” Llaga said.
As part of the training, Llaga and the rest of the students, makes actual farm work, planting palay seeds with their bare hands.
And on the side, they also get to plant vegetables as part of the ‘diversification’ method of farming, as well as to make some concoctions as fertilizers.
Llaga, who is now in his second year at the Colegio de Santa Lourdes of Leyte Foundation, Inc. which is in Tabontabon, taking business entrepreneurship, said that he will practice what he has learned.
While his family does not own any farm lot, his uncle is a farmer and till a hectare of lot.
Mary Jane Pallomina, one of the trainors of the Bibar’s Farm, said that she finds it exciting that many of the students are young.
“Most of our farmers now are aging. And I find it exciting that many of our students here are young and eager to learn about farming. Hopefully, they will become our next farmers who are open to using modern methods of farming,” the mother of six children said.
Pallomina herself comes from a family of farmers in Alangalang, also in Leyte. In fact, her husband, Nelson, is also a farmer. And while her eldest son is taking an engineering course, he too would like to learn about farming, Pallomina said.
Rodolfo Estigoy, a technical consultant on extension support education and training services of the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech), an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture (DA), said that he is happy that such a farming school like Bibar’s Farm is going its way to encourage young people to appreciate farming and even go into actually farming themselves.
Estigoy said that it is about time that young people like Llaga join the farming industry considering that the sector has been identified to be ‘aging.’
The DA in the region has no immediate data as to how many farmers in Eastern Visayas are considered as ‘aging’ or those whose ages are 50 years old and above.
The official said that he feels sad that most of the young today, including even children of farmers, have an apparent distaste of farming.
“We knew that our farmers are aging. Now, if there will be no new blood, we will have a problem in the future in terms of sustaining our efforts in agriculture,” Estigoy said.
Apparently, the song of ‘magtanim ay di biro…’ has stuck to the minds of the young people, he added.
“Bakit hindi pumupunta sa agriculture ang mga kabataan? Totoo, mahirap ang gawain sa pagbubukid. Katunayan, may kanta tayo diyan:’magtanim ay di biro. Maghapong nakayuko.” Who would like to do that?’ he said.
He also said that the ‘image’ of a farmer also stuck in the minds of the young people, the reason why there is a ‘low’ regards for them.
“Ang baba ng tinging dito sa Pilipinas sa mga farmers dahil ano ang pag-portray ng mga farmers dito sa atin-nakasumbrero ng butas-butas, nakapaa, mahirap ang hitsura,” Estigoy said.
Estigoy said that among the thrusts of their office, is to make some ‘rebranding’ on the image of our farmers.
He explained that farming in the country should not be equated to poverty.
As part of their campaign is to introduce farming mechanization which will help the farmers have increased output and in the process, higher income.
This way, the young people will also be encouraged to go into farming, he added.
“We introduce to them machinery rice farming, gagaan ang trabaho sa bukid. Because of this, baka mahikayat natin ang mga kabataan na humalili sa mga old farmers natin…nakasakay sila sa tractor,” Estigoy said.
It was learned from him that their office is offering farming equipment to farmers. However, for them to receive the offer, they must form an organization for easy facilitation.
These farmers, in turn, could just visit their local governments through their agriculture offices.
Estigoy said that they are hoping that this program will help encourage the young ones to go into farming.
And this is the very same mission of Bibar as to why he turned his farm lot into a farming school.
Bibar has tied up with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to make his farm as a learning site in 2019 which pay the training fees of the students.
In the same year, it was also given accreditation by the Agricultural Training Institute, an attached agency of DA responsible for training agricultural extension workers and their clientele.
Since the Bibar’s Farm started, over 1,000 students have graduated from their trainings.
Bibar said that he too, hopes that the young people who have undergone training at his farm school will really engage in farming and help remain the ‘aging’ industry the needed shot in the arms.
Sadly, Bibar admitted that two of their trainees chose to work abroad where they practice what they have learned from his farm school.
‘That is their choice. We cannot stop them from leaving and working abroad. But I am still optimistic that our trainees will still choose to work here and give the much-needed shot in the arm in our agriculture sector,” he said.
