April 2015

Published on January 2017 | Categories: Documents | Downloads: 67 | Comments: 0 | Views: 1004
of 12
Download PDF   Embed   Report

Comments

Content

VOLUME XXXV
Issue 4

Serving Los Baños and nearby communities
www.lbtimes.ph

Libre!

APRIL 2015

Unang anibersaryo ng Friday Organic Market, idinaos
ni Irene Rose Fatalla at Joan Marie Nepomuceno

Buwan ng PWD, ginunita
ni Jan Pauline Albat at Aya Iglopas

Tuwing Abril ay ipinagdiriwang ang buwan
ng mga may kapansanan o persons with disabilities
(PWDs). Isa sa kanila si Jeanette Talag. Mayroon
siyang retinal detachment. Ito ay namana niya mula
sa kanyang mga magulang. Bilang PWD, si Jeanette
ay nakakaranas ng diskriminasyon ngunit kailanman
ay hindi ito naging hadlang para isulong niya ang
angking talino at kahusayan. Ito ang naging dahilan
para ipaglaban niya ang karapatan ng mga PWDs.
Si Talag ang pangulo ng Los Baños Federation
of Persons with Disabilities (LBFPWD), isang
pederasyon na isinusulong ang mga karapatan at
naglalayon na palakasin ang pundasyon ng mga
PWDs. Isa sa mga layon ng samahan ay mabuksan
ang mga mata ng mga PWDs at maging ng lipunan
sa angking galing at kakayahan sa kabila ng
kapansanan.
“I want to empower [the PWDs] para makita
nila ang kanilang kahalagahan sa lipunan; that they
are capable despite their situation,” ani Talag.
Tuwing Biyernes ay makikita ang mga miyembro ng Samahan ng mga Magtatanim na
Kababaihan ng Los Baños habang nagtitinda ng kanilang organikong gulay at prutas sa harap
ng munisipyo ng Los Baños. (Kuha ni JNepomuceno)

Kasabay ng pagdiriwang ng Buwan ng
Kababaihan nitong Marso ay ang selebrasyon
para sa unang anibersaryo ng Los Baños
Friday Organic Market. Ito ay isang proyekto
na naglalayong magbigay ng kabuhayan sa
mga kababaihang magsasaka. Bahagi ng

nasabing proyekto ang Samahan ng
mga Magtatanim na Kababaihan ng
Los Baños sa Laguna.
Bilang parte ng pagdiriwang,
noong Marso 30 ay nagsagawa ang

Pagbisita sa Mt. Makiling,
hinigpitan noong Mahal na Araw

Kaya naman, patuloy ang paglunsad nila ng
mga programa upang matanto ng lipunan ang
kahalagahan ng mga PWDs. “Kahit gaano kahirap
ang proseso ng preparasyon sa mga programa na
aming inilulunsad, ang importante para sa akin ay
matapos ito at ma-realize ng mga PWDs pati na
rin ng lipunan ang aming kahalagahan,” dagdag ni
Talag.

Itutuloy sa pahina 3

Itutuloy sa pahina 4

ni Abygail Donguines at Mussaenda Sabarias

Dahil sa naging banta ng Bagyong
Chedeng, pansamantalang nilimitahan
ng lokal na pamahalaan ng Los Baños
at ng Department of Interior and Local
Government (DILG) ang Mount Makiling
Forest Reserve sa mga turista na umaakyat
ng bundok simula noong ika-3 ng Abril.
Kaugnay nito, muling inilunsad ang
Make it Makiling! Lenten Season Visitor
Management Project na pinangungunahan
ng UPLB Makiling Center for Mountain
Ecosystems (MCME).

Layon ng nasabing proyekto na
tulungan ang mga hikers na balak
umakyat sa bundok at pangalagaan
ang kalikasan. Noong panahon ng
Mahal na Araw, ipinagbawal na ng
MCME ang pag-akyat sa Mt. Makiling
mula alas-diyes ng umaga. Kailangan
naman mapababa lahat ng hikers
pagsapit ng alas-tres ng hapon at lahat
ng mga volunteers ng alas-singko.
Bukod dito, ipinagbawal na din ang
camping at magdamag na pananatili sa
bundok.
Itutuloy sa pahina 4

Sinusuri ni Dr. Josephine Bundoc (kaliwa) mula sa
University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial
Medical Center (UERM) ang isang miyembro ng
LBFPWD.

2

NEWS

LOS BAÑOS TIMES

Programang pangkabuhayan para sa magbubukid, inilunsad
ni Angela Floralyn Catanghal at Salvia Dominique Ramos

Idinaos ang Comserve 2015: Kabuhayan
101, isang programang pangkabuhayan para
sa mga magsasaka ng Los Baños noong ika-28
ng Marso sa Barangay Hall ng Brgy. Batong
Malake. Ang programa na may temang
“Cultural Sustainable Livelihood through
Agripreneurship,” ay inorganisa ng UP
Agribusines Society (UP ABS), isang grupo
ng mga mag-aaral mula sa Unibersidad ng
Pilipinas Los Baños (UPLB).
Ayon kay Dean Mark Bolima, ang
kasalukuyang socio-cultural committee
chair ng UP ABS, nagsasagawa sila ng
mga programa tulad ng ComServe 2015
bilang parte ng kanilang pagbabalik-tanaw
at pagbibigay ng kanilang utang na loob sa
pamayanan ng Los Baños.
“Yun ang objective namin, ang ma-impart
sa mga tao, hindi lang sa atin, sa mga UPLB
students, kundi maging sa communities yung
tamang pamamaraan kung paano ba magalaga ng negosyo, kung paano ba kumita ng
mas malaki,” sinabi ni Bolima.

Tinalakay ni Kristoffer Aquino, South Luzon sales manager of East-West Seed Philippines, ang
off-season vegetable farming para sa karagdagang pagkukuhanan ng kita ng mga magsasaka sa
ginanap na ComServe noong ika-28 ng Marso sa Brgy. Batong Malake.

Mula sa iba’t-ibang barangay ng Los
Baños ang mga magsasakang dumalo sa
Itutuloy sa pahina 4

Mga iskolar ng LB, nagsagawa ng community clean-up
ni Angela Louise Fernandez

Nagsagawa ng iskolar ng Los Baños (LB)
Community Clean-Up ang Brgy. San Antonio,
Los Baños noong Abril 18 sa pangunguna ni
Brgy. Chairman Cecilio Magsino ng Brgy.
San Antonio. Nakilahok ang 10 mag-aaral na
iskolar ng munisipyo ng Los Baños.
Ang mga mag-aaral na dumalo sa naganap
na community clean-up ay tinuruan na
magtanim ng halaman. Isinagawa ito sa hardin
ng Brgy. San Antonio na nagsimula ng ika-7
ng umaga.
Lumahok din sa nasabing clean-up ang
mga opisyales ng Brgy. San Antonio.

Ricarda Villar

Zarrel Gel Noza
Armund Arguelles
Ma. Roxanne Fatima Rolle
Associate Editors

Ricarda Villar
Lisa Cabrera
Rosa Pilipinas Francisco
Mildred Moscoso
Advisers

Ayon sa kalihim ng barangay na
si Jona Vento, ang naganap na gawain
ay isang paraan para mamulat ang
mga kabataan sa mga sakripisyong
nagaganap para mapangalagaan ang

E D I TO R I A L S TA F F

Editor-in-Chief

Layout Artist

Ayon kay Brgy. Chairman
Magsino, ang community service ng
mga iskolar ay nagsisilbing daan upang
masuklian nila ng paglilingkod ang
kanilang mga natatanggap na tulong
pampinansyal mula sa munisipyo
ng Los Baños. Layon ng clean-up sa
barangay na mapagtibay ang ugnayan
ng mga kabataan sa kanilang barangay.

JPAlbat ■ PSBacani ■ AFCatanghal ■
JdelosReyes ■ ADonguines ■ JMDrece
■ BEscobin ■ IRFatalla ■ ALFernandez
■ AIglopas ■ MImatong ■ KMLopez
■ JMarano ■ JMNepomuceno ■
SDRamos ■ CRieza ■ NJRomasanta
■ MSabarias ■ JMSantos ■
MCTambunting ■ AMUy
Writers

kapaligiran. Sinabi din niya na ang mga
natutunan ng mga iskolar sa paghahalaman ay
maari nilang gawin at ibahagi sa kani-kanilang
mga tahanan.
Ang community service na ito ng
mga iskolar ng munisipyo ay bahagi ng
kanilang requirements bilang mga iskolar.
Ito ay ginaganap taun-taon at madalas na
isinasagawa tuwing bakasyon, o sa mga
buwan ng Abril hanggang Mayo. Ang
community clean-up ay ang unang gawain na
inihanda ng munisipyo para sa mga iskolar
bilang bahagi ng kanilang community service.
The Los Baños Times is produced by the
students and staff of the Department of
Development Journalism at the UP Los Baños
College of Development Communication in
collaboration with Los Baños local government
agencies, barangays, schools, and civil society
organizations. No part of this paper may be
reproduced or distributed in any form or by any
means stored in a database or retrieval system
without prior consent. All rights reserved.
The Los Baños Times is located at Rm. 201B,
Department of Development Journalism,
College of Development Communication,
University of the Philippines Los Baños
in Los Baños, Laguna
Tel. No.: (049) 536-2511 local 401 or 410
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://lbtimes.ph

NEWS

LOS BAÑOS TIMES

3

Brgy. Tadlac launches Eco-Tourism Park
by Mary Cris Tambunting and Jastine Marano

On April 29, Brgy. Tadlac launched the
Tadlac Lake Nature Park, the new ecotourism
spot situated at the heart of Brgy. Tadlac.
The project was in cooperation with the
Department of Tourism and Task Force
Kalikasan.
According to Tadlac Brgy. Chairman Avin
Bautista, the launch marked a new beginning
for the Tadlac Lake after the Department of
Tourism granted the PhP 5M fund under the
Bottom-up Budgeting (BUB) Program. The
fund is intended for lake seeding and sanctuary
with the help of the local government of Los
Baños.
The proposal for the project was finalized
in 2007 hoping to provide new livelihood
opportunities for the residents
of Tadlac. The
idea for the project came after the cases of
massive fish kill in 1997 after the lake was
opened for commercialization. The project
however, was not able to proceed due to lack
of financial support until the launch of the
Tadlac Lake Nature Park.

Mayor Caesar Perez addresses the crowd during the opening ceremonies of Tadlac Lake
Nature Park.
Mula sa pahina 1

Buwan ng PWD...
Ilan sa mga prokyeto na kanilang inilunsad ay medical missions, rehabilitation aids, at
trainings. Isa na rito ang seminar kung saan tinalakay ang mga batas para sa mga karapatan
ng mga PWDs.
Taun-taon rin ay ipinagdiriwang ng LBFPWD ang National Disability Prevention and
Rehabilition Week (NDPR) kung saan nagsasagawa ng community service, livelihood
training, sportsfest, at talent show kung saan naipapakita ang husay at galing ng mga PWDs.
Pagtanggap sa lipunan, tila ay isang butas ng karayom
Hinaharap ng mga PWD ang hamon na maipakita ang kakayahang lumaban sa
mga pagsubok sa buhay. Kaakibat nito pagiging matatag sa kabila ng mga panlalait at
pagdidiskrimina sa kanila. Ngunit, hindi dito natatapos ang laban.
Ayon kay Talag, ang isa pang hamon ay ang pagtanggap sa kanila ng lipunan. “Sa kabila
kasi ng efforts namin, hindi pa rin kami nakikita,” ani Talag. Ang kahalagahan na mabigyan
sila ng pagkakataon na mapatunayan ang kanilang husay at talino ay tila isinasawalang
bahala. “Ito ang malungkot na sitwasyon naming mga PWDs, pero we won’t stop there,”
dagdag niya.
Ipinaliwanang din ni Talag na marami sa PWDs ang nakapagtapos ng pag-aaral kaya
marami sa kanila ang may kakayahan na kumita. Ang problema lamang ay hindi sila
binibigyan ng pagkakataon dahil sa diskriminasyon sa kanila kagaya ng hindi pagtanggap sa
kanila sa trabaho. “Pangbahay lang daw kami, hindi daw dapat kami nagtatrabaho dahil hindi
daw namin kaya,” dagdag niya.
Ang nais ng mga PWDs ay ang mabigyan sila ng pagkakataon na maipakita ang
kanilang husay at galing, ang tuluyang pagtanggap sa kanila ng lipunan at pagkakataon na
mamuhay ng normal.

Brgy. Chairman Bautista explained
that they envision Tadlac Lake to be clean
and a center of tourism by 2018, providing
livelihood to the residents and paving the way
to their community’s progress.
Brgy. Tadlac residents also looked
forward to the opening of the nature park.
The community members have been
consulted about the project and the underlying
effects to their community has also been
discussed.“Okay lang basta kikita ang
barangay, basta hindi mapipinsala ‘yong lake,”
Fernan Apacionado, a tricycle driver and
resident of Brgy. Tadlac, said.
The lake was previously called Alligator
Lake and Enchanted Lake. It is a captivating
sight because of its slightly elevated crater rim
at the eastern part of the lake. It served as the
source of livelihood for the local fishermen in
until the massive fish kills took place.
Given the past experiences with the lake,
the barangay officials will continue to keep
track of the environmental condition of the
lake. They will also enforce double monitoring
aside from
its utilization for tourism and
livelihood.
Brgy. Councilor Bobet Meneses explained
that the barangay council will closely monitor
the lake condition to avoid having the area
spoiled by tourism establishments. Meneses
also serves as the chairman of the Committee
for Environment in Tadlac.
He added that Task Force Kalikasan,
a non-government organization advocating
for the protection of the environment which
he helped establish, will help monitor and
preserve the lake.
Continued on page 5

4

LOS BAÑOS TIMES

Mula sa pahina 1

Unang anibersaryo...
samahan ng programa sa Bulwagang Panday
Karunungan sa munisipyo ng Los Baños.
Ayon kay Benny Badillo, pangulo ng
nasabing samahan, malaki ang naitulong ng
organic market sa kanilang pangkabuhayan.
Ayon kay Badillo, naranasan na rin umano
nilang magtinda sa palengke ngunit mas
maganda daw ang puwesto nila ngayon sa
munisipyo at mas malaki ang kita.
“Kung ano yung presyo sa palengke ay
ganun din yung sa amin. Pero minsan din
naman, kami yung mas mababa,” ani Badillo.
Sariling mga pananim nila ang mga
produktong ibinebenta. Matapos anihin,
dinadala nila ito sa munisipyo tuwing Biyernes
mula alas-nuwebe ng umaga hanggang alas-tres
ng hapon upang ibenta.

Ilan sa mga produktong kanilang
ibinebenta ay mga gulay tulad ng luya,
sayote, gabi, kamote, at pechay. Mayroon
ding mga prutas gaya ng saging, papaya,
at marami pang iba.
Ayon kay Badillo, ang mga miyembro
ng samahan nila ay nagsanay tungkol
sa mga patabang gagamitin. Hindi sila
gumagamit ng kemikal. Mga gulay na
nabubulok na mismo at nagiging kompost
ang ginagamit na pataba sa pananim.

Ang mga impormasyon, kailangang mga
buto, at kagamitan ay ibinibigay sa pangulo
ng samahan na siya namang nagbabahagi
nito sa mga miyembro. Ang pwestong
kanilang pinagbebentahan sa munisipyo ay
libre at ang mga buto na ginagamit nila sa
pagtatanim ay galing na rin sa Philippine
Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural
Resources Research and Development
(PCAARRD).

Paliwanag pa ni Badillo, “Binibigyan
nila kami [ng buto] kung halimbawang
kailangan namin ng mga gagamitin sa
lupa, pang bungkal ganun, binibigyan
kami.”

Ang Samahan ng mga Magtatanim na
Kababaihan ng Los Baños ay binubuo ng
halos 32 miyembro mula sa 14 na iba’t-ibang
barangay ng Los Baños. Nabuo ang samahan
sa tulong ng Gender and Development
(GAD) Office at pakikipagtulungan ng
PCAARRD.

sa kaligtasan ng lahat, kaya walang
problema,” pagsang-ayon ni Christopher
Mantillas, isang hiker na pitong taon nang
umaakyat sa bundok tuwing Mahal na
Araw.

Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction
Management Office (MDRRMO), UROCOM,
COPS, PARACS, KAB- ALIKAT, Philippine
National Police, at ang mga konseho ng
barangay ng Lalakay, Timugan, at Maahas.

Sa kabila nito, ipinagpatuloy pa din
ang taunang Make it Makiling! Lenten
Season Visitor Management project na
nagsimula noong 2002. Katulong sa
pagpapatupad ng nasabing proyekto ang
iba’t-ibang organisasyon at barangay na
naglalayong bigyang kaalaman ang mga
turista na balak umakyat sa Mt. Makiling
tuwing Mahal na Araw.

“Ang pinangangalagaan natin dito
ay hindi lang tao, dito din sa taas ay ang
kalikasan,” pagbabahagi ni Cynthia Quintas,
designate mula sa Municipal Disaster Risk
Reduction Management Office (MDRRMO).

Mula sa pahina 1

Pagbisita sa Mt. Makiling...

Ayon kay Valerie Barredo, ang overall
coordinator ng Make it Makiling!, magiging
limitado ang pagbisita sa bundok hangga’t
hindi lumalabas ang bagyo sa Philippine
Area of Responsibility. Dahil dito, kapansinpansin ang pagbaba ng bilang ng mga turista
sa nasabing bundok ngayong Mahal na
Araw kumpara noong mga nakaraang taon.
Samantala, hati naman ang opinyon ng mga
bisita sa bagong polisiya. Ayon kay Darlene
Ciena, isang student volunteer, hindi ikinatuwa
ng ilang turista o hikers ang biglaang anunsyo
na unang inilathala sa social networking sites.
Gayunpaman, mayroon ring ilan na umintindi
at sumunod na lamang.
“Kung ano man yung mga magiging
instructions dito, susundin namin para

Ilan sa mga ito ay ang Philippine
Red Cross, Rural Health Unit (RHU),

Mayroong tatlumpung istasyon na
nakakalat mula sa paanan ng bundok
hanggang Peak II. Kabilang sa mga
serbisyong ibinibigay nito ay pagbibigay ng
first aid, tulong sa direksyon at impormasyon,
komunikasyon, seguridad, pagkain, at tubig.

Mula sa pahina 2

Programang pangkabuhayan...
nasabing programa. Tatlong panauhing
pandangal ang naimbitahan upang ibahagi ang
kanilang mga kaalaman at karanasan tungkol
sa iba’t-ibang mga pamamaraan sa pagtatanim.
Kabilang dito ang general manager ng Ato
Belen’s Farm at isang alumnus ng UP ABS na
si Brian Belen.

Bukod kay Belen, nagbahagi rin ng
kanyang kaalaman ang CALABARZON
Demand Creation Leader na si Joey
Gamboa ng Syngenta Philippines, Inc.

Ibinahagi ni Belen ang kanyang
kaalaman tungkol sa paggamit ng plant food
supplements, pataba sa lupa, indigenous
microorganisms (IMO), at effective
microorganisms (EMO). Ang IMO at EMO ay
ginagamit upang mas mapabilis pa ang proseso
ng composting at pagpapanatili ng magandang
kalusugan ng mga pananim.

Namahagi ang Syngenta Philippines,
Inc. ng pananim na sweet corn sa mga
lumahok sa seminar na nagbahagi ng
kanilang mga karanasan sa pagtatanim
ng mais. Ang Syngenta ay isa sa mga
nagungunang kabuhayang pangagrikultural o agri-business sa buong
mundo na naglalayong gumawa ng
mga bagong teknolohiya na mas lalong
magpapabuti sa kalagayan ng mga sektor
ng agrikultura.

“Maganda kasi sa Laguna, una maganda
yung quality ng soil. Magandang dito tayo
magtanim ng mga prutas at gulay. Bukod pa
diyan, ang lapit natin sa Maynila, so we can
produce food para sa ating citizens at para sa
demand ng Maynila,” ani ni Belen.

Tinalakay ni Gamboa ang iba’t-ibang
mga pamamaraan sa pamamahala sa
pagtatanim ng sweet corn.

Huling nagbahagi ng kaalaman
tungkol sa pagsasaka si Kristoffer Aquino,

ang East-West Philippines regional sales
manager ng South Luzon. Tinalakay ni Aquino
ang “off season vegetable farming” o ang pagani ng iba’t-ibang uri ng gulay na mabebenta
pa kahit na wala sa panahon.
Para sa mga nakilahok, mahalaga ang
pagdaos ng mga seminar tulad ng ComServe
2015 lalo na sa kanilang mga magsasaka
upang madagdagan pa ang kanilang kaalaman
tungkol dito.
“Para magkaroon pa ako ng bagong
kaalaman para sa aming pagbubukid,” sabi ni
Josephine Resurreccion, 53 anyos, at isa sa
mga magsasaka na dumalo sa seminar.
Bilang parte ng kanilang mga plano para
sa hinaharap, nais ng UP ABS na i-monitor
ang pag-unlad ng mga sumali sa seminar at
makipag-ugnayan sa mga establisyimento
na makakatulong upang mapagtibay pa
ang kabuhayang pang-agrikultural ng mga
mamamayan ng Los Baños.

FEATURE

LOS BAÑOS TIMES

5

Continued from page 12

Unleasing the potential...
on organic seed production with the urban poor in Manila
as beneficiaries. After a year, their funding was continued
by the Department of Agriculture for a three-year project on
varietal development under organic conditions. PAMANA uses
alternative, natural methods instead of chemicals and pesticides.
They manually remove the insects or pests from the plants. They
also use natural repellants, planting them around the crop. When
the pests start to build up, they use water with soap as a repellant.
These methods of pest control are safe both to the farmers
and to the consumers. Most of the materials they use in organic
farming can be found in the household. This is one of the reasons
why production in organic farming is relatively cheaper.
The members of PAMANA attend conferences on organic
farming, like the World Organic Congress, for additional
knowledge and exposure to new practices on organic farming.
Currently, PAMANA employs strategies and technologies
patterned after South Korea’s natural farming.
Go organic
The farmers and researchers in PAMANA advise farmers
to engage in organic farming, and consumers to patronize
organic products. The first step is to shift from the traditional or
conventional way of farming to the organic way. It may take time
and effort but in the long run will be beneficial for its cheaper
production cost.
PAMANA introduces new technologies and projects as
well as offers free seeds, technical assistance, and consultations
to individuals interested to become cooperators. Presently,
PAMANA has nine cooperators in Quezon situated in Sariaya,
Tayabas, and Lucban as well as five more cooperators based
in Cavite. PAMANA conducts weekly farm visits among their
cooperators to monitor their progress in the application of
technologies and practices that they have learned.
To be part of PAMANA’s network of cooperators, individuals
should have interest in organic farming, and the willingness
to shift to organic farming. Interested parties may drop by the
PAMANA organic garden nestled along Pili Drive and sign up as
a cooperator
Other initiatives
Other organic farming initiatives are also taking place
in Los Baños. One example is the Los Baños Friday Organic
Market, an organic market managed by women farmers, which
was established with the help of the Philippine Council for
Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and
Development (PCAARRD) and the Gender and Development
Office of Los Baños.
Every Friday, members of the Samahan ng mga Magtatanim
na Kababaihan ng Los Baños sells organic fruits and vegetables
that they harvest in front of the Los Baños municipal hall. Some
of the products they sell are ginger, pechay, sayote, gabi, as well
as fruits like banana, and papaya. The Friday market serves as an
additional livelihood for women farmers.
Another known organic farming initiative in the Los
Baños community is Nu Wave Farmers. The Nu Wave Farmers
is composed of young, tech-savvy farmers who went out of
the “dreaded, tedious corporate setting” to engage in organic
agriculture. The Nu Wave Farmers are taking on the role of
planting and harvesting organic produce for their communities.

The Tadlac Lake Nature Park will soon be one of be the ecotourism
spots in Los Baños.
Continued from page 3

Brgy. Tadlac launches...

Some of the activities that are expected to be the highlight of the
Tadlac Lake Nature Park are boating, birdwatching, nature tripping,
ecological studies, game fishing, swimming, kayaking, ziplining, and
camping.
Sec. Neric Acosta, the general manager
of Laguna Lake
Development Authority; Laguna Vice-Governor Karen Agapay; Mayor
Caesar Perez; and Los Baños councilors Jay Rolusta and Jonjie Oliva
were present in the event together with the Tadlac Barangay Council.

Continued from page 6

LB fights...

rabies vaccinations. The LGUs buy a number of vaccines for one year
and in the following year, the national government would sustain
whatever number of vaccines the local government purchased. This
year, however, the national government was not able to provide enough
vaccines. Therefore, MAO gave vaccinations to half of the barangays
last quarter, and the other barangays had the vaccinations this April.
“Hindi pa po nag-lapse yung effect ng vaccine because the vaccine lasts
for a year,” explains Fabella.
Despite this, the local government makes sure that each barangay
has the chance to vaccinate their pets. Fabella said that they find ways to
purchase vaccines whenever there are excess budget. They believe that
these vaccines are needed and should be prioritized.
Continued from page 7

‘Farmers’ to...

True enough, GAD and PCAARRD have given a renewed sense
of hope to several small-scale farmers. These farmers have learned the
new methods of organic farming and were able to make use of what
they have learned.
With the end of the 15-month program fast approaching, what
the farmers need to look out for is how the project will continue to
empower them in order to provide healthy organic vegetables to more
members of the community.
Mang Nestor and Nanay Adeling are hopeful – and they have
every reason to be.

6

NEWS

LOS BAÑOS TIMES

OSCA, PhilHealth hold forum on health coverage
by Baby Escobin, Office for Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA)

The Office for Senior Citizens Affairs
(OSCA), in coordination with PhilHealthCalamba Office as the Local Health Insurance
Office (LHIO), held a seminar on April 29
about the mandatory PhilHealth coverage of all
senior citizens pursuant to Republic Act (RA)
10645, an act providing for the mandatory
Philhealth coverage for all senior citizens.

A total of 133 senior citizens from the
town’s 14 barangays attended the activity
held at the new municipal building’s
activity center.
During the open forum, attendees
asked the resource person Joven Bio,
Social Insurance Officer II, about their
PhilHealth concerns. The forum was
facilitated by Baby Escobin and Ma.
Cecchina Escultor.

Dr. Federico Cruz, the OSCA head,
handed a plaque of appreciation to Bio as
a token of gratitude. Leoncio Dechitan and
Angeline Silva of the Persons with Disabilities
Office assisted in the registration and in the
program.
For further inquiries, you may contact
PhilHealth Calamba at (049) 545 9356 or
OSCA at (049) 530 9143.

Indigent senior citizens receive pension
by Baby Escobin, Office for Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA)

Financially poor senior citizens from Los
Baños received their quarterly pension on
May 26 as part of the Social Pension Payout
program of the Department of Social Welfare
and Development (DWSD). The payout was
spearheaded by Office for Senior Citizens
Affairs (OSCA) at the activity center of the
new municipal building.
The special disbursing officer, Mary Ann
Pines of DWSD Region IV-A, facilitated
the payout. A total of 173 out of the listed
246 beneficiaries received PhP 1,500 for the

quarter. The social pension allocation is
PhP 500 a month.
Social pensioners who could
not personally claim their allowance
were allowed to receive their pension
through an authorized representative.
The documents were processed by
Baby Escobin and Cecchina Escultor of
OSCA. Angeline Sila of the Persons with
Disabilities Office was in-charge of the
registration and venue preparation. Mayor
Caesar Perez graced the occasion.

Los Baños senior citizens who are
qualified to receive support are those who are
77 years old and above; sickly or disabled;
with no regular source of income or support
from relatives; and are not entitled to other
pension such as SSS, GSIS, Veteran’s Pension,
and the like.
For social pension concerns, senior
citizens can contact the DSWD Field Office
IV-A, Alabang at (02) 807 4142 or email
address [email protected].

LGU forms climate change committees

by Martin Imatong, Municipal Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Program Consultant

For a climate change risk-resilient
and self-reliant Los Baños, the Climate
Change Adaptation and Mitigation Program
(LCCAMP) Secretariat held a meeting to form
committees on their seven strategic priorities
on May 6 at the Los Baños Municipal Office.

officer of the Department of Interior and
Local Government-Local Government
Academy, served as the resource speaker.
Dimaano explained LCCAP’s purpose,
legal basis, formulation process, funding,
and implementation.

LCCAMP will draft the Local Climate
Change Action Plan (LCCAP) for Los Baños.
The said plan should contain strategies and
policies enabling Los Baños to adapt to
climate change. Elmo Dimaano, operations

The seven strategic priorities are:
food security, water insufficiency,
ecological and environmental stability,
human security, climate-smart industries
and services, knowledge and capacity
development, and sustainable energy.

One committee with an assigned focal
person per strategic priority was formed. A total
of 30 members from different public and private
sectors comprised the groups.
The meeting held on May 6 was the first of
several assemblies to be conducted in drafting
the LCCAP. Upcoming meeting topics will be
on finalizing LCCAMP’s vision, mission, and
sectoral objectives, integrating statistical data
and profile on LCCAP, qualitative vulnerability
and adaptation assessment per sector, as well
as qualitative and quantitative description of
impact measures on each committee.

LB fights against rabies
by Josephine Marie Santos and Ariane Mae Uy

A free anti-rabies vaccination in Brgy.
Anos was held on April 22. The vaccination
was initiated by the Municipal Agricultural
Office (MAO). Volunteers from the office of
the Provincial Veterinarians made the rounds
in Brgy. Anos.
Around 350 dogs received vaccinations
in Brgy. Anos. Each purok has a station base
where members of the community can bring
their pets for vaccination.
MAO holds the anti-rabies vaccination
twice a year. Anti-rabies vaccinations are given
to cats and dogs, although most of the reported
cases of rabies involve dogs. The main goal
of the program is to eliminate rabies in the
municipality of Los Baños.
According to Andrei Fabella, municipal
agricultural technologist, the information

and educational communication (IEC)
materials aim to explain to the children the
proper way to manage their own pets and
how to be responsible pet owners.
MAO educates the students to keep
their pets on leashes or cages and keep
them vaccinated. This is to prevent
their dogs from interacting with other
unvaccinated dogs, thus exposing them
to rabies. Fabella believes that their IEC
materials work well. Through the videos,
he noticed that the students are eager to
learn more about the effect of rabies on
people.
The MAO has partner organizations
assisting them in conducting the dog
vaccinations throughout the 14 barangays

of Los Baños. Society of Emergency Relief
and Voluntary Enthusiasts (SERVE), for
instance, led the dog vaccinations for three
barangays: Bayog, Maahas, and Mayondon
last March. MAO also partners with other
organizations such as Rabies Rangers, Lady
Vets, and the UPLB Housing Office
In accordance to the Anti-Rabies Act of
2007, there are penalties for not complying
with the law such as a PhP 2,000 fine for pet
owners who do not register and vaccinate their
pets. The highest fine, PhP 500,000, is charged
to pet owners who leave their pets wandering
outside their personal vicinities and into the
roads.
According to Fabella, in the past, the
barangays used to hold simultaneous antiContinued on page 5

Going Green:

FEATURE

LOS BAÑOS TIMES

7

Baybayin’s Journey to be an Environment-Friendly Community
by Pauline Stephanie Bacani

“Nakakalungkot. Talagang nalulungkot
kami kapag ganitong [bumabaha],”said Brgy.
Councilor Jopi Baes from Baybayin.
On April 2, 2015, the once clean and clear
shoreline in Purok Tres, just beyond the edge
of the barangay was found filled with plastic
bags, cans, and tree debris. Strong rainfall in
the area flushed all these from the barangay
canals into the lake, turning a once clear body
of water into one that is dark and murky.
This misfortune brought together the
residents and officials to act on the concern
as a community by conducting a community
cleanup. Councilor Baes shared, “Maliit
lamang ang aming barangay. Pero lahat
nakikisama, lahat napapasunod namin.”
According to the Barangay Management
Information System (BMIS), Baybayin is
known to be one of the most compliant among
the 14 barangays in Los Baños, especially in
implementing the Solid Waste Management
Act 9003.
July 1, 2014 marked the first day of
the implementation of the Solid Waste
Management Act 9003. According to Baybayin
officials, Mayor Caesar Perez wanted strict
implementation of the act. In Brgy. Baybayin,
steps were done little by little, until these small
steps became a habit, and later on developed
into a routine.
According to Councilor Baes, the
implementation in their barangay started with
the daily collection of trash accumulated
per household. Every morning, at exactly
8am, the households would bring out their
segregated garbage. Then Councilor Baes
with Environment Committee Chairman and
Councilor Jun Carpio, collected the household
wastes themselves around Baybayin in their
barangay dump truck.

Collected wastes were then
transported into the processing centers
in Bay and San Pedro, where they are
inspected for proper segregation. Upon
inspection, improperly segregated wastes
are rejected and are then returned to the
source barangays for proper segregation.
Whoever is found to have not segregated
is fined by the barangay officials PhP 500
to PhP 1,000, depending on the offense.
Aside from the strict collection
and segregation of wastes, daily
announcements are conducted in the
community. During the house-to-house
garbage collection, a pre-recorded
announcement regarding proper
segregation of garbage is played. Leaflets
were also distributed to households
discussing the different types of wastes
and how they should properly dispose
them.
To motivate each household to
participate in segregating their wastes and
cleaning their front lawns, the barangay
officials ensure that they reaffirm their
constituents’ efforts. Every now and
then, they give praises to those whose
front lawns are clean, and whose wastes
are properly segregated. In doing this,
the officials observed that the other
households are challenged to comply so
their efforts may be recognized.

Aside from this inter-household
competition, an annual Linggo ng Kalikasan
is held every September. This is a week-long
celebration for the environment, where various
contests on gardening and segregating are held
among different barangays.
Coordination and Evaluation
Twice a year, a general assembly is held
in the barangay where different sectors of
their community, such as households, youth,
committee chairs and members, meet to
discuss on barangay issues, highlighting Solid
Waste Management.
According to Councilor Baes, meetings
like these provide an avenue where community
members can voice out their thoughts and
ideas, especially the youth, a sector seen to be
very participative in community affairs.
Also, the barangay evaluated the
implementation of the Solid Waste
Management Act by preparing a report.
Included in this report is the ratio of the
compliant households over the total number
of households in the barangay. This way, they
are able to monitor their progress quarterly.
Reports like these are submitted quarterly to
the municipal office.
After months of hard work, Brgy.
Baybayin residents are now reaping the fruits
of their labor. Last January 27, 2015, they
Continued on page 9

From Monday to Friday, they collected
biodegradable wastes and during Saturdays,
the non-biodegradable waste were collected.
According to Councilor Baes, this is a process
done differently in Baybayin compared
to some barangays in Los Baños. In other
barangays, the residents put their segregated
wastes in a common dumping site. Their
garbage are collected from the site 2-3 times
a week. In Baybayin, collection is done daily
with households expected to have already
segregated their own wastes.
According to Councilor Baes, this process
may seem tedious however, they are assured
that the community members know proper
waste segregation.

A Brgy. Baybayin resident takes initiative to clear the garbage and debris from the barangay canals
to avoid blockage and to ensure the continous flow of water brought by the heavy rains. (Photo from
Brgy. Baybayin Updates Facebook Page)

8

LOS BAÑOS TIMES

FEATURE

Vermicomposting sa Los Baños
nina Jonah Romasanta at Kathryna Marie Lopez

Taong 1992 nang mamulat sa gawaing
pagsasaka si Bernardito Regis, kilala bilang
si Mang Bernard, sa lalawigan ng Tacloban sa
Visayas. Magmula noon ay pagsasaka na ang
nagsilbing kabuhayan ni Mang Bernard na siya
ding kanyang sinandalan upang maitaguyod
ang pamilya sa araw-araw.
Sa pagpasok ng Bagyong Yolanda sa bansa
noong 2013, isa ang pamilya ni Mang Bernard
sa mga libu-libong labis na naapektuhan at
napinsala sa buong Kabisayaan.
Matapos ang bagyo na maituturing na isa
sa pinakamalakas at pinakamapaminsalang
naranasan sa buong mundo, pinili ni Mang
Bernard na lisanin ang kinalakihang Tacloban
upang magsimula ng bagong buhay sa Laguna.
Ipinagpatuloy niya ang kinagawiang pagsasaka
sa Brgy. Putho-Tuntungin sa Los Baños.
Sa kasalukuyan, si Mang Bernard ang
tumatayong pangulo ng Putho-Tuntungin
Farmers Association at kasalukuyang isa
sa mga magsasaka na nagsasagawa ng
vermicomposting sa Los Baños.

Ano ang vermicomposting?

Paggamit ng vermicompost

Sa isang panayam kay Ginoong Jose
Honrado, may ari ng J.A. Grasslands
Farm sa Los Baños, ang vermicomposting
ay ang paggagamit ng bulate upang
makapaggawa ng masustansiyang pataba
na maaaring magamit na lupa ng isang
sakahan.

Si Mang Bernard ay nagtatanim at
nagpapatubo ng iba’t-ibang halaman at gulay
tulad ng sitaw, kamatis, pipino, at iba pang
mga gulay sa maliit na bahagi ng lupang pagaari ng isa niyang kamag-anak. Ginagamit
niya dito ang mga kaalamang natutunan
tungkol sa proseso ng vermicomposting.

Nagsisimula ang lahat sa paghahalo
ng dumi ng hayop kagaya ng kalabaw.
Ito ay ihinahalo sa dayami at balat ng
mga prutas at gulay. Ang J.A. Grasslands
Farm ay isa sa mga kumpanya na ngayon
ay nagbebenta na ng bulateng ginagamit
para sa vermicomposting na tinatawag
na African night crawler at ng produkto
mismo na nagagawa ng mga bulateng ito
sa pamamagitan ng vermicomposting.

Nangongolekta siya ng dumi ng baka at
kambing na ginagamit niya bilang substrate
na ipapakain sa mga bulateng African night
crawler. Gumagamit din siya ng mga damong
nabubulok, dahon ng ipil-ipil, acacia, o
kaya’y dahon ng kahit anong halaman na
sinasabing mayaman sa nitrogen.

Ayon kay Honrado, ang African night
crawler noon ay endemiko sa Pilipinas
ngunit simula noong pumatok ang pagbevermicompost dito, ang mga magsasakang
nandito ay nagsimula nang magparami
nito sa pamamagitan ng vermiculture.

Payo niya sa ibang magsasaka na
mas mabuting nahaharangan o kaya’y
nakalagay sa nakasabit na lalagyan ang mga
bulate upang hindi mawala ang mga ito.
Inirerekomenda din niya na maglaan lamang
ng sapat na dami ng substrate na kayang
Itutuloy sa pahina 9

NEWS
Mula sa pahina 8

Ayon kay Mang Bernard, umaabot ng
halos isang buwan bago makapaglabas ng
sapat na dami ng dumi o vermicast ang
mga bulate na maaari nang gamitin bilang
organikong pataba sa lupa matapos palamigin
sa loob ng maikling panahon.
Sa kasalukuyan, ang iba sa mga
magsasakang miyembro ng Farmers
Association sa Putho ay magsasagawa din
ng vermicomposting sa pagtatanim sa kanyakanyang bakuran o likod-bahay. Mayo
2014 nang opisyal na naiparehistro bilang
samahan para sa maliliit na magsasaka ang
Putho-Tuntungin Farmers Association sa
pamamagitan ng Municipal Agricultural and
Fishery Council (MAFC).
Sa taon ding iyon ay naturuan ang mga
magsasaka ng mga pamamaraan ng organic
farming pati na din ng vermicomposting, sa
tulong ng Gender and Development (GAD)
Office at ng Department of Agriculture.
Ayon kay Mang Bernard, patuloy silang
nakatatanggap ng mga buto na ipinamamahagi
ng GAD. Kaugnay nito ay nagbubukas ang
GAD ng organic market tuwing Biyernes sa
harapan ng munisipyo ng Los Baños upang
maibenta ang mga organic na produkto ng mga
magsasaka at kung saan ang mga perang kinita
ay ibinabalik sa kanila.
Benepisyo ng pagbe-vermicompost
Mula sa mga karanasan ni Mang Bernard
sa pagbe-vermicompost, masasabi niyang
madaming magandang naidulot ang prosesong
ito para sa mga magsasaka. Ayon sa kanya,
nakatutulong ang paggamit ng vermicast sa
pagpapasigla ng lupang taniman kung kaya’t
nakatitipid silang mga magsasaka mula sa
pagbili ng kemikal na pataba. Sa paggamit
ng vermicast ay naiiwasan ang pagkalason na
maaaring idulot ng mga kemikal na pataba at
nababawasan din ang mga pesteng lumalapit
sa mga pananim. Higit sa lahat ay makatitiyak
na ligtas para sa mga tao na kainin ang gulay
na pinatubo sa lupang ginamitan ng vermicast.
Para kay Mang Bernard, bukod sa
pagsasaka ay higit na malaki ang naitulong
ng pagsubok at pagpapatuloy niya ng
vermicomposting sa pagsisimula ng bagong
buhay matapos ang Bagyong Yolanda.
Mula sa kinita niya sa paggamit ng
vermicompost sa pagtatanim ay nakaipon
si Mang Bernard ng sapat na pera upang
makapagtayo ng simpleng bahay para sa
kanyang pamilya at upang makabili ng
pamasadang pedicab na kanya rin ngayong
ginagamit sa paglalako ng mga inani niyang
gulay.

9

Continued from page 7

Vermicomposting...
ubusin ng mga bulate, depende sa naunang
obserbasyon sa dami ng kinain ng mga ito.

LOS BAÑOS TIMES

Going Green...
Sinasabi ni Honrado na ang pagbevermicompost ay isang pamamaraan na
talagang makakatulong sa mga maliliit na
magsasaka tulad ni Mang Bernard dahil
kaya nilang magparami ng mga bulate
gamit ng vermiculture upang mayoong
magagamit pa para sa susunod na
pagsasagawa nila ng vermicomposting.

were able to meet their target ratio of
compliant residents over the total barangay
residents.

Ang kagandahan din ng gawaing ito
ay maaari nilang ibenta ang parehong
vermicast at ang bulateng African night
crawler. Maaari din naman nilang gamitin
ang vermicast bilang pataba sa mga
pananim na pinapatubo sa mga organic
farms dahil ito ay walang karagdagang
kemikal na ginagamit dahil lahat ng mga
ginamit sa paggawa nito ay mula sa mga
organikong kagamitan.

Also, the volume of trash being
collected from the barangay has been
reduced by more than half. Upon the first
months of the implementation of the Solid
Waste Management Act, the collection of
household waste from the entire barangay
can fill up two small dump trucks. Now,
it can hardly fill up the half of one truck.
This can be attributed to the absence of
styrofoam, cartons, papers, cans, and other
materials separated by the residents for
recycling.

Ang isa pang kagandahan ng
paggamit ng vermicast ay ito ay
nakakapagpasigla ng lupa at kayang
pasiglahin muli ang mga lupang
nataniman ng mga halamang ginamitan ng
mararaming kemikal.
Ang pagbe-vermicompost ay
isang magandang gawain dahil ito ay
pangmatagalan dahil pwedeng paramihin
ang mga bulate upang magamit pa
muli. Ito rin ay pwedeng mapagkunan
ng karagdagang hanapbuhay ng mga
magsasaka dahil pwede silang magbenta
ng bulate at ng vermicast.
Kita nyo? Ang kagandahan sa likod
ng vermicomposting!

Based from the BMIS, 360 out of
409 households or 8 out of 10 barangay
residents practiced waste segregation and
participated actively in the regular cleaning
of the community.

The barangay aims to push things
further by excelling not only in segregation
and cleaning but also in gardening.
According to Councilor Baes, the barangay
plans to plant lemon grass, sili, and other
herbs and vegetables.
In accordance with the Solid Waste
Management Act, hydrophonics, a
technology where plants are grown in
water, is also being considered by the
barangay.
From the simple segregation of
garbage, to the regular cleanups held in
the community, Brgy. Baybayin has turned
from an indifferent community, to one
that actively participates in community
affairs. This shows that education, strict
implementation, and community effort go a
long way.

Be a community correspondent.

Share stories from your barangay, school, and/or organization.

[email protected]
https://www.facebook.com/LbTimes
LB_Times

‘Farmers’ to ‘Farmer-Entrepreneurs’:

10

LOS BAÑOS TIMES

PCAARRD-LGU collaborate to teach farmers about marketing
by Johanna Marie Drece

“Napakamura na nga ng benta mo tapos
babaratin ka pa,” the frustrated farmer Mang
Nestor.
Just like any other small-scale farmer in
Los Baños, 65-year old Nestor Pamulaklakin
of Brgy. Maahas wants to earn the
appropriate amount of money that he thinks
he deserves for growing and tending the
organic vegetables, however, he is powerless
when it comes to the demands for cheaper
price of his customers.
For example, he wants to sell his organic
pechay for five pesos per bundle; each bundle
has three average-sized petchay. However,
he never seems to sell them that way because
customers push him to sell his vegetables for
an unreasonable price of two to three pesos
per bundle.
“Sa kagustuhang magkapera ng mahirap
na magsasaka, kahit mura ibinibigay,” he
said.
The problem, he pointed out, was the
lack of standard protocol for the prices of
organic produce in the community. He said
that this is not just his struggle, but also of
most small-scale organic farmers in Los
Baños. Adelaida Calizo, Mang Nestor’s 85year old co-farmer from Sitio Ibaba, affirms
his stand in a separate interview.
Nanay Adeling agreed that most of the
time, the price that the consumers demand
is far below the real worth of the organic
vegetables. She knows she could earn more
than what she is earning now if only there is
a more accessible market where their organic
vegetables can be sold at a strictly prescribed
uniform price.
To answer this problem, a mini-market
has been set up beside the front steps of
the municipal building. Dubbed as the Los
Baños Friday Organic Market (LBFOM),
this venue has been set up in November 2014
as a market place for the vegetable products
of the farmer participants of a project about
organic vegetables farming implemented
by the Philippine Council for Agriculture,
Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and
Development (PCAARRD) in partnership
with Gender and Development Office Los
Baños-Local Government Unit (GAD LBLGU).
The LBFOM is very strategic for those
who want to buy organic vegetables because
of its place in the municipal building. The
problem here, according to the farmers, is
their incapability to access the market to sell
their goods in the LBFOM because most of
them live far from the municipal building.
For Nanay Adeling whose farm is
situated in the far-flung community of
Sitio Ibaba, delivering the vegetables to the
LBFOM is very challenging.

“Sa edad kong ito, kaya ko pang
magsibak ng kahoy at mag-farm. Pero
magpasan ng kilu-kilong upo, ampalaya,
sitaw, talong, at iba pa kada Biyernes
papunta sa munisipyo? Nahihirapan na
ako,” she said.
She says that delivering organic
vegetables to the municipal building is
difficult because she does not have a
vehicle to directly deliver her vegetables
from her farm to the LBFOM. She has to
manually carry all of her goods from her
farm to the highway which has a distance
of more than one kilometer; and she cannot
afford to pay a very pricey tricycle fare
from the highway of Sitio Ibaba to the
municipal office.
LB-LGU and PCAARRD’s solution
To address this problem, the GAD LBLGU in partnership with PCAARRD, has
drafted a new program on March 23, 2014
anchored to its current project regarding
organic vegetables farming. The program
is comprised of newly introduced seminar
that is geared to focus on marketing.
This new program is in line with
the future expansion of their current
15-month project entitled “Enhancing
Gender Sensitive Agriculture and Aquatic
Science-and-Technology-Based Livelihood
Enterprises in Los Baños: PCAARRDLGU Collaboration”. This project was
first implemented in March 2014 with
initially 25 farmer participants from each
of Barangays Maahas, Timugan, Bagong
Silang, and Putho-Tuntungin.
As of March 5, a total of 113
vegetable farmers are identified as the
participants of the project. Thirty-two
of which are from Bagong Silang, 16
from Maahas, 25 from Timugan, and
40 from Tuntungin-Putho. With the set
expansion of the project, more people from
the different barangays will be granted
the opportunity to learn how to farm
organically and to build their own smallscale farming business.
The project implementation of the
said expansion is targeted to be done in
August 2015 after the project ends in June
in the same year. Karen Mercado, Officerin-Charge of GAD LB-LGU, said that the
project will have a two-month hiatus to
give the officers rest after the first wave of
successful implementation.
Free Organic Certification
According to Mercado, Ecoland
Executive Director Rafael Barroso has
voluntarily pledged to grant the organic
farmers with free organic certification
before 2015 ends.

Usually, it will take PhP 30,000-PhP40,000
for just one crop to be certified as “organic”
because of the cost of the tests each crop needs
to undergo to see if it passes the strict scientific
standards of the Organic Certification Board.
This free organic certification is important
because it is needed to strengthen the credibility
of the farmers in terms of their competency in
producing organic vegetables.
The farmers are currently producing more
than 10 kinds of vegetables, the most popular
ones being ampalaya, upo, sitaw, eggplant,
onion, tomato, among others. Reymuel
Salongkong, a licensed agriculturist from
PCAARRD, said that it would be very costly
for PCAARRD and GAD to accomplish the
certification themselves.
Through the generosity of Dr. Barroso, the
organic vegetables farming will be saving a
large amount of money. The funds can now be
channeled to other programs that will build up
the farming businesses of the farmers such as
that of Mang Nestor and Nanay Adeling, among
others.
The Marketing Program
“Marketing? Malaking maitutulong niyan sa
farmer!” Mang Nestor agreed.
Through the benefits of free organic
certification, the marketing program has acquired
a fixed place under the expansion of the ongoing
project.
The marketing program has been planned
to focus on the strategies that are suitable to the
knowledge, skills, and practice of the farmers.
The project implementers say that this is not
enough for the farmers to only consider the price
of vegetables in the public market in deciding the
price they will impose on their own goods. In the
marketing program the GAD staff is formulating,
farmers will be oriented with the actual worth of
their produce.
They will be taught to compute for the
selling price of their own vegetables relative
to 1) the money that they are spending for the
production of their home-made organic farm
inputs, 2) transportation fee from their farms
to the market where they sell their organic
vegetables, 3) competition with other sellers in
the public market, and finally 4) the congruency
of the quality of their produce to their desired
price.
According to Mang Nestor, the marketing
program will help farmers such as himself to
gain a better insight about the value of their
products and how they can use this to improve
their profit in their own small-scale businesses.
Another benefit, he says, is price control. He
said that even the consumers who were so used
to demanding for very cheap prices might even
change their behaviour once they are confronted
with the new set of marketing skills that they

LOS BAÑOS TIMES

Nanay Adelaida Calizo, an 85-year-old organic farmer,
recalls her experiences while selling her organic produce to
the people in their barangay and in the nearby communities.
(Photo taken by JMFDrece)

will learn from the marketing program.
‘Farmers’ to ‘Farmer-Entrepreneurs’
Before, Mang Nestor only knew about
using chemicals as the means to grow plants and
vegetables effectively. However, when he found
the opportunity to adapt an organic method of
farming, he said that he went ahead and was very
enthusiastic to learn.
Mang Nestor presently experiences a lot of
great benefits from organic farming. He said that
even if the profit is not much, he is still thankful
because of the numerous benefits that he is
enjoying out of working as an organic farmer.
“Unang-una dyan ay yung exercise ko kasi
senior citizen na ako,” he said.
As the previous president of the community
of senior citizens of Brgy. Maahas, Mang Nestor
said that inactivity is the main cause of speedy
health degradation among the senior citizens
in their community today, and he wants to help
them overcome it.
Secondly, he said that he is enjoying his life
very much because he has found something that
he is passionate in doing.
“Natutuwa akong nakikita ko yung halaman
kong unti-unti siyang lumalaki hanggang sa
magbunga siya. Naliligayahan akong makita
silang masigla at malusog sa pag-aalaga ko,”
he said cheerily as he gestured towards his
vegetables.
Mang Nestor also said because of his small
organic farm, his family’s everyday expenditure
is reduced. More than profiting from his organic
products, he said that the needs of his family is
his number one priority in terms of vegetable
supply.
“Kahit bumagyo, meron at meron talaga
kaming nakakain dahil sa farm ni asawa. Hindi
kami nawawalan. Malaki ang pasalamat ko sa
Diyos dahil kahit malaki ang pamilya namin,

11

Nestor Pamulaklakin, a 65-year-old organic farmer of Brgy. Maahas, Los Baños, discusses
his experiences in his small-scale organic farming business.
(Photo taken by JMFDrece)

lahat kami ay nakakakain,” Primitiva
Pamulaklakin, Mang Nestor’s wife, said.
Most of all, Mang Nestor pointed
out that his business is something that he
treasures because of the health benefits
that he is able to enjoy from his organic
produce. He pointed out that it brings him
priceless peace when he knows that what
he shares to his family is chemical-free and
healthy.
“Masarap talaga sa pakiramdam
kapag nailalayo mo ang mga mahal mo sa
buhay sa kapahamakan. Panatag ako na
ang kinakain ng mga mahal ko sa buhay
ay masustansya at ligtas sa masasamang
kemikal,” he said while looking towards
his grandchildren who were playing
energetically in the farm.
Mang Nestor is just one of the
country’s farmers whose lives have been
changed through the shared information
about how to farm organically and how
it could be a source of livelihood. The
inspiring change happening in their lives
serves as an encouragement for their
partner institutions to improve their
services and expand the project.
LGU-PCAARRD’s Pride
According to Mercado, the scientists
of PCAARD and the staff of GAD are
thrilled to see the remarkable change that
occurs in the lives of their current farmer
participants ever since the project started.
Salongkong said that a large portion
of their participants today are senior
citizens who first doubted if they can still
be effective in participating in the program.
However, as the project progressed, they
found out that running an organic farming
business does not require efforts that are as
tedious as the activities in the conventional

method of farming. For example, they do
not need to spray harmful pesticides to their
vegetables which cause adverse effect on their
deteriorating health as seniors. This encouraged
them to continue on the path of organic farming.
This, according to Mercado, is their team’s
motivation in improving the project and reaching
out to more people in Los Baños – the positive
development that the program brings to the
lives of the farmers in Los Baños who were
previously neglected, unappreciated, and ignored
by majority of the society.
“Sino ba sila para sa lipunan?” she asked,
implying that the people know very little about
these farmers who give us our daily supply of
vegetables.
At first, the farmers were very difficult to
persuade to participate in the project because of
their previous experiences regarding previous
government livelihood projects.
“Sirang-sira na ang tingin nila sa gorbyerno.
Kinailangan talaga naming magbahay-bahay
para kausapin sila ng personal at para makuha
yung loob nila,” she said.
Today, the project implementers are careful
not to do the same mistakes as before. GAD,
together with PCAARRD, is going to push
through the project expansion to involve more
farmers in organic farming and to sustain the
current growing demand for organic vegetables.
They are working hard to device new strategies
to improve their project – one way is by adding
seminars and trainings about marketing to the set
of new topics to be taught to the farmers.
“As long as nai-transfer namin yung
technology at nagagamit nila iyon para sa
ikabubuti ng sarili nilang buhay, masaya na
kami. Yun naman talaga yung trabaho namin
dito,” she said.
Continued on page 5

Local organic farming initiatives abound
in Los Baños. One of these is the Pagkaing
Alay sa Mag-anak na Nagsisikap (PAMANA),
an organic vegetable garden, which focuses on
organic seedling production and participatory
crop breeding.

In addition, the cost of production
is lower in organic farming compared to
traditional farming. This is mainly because
organic farming relies less on synthetic
fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and other
additives which can be costly.

According to Alvin Sabanal and Gloria
Rodulfo from PAMANA, there are four
advantages in engaging in organic farming.
First, Rudolfo and Sabanal explained that
organic farming gives additional workforce to
the members of the community as it is easier
to establish. Resources needed come from
households and nearby communities.

“Other than mas mataas ‘yung
nutrients, lower production costs ‘pag
organic farming. Kasi, usually kapag
conventional farming, aabot ng PhP
500,000 to PhP 800,000 ‘yung [per]
annual production cost di tulad pag
organic farming, mga PhP 120,000 lang
aabutin,” Rodulfo explained.

Rodulfo also noted that organic farming
provides mothers from Brgy. Malinta with a
fun and income-generating activity.

With regard to the social advantages
of organic farming in the community,
Sabanal said, “Basically, nakaka-enrich
siya ng community. Kasi merong farmerto-farmer interaction, [tapos] minsan
gumagawa sila ng coop. Nakakadagdag
din siya sa knowledge ng mga farmers.”

Another advantage is that organic crops
are environmentally safe. Rodulfo said that
organic crops are ecologically and medically
safe to both the farmers and consumers unlike
conventional farming practices.
“Yang paggamit kasi ng chemicals,
may effect yan sa health ng workers. Kapag
confined kayo sa isang area, siyempre affected
kayong lahat. Tapos siyempre, ‘yung chemicals
na taglay niya, nananatili dun sa mga crops for
at most 45 days, so eventually masama epekto
nito sa mga kumakain,” Rodulfo said.

Other than the benefits mentioned
above, there are also other benefits in
terms of the ecological and biological
aspects of organic farming.
According to the Philippine Council
for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural
Resources Research and Development

Unleashing the Potential
of Organic Farming
in Los Baños
by Jovy de los Reyes and Christian Rieza

(PCAARRD)’s Farm Primer, these include the
following: (1) soil conservation and maintenance
of soil fertility; (2) less pollution of water
(groundwater, rivers, lakes); (3) less pesticide
residues on food; (4) less utilization of nonrenewable external inputs and energy; and (5)
better product quality (in terms of taste and
storage properties).
Shifting from a conventional farm to
an organic farm usually takes at most three
year according to Rodulfo, PAMANA’s farm
manager. It could take less timeif fast-growing
crops are planted. This is because the crops
will absorb the chemicals from the former
fertilizers that have been used in the farm. It
takes time but it is assured that the shift is worth
it, and PAMANA is willing to provide technical
assistance to interested groups or individual
farmers.
PAMANA was established in 2008 as a
PAGCOR-funded, one-year project focusing

Continued on page 5

Sponsor Documents

Or use your account on DocShare.tips

Hide

Forgot your password?

Or register your new account on DocShare.tips

Hide

Lost your password? Please enter your email address. You will receive a link to create a new password.

Back to log-in

Close