DA-7 assists coco-coffee farmers in Danao, Compostela
At least two farmer associations in Danao City and Compostela, Cebu engaged in the coconut-cacao production were monitored by the Department of Agriculture in the implementation of the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP) under the Coconut Based Coffee and/or Cacao Enterprise Development Project.
According to DA-7, the associations monitored were the Sta. Rosa Farmers Association (Sta. Rosa FA) of Danao City for their 11.8 hectares cacao plantation and the Mulao Women Farmers Association (Mulao Women FA) of Compostela for their 8.1 hectares cacao area.
John Dennis Ranario, the regional focal person on DA-High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP), said through the CFIDP, these existing cacao trees were subjected to rehabilitation/rejuvenation.
To receive the benefits from CFIDP, DA-7 said that farmer beneficiaries are encouraged to willingly adopt the coconut-coffee or coconut-cacao cropping system to optimize the target yield of both crops.
Interventions provided include fertilizers (organic and in-organic), planting materials, and inputs to the farms of the beneficiaries.
Cacao farmer beneficiary Edwin Gonzales, president of Sta. Rosa FA, was grateful to DA for providing them with interventions that help restore their cacao trees.
Wilma Cañete, who is the president of the Mulao Women FA, expressed her happiness when she saw the changes in their cacao trees after receiving intervention from DA and PCA.
On the side of DA-PhilMech, which is part of the monitoring team, is scouting for prospective farmer associations to be recipients of their program like the Shared Service Facility.
Member beneficiaries were encouraged to be duly registered with the National Coconut Farmers Registry System (NCFRS) for PCA and the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) for DA in order to receive interventions and programs in the future.
Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/GMR
The Police Regional Office 7 (PRO-7) has not monitored any specific threats for today's celebration of Valentine's Day and the observance of
Ash Wednesday.
Even so, there will be increased police presence observed in churches, places, and other points of convergence in areas where the crowd is expected to gather, said Police Lieutenant Colonel Gerard Ace Pelare, spokesperson of the PRO-7.
Pelare stated that the PRO-7 would execute proactive measures for the safety and security of the two occasions today and has already prepared appropriate security plans in identified places with heightened police presence.
The police will also be conducting checkpoints in cities and municipalities to ensure safety and security, and no criminalities during the celebrations, Pelare said.
In the past years, Pelare recalled that the police have not monitored any specific crimes that arose at the celebrations.
The spokesperson also reminded the public to exercise caution and diligence in dealing with people on social media so as not to fall victim to love scams.
He also encouraged love scam victims to report the incident to the police so it can be investigated rather than posting it on social media.
Further, Pelare reiterated that minors are not allowed to enter lodging houses and motels and reminded owners and personnel to check and verify if guests are not minors.
He also added that the authorities will enforce the law on police officers who are caught committing concubinage and adultery.
"Our law does not distinguish kung kinsa’y violators. May you be a police officer, may you be a politician, or a government leader, once you commit a crime, the tendency of police is to really enforce the law,” he stated.
This is also upon the instruction of the regional director of the PRO-7, Police Brigadier General Anthony Aberin, to enforce the law regardless of whoever committed the crime and to always go back to the basics in the implementation of the law.
“Mao man na ang iyang mantra. And when you say go back to basics, that is adherence to what is stated in the law. So kung mo-involve ka ana nga mga panghitabo, the more that the police will be very invigorated nga modakop because you are supposed to set an example,” the police spokesperson added.