Loren Helps Farmers, Fisherfolk Amidst El Nino

MANILA, PHILIPPINES--SENATOR LOREN LEGARDA, CHAIRPERSON OF SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND FOOD, INSTRUCTS THE CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES ON AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES MODERNIZATION (COCAFM) TO CHECK THE PLIGHT OF FARMERS AND FISHERFOLK AMIDST EL NINO AND RISING PRICES OF COMMODITIES.

“These days people are very busy campaigning and I want to be sure whether the needs of the farmers and fisherfolk are attended to because we cannot allow the producers of our food to go hungry. What I want my COCAFM team to emphasize is that the local extension workers, with the help of state universities in the locality, assist them access fund, build their irrigation, market their products and create alternative sources of income.”, Loren said.

The COCAFM is a joint-congressional body mandated to monitor the implementation of the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act (AFMA) of 1997. This twelve-year old law still needs to be implemented fully because even if many systems are already in place many coordination activities have to be pushed and creativity on the part of local chief executives needs to be harnessed.

For instance, local extension service delivery has to be improved particularly in skilling the local extension workers. “We have to ensure that the office of the municipal agriculture office (MAO) in all the municipalities have all the skills needed by our farmers and fisherfolk. One of these local extension workers in the MAO has to be an agricultural engineer to teach the farmers design and develop their own communal irrigation system (CIS), one should be an agribusiness expert to teach the farmers and fisherfolk prepare a business plan and access credit and market their products strategically.

These skills the MAOs need to have in addition to their expertise in technology dissemination. When the farmers have capital and have identified a profitable agribusiness venture, they would be able to use new technologies that will improve their yield.”, Loren said.

The management system being promoted by government for the farmers to achieve economies of scale, improve negotiating position, create their own credit system and access funds from government and other capital sources is cooperativism. The cooperatives can create their own credit system for the farmer-members to use and a collective mechanism to pool or integrate their landholdings to produce volume of output necessary to meet bulk requirement of big buyers.

However, impoverished farmers and fisherfolk have to be helped organize their cooperatives and meet the requirements of the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) which in many cases are burdensome for them. “Hence I want to ask the farmers and fisherfolk to discuss with the COCAFM, the Department of Agriculture (DA), the provincial agriculturists and the state universities and colleges in the locality if there are organizational mechanisms that would be convenient for them so that we could study them or consider them for either legislative or executive action."

"One thing that I am toying about in regard to institutional concerns in agriculture is whether we could allow the farmers and fisherfolk to register their organizations in the municipal office only because they do not have to travel to the provincial or regional center to formalize recognition of their existence. Moreover, the office of the mayor would be in a better position to understand the problems of the farmers and fisherfolk because of its proximity and familiarity to them.”, Loren said.

Via: http://lorenlegarda.com.ph/news_118_Loren_Helps_Farmers.php

Loren on her 50th birthday: Service above all

SENATOR LOREN B. LEGARDA TURNED 50 LAST THURSDAY, BUT INSTEAD OF A GRAND BIRTHDAY BASH, SHE CHOSE INSTEAD TO CELEBRATE THE OCCASION WITH A FLURRY OF ACTIVITIES IN SAN PABLO CITY ON SATURDAY.

Among the activities held was a jobs fair, with local and even foreign employers on hand to entertain jobseekers and receive job applications.

“We are delivering services to the people and I’m happy because that’s what the people want. It’s not enough that you speak onstage and feed the people. There were many young people in attendance, even registered nurses and accounting graduates looking for jobs. They are graduates of good schools. They really need jobs. We’re doing job matching,” Loren said.

Apart from the jobs fair, Loren conducted an Eye Camp with free eye check-ups and free eyeglasses for senior citizens. Also on hand were doctors and dentists to render medical and dental services.

A staunch environmentalist, Loren also showed documentaries on climate change to San Pablo City residents.
“All this is part of Lingkod Loren. We will also do this in Iloilo next week,” Loren disclosed.
Interviewed on radio about the Expanded Senior Citizens Act which she authored, Loren said: “I hope the President signs it. We put in a lot of hard work here. I filed that in the Senate two years ago. We must be fair because the original discount for senior citizens is 20 percent. When we had E-VAT, this was reduced to 8 percent. We corrected this so senior citizens can enjoy the full 20% discount.”

As to Malacañang’s reported hesitance to sign the bill because it could reduce revenues, Loren replied: “If we have better tax collection they can easily offset the losses. My point here is, we’re just being fair to the senior citizens’ sector. It’s about time we give senior citizens who are in their twilight years all the benefits and privileges they deserve.”

On the anticipated prolonged dry spell caused by the El Niño weather phenomenon, Legarda urged government to immediately rehabilitate existing irrigation facilities and put up small water impounding dams.
“We must conserve and recycle water to avert a water crisis. Let us not wait for March or April. We must also plant more trees in various areas,” Loren said.

“We must have alternative livelihood for farmers who stand to be adversely affected by the drought. If our farmers have lower production, they will earn less income,” Loren added.

“The election campaign is a good opportunity to discuss environmental issues. The candidates will be asked: What have you done for the environment? How many trees have you planted? What laws have you passed for the environment? What have you done for the farmers? What livelihood programs have you put up? These are the questions our people will ask during the campaign, and we should answer them,” Loren said.

Source: http://lorenlegarda.com.ph/news_097_Loren_on_her_50th_birthday.php

Senate inquiry sought on government tack to combat El Niño

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - TO AVERT FOOD PRODUCTION CRISIS RESULTING FROM THE EL NIÑO WEATHER PHENOMENON, SEN. LOREN LEGARDA HAS FILED A SENATE RESOLUTION FOR AN URGENT INQUIRY INTO THE POLICIES OF THE GOVERNMENT TO COUNTER EL NIÑO AND ENSURE FOOD SECURITY.

Legarda, chairperson of the Senate committee on food and agriculture, filed the resolution as the weather bureau has announced that the El Niño phenomenon or prolonged drought has already hit the Philippines and may last for six months until May.

The Department of Agriculture has also warned that the prolonged drought would drastically cut down the production of local crops, like rice, corn, sugar cane, vegetables and other agricultural products.

Officials say three provinces in the central region have started to feel the effects of El Nino by having below normal rainfall. The provinces of Capiz, Aklan and Guimaras in central Philippines have had below normal rainfall since August and have already started experiencing drought.

1540, Legarda asked the In her Resolution Senate to direct the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food and the Committee on Climate Change to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, into the government’s policies and programs to address the effects of El Niño.

The purpose of the inquiry is to recommend policies and programs to institute “robust adaptation strategies to enhance food security and alleviate rural poverty,” Legarda said.

She said climate change, which includes the El Niño phenomenon, presents severe problems for a country that is highly reliant on agriculture for livelihood and sustenance.

Disastrous
“Changes in temperature, rainfall and sea level would be disastrous to the agricultural sector. Crop yield potential is estimated to decline by 19 percent in Asia toward the end of the century and rice yield in the Philippines would decline by 75 percent,” Legarda said in the resolution.

Legarda noted that the Philippines is periodically affected by the El Niño phenomenon that induces prolong wet and dry seasons, leading to a dramatic drop in agricultural production. From 1990 to 2003, the damage due to El Niño-related drought was estimated to be more than $370 million. This included a decrease in fisheries yield.

She said that the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) has warned of a long drought in 2010 due to El Niño. Hence, policies on climate adaptation “are crucial and urgent.”

Via: http://lorenlegarda.com.ph/news_089_Senate_inquiry_sought_on_government_tack_to_combat_El_Nino.php

Legarda seeks review of government's El Niño policy

Manila, Philippines - Sen. Loren Legarda has filed a Senate resolution calling for an urgent inquiry into the policies of the government to counter El Niño and ensure food security.

Legarda, chairperson of the Senate committee on food and agriculture, filed the resolution as the weather bureau has announced that the El Niño phenomenon or prolonged drought has already hit the Philippines and may last for six months until May.

The Department of Agriculture has also warned that the prolonged drought would drastically cut down the production of local crops, like rice, corn, sugar cane, vegetables and other agricultural products.

Officials say three provinces in the central region have started to feel the effects of the El Nino phenomenon by having below normal rainfall. The provinces of Capiz, Aklan and Guimaras in the central Philippines have had below normal rainfall since August and have already started experiencing drought.

In her resolution, Legarda asked the Senate to direct the Senate committee on agriculture and food and the committee on climate change to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, into the government’s policies and programs to address the effects of El Niño.

Via: http://lorenlegarda.com.ph/news_081_Legarda_seeks_review_of_governments_El_Nino_policy.php

Loren seeks inquiry into RP policies on El Niño phenomenon

To avert a food production crisis resulting from the El Niño weather phenomenon, Sen. Loren Legarda Sunday filed a Senate resolution for an urgent inquiry into the policies of the government to counter El Niño and ensure food security.

Legarda, chair of the Senate committee on food and agriculture, filed the resolution as the weather bureau has announced that the El Niño phenomenon or prolonged drought has already hit the Philippines and may last for six months until May.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has also warned that the prolonged drought would drastically cut down the production of local crops, like rice, corn, sugar cane, vegetables and other agricultural products.

The provinces of Capiz, Aklan and Guimaras in the central Philippines have had below normal rainfall since August and have already started experiencing drought.

In her resolution (P.S. Res. No. 1540), Legarda asked the Senate to direct the Senate committee on agriculture and food and the committee on climate change to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, into the government’s policies and programs to address the effects of El Niño.

The purpose of the inquiry is to recommend policies and programs to institute “robust adaptation strategies to enhance food security and alleviate rural poverty,” Legarda said.

Via: http://lorenlegarda.com.ph/news_080_Loren_seeks_inquiry_into_RP_policies_on_El_Nino_phenomenon.php

Loren files resolution on El Niño

TO AVERT A FOOD PRODUCTION CRISIS RESULTING FROM THE EL NIÑO WEATHER PHENOMENON, SEN. LOREN LEGARDA TODAY FILED A SENATE RESOLUTION FOR AN URGENT INQUIRY INTO THE POLICIES OF THE GOVERNMENT TO COUNTER EL NIÑO AND ENSURE FOOD SECURITY.

Loren, chair of the Senate committee on food and agriculture, filed the resolution as the weather bureau has announced that the El Niño phenomenon or prolonged drought has already hit the Philippines and may last for six months until May.

The Department of Agriculture has also warned that the prolonged drought would drastically cut down the production of local crops, like rice, corn, sugar cane, vegetables and other agricultural products.

Officials say three provinces in the central region have started to feel the effects of the El Nino phenomenon by having below normal rainfall. The provinces of Capiz, Aklan and Guimaras in the central Philippines have had below normal rainfall since August and have already started experiencing drought.

In her resolution (P.S. Res. No. 1540), Loren asked the Senate to direct the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food and the Committee on Climate Change to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, into the government’s policies and programs to address the effects of El Niño.

The purpose of the inquiry is to recommend policies and programs to institute “robust adaptation strategies to enhance food security and alleviate rural poverty,” Loren said.

She stressed* *that* *climate change, which includes the El Niño phenomenon, presents severe problems for a country that is highly reliant on agriculture for livelihood and sustenance;

“Changes in temperature, rainfall and sea level would be disastrous to the agricultural sector. Crop yield potential is estimated to decline by 19% in Asia toward the end of the century and rice yield in the Philippines would decline by 75%,” Loren stated in the resolution.

Loren said the Philippines is periodically affected by the El Niño phenomenon that induces prolonged wet and dry seasons, leading to a dramatic drop in agricultural production. From 1990 to 2003, the damage due to El Niño-related drought was estimated to be more than $370 million.This included a decrease in fisheries yield;

Loren noted that the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pag-asa) has warned of a long drought in 2010 due to the El Niño phenomenon. Hence, policies on climate adaptation “are crucial and urgent”.

“The agricultural adaptation program must ensure more investments in agricultural research and infrastructure, improved water governance and land use policies, better forecasting tools and early warning systems and a strengthened extension system that will assist farmers to achieve economic diversification and access to credit to make significant improvements in our food security goals,” Loren explained.

Therefore “it is incumbent upon Congress to institute policy solutions to enable the agriculture sector to adapt rapidly to the impact of climate change and to safeguard poverty reduction gains in the rural areas,” she declared.

Source: http://lorenlegarda.com.ph/news_066_Loren_files_resolution_on_el_nino.php