PhilRice advancing research on organic farming

As the country sees the prospect of achieving 103-percent rice self-sufficiency for the first semester of this year, the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), the country’s lead in rice science and development, is strengthening its researches on organic rice farming to help sustain the country’s rice production in the coming years.

The rice self-sufficiency projection was stated in a memorandum to Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala by Assistant Secretary Dante S. Delima and recently presented to Manila-based reporters.

With its new advocacy, Clean, green, practical, and smart farming for competitiveness, sustainability, and resiliency (Clean GPS for CSR), PhilRice continues to develop and evaluate new and farmers’ practices that will optimize organic rice farming.

“Organic farming is not only about applying manure and rice-straw in the field. There’s science in it. It is our aim to make farmers and extension workers understand the science of organic farming to avoid misinterpretations,” Ed Libetario, branch manager of PhilRice in Negros Occidental, said. PhilRice converted this station to be its center for organic rice farming last year.

To help farmers get the most from organic farming, PhilRice assesses the efficiency of organic matters on rice varieties, identifies the effectiveness of commercially-available compost inoculants and effects of organic rice cultures on grain yield and soil, and determines the occurrence and distribution of pest in organic rice ecosystems.

Studies on managing insect pests through microbial control agents and traditional plants are also PhilRice priorities in its research on organic rice farming.

Furthermore, PhilRice, which was recently cited for meeting at least 90 percent of its targets in 2012, conducts a long-term study on the use of organic fertilizers. Started in 2003, the study found that in last year’s dry season, plots treated with chicken manure produced the highest yield at about 7 t/ha.

However, the yield is not significantly different from rice plots applied with fresh rice straw, rice straw with effective microorganism base inoculants, and wild sunflower. The lowest yield, about 5 t/ha, was harvested from plots applied with commercial organic fertilizers.

With the high yield potential of rice varieties, which demands higher nutrient inputs, PhilRice researchers are identifying whether pure organic-based nutrient application will be enough to gain the highest yield that can be harvested from rice varieties.

Libetario said that understanding the relationship among the varieties, soils, and farm conditions are crucial for better organic rice production.

“When farmers do organic rice farming, they must not only look in the nutrients to be applied, but the entire farm ecosystem. It’s not enough that farmers know the quantity of organic fertilizers to be applied, but also how to manage these contents to lessen the toxicity they emit to the environment.  Remember that manure contains methane, (which is more harmful to the environment than carbon dioxide),” he explained.

Libetario added that through researches, “clean, green, practical, and smart” organic rice farm practices will soon be developed and promoted to the farmers by PhilRice.

While the research on organic rice farming is ongoing, PhilRice advocates the balanced use of organic and inorganic nutrients, not only to cut costs but to make rice farming more sustainable.

End impunity, lawyers urged PNoy

The Dutch foundation Lawyers for Lawyers warns in an open letter to President Aquino of the Philippines for the continued labeling of lawyers as enemies of the state by the military. 

This month, Army chief Lt. Gen. Noel Coballes reportedly branded the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL)  as an ‘enemy’ in reaction to  NUPL’s criticism on the promotion of an army general who is facing credible charges of human rights violations. Gen. Coballes was quoted as saying: "You don’t expect any positive statement from the enemy”. 

The practice of labeling – combined with the culture of impunity and the military involvement in politics – has in the past been  identified by national and international fact finding commissions as one of the main root causes for the spate of extrajudicial killings in the Philippines since 2001. 

At least 23 lawyers were killed from 2001 to 2009. Many of them were labeled  as  ‘enemies of the state’ prior to being attacked,  apparently because they were identified with their clients or their clients’ causes as a result of performing their professional duties. 

So far, only one person has been convicted for these killings and this occurred in 2006. Lawyers for Lawyers also notes that Filipino lawyers increasingly fear for being silenced by fabricated charges. There is an imminent threat that Edre Olalia, a prominent human rights lawyer and a founding member of NUPL, faces clearly false charges as a result of exercising his legal profession.  

Atty. Olalia, together with other lawyers from the NUPL, deals with high profile cases in the field of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, demolitions of houses of the urban poor, privatization of government hospitals as well as cases related to various mass and people’s organizations.  

Lawyers for Lawyers calls on the Philippine government to immediately and seriously protect and support all lawyers in the Philippines and take all measures necessary to stop the culture of impunity surrounding the acts of harassment and killings of members of the legal profession.

Third Filipino journalist slain in space of two days

Reporters Without Borders is dismayed to learn that photo-journalist Mario Sy was fatally shot yesterday in his home in General Santos City, in the far-south province of South Cotabato, by a gunman who immediately fled.

Sy was the third journalist to be gunned down in the Philippines in the space of two days.

“As in the double-murder of Bonifacio Loreto and Richard Kho just two days before, the method used in the Sy murder shows that he was clearly targeted,”  Reporters Without Borders said.

“We urge investigators not to neglect the possibility that these journalists were killed in connection with his work, and we urge the authorities to put all the necessary resources at their disposal, so that they can identify those responsible for these cold-blooded murders and bring them so justice

“If suspicions are confirmed, Sy’s death brings to six the number of journalists killed in connection with their work so far this year in the Philippines. This puts it among the world’s deadliest countries for media personnel, alongside Syria and Pakistan. This is unacceptable. Impunity breeds more violence, which will only be stopped by exemplary punishments.”

Sy was shot twice by an unidentified individual who had entered his home. The Centre for Media Freedom and Responsibility today quoted relatives as saying Sy had drawn attention to drug trafficking in his photo-reporting. The media he worked for including Sapol News Bulletin, a local newspaper.

Loreto and Kho, who worked for the Aksyon Ngayon newspaper, were shot in Quezon City, on the northern island of Luzon, on 30 July by two gunmen who immediately fled.

Philippines is ranked 140th out of 179 countries in the 2013 Reporters Without Borders press freedom index.

Not us, Bulacan clergy says of priests getting gov’t pay

By Dino Balabo

MALOLOS CITY—The Diocese of Malolos disclaimed news reports that Bishop Jose Oliveros and priests of the diocese are receiving honoraria from the provincial government.

As this developed, actor turned politician Vice Gov. Daniel Fernando admitted that he had 20 of the reported 72 consultants, leaving 52 to Gov. Wilhelmino Alvarado who remained mum as of press time.

Other provincial official defended the hiring of consultants at the Capitol saying that local government units are allowed to do so.

In a one page statement issued on Wednesday, the Diocese of Malolos said,” the Roman Catholic Church of Malolos, clarifies that the bishops and priests referred to in the aforementioned report are not the Roman Catholic Bishop of Malolos and not the Clergy of the Diocese of Malolos. The phrase “Bulacan bishops and priests” should not be understood as the Clergy of the Catholic Church in Bulacan.”

The said statement was signed by Father Dario Cabral, the chair of the Commission on Social Communications of the diocese.

Cabral said that they conducted their own investigation and it was found that bishops and priests who receive monthly honoraria from the Provincial Capitol came from different sects within the province of Bulacan.

In its statement, the diocese even identified a bishop from another sect, one Ephraim Perez, who “presents himself as the bishop of the Christian Catholic Church,” a small sect within Bulacan and became a consultant of the provincial jail.

Perez, the statement said “used to receive P20,000 to P25,000 a month.”

According to Cabral, if the clergy of the Diocese of Malolos engaged themselves in any way with the provincial government, it is in the “work of ministry.” 

“We do hereby disclaim the news that the Bishop of Malolos, Most. Rev. Jose F. Oliveros, D.D. and the clergy of Malolos receive honoraria from the provincial government of Bulacan,” the statement said.

For his part, Vice-Governor Fernando admitted that he had 20 out of the reported 72 consultants of the provincial government.

However, he clarified that those consultants which includes lawyers, and doctors are not his personal consultants, but of the entire sangguniang panlalawigan.

One of those identified by Fernando is former Vice-Gov. Aurelio Plamenco who is receiving P35,000 a month.

With regards to pastors and priests as consultants, Fernando said he did not have any, but also admitted that some pastors sought assistance from him.

He also clarified “love gifts” he handed to pastors are part of his earning as an actor noting that he recently became more active in filming independent films and teleseryes.

With regards to the length of services of consultants, Senior Board Member Michael Fermin clarified that they can be terminated anytime.

“They are contractual, and their services are only as long as they are needed,” Fermin said.

He also explained that local government units are allowed to hire consultants based on their experience and expertise.

Bu news stories citing a Commission on Audit (COA) report said that some consultants hired by the provincial government are high school graduates and do not possess educational qualifications and work experience required by their work assignments.

Bulacan officials vows speedy implementation of projects

HAGONOY, Bulacan—Newly elected officials in the province vowed speedy implementation of project as they assumed office on Monday, July 1.

As this developed, hundreds of employees in different local government units are expected to lose their jobs in the coming days.

Mayor Raulito Manlapaz of this town vowed yesterday that he will construct a new public market within the year.

The new mayor’s declaration came after he assumed office yesterday, and an about three years since the public market was razed to ground in August 2010.

He also vowed to reopened the old municipal sport complex here that is now being used as a temporary market.

As the new mayor of this coastal town that produced  senator of the republic, two provincial governors and three congressional representatives, Manlapaz also vowed to rehabilitate the 100 hectare municipal fishpond whose dikes were washed away after its years of neglect.

He said that the said fishpond used to serve as a money maker for this town, but it was abandoned by its operator when the dikes started to deteriorate.

In Malolos City, reelected Mayor Christian Natividad vowed to fast tract the construction of the new city hall along with the rehabilitation of the Malolos City Public Market which was razed to ground in August last year.

In Bustos town, reelected Mayor Arnel Mendoza said they will update their old comprehensive land use plan which was first ratified over 10 years ago.

“We will also update our municipal development code to adapt to the  current conditions,” he said noting that construction of the Balagtas-Plaridel-Bustos by-pass road encouraged more investors in their town and hastened its development in the last two years.

In Guiguinto town, newly elected Mayor Ambrosio Cruz vowed to improve the garden and landscaping industry in his town through the development of proposed 50 hectare garden city and technopark on the eastern part of the town near the Balagtas-Plaridel-Bustos bypass road.

However,  Cruz said that he has to let go some employees odf the municipal government noting that before he assumed office yesterday, they found out that Guiguinto has at least P50-Million in budget deficit.

Mass lay-offs is also expected in other local government units in the province but newly elected mayors are trying to do it silently.

Most of the affected employees are that are under the job order category along with some casual employees.

In the provincial capitol, sources said that reelected Governor Wilhelmino Alvarado is also reviewing performances of employees.

The source said that such review could also lead to mass lay-offs. 

On Sunday, Alvarado vowed further development of Bulacan through the the Program on Rapid Industrialization and Development (PRIDE).

Alvarado also announced that construction of the one kilometer bridge of the Balagtas-Plaridel-Bustos bypass road will start within the year.

He said, “we will soon have the ground breaking for the bridge that will hasten the completion of the Balagtas Plaridel Bypass,” he said.

The said bypass road branched out of the northbound lane of the North Luzon Expressway and stretches to about 26 kilometers towards San Rafael town in the east.

The first phase of the project was completed and inaugurated early this year, which the second phase has been bidded out. (Dino Balabo)

Bustos Dam overflows, disaster body allays flood fear

BUSTOS, Bulacan—Water elevation at major dams in Bulacan remained normal despite rains spawned by typhoon Gorio.

However, Bustos Dam here, an after-bay regulator dam of the bigger Angat Dam in Norzagaray town overflowed on Sunday.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) allayed fears of possible flooding in the wake of the overflow.

“Water elevation on the downstream of the Angat River remains low and it can accommodate water overflowing from the Bustos Dam,” said Liz Mungcal, head of the PDRRMO.

She added that water overflowing from the dam is minimal compared to water that rushed out of it when rubber gate of the dam collapsed.

Mungcal also said that for every opened rubber gate of the dam, at least 500 cubic meters of water is released downstream the Angat River that drains to Manila Bay.

Records showed that water elevation at Bustos Dam on Sunday climbed to 17.41 meters, breaching its spilling level of 15.35 meters.

In the bigger Angat Dam, water elevation only climbed to 185.04 meters above sea level (masl) on Sunday. It is way below its spilling level of 214 masl.

Records also showed that water elevation at the nearby Ipo Dam, which is also located in Norzagaray town is 100.7 masl or nearing its spilling level of 101 masl.

According to Mungcal, the overflow in Bustos Dam is normal saying that they are monitoring its level 24 hours a day.

As this developed, the PDRRMO reported that some areas in the province were flooded yesterday morning due to light to moderate rainfall brought by typhoon Gorio.

The report said that Barangays Bayugo, Longos and Zamora in Meycauayan City were inundated with one-foot deep flood waters.

In other coastal towns of the province like In Hagonoy, Obando and Bulakan, some villages were briefly flooded due to sea water rise aggravated by night long rain.

NUJP seeks better working conditions for journalists

 MALOLOS CITY—The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) urged for better working conditions of journalists and media workers in the country.

This came as Rowena Paraan, presented a paper entitled “In defense of journalism and media workers’ rights” at the recently concluded Philippine Press Institute National Press Forum (PPI-NPF) held at the New World Hotel in Makati City.

The said paper is directed not only to journalists, but to publishers and editors.

According to Paraan, journalists and media workers especially those in the provinces are underpaid and overworked.

“Many of those working in community media – both in newspapers and radio stations – have no idea that there is such a thing called minimum wage, or that the minimum wage law is supposed to apply to them as well, not just to the factory and office workers that are subjects of their news reports,” she said.

The same journalists have also the “willingness to multi-task,” which is also shared by reporters based in Metro Manila.

Paraan said, “in Manila, many reporters not only have to write the news – real time, mind you, for the online version and a longer piece for the primetime broadcast or tomorrow’s print version.

They also have to take photos and videos, and, yes, tweet. The latter is ‘encouraged’, meaning it is not required but if you fail to do it, it shows up in your evaluation form. “

Going to the provinces, Paraan vividly described the life of a journalist.

She said, “in the provinces, the reporter is not just a reporter. He is also a marketing person, sometimes, even the circulation staff. Sa praktika, anong itsura nito? Pagkatapos mag-interview ng reporter tungkol sa kung anong palagay ni mayor o ni negosyante tungkol sa anumang bagay para sa isusulat na balita, magtatanong naman siya kung pwede maglagay si mayor o si negosyante ng ad sa kanyang dyaryo o radyo.

Even a freshman journalism student would know what is wrong with this picture (I hope). Paano ka ngayon magsusulat o gagawa ng kritikal na balita o komentaryo kung ang ipapakain mo sa anak mo ay nakasalalay sa mismong tao na minsan (o madalas) ay kailangan mong batikusin?”

“And how many journalists in the provinces are paid by community publications,” Paraan asked.

“Sa maraming sitwasyon, ang tanging kita ng reporter ay 10 hanggang 20 porsyentong komisyon mula sa mga ads na nakukuha niya. In fact, I have heard several times that it is convenient to have the reporters – or those whose bylines are prominently displayed –  to secure advertising contracts.”

She said that not too many journalists complain of the said condition, and stressed that it leads to conflict of interest.

Then, there are also those that work as correspondents and stringers for national and international news organizations who usually earn more when disasters strike, when fighting between rebels and government troops erupt and when crimes occur.

However, Paraan said, “Oh wait. Not just any crime. There has to be five or 10 victims, and the more gruesome the crime, the greater the chance of being published. Because they are paid by the number and length of articles published, tragedies are welcome in the sense that they are an opportunity to earn a few bucks.”

Paraan said that there is nothing wrong with stringing for international organizations like the Cable News Network (CNN), British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Al Jazeera, Financial Times, New York Times and other major networks.

But in the Philippines, the practice is different.

She said, “dito sa Pilipinas, tingnan natin paano ang karaniwang kalakaran. Karaniwang sakop ng isang correspondent ang kanyang probinsya at mga katabing probinsya. Kapag may nangyari, pinupuntahan niya agad, ginagawan ng istorya at ipinapadala sa editor.

Gumagastos sa pamasahe, cellphone load, pagkain at internet. Kung minsan ginagamit ng kanyang dyaryo ang kanyang istorya, kung minsan hindi.

Kahit pa ginastusan niya ito, walang kasigurahan na mailalabas o maibabalik sa kanya ang ginastos. At kung lumabas man at mabayaran siya, ang kita madalas ay kulang pa para mabawi ang lahat ng nagastos.”

She noted, “Yes, correspondents are at the mercy of editors. Take note that there is usually no contract between the correspondent and news organization. If there is one, it often explicitly denies an employer-employee relationship. Because having one means being entitled to all the benefits that a regular worker should have.”

Paraan said the sorry state of provincial news correspondents in the country lies in the fact that except for “one newspaper whose correspondents are mostly regulars, and one that has four or five, the rest have no correspondents with regular employment status.”

Worst, said correspondents even bring pasalubong to their editors when they come to Manila.

She also hit news organization’s demand for exclusivity of news from their correspondents as unfair when there is no certainty that it will be published.

“It is true not all stories can be accommodated due to space or airtime limitations or the type of news may not be what the news organization needs. But at the very least, he should be able to offer the unused or rejected stories to other media houses. The demand to report exclusively for a news outlet precludes this option,” she said.

According to Paraan, newsroom policies “actually prime journalists to commit ethical breaches.” Dino Balabo