Bukidnon is the top corn producer in NorMin

By Apipa P. Bagumbaran

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Dec. 17 (PIA) --The province of Bukidnon is still the biggest corn producer in Northern Mindanao contributing 64 percent to the overall corn production in the region during the third quarter of 2012.

Data gathered by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) from the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) in the region shows that Bukidnon produced 286,465 metric tons of corn during the quarter lifting the region’s production output by almost six percent to 448,855 metric tons.

The province’s output was primarily due to the planting of white corn to some sugarcane areas, as well as, additional planting of yellow corn in hilly and mountainous areas of Malaybalay and Cabanglasan, Engr. Cecilio Clarete, NEDA-10 Chief Economic and Development Specialist said.

Lanao del Norte only contributed 96,167 metric tons followed by Misamis Oriental with 41,923 metric tons while Misamis Occidental and Camiguin produced 24,046 and 254 metric tons, respectively.

Clarete said the production in Lanao del Norte was affected by insufficient rainfall during the reproductive stage and large reduction in area harvested which drastically reduced yellow corn production in the province.

Overall, the region produced 150,320 metric tons of white corn and 298,535 metric tons of yellow corn.

In terms of value, the 14 percent increase in the farmgate price for yellow corn (P11.32 per kilo) coupled with the eight percent increase in production pushed the value of yellow corn to P3.379 billion, up by 23 percent compared to last year’s P2.737 billion.

The value of white corn, however, dropped by about five percent to P1.854 billion despite the two percent increase in the production as farmgate price went down by seven percent or P12.34 per kilo.

The region’s net corn sufficiency level during the quarter was estimated at about 143 percent, or a surplus of 134,821 metric tons. (APB/PIA-10)

Region 10 coco-export commodities earn US$117.72 million in Q3

By Apipa P. Bagumbaran CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Dec.17 (PIA) -- Export of coconut commodities has earned for the region US$117.72 million during the third quarter of 2012.

Records from the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) region 10 show that the value of export sales during the period was higher by two percent from the US$115.29 million earned in the same period in 2011.

The volume of coconut commodities exported during the quarter, on the other hand, grew remarkably by 56 percent to 113,203 metric tons, totally recovering from a 27 percent reduction in the first quarter of the year.

Though the total volume exported went up, the slight increase in the value of export sales was due to the decline in the global prices of coco-based products as a result of high soybean oil supply in the global market, said Engr. Cecilio Clarete, Chief Economic and Development Specialist of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

Among the coco-based products, coconut chemicals and coconut oil were the top export commodities during the quarter earning US$61.98 million and US$27.32 million, respectively.

Other earners were copra meal pellets with US$10.27 million, desiccated coconut with US$4.97 million, coconut water with US$4.71 million, and coconut shell charcoal with US$3.79 million. (APB/PIA-10)

 

Comelec sets rules in suspension of firearms licenses issuance from Jan. 13-June 12, 2013

By Rutchie C. Aguhob
OROQUIETA CITY, Misamis Occidental, Dec. 17 (PIA) -- Except for the renewal of existing firearms licenses, the Philippine National Police (PNP) will suspend the issuance, processing, approval and release of firearms licenses during the election period, from Jan. 13-June 12, 2013.

Such provision is found in Resolution No. 9561-A issued by the Commission on Elections (Comelec), recently, amending the implementation of Section 261 (q) of the Omnibus Election Code and Sections 32 and 33 of Republic Act No. 7166 on the suspension of the issuance of firearms licenses, in connection with the May 13, 2013 automated national and local elections.

The amendment said during the election period, both the license and the firearm will not be released to the owner, thereof, and will be kept with the Firearms and Explosive Office (FEO), Civil Security Group (CSG), PNP.

Thus, Atty.Cirilo A. Nala Jr., election supervisor, said firearms licenses issued in violation of such prohibition are null and void, without prejudice to the filing of appropriate administrative and/or criminal charges against the holder or those responsible for the issuance of those licenses.

Meanwhile, during the election period, the Comelec Committee on the Ban on Firearms and Security Personnel (CBFSP) will be responsible for the implementation of the ban on the bearing, carrying or transporting of firearms and the employment, availment, or engagement of security personnel.

It will be headed by Commissioner Elias R. Yusoph as chairperson, and composed of a senior officer designated by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the PNP, as members.

The CBFSP will be assisted by a Secretariat composed of representatives from the Comelec, the AFP and the PNP and headed by a senior lawyer of the Comelec law department.

Likewise, it will exercise operational control and supervision on the Regional Joint Security Control Center (RJSCC) and the Provincial Joint Security Control Center (PJSCC), Nala said. (RCA-PIA 10, Misamis Occidental)

 

Comelec to amend firearms ban in the 2013 elections

By Rutchie C. Aguhob
OROQUIETA CITY, Misamis Occidental, Dec. 17 (PIA) -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has ruled that during the election period, from January 13-June 12, 2013, no person shall bear, carry or transport firearms or other deadly weapons outside his residence or place of business.

Such prohibition is also applied in public places including any buildings, streets, parks, and private vehicles or public conveyances, even if the person is licensed to possess or to carry the same.

These amendments have been promulgated by the Comelec per Resolution 9561-A dated December 4, 2012 signed by Comelec Chairperson Sixto S. Brillantes Jr., together with its six Commissioners, namely: Rene V. Sarmiento, Lucenito N. Tagle, Armando C. Velasco, Elias R. Yusoph, Christian Robert S. Lim, and Ma. Gracia Cielo M. Padaca.

As defined in existing laws, rules and regulations, "firearms" include airguns, airsoft guns, and replicas/imitations of firearms in whatever form that can cause an ordinary person to believe that they are real.

On the other hand, deadly weapon includes bladed instrument, hand grenades or other explosives, except pyrotechnics, Atty. Cirilo E. Nala Jr., election supervisor of Comelec in Misamis Occidental, said.

A bladed instrument, however, is not covered by the prohibition when possession of such is necessary to the occupation of the possessor or when it is used as a tool for legitimate activity.

Meanwhile, Comelec Resolution 9561-A also prohibits candidates for public office, including incumbent public officers seeking election to any public office, to employ, avail himself of or engage the services of security personnel or bodyguards, whether or not such bodyguards are regular members or officers of the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), or other law enforcement agency of the government.

It likewise prohibits the transport of firearms and/or its spare parts and, explosives and/or its components, by those who are engaged in the manufacture, importation, exportation, purchase, sale of firearms and/or its spare parts and explosives and/or its components, except with prior written authority from the Committee on the Ban on Firearms and Security Personnel (CBFSP).

This is on condition that within the period stated in the authority, the firearms and/or its spare parts be immediately transported directly to the Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO), Civil Security Group (CSG), PNP, and the explosives and/or its components be immediately transported directly to the owner's of explosives magazine/storage facility.

However, the transport or delivery of the raw materials used in the manufacturing of firearms and/or its spare parts, explosives and their components, may, with prior written authority from the CBFSP, be allowed, provided the same are immediately transported by the authorized dealer, within the period stated in the authority, directly to the explosives magazine/storage facility of the licensed manufacturer. (RCA-PIA10, Misamis Occidental)

 

Northern Mindanao’s palay production up 5% in Q3

By Apipa P. Bagumbaran
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Dec. 16 (PIA) -- Palay production in Northern Mindanao grew by about five percent in the third quarter of 2012, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said.

A total production of 151,278 metric tons was posted during the quarter compared to the 144,805 metric tons produced in the same quarter last year, said Engr. Cecilio Clarete, chief economic development specialist of NEDA in the region in a media forum last Thursday.

He said the average yield for the quarter also increased by 0.17 percentage points to 4.30 metric tons per hectare from the 4.13 metric tons recorded last year.

Clarete said both irrigated and rainfed palay registered increases during the quarter which means more income for the palay farming communities.

By province, Bukidnon posted the biggest production at 106,270 metric tons followed by Lanao de Norte at 22,756 metric tons; Misamis Occidental, 16,440 metric tons; Misamis Oriental, 5,536 metric tons; and Camiguin, 276 metric tons.

The two Misamis provinces, however, registered the biggest production increase by 20 percent each while only Lanao del Norte posted decrease in production by five percent.

Clarete said lesser production in Lanao del Norte was mainly attributable to inadequate irrigation water along boundaries and lesser usage of inbred seeds.

He also said the sufficient supply of irrigation water, lesser infestation of common diseases that attacks palay, and sufficient rainfall were the reasons behind the good production in Bukidnon.

The weather during the third quarter was highly suitable for the growing of palay in Bukidnon, he added.

Meanwhile, the favorable production performance coupled with the increase in the average farm gate price to P16.36 per kilo pushed the value of palay to P2.475 billion, higher from the previous year’s level by about eight percent. (APB/PIA-10)