DA inaugurates P20-M Philrice facilities

Development stories sometime get little notice. One reason is that people are rarely interested in the long-term impact of these projects. And, too often, these projects have widespread implications that have to be assessed to be fully understood.

There is one such project in Murcia. Actually, it is in Barangay Cansilayan. I am referring to the P20-million facilities of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (Philrice) in that town.

As usual, Agriculture Secretary Luis P. Lorenzo maintained a low-key approach in its inauguration the other day. He was assisted by Negros Occidental Gov. Joseph Marañon for whom these facilities augur rice self-sufficiency for the province, a perennial rice-deficit area.

The provincial government provided a counterpart for the P20-million onsite development and construction of a 432-square-meter, two-story research and development building, seed warehouse and field service building with a solar dryer. Philrice executive director Dr. Leocadio S. Sebastian and trustees Winston Corvera, Pedro Evora and Dr. Gelia Castillo also joined the inaugural.

Also present were former Congressman Alfredo Marañon Jr., former chairman of the House agriculture committee, and Japan International Cooperation Agency deputy resident representative Yukio Ishida.

Fr. Serafin Nava, pastor of the San Isidro Labrador Church of Cansilayan, officiated the blessing rites.

The inaugural was topped by the mass gradation of 400 farmers who had undergone training in partnership in agricultural and rural transformation (PART), according to Philrice provincial in-charge Edgar Libetario.

JICA helped the PART training through its Inter-Country Technical Program and the follow-up support for former participants of training courses in Japan.

That was attended by farmers from Barangays Quezon of San Carlos City, Luna of Cadiz City, Mailum of Bago City, Lacaron of Valladolid town, Guinpanaan of Moises Padilla, Libacao of Himamaylan City, Inayawan of Cauayan, and Gil Montilla of Sipalay City, and Manapla town.

Already, farmer-partners who had participated in certified seeds growing of the hybrid rice reported sales to as far as Bohol and some Luzon farmers, bringing in more income.

The Provincial Agriculturist’s Office also said the province is on its way to fulfilling the food sufficiency and agricultural productivity phase of the program of Gov. Marañon.

The hybrid rice actually boosted tremendously the country’s rice production. When introduced way back in 2001, it was only planted in 6,000 hectares. But in a span of barely three years, hybrid rice already reached 100,000 hectares last year and could double this year, Secretary Lorenzo pointed out.

National average per hectare yield rose from 3.07 metric tons in 2002 to 3.37 MT in 2003. It is expected to improve further to 3.56 MT this year, according to the DA official.

Thus, the first quarter palay harvest this year reached 3.43 million MT, a 13.14 percent jump over the palay harvest for the same period last year, Lorenzo added.

Again, as I previously mentioned, the results are not immediately appreciated by those outside the farming areas. But the impact is perceived only in the increased production of rice.

SONA Reactions

The reaction to the State of the Nation Address of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ranged from a call for change from the Church and unity from both religious leaders and civil officials.

Bacolor Bishop Vicente Navarra said the call for unity by the President was ideal because this attitude is a must for the call for reconciliation.

He also hailed her move to save Angelo de la Cruz because "as a mother of the nation her heart must be sensitive to the needs and aspirations of the people."

And for Negros Occidental Gov. Joseph Marañon, "I am willing and prepared to support any initiative from the President that is good for Negros and the nation."

Although he supported the presidential bid of Fernando Poe Jr., Marañon pointed out that with the elections over, he also immediately moved for reconciliation.

Rep. Jose Carlos Lacson (third district), another pro-Poe solon, said the President’s stress on reconciliation was important and asked everyone to face up to the problems of the country that she cannot solve alone.

"If we do not work together to arrest the problems of the nation, time is running out on us," he said.

Rep. Monico Puentevella (Bacolod) said the President is no Spiderwoman. "Without everyone sharing in the burden, this country will go to the dogs. We must all do our share; sacrifice is the key word. All, especially the congressmen and senators, must lead this quest," Puentevella stressed.

The fly in the ointment were militant groups which, although small in number, kept hammering at the President’s broken promises.

Sanlakas secretary Dionela Mardona said GMA’s vulture symbol was burned because of the bird’s ability to kill helpless preys like the people who have no power against the suffering continuously inflicted on them by her administration.

All the cause-oriented groups echoed their traditional pessimism about the 10-point agenda as "unattainable" and their lack of expectations from the Arroyo SONA.

In short, the sloganeering is a rehash of old issues and sowing the seeds of despair. Unfortunately, other than their members, not many responded to their banner.

"All these years, I’ve listened to them and still have to hear alternative proposals on what should be done or what they have done so far. Just badmouthing. It is sickening," commented a taxi driver.

Well, that’s democracy for you.

SC Affirms Death For Two

The Supreme Court has affirmed the death sentence of a security guard and a butcher who killed a businessman’s wife four years ago. The High Court upheld the decision of RTC Judge Roberto S. Chiongson of Branch 50 when it ordered Arante Flores and Felix Ventura to die by lethal injection for the killing of Ailen Bocateja Peruelo. Both were meted an additional 12-year term for the attempted murder of the victim’s husband, Jaime.

The tribunal also ordered both to pay P290,000 in damages.

It was on Feb. 23, 2000 when they entered the victims’ residence in Alunan Yulo this city. Ventura announced the holdup and asked for Jaime’s keys. The latter attempted to grab the gun and grappled with the security guard. Flores then stabbed Jaime several times.

Ailen then woke up and began shouting for help. Flores repeatedly stabbed her, although she desperately tried to defend herself with an electric cord. The victims’ niece then awakened and recognized the knife-wielder as a former employee of the Bacateja spouses.

She ran upstairs and summoned help from neighbors. The accused then fled the scene but were intercepted by the police.

Chiongson brushed aside Ventura’s claim that his wife Johanna had an illicit affair with Jaime for whom she worked as a househelp.

He pointed out that the "attack was made by a man with a deadly weapon upon an unarmed and defenseless woman (and) constitutes the circumstances of abuse of that superiority which his sex and the weapon afforded him, and from which the woman was unable to defend herself."

Now, the problem is whether the death sentence can serve as a deterrent to the commission of such crimes. After all, no one has yet to be executed as mandated by the courts.

ADDENDA. Ninety high school students of the Lopez Jaena National High School of Murcia town availed themselves of scholarship grants from the Philippine National Oil Co.-Energy Development Corp. (PNOC-EDC). The students are all from nearby Barangay Minoyan and were selected on the basis of academic performance and socio-economic status per certification by principal Benito Crispa and Barangay Minoyan captain Rene Sangor. The students received P3,000 cash assistance each for school fees and uniforms. They will also receive a P200 monthly allowance. Murcia Mayor Esteban Coscolluela said the gesture shows the company’s sincerity in helping the people of Minoyan… Dugong Bombo deserves kudos for raising a total of 1.6 million cc of various types of blood last weekend. Bacolod’s 303 qualified donors turned over a total of 156,506 cc. Roxas City’s 128 qualified donors raised 57,600 cc of blood. Among the groups which responded to the project of Bombo Radyo were the Regional Mobile Group, the 303rd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army, Bacolod City police and Guardians-Negros... Bindoy Mayor Valente Yap was selected president of the League of Municipalities of Negros Oriental last Monday. His vice president is Valencia Mayor Rodolfo Gonzales Jr. The vice presidents for the three congressional districts of the province are Mayor Reynaldo Tuanda of Jimalalud (first), Sibulan Mayor Antonio Renacia (second) and Zamboanguita Mayor Lourdes Adanza (third).