In search of new technologies

More CapSU faculty, staff join 2013 Agrilink

By Niño Manaog

Extension Associate II

Capiz State University

World Trade Center, Pasay City—The Research, Development and Extension Center (RDEC) of the Capiz State University (CapSU) led by Dr. Cora Navarra, vice-president for research and extension, brought some 20 faculty members from the CapSU campuses and staff of the Extension Institute to take part in the four-day Agrilink which ran from Oct. 4–8 here.

Also led by Dr. Guillermo Legada, Jr., research director; and Dr. Emelita Solante, extension director, the delegation consisted of faculty researchers and staff from across the CapSU campuses, namely: Dr. Bede Ozaraga, Dr. Ma. Sylvia Ozaraga of Dumarao Campus; Dr. Maryanne Martelino, Prof. Eleonor Briones, Dr. Ramesis Solante, Prof. Auralyn Balacase and Mr. Frank Figarola of Burias Campus; Dr. Jocelyn Dagudag and Dr. Renato Ollos of Pontevedra Campus; and Dr. Sykum Legarda, Mr. Eduardo Navarra, Mr. Antonio Buñi, and Mr. Niño Manaog, all of the Extension Institute.

(Clockwise from top left) Extension Specialist Eduardo Navarra checks out a plants display in a booth; RDEC's Antonio Buni samples the vegetables in a commercial farms display; Dr. Sykum Legarda and Prof Eleonor Briones register for the first day; Dr. Ramesis Solante, Prof. Frank Figarola and Agricultural Technician Ceferino Lizada make friends with a fellow agri-tourist; and VP for RDE Cora Navarra make queries with a booth staff.

Anchored on the “Common Service Facilities: Key to the Value Chain, ” this year’s Agrilink focused on the chain of agriculture-related business encompassing a wide variety of production inputs and systems, post harvest, value-adding, food processing and retailing.

Held along with Aqualink, which showcased current technologies and products in fisheries and Foodlink, which promoted innovations and current trends in food processing, the four-day Agrilink offered numerous technical and product presentations, cooking demos, product launches, raffles and even fun games for the participants.

Among others, the CapSU participants surveyed new technologies featured in the said three exhibit areas and also attended the lecture-forums on varied interests from which they gained new information and know-how.

According to Dr. Cora Navarra, this year RDEC made sure to send more staff and collaborated with the campuses to send faculty researchers to the Agrilink so that they are updated with the current technologies in agriculture, fisheries and food processing.

For Navarra, exposure to modern trends and innovations is inevitable because this will keep researchers and extension workers abreast with the present-day demands. Additional knowledge and information will give them more leverage to effectively pursue research studies in their respective stations and to equip them with updated technologies to share to farmers and other clients. Navarra added that all said efforts have been inspired and supported by Dr. Editha L. Magallanes, CapSU president.

The CapSU Monitor off the press

By Niño Manaog

Extension Associate II

Capiz State University

Roxas City—Recently, the Research, Development and Extension Center (RDEC) of the Capiz State University (CapSU) based here headed by Vice-President for RDE Cora Navarra, facilitated the release of the two issues of The CapSU Monitor, the official publication of the Capsu RDEC.

The said two issues, namely: Volume 12, Number 1 (January to June 2012) and Volume 12, Number 2 (July to December 2012)—document RDEC’s activities highlights during the previous year left off by thenVP for RDE Geronimo Gregorio and toward the period when Dr. Navarra assumed the said post.

The first issue featured the banner headline “Helping People Help Themselves: DOLE, TESDA, Province of Capiz, CapSU award welding kits to 100 recipients” which highlights the collaboration of said entities to provide workable livelihoods to the students of the Shield Metal Arc Welding of CapSU Roxas City Campus’s Mobile Technology School.

The second issue bannered “Hard Work and Success: Magallanes, CapSU reap nat’l, int’l awards,” which features the story of CapSU President Editha L. Magallanes when she was conferred, among others, the Dangal ng Bayan Award by President Benigno Simeon Aquino III in September 2012 in Malacañang and when CapSU and Dr. Magallanes won international recognition in the field of education.

Highlighting more of CapSU’s research and extension activities for the said period, the said publications also profiled Prof. Adelfo Virtudazo who currently heads the Western Visayas Bamboo Research Center based in Codingle, Dumarao, Capiz; and Mr. Eduardo Navarra, extension specialist and Techno Gabay Team Leader and Agricultural Technician Ceferino Lizada, both of the Extension Institute based in Poblacion, Mambusao, Capiz.

Dao farmers center mgr named one among best focal persons in organics

By Niño Manaog

Extension Associate II

Capiz State University

Philippine International Convention Center, Pasay City—In the 10th National Organic Agriculture Congress, Ma. Susan F. Dordas, manager of the Dao Farmers’ Information & Technology Services (FITS) Center was conferred as one of the outstanding focal persons for organic agriculture by the Department of Agriculture during the awarding rites on October 17, 2013 at the Plenary Hall here.

In the Organic Agriculture Local Government Unit Awards 2013, Dordas shared the limelight along with six others nationwide who are named outstanding municipal and city organics focal persons. Dordas was conferred a trophy and a check worth P30,000.

Dordas (far right) shares the limelight with Dao Vice-Mayor Loreto Eslaban (second from left) and Department of Agriculture Region 6 Director Larry Nacionales (center) during the 10th National Organic Agriculture Congress awarding rites at the PICC Plenary Hall.

In the same national search, the municipality of Dao, Capiz where Dordas is based was also named Outstanding Municipalities along with the following—Tublay, Benguet; Sabtang, Batanes; Llanera, Nueva Ecija; Goa, Camarines Sur; Braulio Dujali, Davao del Norte; and Butuan City in Agusan del Norte.

For the outstanding cities and municipalities, Represented by Vice-mayor Loreto Eslaban, Dao, Capiz was awarded a trophy and 1 million pesos worth of organic agriculture projects—i.e. the grant will be awarded according to proposals submitted.

Among others, Dordas acknowledged the assistance extended by Techno Gabay Team Leader Eduardo Navarra and Extension Associate Niño Manaog of the Capiz State University, the partner member agency, who provided the Dao FITS Center valuable technical assistance and documentation in said endeavors.

According to the article titled "Working toward Productive & Sustainable Organic Communities: The Organic Agriculture Program Of Dao, Capiz," Dao, Capiz under the leadership of Mayor Joselito Escutin and their active and dynamic Council and Local Government Unit has initiated massive efforts to organize and lead the communities in getting acquainted with and adapting organic agriculture in various capacities and activities. The Dao local government has initiated efforts, sponsored activities and scheduled continuing projects that will help implement the organic agricultural program toward attaining economic growth for its constituents and the environment.

The Dao Organic Agriculture Program has gradually evolved from the grassroots level. Before the Farmers’ Information and Technology Services (FITS) Center in Dao was launched in November 2010, the Office of the Municipal Agriculturist (OMA) led by extension worker Susan Dordas and agricultural technologist Genes Estialbo started conducting their research on natural farming systems online and other available sources.

Among others, Dordas and Estialbo were faced with the pressing need and issues confronting their agricultural sector. They recognized that their municipality had witnessed high production cost of agricultural inputs and rice shortage due to low agricultural productivity. Dao farmers had also been also dependent on commercial fertilizer for agricultural production. Further, the rampant use of fertilizer and continuous planting both have depleted the soil affecting productivity.

But after the Dao FITS Center was launched, Dordas and Estialbo further reinforced their activities working with the farmers and encouraging them to practice organic farming use foliar fertilizers and indigenous microorganisms (IMO) concoctions in their farms.These and other succeeding efforts helped launch and create awareness in organic agriculture among Dao constituents. 

From 2011 to 2012, DOAP successfully undertook a series of activities contributing to more efforts for organic agriculture awareness campaigns and actual efforts to “walk the talk” in organic agriculture.

Extension Specialist Eduardo Navarra (first from left) of CapSU shares the limelight with the winners during the 10th National Organic Agriculture Congress awarding rites at the PICC Plenary Hall.

CapSU brings local study to int'l vermi summit in Lipa

During the International Symposium on Vermitechnologies (ISVT) 3 held on Nov. 06–08, 2013 at the Kahariam Realty and Farms in Bgy. Adya, Lipa City, the Capiz State University (CapSU) represented by Extension Specialist Eduardo Navarra, brought the research study titled “Growth of African Nightcrawler in Indigenous Substrates and the Chemical Characteristics of its Vermicomposts,” a research study presented by Ms. Loreli Legada, research teacher at the Mambusao National High School in Brgy. Tumalalud, Mambusao, Capiz.

Ms. Loreli Legada, Research teacher at the Mambusao National High School, presented her research study titled "Growth of African Nightcrawler in Indigenous Substrates and the Chemical Characteristics of its Vermicomposts" to some 50 farmers,  extension workers and agriculture enthusiasts during the International Symposium in Vermitechnologies 3 in Lipa City, Batangas.

A collaborative project between MNHS and CapSU Extension Services, the said study was undertaken in cooperation with the expertise provided by CapSU Extension Institute represented by Training Coordinator Eduardo Navarra who guided Ms. Legada and her students in the vermicomposting procedures. 

In July 2011, Legada sought the expertise and assistance of Mr. Navarra who provided the worms for study and also monitored the progress of the study in the succeeding days. Since January 2010, CapSU has been extending its consultancy services to Tumalalud National High School students on vermiculture. Navarra coordinated with Loreli Legada, research adviser of the Mambusao National High School in Tumalalud, Mambusao, Capiz on the conduct of her students’ research on producing vermicast. Navarra also facilitated the preparation and production of vermiculture for students’ learning. 

The three seniors who undertook the project— Jayson I. Gula, Irene Francisco and Mark Stephen Guion, all fourth year students—went on to win a regional award in a research competition sponsored by the Department of Education Region 6 in December 2011.

CapSU’s participation in the said international symposium has been endorsed by Dr. Cora Navarra, vice-president for research and extension; and fully supported by Dr. Editha Magallanes, CapSU President. 

Among others, ISVT 3 showcased informative lectures, practicable technologies and productive collaborations. Organized by the Iloilo City-based VermEcologists Society of the Philippines (Vermesoc) and the Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research-Low Carbon Initiative Programme and co-sponsored by the Department of Agriculture Region IV-A and the Kahariam Realty and Farms, ISVT convened some 200 participants from across the country and enthusiasts from Vietnam, India, Japan and Australia, among others.

Led by Prof. Marilou Ang Lopez of the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV)’s School of Technology  who is also VERMESOC’s founder and president, ISVT 3 featured pioneers and experts in vermitechnology in the country and other neighboring countries.

Among others, resource speakers included Dr. Rafael Dineros Guerrero III, the bemedalled pioneer of vermicomposting technology in the country and recipient of the TOFIL (The Outstanding Filipino Award) for Science & Technology in 2008; Mr. Antonio de Castro, president of the Earthworm Sanctuary and vice-president of the Organic Producers and Traders Association; and Prof. Ang Lopez, who provided a brief history of vermitechnology in  the Philippines.

Highlights of the summit included the presentations of international practitioners, namely: Dr. Robert John Blakemore, who has been studying vermitechnology in Japan and Australia for three decades; Nguyen Thi My Nuong and Ho Huynh Thuy Duon of the University of Science in Ho Chi Minh who shared medicinal properties of traditional formula using earthworm; and the works of Dr. Rajiv Sinha, senior lecturer at the Griffith University Nathan Campus in Brisbane, Australia. (Niño Manaog/Extension Associate)

Ms. Legada's (center) participation in the said international symposium has been suuported by Extension Institute's Nino Manaog (far left)  & Eduardo Navarra (far right).