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Volume 2, Issue 2

April-June 2009

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BSWM Observes World Day to Combat

Desertification tion of Engr. Sam-uel Contreras, Chief of the Soil Conservation and Management Divi-sion about the proposed frame-work and outline of the updated Philippine NAP. He emphasized the need to align the Philippine NAP development framework with the UNCCD’s ten year strategic plan to mitigate the negative impacts of desertification and land degrada-tion. Dr. Rogelio N. Concepcion, a consultant of the National Anti-

Poverty Commision, and Dr. Candido A. Cabrido Jr., Dean of the UP School of Urban and Regional Planning in Diliman, reviewed and evaluated the overall soundness of the pro-posed framework in comparison to the framework of the original NAP. Both of them pointed out

(Continued on page 5)

the BSWM’s Client Center (see related story on page 2). Before the workshop proper, Assistant Director Wilfredo E. Cabezon provided an overview about the Philip-pine commitment to UNCCD as well as the implementation status of the programs and pro-jects in the original NAP. This was followed by the presenta-

In the obser-vance of the World Day to Combat De-sertification and as the Philippine Focal Agency of the United Nations Con-vention to Combat De-sertification (UNCCD), the Bureau of Soils and Wa-ter Manage-ment (BSWM) spearheaded the conduct of the initial con-sultation for the updating of the Philip-pine National Action Plan (NAP) to Combat Desertification, Land Degra-dation, Drought and Poverty on June 17, 2009. Alongside this consul-tation workshop was the presen-tation of Mr. Rodelio B. Carat-ing on Land Degradation As-sessment using FAO-LADA approach and the inauguration of UNCCD’s Photo Exhibit and

Director Rudy M. Guieb of the Field Operations Service delivering the speech of Secretary Arthur C. Yap during the celebration of the World Day to Combat Desertification at the Lopez Hall. 

Soil Con Hosts 58th Anniversary

The Soil Conservation Division hosted the 58th Founding Anniversary of the Bureau of Soils and Water Management with this year’s theme: “Lupa at Tubig Pagyamanin, Para Makamit Sapat na Pagkain,” held last June 5, 2009 at the Lopez Hall of the SoilSearch Build-ing. “For 58 years, BSWM has been at the forefront of Philippine Agricultural development and national food security. I congratulate the men and women of the Bureau not merely for marking yet another anniversary, but also for the part they play in the nation’s bid for sustained socio-economic progress,” remarked Department of Agriculture Assistant Secretary Clayton A. Olalia as he delivered the inspirational message of Secretary Atty. Arthur C. Yap. He also cited that through the past six decades, the Filipino farmer has relied on the bureau’s hard work and

dedication to acquire and enhance technologies to preserve the productive capacity of our soil and water resources.

(Continued on page 10)

Assistant Secretary Clayton A. Olalia delivers the message of Secretary Yap during the 58th BSWM Anniversary. 

Page 2 BSWM Update

The Client Center and the Soil Museum was formally opened on June 17 with Director Rudy Guieb and FAO Assistant Representative Aris Portugal doing the Ceremonial ribbon cutting. 

BSWM Inaugurates Client’s Center

  In compliance to Republic Act (RA) #9485 otherwise known as the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007, the BSWM officially opened its ONE STOP SHOP named “BSWM CLIENT’S CEN-TER” (BSWMCC) last June 17, 2009. The BSWMCC was designed as the central hub of BSWM information, technologies, goods and services. All visitors and clienteles shall be accommodated and assisted here, thus, minimize longer transac-tions and avoid loitering of unauthorized individuals within the BSWM premises. Products include various types of maps, technical reports per-taining to sustainable land management and Soil Test Kits. There are other products available like Tricho and soil inoculants from the Biologi-cal Production Section as well as pure cultures, mushroom spawn etc. from from the Soil Biology Section. Clients desiring to avail of services like laboratory analysis of soil, water, and plant tissue samples, prepara-tion of relief map models, conduct of soil survey and mapping, land re-sources inventory, and land reclassification should also come to the Client Center.

Training for Frontline Information Desk Officers

A training for Frontline Information Desk Officers (FIDOs) was conducted last May 7 and 8 at the BSWM Lecture Room 1. The ac-tivity was still in compliance to the requirement of the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007. A total of 50 personnel from the technical divisions and admin-istrative units participated in the training which aimed to provide knowl-edge to the participants the fundamentals of Anti-Red Tape Act as well as

the key services, products and information being offered by the Bu-reau. Mr. Rodelio B. Carating presented the Flowchart of trans-actions of the different divisions and units. Validation was also done in consultation with the participants in order to review transaction procedures and conduits to minimize time and effort on the part of the clienteles.

Janet Operario Maria Angelita Esguerra

ISRIS launches BSWM Mail System No less than Director Silvino Q. Tejada graced the soft-launching of our BSWM Mail System which was spear-

headed by the Integrated Soil Resources Information Systems (ISRIS) Group last April 17, 2009 at the BSWM Convention Hall. Representatives from different Divi-sions, Service Groups and Research Cen-ters participated in the event. The BSWM Mail System is the official e-mail system of the BSWM family using the agency’s registered domain name: bswm.da.gov.ph. It can be accessed through (a)BSWM LAN by using MS Outlook as mail client or (b)internet by typing the fol-lowing URL from your browser: ma i l . b swm.d a .gov .ph o r h t tp s : / /bswm.da.gov.ph. The Mail System provides an e-mail address to each BSWM employee with the following features: mail box capacity of 500MB, maximum sending message size of 15MB including attachment, maximum re-ceiving message size of 15MB, and maxi-mum recipients of 100 per message sending. Guidelines on using the BSWM Mail were also given by the ISRIS Group to ensure mail security and reliability during the launching. The BSWM Mail System is an-other pioneering activity of BSWM towards IT utilization.

ISRIS Group

Director Silvino Q. Tejada speaks before employees for the launching of the BSWM Mail System. 

ALMED completes Sampaloc technical

report

The Agricultural Land Mangement and Evalua-tion Division (ALMED) staff presented the final technical report of the project entitled “SOIL/LAND RESOURCES EVALUATION STUDY AND SAFDZ-CLUP INTEGRATION” to the Local Government Unit of Sampaloc, Quezon last June 11, 2009 at the Sangguniang Bayan Hall of the Sampaloc Municipal Hall. This study was based on approved Sangguniang Bayan Resolution number 2008 – 88 by the presiding officer and Hon. Vice Mayor Zosimo O. Dator Jr. and Hon. Mayor Emmanuel S. Torres. The project aims to provide and generate com-prehensive set of soil and land resources informa-tion as basis necessary for agriculture, agro-forestry and other environmentally sound land use planning development conceived by the municipal government. The methodology is based on geomorphology, landform, and soil classification of fourteen baran-gays namely Alupay, Apasan, Banot, Bataan, Bayongon, Bilucao, Caldong, Ibabang Owain, Ilayang Owain, Mamala, San Bueno, San Isidro, San Roque and Taquico. Sampaloc has a total area of 10,478 hectares or about 1.2% of the province. The technical report output includes tabulated data for suitability classes, which will serve as guide and input for project planning, policy deci-sion making for sustainable agriculture, agro-forestry and forest development and thematic maps of Soil, Soil Fertility, Slope, Erosion, Land use, Land limitation, flooding, refocused SAFDZ and Agri-investment opportunity map.

Andy Evangelista

April - June 2009 Page 3

Marcia, Allag cop best paper award Ms. Angelita Marcia and Ms. Digna Allag took the best paper award with their study on “The Production of Vermicompost from Various Biodegradable Waste Materials and its Utilization for Vegetable Production” in the 2009 BSWM Annual Research and Development Review and Evaluation last May 8, 2009 at the Lopez Hall. Their paper was among the five studies selected to be presented on the said event based on the results from the Soil and Water Resources Research Division (SWRRD) Pre-in-house Review last April 24, 2009. “The Use of Animal Manure and Other Indigenous Resources to Improve Agricultural Production and Conserve the Environment” by Ms. Marcelina Palis, Amy O. Yambot, Jacqueline S. Rojales, Celso R. Bersabe, Elvira B. Bayalas and Alma J. Gon-zales garnered the second place while the third place went to Dr. Edna Samar and Roosebelt Creencia’s study on “The Comparative Study on the Impacts of Organic Fertilizer Application on Contour Farming in An Ultisol.” Evaluators, who also served as the panel of judges, were Dr. Eduardo Paningbatan from University of the Philippines at Los Baños (UPLB); Dr. Apolonio Ocampo of the Institute of Plant Breeding (IPB); Mr. Rodolfo Ilao from the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD); Dr. Danilo Mendoza of the National Institute of Biotechnology and Applied Microbiology; and Mr. Ric Castro and Mr. Patrick Cabrera from the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR). Assistant Director Wilfredo E. Cabezon delivered a message on behalf of the BSWM management commending the researchers and all other participants for sustaining the passion on research undertakings. He also emphasized that the bureau plays an important role particularly in conducting the research studies for future upland development towards the direction of or-ganic agriculture. The event was a continuing activity of the SWRRD aimed at evaluating the research and development studies being undertaken by the Bureau.

Jenny Anne L. Perlado

BSWM Conducts 2010 Planning and Budget

Workshop In response to the possible

move from Organizational Perform-ance Indicator Framework (OPIF) to Results Based Management (RBM) framework in the government’s plan-ning and budgeting system, a two-day Planning and Budget Workshop was conducted on April 02-03, 2009 at the BSWM Convention Hall. It was at-tended by all Division and Center Chiefs and the Planning Officer of each division.

The workshop is a start-up ac-

tivity to ensure that the Bureau’s pro-grams and projects (PAPs) are harmo-nized, complementary and are in line with the DA and the whole national gov-ernment’s thrusts should the RBM Framework is implemented. The pri-mary objectives of the workshop were to review the Major Final Outputs (MFOs) and the Performance Indicators (PIs) the Bureau is currently adopting and to come up with the BSWM five year Stra-tegic Plan (2010-2015).

Dr. Silvino Q. Tejada, BSWM

Executive Director commended the ef-forts of the Planning and Evaluation (P&E) Group headed by Mr. Rodelio Carating in organizing the activity. In his message, he articulated his full sup-port to the P&E Group endeavor to strengthen the planning and budgeting system of BSWM. He also encouraged all participants to extend their utmost cooperation to the P&E Group.

The workshop highlights in-

clude the background presentation of the OPI and RBM Frameworks by Mr. Carating and the presentation of work-shop outputs per cluster. Aside from Mr. Carating, Ms. Elsie Balagtas, BSWM Budget Officer acted as one of the main panelists during the open forum.

In closing, Mr. Carating

thanked all the participants and gave instructions to all clusters to incorporate the key points raised during the open forum in the finalization of the MFOs and PIs. The final MFOs and POs shall be adopted starting 2010.

Sharon de Vera

The Soil Fertility Mapping of Nasugbu, Batangas started its initial phase with a briefing attended by se-lected local government officials, baran-gay captains with their committee chair-man on agriculture and staff of the mu-nicipal agriculture office last April 13, 2009 at the Nasugbu Municipal Hall. Soil Survey Division Chief Engr. Gregorio P. Antolin Jr. led the inauguration of the project which is to be implemented on a cost-sharing scheme by and between the local gov-ernment unit headed by Mayor Antonio A. Bar-celon and the Bureau of Soils and Water Man-agement. The total land area of Nasugbu is 27,000 hectares but with just a small area devoted for rice lands. The target survey area is about two thousand hectares (2,000 has.) of which about one thousand hec-tares are irrigated, 600 hectares are rainfed and the rest are upland. Irri-gated areas are being

planted five times in two years because of the abundant irrigation water from its watershed. Vegetables and other crops like sweet potato, cassava and corn are planted on sloping areas of Barangays Kaylaway, Aga and Kayrilao. Nasugbu is home to some of the country’s world class beach resorts and vacation residences such as the Can-yon Cove, Terrazas de Punta Fuego, Munting Buhangin and Hamilo Coast.

Eugene Briones

Soil Survey Division sets off Nasugbu SFM

The Soil Survey Division personnel supervising the surveying activities of the Soil Fertility Mapping of Nasugbu.  

Page 4 BSWM Update

Trains Locals On Vermi-Composting

Agrikalikasan Launches Organic Fertilizer Production Plant

The provincial local government unit and the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries - Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in coordination with the BSWM conducted a three day hands-on-training on vermi-composting and launched the organic fertilizer production plant at Ragayan Na-tional High School compound at the Munici-pality of Poona Bayabao last April 23, 2009. Agrikalikasan program coordinator Abdulsalam S. Batao, Center Chief for the Province of Lanao del Sur, said the training aims to enhance the participants’ knowledge in composting utilizing biodegradable wastes through application of Trichoderma har-zianum, a compost fungus activator (CFA). The three day training was high-lighted with series of lectures/discussions on compost production, Trichoderma preparation, Soil Test Kits and vermi composting technology. The speaker/lecturers were Leovenilda Fernandez, Josephine Nana, Abulsalam Batao and Ga-mal V. Mamangcao from DSAC-NASSA CBCP Balo-I, Lanao del Norte. The activity gathered more than 50 persons coming from six municipalities of Lanao del Sur. Other highlights were the hands-on uses of shredder machines and vermin-composting procedures.

Mayor Lampa I. Pandi, of Poona Bayabao in his message stressed that the organic based program agrikalikasan is one of the key component on the full implemen-tation of agricultural programs that makes use of organic fertilizer as the government intervention on the continuously increasing price of oil based fertilizers.

Teodoro R. Bersabe SWAC, DAF ARMM

Locals are being trained by BSWM Laboratory personnel on Trichoderma preparation. 

Agri-K conducts Q1 Assessment

Workshop The Support System for Tipid-Abono Fertilization “Agri-Kalikasan” Program funded under the RP-Japan Increased Food Production Grant (2KR) conducted its 1st Quarter Review, As-sessment, and Planning Workshop at Puerto Princesa City, Palawan last April 27-30, 2009. The workshop was partici-pated by all the Soil and Water Area Coordinators (SWACs), Agri-Kalikasan Technical Secretariat Head Ms. Mer-cedes S. Fernando and staff, Dr. Lauro G. Hernandez, and other BSWM person-nel.

The Provincial Agriculturist of Palawan, Engr. Teresita Guian gave a brief welcome address and encouraged the participants to enjoy the sceneries of the province. In behalf of Dr. Silvino Q. Tejada, Dr. Hernandez gave a message and spoke of the relevance of the work-shop to come up with a comprehensive and updated assessment of the Program. Ms. Feriola Serrano led the presentation with the Socio-economic impact and assessment of the Program, and fol-lowed by presentations of each of the SWACs.

The salient points that were tackled during the said workshop in-clude the status and progress of the ac-tivities under the Agri-Kalikasan Pro-gram, and the validation of proposed implementation areas under the new project of BSWM, the Organic Fertilizer Production Project. The output of the workshop was the overall program as-sessment, the constraints being encoun-tered, the data that needs to be taken, and the compromise of each SWAC to fast track all data gathering and report preparation.

As a follow-up for the work-shop held in Palawan last April, a meet-ing involving all the SWACs, the socio-economic survey team, and the Agri-Kalikasan Technical Secretariat head

and staff was conducted last June 09, 2009 at the BSWM Lecture Room 2.

Topics regarding the socio-economic impact assessment of the pro-gram was tackled, the report preparation

for the Field Demonstration of Different Organic Trials under the Agri-Kalikasan Program, and the scheme of distribution of the Composting Facility technology package to the Luzon area.

Maria Luisa C. Tabing

Participants readies their reports during the workshop. (Top Left) Dr. Lauro G. Hernan‐dez handing certificates together with Ms. Mercedes Fernando. 

April - June 2009 Page 5

the need to examine comprehensively the gaps, issues, and constraints encountered in the implementation of Philippine NAP 2004-2010) and address these in the updated Phil-ippine Nap (2008-2018). They also sug-gested determining specific problem areas where resources could be directed to achieve significant results or improvements. This consultation workshop is a first in the series of workshops that will be conducted in the next two months. To kick off the updating process, 26 stakeholders from the national government, regional gov-ernment, academe and NGOs participated in the actual consultative workshop. The work-shop was divided into three sessions with the following objectives: a) to validate/ solicit inputs on past, current/ continuing efforts related to Phil NAP (2004-2010) and b) to generate commitments of stakeholders in the preparation and implementation of Phil NAP (2008-2018). Based on the outputs generated from the workshop, these objectives were met successfully.

Karen Salandanan

BSWM Observes... (Continued from page 1)

ISRIS Staff attend the ESRI Asia-Pacific User Conference 2009

The Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (ESRI), a US-based company focused on producing GIS products, sponsored the participation of three ISRIS Staff to this year’s Asia Pacific User Conference in Singapore held on 19-23 January 2009. Together with more than 300 participants from the Asia Pacific Region, the ISRIS contingent composed of Ms. Juliet Manguerra, Mr. Andrew Flores and Mr. Irvin Samalca explored GIS technology, shared technical knowledge and learned about the latest technical updates from ESRI, as well as the best practices in the GIS industry.

ISRIS Group

ISRIS Staff at Suntec Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Centre. 

OFSP Phase I Conducts Farmers’ Field Day in Six Provinces

As a culminating activity of the Organic Fields Support Program (OFSP): Phase I, Farmers’ Field Days were carried out in six provinces from March-May 2009: Alaminos City, Pangasinan (March 31); Guimba, Nueva Ecija (May 29); Samal and Dinalupihan, Bataan (April 18); Naujan, Oriental Mindoro (April 18); Baao, Camari-nes Sur (April 28) and Tabaco City, Albay (April 17). Spearheaded by the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement in coopera-tion with the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM), one of the highlights of the Field Day was the graduation of a total of 654 farmers marking the completion of their season-long training on organic rice production, nature farming and organic fertil-izer production technologies. Present during the graduation ceremony were officials from BSWM, PRRM, local government and other partner NGOs in the project sites who handed over the certificate of training com-pletion to farmer-trainees.

Another major activity of the Field Day was the crop cut/harvesting of rice grown under pure organic and conventional production systems in the Learning Farms. Guided by BSWM staff on proper sampling strategy, farmers harvested the crop cut area and measured the grain yield and biomass. Like-wise, a Focus Group Discussion was also conducted to give farmers an opportunity to share their enhanced knowledge and lessons learned from the season-long training and actual hands-on experience on organic rice production in learning farms. The OFSP Phase I, a partnership between DA, BSWM and NGOs within the Go Organic Philippines Network, sought to generate awareness and broad support on pure organic farming and to train and en-hance the capabilities of farmers on sustain-able agriculture production systems. The project was officially completed in May 2009.

Karen Salandanan

SCMD Celebrates June as “Soil Conservation

Month”

In the celebration of June as Soil Con-servation Month, the Soil Conservation and Man-agement Division (SCMD), prepared various activities that began June 1, 2009. PHOTO EXHIBIT Photos of soil and water conservation technologies to highly disturbed soils and surface mining activities were exhibited at Soil Museum in observance of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) activity of the Bureau of Soils and Water Management. TREE PLANTING Tree planting was conducted on June 30, 2009 at the National Soil and Water Resources Research Station, San Ildefonso, Bulacan. About 180 seedlings of fruit-bearing trees (grafted mango and calamansi) and 200 mahogany seedlings were planted in approximately four to five hectares of land. BSWM employees coming from different divisions volunteered in this endeavor with the objective of rehabilitating the degraded watershed. Planting materials were provided by DA-RFU III and the Provincial Government of Bulacan. GUIDED FARM Aside from the existing Guided Farm Projects in the province of Bataan and Bulacan being monitored and supervised by the SCMD, about ten sites in the province of Abra and five sites in the island of Bohol are being planned for establishment as requested by various NGOs and LGUs. The project is aimed to protect and nurture our upland ecosystems by planting varieties of fruit-bearing trees as hedgerow crops and planting vegetables and annual crops in the alley areas in support of the food sufficiency program of the Department of Agriculture.

SCMD Staff

Page 6 BSWM Update

Living in the city or in a high-rise building and looking for a way to grow fresh vegetables, herbs and ornamentals but have lim-ited space? Try rooftop gardening! Rooftop gardening is an alter-native faming system of producing various crops such as vegetables, orna-mentals, medicinal plants, herbs and spices in an urban setting where grow-ing space is usually a problem. Unused rooftops can be an excellent area for growing your own ornamental plants, herbs and vegetables. The Soil and Water Resources Research Division is promoting urban agriculture, BSWM style - through its rooftop gardening techno demo project established in the greenhouse area lo-cated at the 4th floor of the BSWM building in Quezon City. The project serves as a show window for visiting students, farmers and researchers alike on how to effec-tively raise healthy food in the city. Techniques being showcased in the BSWM rooftop garden are simple yet effective; and can be adapted to most city dwellings. These include raising fresh, organic vegetables and herbs, and

Herbs, ornamentals and vegetables can be grown in recyclable styrofoam containers. 

ROOFTOP GARDENING

ornamentals in recyclable clay pots, plastic pails and styro-foam crates. Recycla-ble plas-tic bot-tles are also used as deco-rative hanging contain-ers for vegeta-bles and creeping ornamentals. There are also demonstra-tion areas for value- added tech-

BSWM STYLE Unused rooftops can be an excellent area for growing

your own ornamental plants, herbs and vegetables.

April - June 2009 Page 7

Drip irrigation and hydroponics were integrated in the vegetable production areas to promote 

water‐saving technologies. 

Value‐added technologies on  vermicomposting and mushroom 

production provide the necessary materials for organic fertiliza‐

tion of crops in the BSWM  rooftop garden. 

nologies such as vermicomposting and mushroom production using different agricul-tural wastes as substrates. Or-ganic fertilization is encouraged by using spent mush-room substrates and vermicasts as fertilizers for vegetables, herbs and ornamentals growing in the rooftop garden. The drip irrigation and hydroponics technologies were established in the area as an added feature to promote water - saving tech-nologies for vegetable production in the urban setting. Drip irrigation aims to promote efficient use of water in grow-ing vegetables and other crops. Hydro-ponics, popularly known as “soilless culture,” involves exposing plant roots directly to a nutrient solution. Lettuce, a

high value commercial crop, was used as the first test crop. Since growing your own vege-tables seems to be the best way in as-suring that what you eat is safe and healthy, visitors can learn a thing or two when they visit the BSWM rooftop gar-den. Who knows? Maybe someday, tak-ing a breath of fresh air will not neces-sarily mean taking a walk in the park, but going upstairs and enjoying it right at your very own rooftop garden!

Jacqueline S. Rojales

Senior Agriculturist

The project serves as a show window for visiting

students, farmers and researchers alike on how

to effectively raise healthy food in the city.

Page 8 BSWM Update

Ramat introduces modified carbonized rice hull (CRH)

production facility “I was staring at a mound of rice hull and I was thinking of the huge 4.5 metric tons of it thrown as agricultural waste every year. If only I could convert it into something useful.” This was how Dr. Ireneo B. Ramat came up with the Modified Carbonized Rice Hull (CRH) production facility. We sat down with an interview with Dr. Ramat about his latest breakthrough, solving problems of accumulated wastes, utilizing recycled materials and modifying the tech-niques of carbonizing. What was going through your mind when you were conceptualizing this facility? As what I’ve said, I am fond of recycling wastes and caring for the environment. What materials did you use for this?

First of course, you will need rice hull, 25-30 sacks. You will also be going to make an improvised chimney or the carbonizer made out of a steel drum cut into half, a G.I. pipe, three to four inches in diameter and a length of 48 inches. Punch the drum with 100 holes equally distrib-uted around it. Make sure that the chimney has perfora-tion at its base. A carbonizing area with a diameter of 3 meters is also important. How about the budget? For the materials, these are all recyclables. I just paid for the services of the workers that build the carbonizing area, few hollow blocks and a sack of cement. My esti-mate is roughly around 800-1000 pesos. Can you show us how to make the CRH? Sure. Here, first you have to make a fire out of wood or any combustible materials to the chimney in an upright position. Then cover the fire with the carbonizer. The rice hull will then be placed around the carbonizer until it reaches the top of the steel drum or at a height of one meter. For how many hours will you burn the rice hull? Four to five hours, the top of the pile will turn black. You have to pour water to extinguish the smoke and lower the temperature. Remember not to over burn the rice hull as it will become white ash. That easy? Yes. Just allow them to cool completely. Bag, seal and stock them in a safe, dry place.

For what purposes do you intend to use this CRH? CRH is a good moisture absorbent ma-terial that can absorb water up to twice its weight. It also acts as soil condi-tioner with 40-60 sacks for every hec-tare of land and can be used in the pro-duction of organic fertilizers. For plant propagation, it is a good base material for soilless medium and prevents snail infestation. It is also an effective litter medium for poultry and medium for mi-croorganisms. Plus, it can be used as charcoal for fuel, as pest control agent, a smudging agent and as medicine for diarrhea. Are you planning to commercialize this? (Flashes a wide grin), Maybe.

*Dr. Ramat is the Supervising Agricul-turist and Head of the Soil Fertility and Fertilizer Section of the Soil and Water Resources Research Division.

April - June 2009 Page 9

Known as the “Rice Granary of the Philippines,” the Province of Nueva Ecija has consistently bested all other rice produc-ing provinces in terms of total production and yield. In spite of this, the leading rice producer does not rest on its laurel as it con-tinuously formulate and implement relevant rice development programs to enhance rice farming productivity and profitability.

Field Stories:

Nueva Ecija goes full blast on MRC In a move to further improve the local rice industry, the Nueva Ecija Provin-cial Agriculture Office devised an integrated production support program for the 2nd Crop-ping Season 2008-2009. The local rice pro-gram was fashioned after the FIELDS Pro-gram of the Department of Agriculture. It is called “Ani ng Masaganang Uhay” or “AMU” after the initials of Gov. Aurelio

Matias Umali, but it is also referred to as the Barangay Rice Technology Demonstration Project.

The AMU program recognizes that development is not the exclusive domain of a single entity. Hence, a number of organiza-tions including national government agen-cies, local government units and the private sector are involve in the program planning and implementation. The entry point of the local FIELDS Program is a soft production loan provided by the Cooperative Bank of Nueva Ecija to cover inputs like seeds, fertil-izers and others. To ensure satisfactory yield for farmers participating in the project, the adoption of proven rice technologies was a condition for the soft loan. Related to this, the Modified Rapid Composting Technology (MRC), which is promoted nationwide by the Bureau of Soils and Water Management, is a major technology component of AMU. Thus, farmers who are burning their rice straws are not eligible for participation in the program. In fact, several municipalities have enacted local ordinances banning rice straw burning because local officials have become aware of the benefits of composting. The MRC technology was promoted to lessen the dependence of farmers to chemical fertiliz-ers, improve farmers’ profit, and ameliorate the natural balance of rice soils. Other condi-tions imposed by the AMU program are the use of hybrid seeds and the implementation of the Palay Check System. Certainly, the AMU Program is a remarkable achievement for all who joined in the undertaking. A record of 586 farmers across 26 towns and cities participated in the project covering an area of 1018 hectares. The total amount of loan released to farmers is more than 13 million pesos. As a motiva-tion to encourage rice farmers to aspire for high yields, the provincial government spear-headed the conduct of a contest for the high-est yield performance in rice, which was opened to all farmers of the province. The winners of the contest were given awards for their extra ordinary achievement. The AMU Program is a commend-able local effort in agricultural development. It pooled the resources and expertise of vari-ous entities to facilitate the improvement of an already outstanding rice production sys-tem. With the AMU Program led by the Nueva Ecija Provincial Agriculture Office, the province has not only fortified its posi-tion as the top rice producer of the country but also improved the chances of the Philip-pines in attaining rice sufficiency in the com-ing years.

Engr. Eduardo Alberto SWAC, Region III

Participation of various groups in the AMU Program (Nueva Ecija FIELDS Program)

Component Group/Entity Contribution F-ertilizer BSWM Modified Rapid Composting Technology

I-rrigation NIA Provision of water delivery schedules for cropping calendar

planning to ensure availability of irrigation water

E-xtension ATI Trainers' Training

Philrice Palay Check System, rice production technology

LGU FFS, training of farmers

L-oans Coop Bank of Nueva Ecija Provision of production loans

D-ryers BPRE Provision of flatbed dryers

S-eeds seed companies Ensure availability of quality hybrid seeds

NFA Procurement of produce

PLGU, DA RFU III Coordination and integration of resources

Farmers  inspect  their  palay  during  the  MRC  harvest 

festival at Brgy. Baluga, Talavera, Nueva Ecija. 

Vermi-Composting in Dalwangan One of the main programs of the government thru the Department of Agricul-ture is organic fertilization and one source of this is vermi-composting. In support to this program, the National Highland Soil and Water Resources Research and Demonstration Center in Dalwangan, Bukidnon constructed vermi shades with nipa roofing and concrete beds. Station personnel aim to produce a crop specific vermi-cast. This is to cater the nutrient requirements of a specific crop, leafy vegetables in particular since leafy vegetables are easily grown in the station. This project activity aims to establish/determine the relationship between the substrate used to the organic nutrient content of the vermi-cast. The project makes use of the available materials in the station like corn cobs, farm wastes, weeds and leguminous leaves of trees. To date, the project is still in the pre-decomposition process of the substrate. Trichoderma is applied to hasten the proc-ess of pre-decomposition. Vermi is expected to be introduced in the substrate by mid-dle of July. Station personnel are hoping for a positive result of the on-going project. Col-lected vermi-cast will then be subject for analysis for nutrient content.

Gemma Vacalares

Vermi shades are being put up in Dalwangan to produce specific vermi cast. 

Page 10 BSWM Update

Director Silvino Q. Tejada thanked the entire BSWM family and also the friends of the Bureau who graced the occasion, and told them he was very happy that they are all present. He then introduced the guest speaker, Hon. Engineer Proceso J. Alcala, Representative of the Second District of Quezon and the Lead Convenor of Organic Agriculture Program. Rep. Alcala announced that many congressmen are already pushing for organic agriculture in the country. “I firmly believed that may pag-asa pa ang Pilipinas,” he reiter-ated. He also boasted of the technical assis-tance BSWM has provided to the farmers of Quezon province and is now reaping divi-dends.

Following the addresses of the guests was the awarding to the most out-standing employees of the year. For the su-pervisory technical, Mr. Victorcito V. Ba-biera (Research Division); Mr. Sonia M. Salguero (BAC) for the supervisory non-technical; for non-supervisory technical, Mr. Joven P. Espineli (ALMED) and Mr. Jose D. Manguerra (SCMD); and for the non-supervisory admin technical we have Ms. Armelyn C. Galicia, Ms. Ma. Cecilia C. Mo-reno and Mr. Ulysis M. Latoza. Special awards were given to Ms. Mercedes S. Fer-nando, Mr. Rodelio B. Carating, Mr. Marc Gil A. Mangrobang, Mr. Ryan P. Sanchez, Ms. Vilma M. Quimson, Ms. Florfina P. Sanchez. The Group award was handed out to the Cashier Section. The Research Division was ad-judged the winner of the dance competition while the Administration garnered the sec-ond place. Mr. Paolo Suministrado won the BSWM Idol, another highlight of the cele-bration. Engr. Samuel M. Contreras, chief of the Soil Conservation Division, was this year’s overall chairman of the celebration.

Baldwin M. Pine Aurora M. Manalang

Soil Con Hosts... (Continued from page 1)

Soil Conservation staff performing their dance steps during the BSWM Anniversary.  

BSWM Intensifies SSIP Monitoring and Training of Farmer Beneficiaries

In order to sustain the use of Small Scale Irrigation Project (SSIP) in the country, two-day training seminars were conducted in different locations for farmer beneficiaries to acquaint them on how to use their irrigation efficiently. Farmers were organized and guided on how to register their association for them to legitimize their organization. Included in the seminar are Institutional Development, Operation and Maintenance of SSIP, Basic Leadership and Technical Skills Training. Field visitation is also included in order to address the problems on their irrigation facilities. From April to June, farmers training were conducted in the provinces of Bulacan, Mindoro Oriental, Romblon, and Zamboanga Sibugay. Trainors of the said trainings are headed by the Officer In Charge of Water Use Management Section (WUMS) Ms. Elsa B.Manango together with the Institutional Officers (IO) of the division. To facilitate the project implementation of SSIP, a monitoring team from WRMD was sent to Antique, Camarines Sur, Masbate, Bohol, Romblon, Palawan and Zamboanga Del Norte to conduct ground assessment of the project. Local officials and farmer organizations were briefed regarding the actual status of SSIP and the activities to be conducted during and after the completion of the project. The municipalities cov-ered in Camarines Sur were Baao, Bombon, Calabanga, Libmanan, Minalabac, Ti-gaon, and Lagonoy. Most of the projects are due for bidding and for future implemen-tation. Ongoing projects in Bohol, Romblon and Zamboanga Provinces are closely monitored. Two teams were off to Palawan to monitor the status of the identified pro-

jects in the southern portion of the prov-ince. Among the mu-nicipalities covered were Aborlan, Narra. Quezon, Española and Rizal. Project site in Narra was also visited for the water source of the possible irrigation of some 200 hectares of rice farm. This is vital for the need of the low lying farmers in the community.

Leilani Naga Ms. Rosmelinda Reforma of the WRMD on one of the field visitation to site of water source for irrigation. 

April - June 2009 Page 11

BSWM honors two BAC employees Two among the Bids and Award Committee (BAC)/Procurement Unit members were awarded during the 58th Bureau of Soil and Water Management (BSWM) Anniversary last June 5, 2009. They were Sonia M. Salguero, Supervising Agriculturist and Ma. Cecilla C. Moreno, Agri-culturist I, who were honored as outstanding employees for Supervisory Non-Technical and Non-Supervisory for Administrative Support, respec-tively.

A Glimpse at the Awardees Ma. Cecilia C. Moreno Procuring process is not as easy as buying candy at your nearest store or loading up your cell phones at your neighborhood or co-worker,

rather it is as complicated as operating human anatomy for it needs attention, accuracy and mastery of the right procedure. This is how “Mama Cel,” as we called her, top secrets for her job well done. According to her, a to-do-list form guides her to accomplish the day to day needed docu-ments and reminds her of the scheduled meetings and activities. “I always keep to date the recent issuances and guidelines of the procurement” she said. The said Unit accepts at least 15 Purchase Request (PR) almost every day. It is the start of the procuring process that will be followed by deliberation, posting, publication up to releasing or awarding depending on the mode of procurement used. Who will not get baffled handling all of these things? Only her. As what the cliché tells us, one bad apple spoils the whole bunch, hence, it is of great help to give an eye for each of the documents and there should be no room for mistakes. As a vital division in the Bureau, procurement unit necessitates manpower who has keen to details and who can process the acquisition of goods and services at the right time and at the right place for the direct benefit of the divisions or individuals. To mention, she is a member of BAC Secretariat since 1999, was assigned as contractual at the office of the Auditor in 1998 where she was tasked to consolidate and arrange the suspensions and disallowances of BSWM and as Clerk II at the Property Unit in 2000.

At the age of 33 and a mother of two, she worth the price of being distinguished in the agency she is working for ten years. She even mentioned that if given a chance, she will conduct training for administrative personnel enabling them to understand the procurement process. She is a graduate of Bachelor of Arts Major in Sociology at University of Santo Tomas and earned her Masteral Degree in Management at Trinity College.

Sonia M. Salguero

As a second time awardee of the agency where she got her first award as Out-standing Supervising Soil Technologist dur-ing the 34th Anniversary of BSWM in 1985, she constantly enhanced her career even after she was demoted from Chief of Soil Fertility Investigation Section (SFIS), Soil Fertility Division, already abolished division, to Agri-culturist II of Water Resources Management Division (WRMD). One of her contributions as a chief of SFIS was the Azolla Management and its Utilization in Agriculture, where she first introduced it in the Bureau. With her very strong personality, she said that she was not even discouraged not to persevere and bring back what she had lost. “Of course, I was hurt of my demotion and my goal back then was to get back my position,” she added. Challenged, she applied at Univer-sity of the Philippines, Diliman Campus and got her Diploma in Development Economics way back 1989 to 1990 and later applied and accepted for scholarship and earned her Mas-ter of Philosophy in Agriculture Economics at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand in 1993 to 1995. As determined Filipino student abroad she founded the Massey University Filipino Association, an organization that promotes the welfare of the Filipino studying and working abroad and that exists until

now. In 2001 she was promoted as Sen-ior Agriculturist and a year after was again an impressive achievement where she was promoted as Supervising Agriculturist until now. At the age of 54, she is the head of BAC Secretariat, Co-Chairman of Technical Working Group (TWG) Los Baños Project, and member of Bureau of Soil and Water Management Employees Association (BSWMEA), where she became a two-term president. She properly designates the work tasks to her staffs to meet deadlines and to avoid rushing of works. At times of work pressure and anxiety, she gets her comfort zone in praying hard and submitting herself to Him. She read inspirational and person-ality growing books as well to release the ten-sion especially at work. “There should be basis of everything, every statement and every decision made. I identify pros and cons so that no one will question me,” she added in a stiff manner. Aside from an agricultural research coordinator, project leader, resource person,

she once became an instructor in her Alma Matter at Araneta University Foundation where she was a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, Major in Soils, for two years full-time position. And she still had given a part time load even already working in the bureau but still resigned due to hectic schedules. Indeed, life is really a roller coaster for her, but in fact she is just building a more exciting, unique, ride experiences that no one, if not all, could ever endure.

Ginalyn S. Rivera

Ms. Ma. Cecilia Moreno flanked by Cong. Alcala, Asec. Olalia and Director Tejada. 

Ms. Sonia Salguero accepting the plaque for being an out‐standing employee in supervisory non‐technical category. 

Page 12 BSWM Update

BSWM UPDATE BUREAU OF SOILS AND WATER MANAGEMENT

Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City Articles and other contributions should be sent to editorial

office located at ISRIS, c/o the BSWM Update Editor

- - - CORRESPONDENTS THIS ISSUE

Janet Operario, Maria Angelita Esguerra, Eugene Briones, Sharon de Vera, Teodoro Bersabe, Jenny Anne Perlado, Maria Luisa C. Tabing, Jacqueline S. Rojales, Gemma

Vacalares, Karen Salandanan, Eduardo Alberto, Aurora Manalang, Leilani Naga, Ginalyn S. Rivera,

Ariel Almeda, Baldwin Pine, Andy Evangelista, ISRIS Group, ALMED and SCMD Staff

- - -

Aurora M. Manalang

Editor

Lyndon John L. Alcantara Associate Editor/Layout Artist

Rodelio B. Carating

Asst. Dir. Wilfredo E. Cabezon Director Silvino Q. Tejada

Editorial Advisers

Lab/Soil Con snares over-all crown

The Red Team composed of the Laboratory Services Division and Soil Conservation Management Division took home the overall championship of the 3rd Tejada Cup at the conclusion of events last May 28, 2009.

Red Team captured first place in volleyball, chess and table tennis events that scored the team 80 points fol-lowed by the Green Team (Director’s Office, Administration TIDS, ISRIS and ALMED) with a total of 60 points. Blue (Cartography and Water) and Yellow (Soil Survey and Re-search) teams were tied for 3rd place. The red team received a cash prize of P 6,000.00 and the overall trophy. This year’s Summer Sports Festival started April 21, 2009. Other sporting events included in the tourney were darts and badminton. The hosts for this year’s staging was the Soil Conservation Management Division in cooperation with the BSWM Employees Association.

Baldwin Pine Ariel Almeda

Omaña, Bura retire from service

The Cartographic Operations Divisions said goodbye once again to one of its staff with the retirement from government service of their “Papsy,” Mr. German Omaña. As a fitting gift and testimonial for his long service at the Bureau, Dr. Lauro G. Hernandez and the entire Carto staff held a party for Mr. Omaña last May 29, 2009 at the Carto office. Several friends and well-wishers of Mr. Omaña from other Divi-sions as well as BSWM retirees like Mr. Cresencio Solano and Mr. Marcelo Crisostomo also took part in the celebration. Best wishes to Mr. Omaña!

Jose Bura or ”Mang Joe” started his journey at the Bureau of Soils and Water Management at the age of 31. His dedication and passion in extending his knowledge to our small farmers was emulated by other Soil Conservation Management Division staff. Retirement does not end but starts new pages in life. Pages, where new activi-ties are to be listed with no rush hours, no supervisors and no early morning wake up.

Best wishes to Papsy and Mang Joe!

Baldwin Pine Ariel Almeda Boni dela Cruz of Soil Conservation tries to score on a set up during the cham‐

pionship game of the Volleyball event against Research Division. 

Mr. German Omaña enjoys the party treated to him by Carto officemates. Bura (top) and Omaña led this year’s batch of retirees.