April 2023 Vol. XXXIX No.
04 ISSN 2984-6579
BAPTC hopes to a�ract
Featured Stories more trading
Marcos admin rolls out plan to
mi�gate impact of El Niño, reac�vates
inter-agency El Niño Task Force
With the foreseen onset
of El Niño by July–September,
the Department of Agriculture
(DA) will further strengthen
measures, including the
reactivation of an inter-agency
El Niño Task Force to mitigate
the potential effects of the
phenomenon to the agriculture
and fisheries sector.
Under the administration
of President Ferdinand R.
Marcos Jr., the government
will put up more water-
related infrastructure such as
hydroelectric power plants,
flood control projects, and
irrigation systems.
An overall plan to change
the way water supply
PBBM awards
P558.95-M worth
of interven�ons for
farmers in Central Luzon
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led the awarding of
interven�ons amoun�ng to P558.95 million (M) for farm
mechaniza�on and moderniza�on to improve food security levels
in the Central Luzon provinces of Bulacan and Nueva Ecija.
The Chief Execu�ve, who concurrently heads the Department of
Agriculture also stressed the importance of making the agriculture
and fisheries sector the center of his administra�on’s plans and
programs, because of thesector’s cri�cal role in the recovery and
growth of the economy.
“Sa inyong malaking kontribusyon sa agrikultura ng bansa,
taos-puso kaming nagpapasalamat sa inyong lahat sa inyong
The sweet smell of success An�que co-op showcases
from Davao's durian best prac�ces vs. ASF
is acquired will also be
undertaken, according to the
DA, which is headed by the
chief executive.
Under the 2023 El Niño
Mitigation and Adaptation
Plan, the DA will set in
motion strategies that aim
to lessen the impact of El
Niño on the agriculture and
fishery industries and restore
productivity in affected areas.
The Philippine Atmospheric,
Geophysical and Astronomical
Services Administration
(PAGASA), an attached agency
of the Department of Science
and Technology (DOST), had
earlier said the El Niño may
persist until 2024.
Vol. XXXIX No. 04
BAPTC hopes to a�ract more trading
by Kristel Joyce Merle | Photos by Gian Carlo Luague
Eight years ago, the Benguet
Agri Pinoy Trading Center
(BAPTC) in La Trinidad started
its trading operation.
It was envisioned as the
country’s major trading hub
for highland vegetables
equipped with a processing
plant and cold storage,
commercial spaces, warehouses,
and post-harvest facilities.
The four-hectare facility
was built with the intention
of modernizing farmers'
access to global markets,
constructing avenues for
farmers and consumers to have
better market access through
participatory, capability
building, and the provision of
innovative technologies and
quality facilities.
Currently, it is governed by
a Project Steering Board (PSB)
comprised of the Department
of Agriculture (DA) secretary
as chair, the Benguet State
Aggie Trends | April 2023 2
Feature
University (BSU) president as
vice-chair, and the Benguet
provincial governor, La Trinidad
municipal mayor, Benguet
district congressman,
and representative of the
Benguet farmers leaders'
council as members.
Since its operation started,
the trading center has attracted
an increasing number of traders.
Rosemarie Balbosa, a
farmer-trader, said that the
center can meet their space
requirements for cleaning,
"
sorting, and packing their
Sa totoo lang mas gusto namin
dito kaysa doon sa luma [La Trinidad
Trading Post (LTTP)] kasi mas
spacious, lalo kami sa cauliflower,
iyong pag-trim sa mga dahon.
ROSEMARIE BALBOSA (FARMER-TRADER)
products, which will then be
distributed to Metro Manila and
other nearby marketplaces.
During harvest season,
she explained that they were
able to unload four trucks full
with cauliflowers, each truck
weighing 2,000 kilograms.
“Sa akin, tama lang din
naman ang presyuhan nila dito.
Pareho lang din naman ang bili
nila sa LTTP kasi iyong ahente
dito at ahente doon nagbabase
lang din sila sa isa’t isa. May
ilan lang na nag-iikot talaga
para sa mas mura,” she added.
"
April 2023
Rosemarie is one of many
farmer-traders who are hoping
that BAPTC would soon expand
its services, particularly in terms
of marketing their produce.
Improving BAPTC
Opera�ons
Last month, DA officials
together with the BAPTC
management inspected the
Center's operations.
The trading process usually
begins between 5 and 7 a.m.,
although farmers only unload
their produce by 12 noon.
During the inspection,
Assistant Secretary Rex
Estoperez stressed that the
trading post should harmonize
and improve the efficiency
of the center to bring more
income and profit to farmers in
the long term.
He added that BAPTC should
institutionalize its system by
establishing its standard
Vol. XXXIX No. 04
operating manual, as well as
reviewing its marketing systems.
Apart from its operating
system, Estoperez said that the
facility should fast track the
installation of a three-phase
electricity connection in order
to operationalize postharvest
facilities within the center,
improve space utilization, and
reduce building maintenance
and operating expenses.
In line with the plan to
transform BAPTC into a
corporation, he said it needs to
return to its original objective of
being run by a farmer federation.
“I challenge all farmers to
federate, start it now,” he said.
For DA-CAR Regional
Technical Director Jennilyn
Dawayan, the BAPTC and LTTP
should complement their services.
“We rather want the
services of BAPTC getting
better, so that, on their own,
they will transfer here. Kung
" tourists including
We need
to identify the
systems that
we have to
improve and let
us harmonize our
actions so there
would be no
competition from
the other trading
centers.
"
DA-ASEC. REX ESTOPEREZ
April 2023
Feature
makikita nila na mas efficient Next tourism
ang operation dito. We’re also des�na�on
having information that in Once the facility systems
terms of carrots and potatoes, are in place, BSU Vice President
mas gusto na nila (traders and of University Business Affairs
farmers) dito,” Dawayan said. and newly appointed BAPTC
Dawayan stressed instead
of competing with the LTTP,
Chief Operating Officer Norma
Banania believes that the facility
"
the BAPTC should develop can be turned into a tourism site. Let’s give
goods that are distinct from To achieve this, Banania said
the other post. She suggested that the facility must be fully us a chance to
that LTTP reconsider its original operational, fix the traffic area
agreement that it would be and accreditation of traders prove that we
the selling area for coffee,
strawberries, organic products,
and trackers, and align its
regulations and policies
are sincere in this
and cutflowers. with LTTP. endeavor, we are
trying to dress
up BAPTC to be
included in the
tourism circuit of
La Trinidad so we
can also attend
to our local
international,
if there are, to
come to BAPTC
and appreciate
what the farmers
of Benguet and
nearby provinces
can offer.
NORMA BANANIA "
(BSU VP & BAPTC CHIEF
OPERATING OFFICER)
Aggie Trends | April 2023 3
Vol. XXXIX No. 04 April 2023
Story of the Month

The sweet smell of success

from Davao's durian
by Gumamela Celes Bejarin | Photos by Joseph Henry Elamparo

Dubbed as the durian capital of the Philippines, the City of

Davao in Mindanao has always been associated with the large,
spiky, and notoriously strong-smelling fruit icon.
However, due to the limited market for durian and its
oversupply, the durian farmers used to sell their produce at
unprofitable prices.
“Medyo nahirapan kami sa journey dahil noong 15 years ago,
halos itatapon lang namin iyong durian. Walang bumibili e dahil
may oversupply nga. As we know, hindi naman lahat sa Pilipinas
kumakain ng durian,” Durian Industry Association of Davao City
(DIADC) President and Belviz Farms owner Emmanuel Belviz said.
He inherited the farm from his father who started planting
durian in the early ’90s after visiting Thailand and seeing successful
durian farmers there.
Eng Seng Food Products CEO John Tan, on the other hand,
recalled how he was also inspired to invest in the local durian
industry.
“Napansin ko durian farmers sa Thailand, maganda ang buhay
dahil maganda ang presyo nila. Pagbalik ko sa Davao, syempre
napansin kong mura ang presyo natin lalo kapag peak season,
mura masyado. Naisip ko bakit hindi tayo mag-export?” Tan shared.
Belviz, who is an agriculture graduate, upgraded their family
farm by professionalizing it and applying for the Philippine Good
Agricultural Practices (PhilGAP) Certification.
“Para maayos namin iyong mga process namin sa farm, iyong
quality ng farm by following the GAP principles. Maka-ensure
kami na food safe iyong mga products na napo-produce namin
and high quality,” he said.
He added that they practice planned and centralized
management systems for their farms and conduct technology
As a hardcore durian lover, Tan
believes that the best tasting and
quality durian does not come from
the factory or the processing facility,
but it starts from the farm. He
swears that quality control should
be the number one consideration to
produce export-grade durian.
sharing activities with small farmers, especially the DIADC
members.
Belviz also continues to learn new technologies in durian
production, postharvest, and other value chain components by
tapping big brothers in neighboring durian-producing countries.
He said that the Philippines can learn from their fully irrigated
farms and updated technologies like precision agriculture that can
pinpoint needed inputs for optimum growth, quality, and volume.
Following the fruit export deal secured by President Ferdinand
R. Marcos Jr. during his state visit in China and the initial export of
56,000 kilograms of durian to China early this month, Belviz, Tan,
and the other local durian stakeholders have been optimistic.
They are now beefing up their production to meet at least

Aggie Trends | April 2023 4

Vol. XXXIX No. 04
Story of the Month
John Tan and Glena Ponce Tan
Eng Seng Food Products CEO
April 2023
"
This is a good chance na ang
mga farmers, lalo na mga backyard
farmers, will learn how to produce
good quality na globally competitive
na durian fruits.
EMMANUEL BELVIZ
"
Emmanuel Belviz
Durian Industry Association of Davao City
President and Belviz Farms owner
54,000 metric tons of annual export to China with the help of the
Department of Agriculture (DA) and the local government units
(LGUs), among other partners.
“Pinakalamaking market ng durian ang China kaya very excited
kami,” Tan said.
Belviz, on the other hand, takes the new market as both a
challenge and a blessing, because finally local durian will have
a good price and a big market, but it will also require increased
production of high-quality fruits.
He is positive that the Philippines has a big potential in the
export market especially with the local durian varieties such
as Puyat, Duyaya, and D101 that have golden yellow flesh and
pleasant taste.
He said that to maximize the country’s new export market, it
has to expand, and the DA should continue training and assisting
farmers to improve their production through the PhilGAP, proper
fertilization, and proper nutrient management, among others.
Belviz also predicts a bright future for the Philippine
durian industry.
“I encourage everyone to plant more durian, especially iyong
sa mga areas na tinamaan ng fusarium (wilt). I think this can be a
great opportunity to shift to durian. In the future, maybe in five
or ten years from now, this (durian) industry will be bigger than
the banana industry. We hope and pray that this will grow and
help the Philippine economy,” Belviz claimed.
Aggie Trends | April 2023 5
Vol. XXXIX No. 04
Technology and Innovations
According to the World
Organisation for Animal
Health (WOAH), the African
Swine Fever (ASF) is a highly
contagious disease among pigs
with a 100 percent mortality
rate. The virus is capable of
surviving on surfaces and pork
products, making it easily
transmissible across borders
through human activities if
not monitored and prevented
immediately. In fact, the
National African Swine Fever
Prevention and Control
Program (NASFPCP) of the
Department of Agriculture-
Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-
BAI) reported that since the
" from their main market in
Nagpapasalamat talaga kami
sa DA. With open arms sila kung
tumulong sa amin. Sa tinagal-tagal
ko na ring kasama ang DA, nandoon
lagi ang tulong nila sa amin.
ELMA PEÑA
Aggie Trends | April 2023 6
ASF outbreak in the latter part
of 2019, the ASF has already
affected 4,422 barangays
nationwide.
Hog production in the
country has presented a steady
decline from 2.297 million
metric tons (MMT) in 2019 to
just 1.696 MMT, liveweight in
2021. The year 2022, however,
saw a glimmer of hope for the
hog industry as the Philippine
Statistics Authority (PSA)
reported 1.737 MMT liveweight
of swine production in the
country—12.4 percent of which
came from Western Visayas
as the second top swine-
producing region.
"
An�que co-op showcases
best prac�ces vs. ASF
by Krystelle Ymari Vergara| Photos by Ardy Tompong
Contributing to this growing
success is the Sibalom Livestock
and Poultry Raisers Association
(SILPRA), a 602-member strong
organization in Antique. Since
its conception in 2018, the
group has risen to become
one of the province’s top
swine producers with a sow
productivity level of 1,890.
SILPRA President Elma Peña,
a 63-year-old hog farmer who is
also Chairman of the Provincial
Agricultural and Fishery Council
(PAFC), recalled how the active
ASF cases in the Panay Island
and the community lockdowns
during the Covid-19 pandemic.
It resulted in restricted access
Boracay, oversupply of pork
in Antique, and huge losses to
local hog farmers.
As an accredited farmers’
association under the DA-Farm
and Fisheries Clustering and
Consolidation (F2C2) Program,
SILPRA became one of the
agency’s beneficiaries. Aside
from the P500,000 capital and
a hauling truck for their hog
trading, the association also
benefited from the market
linkage provided by the DA
Regional Field Office VI -
Agribusiness and Marketing
April 2023
Assistance Division. This
allowed them to transact in
Luzon and other areas outside
of Panay.
Peña also shared how the
feed mill they received from
the DA-National Livestock
Program (NLP) also put a stop
to swill feeding practices and
provided more income to local
corn farmers through SILPRA’s
feed production.
To maintain Sibalom’s
ASF-free status, SILPRA has
been conducting intensive
information campaigns since
the first ASF case was reported
in the Philippines. Farmers
and hog raisers are reminded
to ensure cleanliness and
biosecurity in their farms at
all times, stop swill feeding,
and monitor the health and
condition of their pigs regularly.
SILPRA also abides by the
DA’s guidelines on transporting
live hogs. Should a member’s
pig be suspected of being
infected with ASF, Peña proudly
revealed that their group
chat includes members of the
Municipal Veterinary Office
for prompt reporting and
coordination.
SILPRA’s best practices
align with the DA-BAI’s
Vol. XXXIX No. 04
Technology and Innovations
"
Huwag po tayong pabaya at
saka lagi po tayong alerto kasi
ito pong virus ng ASF, hindi po ito
basta-basta. Lahat po ng prevention
(measures) ay gawin natin para ma-
prevent ang pagpasok ng ASF.
DIR. PAUL LIMSON
recommended actions against
ASF.
Through its twin
programs—the heightened
ASF surveillance and control
under the Bantay ASF sa
Barangay (BABay ASF) and the
intensified hog repopulation
under the Integrated
National Swine Production
Initiatives for Recovery and
Expansion (INSPIRE)—the DA
successfully tested 10,932
laboratory samples, issued 257
Certificates of Free Status on
ASF, conducted 28 information
campaigns, and developed
and distributed thousands of
informative materials on ASF
just for 2023 alone.
As of April 11, 2023,
the NASFPCP reported 78
barangays with active ASF
cases—only 0.1 percent of the
"
42,046 barangays identified by
the PSA.
DA-BAI Director Paul
Limson assured that the
bureau, through NASFPCP,
remains committed to help
stakeholders in the swine
industry.
“We continue to work
with local government units,
government agencies, and
private and public stakeholders
to ensure that the program is
implemented at the grassroots
level. We also strive to improve
the program through constant
consultation with industry
experts and partners and
learn from best practices
which have been gained in
the implementation of the
program,” Director Limson
vowed.
Marcos admin rolls out plan... from page 1
Part of the government’s
masterplan to address El
Niño is to save the vulnerable
areas through appropriate
water management, while
irrecoverable areas will be
rehabilitated.
The DA will likewise
maximize the production
in non-threatened areas.
A massive information
dissemination across
locations will also be
undertaken.
To address the inevitable
consequences of El Niño for
the long term, the DA will
establish more small water
impounding projects and
diversion dams and strictly
PBBM awards.... from page 1
pagsisikap upang makakain
ang ating mga kababayan.
Bilang inyong pangulo ay
asahan ninyo na laging
susuportahan ang agrikultura
ng ating administrasyon,”
President Marcos said during
the distribu�on of agri
interven�ons on April 24,
2023 in the Science City of
Muñoz, Nueva Ecija.
The farmers’ coopera�ves
and associa�ons (FCAs)
and local government
units (LGUs) in Nueva Ecija
received assistance worth
P11-M from the DA-Rice
Program and P15.97-M from
the Philippine Center for
Postharvest Development and
Mechaniza�on (PHilMech)
Rice Compe��veness
Enhancement Fund (RCEF).
In addi�on, they received
interven�ons amoun�ng to
P80-M from the DA-High
Value Crops Development
Program (HVCDP),
P421.789-M from the DA-
April 2023
implement water management
activities. Moreover, pumps
and engine sets will be
positioned for tail-end areas.
The Disaster Risk Reduction
and Management Unit
(DRRMU) has also set up a
mitigation and adaptation plan
that includes the promotion
of drought-tolerant and early
maturing crop varieties,
organic fertilizer to increase
retention of soil moisture,
the adjustment of planting
calendar, and crop shifting.
The DA has already
identified hybrid varieties of
rice and other high value crops
that can be planted during dry
spells.
(Adora Rodriguez, DA-AFID)
Philippine Rural Development
Project (PRDP), P3.4-M from
the DA- Enhanced Kadiwa
Financial Grant Assistances
Program, and P11-M from the
DA-Livestock Program.
President Marcos also
launched another outlet of the
growing Kadiwa ng Pangulo
Program in San Jose del Monte
City, Bulacan and awarded agri
interven�ons amoun�ng to
P15.793-M for Bulacan FCAs on
April 19, 2023.
“Ginagawa namin ang lahat
upang tulungan kayo, ngunit
bukod pa doon, ginagawa
namin ang lahat upang hindi
na kayo mangailangan ng
tulong dahil meron na kayong
pinapatakbo na kaunting
hanapbuhay, meron na
kayong trabaho na maganda
na napapakain po ninyo ang
inyong pamilya, napapag-aral
ninyo ang inyong mga anak.
Iyan po ang layunin ng ating
pamahalaan,” the President
said. (Gumamela Celes
Bejarin, DA-AFID)
Aggie Trends | April 2023 7
Vol. XXXIX No. 04
Kalutong Pilipino
- A�n, kaya't
minamahal at
pinapagyaman
ni Ela Arciaga
Makulay, maalab, at
siyempre hindi mawawala:
malinamnam at masarap.
Ito ang ilan sa mga salitang
panlarawan tuwing sasapit
ang buwan ng Abril – kung
kailan ipinagdiriwang ang
Buwan ng Kalutong Pilipino o
Filipino Food Month (FFM) na
alinsunod sa Proklamasyon
Bilang 469, serye ng taong 2018.
Ngayong taon ay mas
pinaig�ng ang mensaheng ito
sa temang, “Pagkaing Sariling
A�n, Mahalin at Pagyamanin.”
Kabilang sa selebrasyon
ng FFM ang mga inihandang
pakulo ng Kagawaran ng
Pagsasaka (DA), Pambansang
Komisyon para sa Kultura at
mga Sining (NCCA), Kagawaran
ng Turismo (DOT), at Philippine
Culinary Heritage Movement
(PCHM).
Sa pamamagitan ng sining
(s�ll life pain�ng), musika
(Hapag ng Pamana: The
Concert), negosyo (Kadiwa),
edukasyon (KainCon, mga
cooking demo at iba’t iba
pang mga webinar o mga
workshop), naipakikilala sa
mga makabagong Pilipino ang
maraming klase ng lokal at
tradisyunal na pagkain.
Sa bahagi ng DA, makikita
ang kaugnayan ng FFM sa
mga industriya, magsasaka, at
agri-communi�es. Ayon kay
Engr. Zamzamin Ampatuan,
DA Undersecretary for Special
Concerns at Chairman ng DA
Na�onal Steering Commi�ee
para sa selebrasyon ng FFM
ngayong taon, “nalulunod
tayo sa globalisasyon at
importasyon, kung kaya’t
dapat na�ng tutukan ang
a�ng kaalaman tungkol sa
mga pagkaing Pilipino na
masasarap at hindi [rin naman]
nahuhuli sa klase ng pagkaing
magugustuhan ng lahat.”
Paglalahad pa ni Usec.
Ampatuan, ilan sa istratehiyang
magpapa�bay dito ay ang
paggamit ng elemento ng
turismo at pagtutok sa
produksyon ng mga agrikultural
na sangkap sa mga lutuing
Pilipino.
Mula naman sa isang
kasabihan sa Ingles, “People
who love to eat are always
the best people” o kung
ihahanay sa kaswal na salin sa
Tagalog, “Dabes (The best) ang
mga taong mahilig kumain,”
tunay ngang hindi mawawala
ang pagkahilig sa masarap
na pagkain. At sabi nga ang
pagmamahal ay hindi lamang
sa salita, ito ay sa gawa. Kung
kaya’t nagtapos man ang
isang buwan na paggunita,
marapat lamang na araw-
araw ay mana�ling buhay ang
pagpapayaman sa pagkaing
Pilipino na hindi dapat iwan sa
paglipas ng buwan ng Abril.
April 2023
Ba�d ba ninyo?
Ang Pinakbet na may
bagnet ng Ilocos
ni Marites Madera
Kaugnay ng pagdiriwang ng Buwan ng Kalutong Pilipino
ngayong taon na may temang, “Pagkaing Sariling A�n, Mahalin
at Pagyamanin,” isa sa mga layunin ng pamahalaan at ng
mga advocates mula sa pribadong sektor na pahalagahan,
pangalagaan, itaguyod ang mga kalutong Pilipino.
Isa ang pinakbet sa mga simple, masarap, at
masustansyang lutuin mula sa rehiyon ng Ilocos. Ito ay
pinagsama-samang gulay na nilahukan ng pritong isda o
inihaw o maaari rin ng sinangkutsang karne ng baboy o
bagnet (litson ng Ilocos) at �nimplahan ng bagoong na isda at
iniluluto hanggang sa medyo matuyo ang sabaw. Narito ang
paraan sa pagluluto ng pinakbet.
Mga sangkap:
6 talong na bilog, hina�
1 ampalaya, ginayat sa nais na sukat
1 bungkos ng sitaw, ginayat ng katamtamang haba
1 kamote, ginayat
10 okra
4 bunga ng malunggay, binalatan at ginayat
5 kama�s
1 sibuyas, ginayat
¼ kilo ng bagnet, ginayat ng pa-cubes
¼ tasa ng bagoong isda
Paraan ng pagluluto:
Magpakulo ng tubig sa kaserola.
Ibuhos ang bagoong isda at hayaang kumulo.
Ilagay ang kamote, okra, ampalaya, talong, sitaw,
bunga ng malunggay, sibuyas, kama�s at pakuluan
nang 15 minuto.
Idagdag ang bagnet at hayaang kumulo ng limang
minuto.
Tikman kung tama na ang �mpla.
Hanguin at ihain nang mainit.