From Envisioning to Actualizing- the Digitization of Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture

I would like to start with a striking statement from  Maxwell’s 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork, the” Law of the Niche” which says that “All players have a  place where they add the most value.” And this is exactly what is going to happen- the convergence of various line agencies which puts the right people into their strength zones will definitely bring out success for the attainment of the goals and objectives of the  Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) which purports to produce an electronic compilation of basic information on farmers, farm laborers, and fishermen, the target beneficiaries of agriculture-related programs and services.

This is perhaps the most awaited response to the lingering problems that beset the Philippine agriculture. We know for a fact that numerous tribulations are encountered by the Filipino farmers and fishermen. Accompanied by a lack of right knowledge to make the most out of their fields or catch, many Filipino farmers and fishermen are adhering to the traditions of the past, while wrestling problems of the present (not to mention the devastation brought about by climate change) and most probably attacking the emerging problems of the future. To make matters worse is the irony of seeing food producers suffering from hunger when harvest season has not yet come, since they had spent all their money on fertilizers and pesticides, while on the other hand, environmental problems had reduced our fishermen to lamentable state.

The grain of truth is this: “Filipino farmers and fishermen need not be poor. Filipino farmers and fishermen need not suffer. Filipino farmers and fishermen need not be tied to the bondage of poverty, True, in the past there had been solutions designed to alleviate their situation, but these farmers and fishermen were mere invisible faces. Their identity was not known. There was no record whom to assist. It was difficult to pin-point the exact persons who need direct assistance. Thus, there is an imperative need to know exactly whom to reach and where to reach them. In short, a reliable data base is essential.

However, problems must not stop us from looking for solutions. Management principles dictate that it does not need special talent to see problems, rather one has to think in terms of solutions in order to make a big difference. And the solution that has been crafted by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) is the conceptualization of the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture, otherwise known as  RSBSA.

As we all know, the RSBSA is a nationwide undertaking to list all farmers, farm laborers and fishermen and gather basic information about them, their household, farm and farming and/or fishing activities. With NSO as the statistical arm of the government and at the helm of this statistical undertaking, and with the combined efforts of the major agencies, specifically the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Agriculture, Department of Agrarian Reform, the establishment of the envisioned database is certainly possible. With our concerted efforts, we can provide government planners and policy makers bases for effective formulation of significant policies and programs for agricultural development. With our teamwork, the digitization of information of the database registry of farmers, farm laborers and fishers, our government can pursue its effort in promoting  transparency, accountability, participatory governance and strengthening of public relations.

Let us not forget the Chinese proverb which states that “behind an able man there are always other able men.” As stressed by Maxwell, “The truth is that teamwork is at the heart of great achievement. “

After all we owe those who are feeding all of us the genuine effort to assist them. 

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Reviewing NorMin's Agriculture Statistics

THERE is one statement which provokes one to ponder , and perhaps argue with one's inner self . I am referring to this line "Agriculture not only gives riches to a nation, but the only riches she can call her own."Definitely it is highly philosophical, but it is akin to another quotation which says : “Cultivators of the earth are the most valuable citizens. They are the most vigorous, the most independent, the most virtuous, and they are tied to their country and wedded to its liberty and interests by the most lasting bands."

If we were to reflect the Medium Term Development Plan (MTDP)  for 2011-2016 it states that “Agriculture is the bedrock of the rural economy. Agriculture is the major source of raw resources on which the rest of the economy depends. It accounts for 20 percent of the grossnational product, or one-fifth of the economy, while one-third of the population is employed inagriculture or agriculture-related industries."

However, there are several italicized lines from the MTDP which deserve one's contemplations such as the following statements describing our harvests: ... not enough to ensure long-term sustainability... not enough to improve overall rural welfare ...apparent lack of strategic focus of programs and projects.

However, contemplating is certainly not enough. We need statistics to support our plan. For instance, if we were to look at the population count as of the last census 2010, statistics will tell us that in Region 10 alone, we have a total population of 4,297,323 with a growth rate of 2.06. Translating this to mouths to be fed, we have to determine how many sacks of rice will be needed. This will bring us to this fact: "On the average, per person will consume two sacks of rice in one year.”

This is the reason why the Census on Agriculture and Fisheries (CAF) is deemed vital, for it will give us the information on how many farmers do we actually have in the Philippines, what is the size of their farm, do they own or rent the land, what crop or livestock or fishery product do they have and so on.We need data for agricultural and fisheries development in making meaningful decisions in the utilization of related resources, as basis for making production projections, as well as in measuring the progress in agriculture and fisheries.

Recalling the latest results of the CAF 2002, the number of farms in NorMin increased by 10.3 percent from 289.5 thousands in 1991 to 319.157 thousands in 2002.This is attributed to the large increase number of farms in Misamis Oriental. However  the total area of farms in the region decreased by 2.8 percent during the period mentioned. Moreover, the average size of farms decreased from 2.7 hectares per farm in 1991 to 2.3 hectares per farm in 2002. Agricultural Iand comprised 52.2 percent of the region's total land area.

Corn, which was grown in 175.6 thousand  farms with a total of 371.8 thousand hectares, was the major temporary crop in NorMin 2002. However, the area devoted to corn had decreased by 18.1per cent, that is, from 453.7 thousand hectares in 1991. The next major temporary crop was palay covering 103.3 thousand hectares in 52.5 thousand farms. In terms of number of trees /vines/hills, pineapple was the most important permanent crop in the region with 30.8 million hills as reported by 7.3 thousand farms. Pineapple was dominantly planted in Bukidnon due to the presence of Del Monte Pineapple Plantation. For other provinces, the top permanent crop planted  varies. Coconut was abundantly planted in Lanao Del Norte and Misamis Occidental while banana in Camiguin and Misamis Oriental.  

Nevertheless, we have to remember that Mother Earth is not the same Mother Earth that we used to have. Because of man’s abusive acts, Mother Earth is no longer that kind that kind that “you can just tickle her with a hoe and she laughs with a harvest.” The impact of climate change on agriculture could result in problems with food security and may threaten livelihood activities upon which much of the population depends. There is so much to be done, if we were to be serious in addressing our plan to make each and every  Filipino profitability productive. Thus, it is our hope that the statistics we bring to the nation planners after the CAF will not only improve our agriculture economy , but will also help in the cultivation and perfection of the human race. 

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The Portrait of NorMin’s Child Labor

THE paradoxical statement from William Wordsworth's Imitation of Immortality from Recollection of Early Childhood which states that " The Child is the Father of the Man" can never be underestimated; however, it can never be ignored that children are children. Their hands are not as strong as their parents' hands. Their eyes have not yet seen the world as their parents have had. Their feelings are tender and they need every chance to grow, to develop and become individuals who can be accountable for their actions. Thus, the much quoted Iines from Chile’s Nobel Prize winning poet, Gabriela Minstral, The child cannot wait... to him we cannot answer Tomorrow; his name is Today" credit more serious attention.

What then is the children situationer in the Philippines?

Child labor is one of the many disturbing problems in the Philippines whose incidence has increased by almost 30 percent from 4.2 million in 2001 to 5.5 million last year as revealed in the 2011 Survey on Children of the National Statistics Office (NSO). "Child labor” in this survey refers to the working children who reported to have worked in hazardous environment regardless of the number of hours they spent at work (Hazardous Child Labor), or those who have worked for long hours (more than 20 hours a week for children 5 to l4 years old and more than 40 hours a week  for children 15 to l7 years old) or "Other Child Labor. The rest of the working children are classified under "Not Child Labor” category.

Out of the 5.492 million working children, 58.4 percent or an estimated 3.210 million were considered as in child labor, while 41.6 percent or an estimated 2.283 million were considered not in child labor. Comparing between boys and girls statistics show that in every ten working children, six were boys while four were girls. Causing alarm to our nation planners are the findings that as young as 5 years old, statistics show an 8.2 percent of working children who belonged to the 5 to 9 years of age category, while 46.7 percent of the working children were 15 to 17 years old and 45.1 percent were 10 to 14 years old. More alarming are those identified working in hazardous work environment which registered 39.9 percent for those exposed to physical environment, 19.1 for those exposed to chemical and physical hazards and 13.7 percent for those exposed to combined chemicals, physical and biological hazards.

While it is every child’s right to obtain formal education, it is sad to note that for all age groups, there is still 29.9 percent reported not attending school, and out of the three age groups (5-9, 10-14, 15-17), 47.3 percent among those belonging to 15-17 years old were not attending school. Between the two sexes, there were more boys than girls among the children in hazardous labor who were attending school.

The root cause that triggered children to work is poverty. Those who were reported helping in own household-operated farm or business posted  42.2 percent while 30.0 percent were reported supplementing family income or working for family well-being.

What is the portrait of NorMin’s Child labor?

The 2011 Survey on Children (SOC) reveals an alarming statistics which show that in every ten children aged 5-17 years in Northern Mindanao (29.6%) were working. In the National Capital Region and in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, the ratio was only one in every ten children.

The implications show that poverty is the biggest push that has made children worked and to start working as soon as they can manage to handle work which is hazardous to their health and to their well-being. This calls for interventions to give the children the opportunity for education and of appropriate social, cultural, physical and psychosocial development.

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The Portrait of NorMin’s Child Labor

THE paradoxical statement from William Wordsworth's Imitation of Immortality from Recollection of Early Childhood which states that " The Child is the Father of the Man" can never be underestimated; however, it can never be ignored that children are children. Their hands are not as strong as their parents' hands. Their eyes have not yet seen the world as their parents have had. Their feelings are tender and they need every chance to grow, to develop and become individuals who can be accountable for their actions. Thus, the much quoted Iines from Chile’s Nobel Prize winning poet, Gabriela Minstral, The child cannot wait... to him we cannot answer Tomorrow; his name is Today" credit more serious attention.

What then is the children situationer in the Philippines?

Child labor is one of the many disturbing problems in the Philippines whose incidence has increased by almost 30 percent from 4.2 million in 2001 to 5.5 million last year as revealed in the 2011 Survey on Children of the National Statistics Office (NSO). "Child labor” in this survey refers to the working children who reported to have worked in hazardous environment regardless of the number of hours they spent at work (Hazardous Child Labor), or those who have worked for long hours (more than 20 hours a week for children 5 to l4 years old and more than 40 hours a week  for children 15 to l7 years old) or "Other Child Labor. The rest of the working children are classified under "Not Child Labor” category.

Out of the 5.492 million working children, 58.4 percent or an estimated 3.210 million were considered as in child labor, while 41.6 percent or an estimated 2.283 million were considered not in child labor. Comparing between boys and girls statistics show that in every ten working children, six were boys while four were girls. Causing alarm to our nation planners are the findings that as young as 5 years old, statistics show an 8.2 percent of working children who belonged to the 5 to 9 years of age category, while 46.7 percent of the working children were 15 to 17 years old and 45.1 percent were 10 to 14 years old. More alarming are those identified working in hazardous work environment which registered 39.9 percent for those exposed to physical environment, 19.1 for those exposed to chemical and physical hazards and 13.7 percent for those exposed to combined chemicals, physical and biological hazards.

While it is every child’s right to obtain formal education, it is sad to note that for all age groups, there is still 29.9 percent reported not attending school, and out of the three age groups (5-9, 10-14, 15-17), 47.3 percent among those belonging to 15-17 years old were not attending school. Between the two sexes, there were more boys than girls among the children in hazardous labor who were attending school.

The root cause that triggered children to work is poverty. Those who were reported helping in own household-operated farm or business posted  42.2 percent while 30.0 percent were reported supplementing family income or working for family well-being.

What is the portrait of NorMin’s Child labor?

The 2011 Survey on Children (SOC) reveals an alarming statistics which show that in every ten children aged 5-17 years in Northern Mindanao (29.6%) were working. In the National Capital Region and in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, the ratio was only one in every ten children.

The implications show that poverty is the biggest push that has made children worked and to start working as soon as they can manage to handle work which is hazardous to their health and to their well-being. This calls for interventions to give the children the opportunity for education and of appropriate social, cultural, physical and psychosocial development.

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Normin’s silent heroes

The month of July witnessed several events of significant contributions to the development of the nation, such as the Blood Donor’s Month which was focused  on the theme “Be A Hero, Give Blood” and the Nutrition Month which revolved the theme “Pagkain ng Gulay Ugaliin, Araw-araw Itong Ihain.”

Such celebrations proved the relevance of the saying “Homo homini Deus est.” This supreme practical maxim fits very well the purpose driven life, because the purpose of life is not primarily “to be happy - -but to matter, to be productive to be useful, to have it make some difference that you have lived at all.” And this, indeed, defines the lives of our blood donors who unselfishly donate blood so that others may have another chance to live.

Statistically speaking, “Five to ten minutes of your time plus 350 ml. of your blood equals one life save.” And this equation could be supported by some statistical data which would tell us that in this time of the year last year some 9,352 bags or units of blood had been served to 6,076 patients in Misamis Oriental. These blood donors are NorMin’s silent heroes, and to them we give our salute and respect.

On the other hand, our mothers who have endlessly labored “carrying the babies inside their wombs for nine months, in their arms for three years, and in their hearts until the day they die,” are also silent heroes who deserve the right to the information, care and support to protect their health and wellbeing before, during and after pregnancy, as well as that of their newborn babies well into childhood.

While we acknowledge the nutritional value of vegetables to one’s health, we should not forget the value of breastfeeding. It may be recalled that last year’s Nutrition Month centered on the theme “Isulong ang Breastfeeding Tsek-Tama, Sapat, Eklsusibo.”

The aim was a very noble one, because it encouraged correct breastfeeding practices nationwide. It taught mothers the significance of skin-to-skin contact of mother and baby immediately after birth and breastfeeding within the first hour of life.

It sought to encourage mothers that a small amount of breast milk is sufficient for baby during the first week, and that with frequent feeding the supply will eventually increase.

More important was the aspect on exclusive feeding which means giving only breast milk to baby during the first six months. However, the finding of the 2011 Family Health Survey reveals that only 27 percent of all mothers practice exclusive breastfeeding in the Philippines.

Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended up to 6 months of age, with continued breastfeeding along with appropriate complementary foods up to two years of age or beyond.

Statistics show that for exclusive breastfeeding, CAR tops in the entire Philippines with 49.2 percent, followed by Region 2 with 40.8 percent.

Region 10 has only 25.2 percent, while Region 4A registered the lowest with only 18.8 percent. These figures reflect an imperative need for a stronger advocacy to inform the mothers the importance of breastfeeding and to make them understand that a baby who is being breastfed is most likely “to avoid the risk of malnutrition, infection and early grave.”

It is worth mentioning that a research on breastfeeding duration and academic achievement at 10 years which used a cohort of 2900 women who were enrolled at 18 weeks’ gestation with 2868 live-born children showed that ten-year-old children who were predominantly breastfed for 6 months or longer in infancy had higher academic scores than children who were breastfed for less than 6 months (Oddy et al, 2010)

These are but few statistics, but the reverberation of their echoing implications speak louder than words can convey.

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