Peers TY System
MOVEMENT
Update: 55, 280 seedlings planted as of May 30, 2023
NEWS
The reason of the different environmental problem is the extensive tobacco industry prevailing in Ilocos for over 75 years. The present gross income of farmers, Php 85 per kilo at the average of 1000 kilos per farmer therefore, in every year it is equivalent to Php 85, 000.
Expenditures – seedlings, gasoline, lumber trees for drying purposes, drying facility, labor fees for leaves classifiers approximately Php 40, 000. Net Income per planting year is Php 45, 000. The negative impacts of the tobacco industry (mentioned to the above news) results to cutting of trees use for drying tobacco leaves.
One of the advocacy and incoming project of the Peers TY System Movement is the invention and creation of a Solar Powered Tobacco Curing Barn.
As a result of lower fuel costs and labor needs, growers would considerably profit from employing solar tobacco curing facilities (wood-fueled flues have to be tended 24 hours a day during the curing period). It is possible to manufacture a higher quality of tobacco, which would raise the price. Farmers might get a better price for their tobacco if they banded together to join cooperatives and other groups to pool their resources (individual tobacco growers are at the mercy of large buyers and monopolies that dominate this sector). Farmer access to loans and extension services for improving crops would also be improved. Solar-powered tobacco curing buildings might have long-term benefits for both growers and the government. The quality of the tobacco produced on the same amount of land is expected to improve as a result of credit and extension programs. Profits for farmers and government income will both rise as a result.
Farmers are obliged to switch to oil when the supply of fuelwood lessens to the point that they cannot afford to import it. However, local forestry concerns, as well as environmental degradation and degradation of the natural resource base, would be reduced if solar heat is employed.
Norberto Salmasan of Camanga, Badoc, Ilocos Norte, received the first-ever unit of the National Tobacco Administration's solar-aided curing barn (SACB) on Tuesday. Under the NTA Farm Technology and Services Department's (FTSD) farm modernization program, Salmasan is the first receiver of the SACB created by FTSD. The new block farm in Barangay Camanga would allow at least four Virginia tobacco producers to share the unit.
As a long-term strategy, SACB employs solar electricity to power its heat pump dryer, which reduces the amount of fuelwood needed. Curing barns have been around for hundreds of years, and this one was built to be as functional as possible for today's processes.
A video message from NTA Administrator/CEO Robert Victor G. Seares, Jr. remarked, "This showcases the newest technology in tobacco production that will assist our farmers boost their revenue from quality tobacco output. He went on to say that curing is responsible for around 40% of the tobacco's quality. As he put it, "We want to improve the quality of our products while reducing the amount of fuelwood we need for curing."
The new curing barn design is predicted to cut fuelwood usage by 40%, according to a feasibility study done by FTSD. Deputy Administrator for Operations Engr. Cesario G. Sambrana remarked in another video that "this is a great benefit to the Virginia tobacco sector, since it eliminates concerns on fuelwood supply and stiffer laws in chopping trees," he said. According to him, "we must express our thanks and encourage other farmers in the sector to do the same" for the project's continued execution and long-term viability.
The event was also attended by 34 tobacco farmers from Camanga and nearby barangays. Governor Marcos and Mayor Maximo D. Cajigal of Badoc, the provincial government of Ilocos Norte, as well as NTA, were thanked by Administrator Seares in a video message for allowing NTA to exhibit production technology for the benefit of the province's tobacco farmers. On February 16, the project was officially launched in Barangay Camanga with a groundbreaking ceremony, and successful tests were done on March 30. During the handover ceremony on Tuesday, SACB Project Leaders Engr. Warner Batugo and Engr. Kenneth Russell Tanaval conducted a test run.
FUTURE project of the peers ty system movement: THE CREATION OF THE SOLAR POWERED TOBACCO CURING BARN IN ILOCOS NORTE
NTA turns over first solar curing barn to Ilocos farmer
By Rhonelle P. Sulicipan
Published on June 10, 2021 at 6:34 am
LAOAG CITY- Over 2,000 hectares of farmlands covering at least 11 towns and 2 cities in the province have dried up due to pest and drought, a provincial agriculturist said on Thursday.
Based on initial report from field validators, agriculturist Norma Lagmay said most of the damaged crops include rice and high value crops which are planted in rain-fed areas in the towns of Bacarra, Badoc, Bangui, Burgos, Currimao, Marcos, Pasuquin, Piddig, Pinili, Sarrat and Vintar including the cities of Laoag and Batac.
“A provincewide validation is ongoing as we have received reports on pest and drought damages. The initial report shows it has already affected around 2,726 farmers,” Lagmay said in a press conference at the Capitol.
But even before the consolidated report has yet to reach the office, Lagmay said the provincial government has started to distribute aid to the affected farmers.
These include farm machineries, fruit and vegetable seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides, among others.
Lagmay said because of the drought, insects also easily multiply.
For areas that were hit by pests like brown plant hopper and bacterial leaf blight, she said farmers may consider spraying them with appropriate copper-based insecticide if the damage can still be managed.
Cynthia Iglesia, chief meteorological officer of the Laoag Synop Airport Upper Air Station of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), she said the amount of rainfall in Ilocos Norte for the past few months is way below normal.
However, she said there is La Niña alert which is expected from October to November. (PNA)
LAOAG CITY – Residents in the remote villages of Dumalneg, Ilocos Norte now enjoy safe and potable drinking water with the installation of 150 pieces water filter system courtesy of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) here.
The DOST-developed water filter system is an intervention to promote water sanitation in remote communities, said Gerald Q. Gabriel, Science Research Specialists II of the DOST based in Batac City, Ilocos Norte.
Study shows that 20 percent of the country’s population have no access to potable water, 432 municipalities have less than 50 percent service coverage or considered as waterless municipalities, and about 6,000 premature deaths a year are caused by water-borne diseases.
With this, the DOST came up with a water filter that can purify tap water, deep well water, and raw water or those that come from ponds and spring.
By using filters, safe and potable drinking water will be made available and accessible even in remote areas, according to a DOST report, adding "the filtered water passed the Philippine National Standard (PNS) for drinking water in both tests for Coliform and Escherichia coli, the most common waterborne disease-causing microorganisms."
To date, the DOST Region I is reaching out to communities with less access to potable drinking water. Residents from Dumalneg town who tried the water filter system said they are thankful for science and technology intervention as they no longer need to buy bottled water that adds up to their tight budget. (PNA)
Ilocos Norte town execs seek re-channeling of river
LAOAG CITY -- Local officials and residents of Vintar, Ilocos Norte want the re-channeling of Bislak River to spare dikes and rice fields from further damages when it swells.
During the onslaught of the southwest monsoon and enhanced by Tropical Depression Luis, some residents in the low-lying areas of Vintar town were among the hardest hit due to the swelling of the river.
While showing a development plan for the proposed dredging of the river, Vice Mayor Amado Victor Racimo, in an interview Wednesday, said the Ilocos Norte government has already initiated a move to help in the dredging activity.
As of this posting, Racimo said a backhoe operator from the provincial government was deployed at the Bislak River to start the re-channeling of the river.
Meanwhile, provincial engineer Cecilia Gagarin said she has already coordinated with the Department of Public Works and Highways on the immediate rehabilitation of a damaged seawall in Barangay Caruan, Pasuquin town.
At the height of prolonged heavy rainfall over the weekend, some 12 families in the coastal village of Caruan were forcibly evacuated as the seawall collapsed. Two other houses made of lightweight materials were also totally destroyed. (PNA)
LAOAG CITY – Torrential rains brought about by Tropical Storm Quinta triggered floods and landslides in some barangays in Pagudpud town in Ilocos Norte on Saturday evening.
"Among the most affected parts of flooding include Barangays Saud, Subec, Caunayan and Balaoi,” Hendrick Pedronan, head of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) in Pagudpud, said in a radio interview Sunday.
Pedronan said they are on full alert status as the state weather bureau raised an orange rainfall warning.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) issued an orange rainfall alert since 6 p.m. Saturday in Calanasan, Apayao, Pamplona and Santa Praxedes in Cagayan; and in Pagudpud.
Under the alert level, flooding can happen in low areas and landslides in mountainous areas.
As of this posting, Quinta continues to bring moderate to heavy rains over the northern portions of mainland Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Apayao, and Ilocos Norte.
Pedronan urged all concerned residents to stay vigilant as continuous heavy rains may lead to swelling of rivers and creeks in Pagudpud town.
The MDRRMO advised residents in high-risk areas to evacuate immediately when threatened.
He said a rescue team is on standby. (PNA)
typhoon ulysses leaves php52-m damages in agri in ilocos region
SAN FERNANDO CITY, Nov. 16 (PIA) – Typhoon Ulysses brought Php 34.3 million loss in corn production, Php 17.6 million for high value crops, and around Php 47, 000.00 in rice production in the Ilocos region, according to the latest Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in the Ilocos (RDRRMC-1) situation report.
As of 6 p.m. on Sunday, Pangasinan was reported with the highest production loss for both corn and high value crops with 1,165 metric tons or an estimated value of Php 51 million.
Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development-Field Office 1 (DSWD-1) reported a total of 174 houses damaged, 167 of which are in Pangasinan while five were reported in Luna, La Union and one in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, as of yesterday.
They have also reported a total of 7,153 families or 33,937 individuals in 125 barangays affected by Typhoon Ulysses, according to the said report.
Majority or 105 barangays are in Pangasinan, five in La Union and 15 in Ilocos Norte.
In Ilocos Norte, estimated reported cost of damages in infrastructure for roads and flood control is at Php 326 million.
Due to heavy rains, several landslides were reported along Balaoi and Pancian in Pagudpud town, affecting the Ilocos Norte-Manila North Road.
It was on November 10, during the onslaught of Tropical Depression Ulysses, when several sections of the said road were declared impassable because of landslides, mudflow and fallen trees, until the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) worked after four days to clear the said parts of Manila North Road in Pagudpud town.
Meanwhile, no casualty was reported in the Ilocos region. (JCR/AMB/JDS/PIA La Union)
drought, pests hit parts of ilocos norte
By Leilanie Adriano
September 24, 2020, 5:31 pm
Remote villages in ilocos norte town get access to portable water
By Leilanie Adriano
March 19, 2021, 5:58 pm
By Leilanie Adriano
August 30, 2018, 9:56 am
torrential rains bring floods, landslides in ilocos norte town
By Leilanie Adriano
October 25, 2020, 11:31 am
By Joanna P. Diaz-Sabado
Published on November 16, 2020
In 2022 the Agriculture Secretary William Dar approves the National Tobacco Administration's request for P50-million funding to assist farmers, supplementing the P50 million set aside in 2021.
LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte – The government has set aside at least P100 million in emergency cash assistance for tobacco growers affected by flooding due to “freak rains” in January 2022.
In a statement of the National Tobacco Administration (NTA) said Agriculture Secretary will approve the agency’s request for P50-million funding to assist farmers in the Ilocos region. The approved fund will supplement the P50 million set aside in 2021, it added.
NTA Administrator said that the agency’s existing funds were not enough to cover all affected farmers considering the extent of damage.
In its latest estimate, the NTA said off-season rains in January damaged at least P505 million worth of tobacco produce across 5,304 hectares in major tobacco-growing provinces like Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, La Union, and Abra.
At least 15,300 farmers were affected by the floods, the NTA added.
Seares said that the financial assistance will be handed to the farmers “as soon as the funds and the implementing guidelines are released.”
He said that NTA has an “absolute commitment to helping and supporting them in their farming endeavor.”
In February, tobacco farmers, led by the National Federation of Tobacco Farmers Association and Cooperatives, in the Ilocos urged local governments to provide immediate relief and livelihood support for farmers affected by the freak rains.
In 2021 province of Ilocos Norte is eyeing to increase its share in tobacco excise tax with strengthened monitoring this trading season.
In partnership with authorities from the provincial government, the League of Municipalities of the Philippines, the National Tobacco Administration (NTA), and the Philippine National Police, the transport of tobacco outside the province will be monitored in border checkpoints to ensure that tobacco grown in Ilocos Norte are properly documented.
Five years ago, Ilocos Norte’s tobacco production has dwindled, resulting in a significant decrease in the local government unit’s share under Republic Act 7171 or the so-called tobacco excise tax.
An aggressive campaign to revitalize the ailing industry, a multisectoral group composed of farmers, buyer firms, local government units, and the NTA pooled their resources as they are now directly involved in the Tobacco Contract Growing System (TCGS).
TCGS is a market-oriented and technology-based production system, addressing specific volume and quality requirements of the market.
The tobacco production for all tobacco types like Virginia, Burley, and native increased by 1.89 percent, from 46.6 million kilos valued at PHP3.92 billion in 2019 to 47.5 million kilos, valued at PHP3.93 billion in 2020.
“This figure may increase, however, as documentation of native tobacco is still continuing,” he said.
The tobacco contract growing system which is being piloted in the province hopes to encourage more farmers to plant tobacco by providing them at least 20 percent subsidy in farm inputs such as fertilizers and pesticides. (PNA)
Ilocos Norte eyes higher tobacco excise tax share
Tobacco farming boosted in Ilocos Norte town
TOBACCO SEEDLINGS. Women farmers in Piddig, Ilocos Norte prepare tobacco seedlings ready for transplanting in this photo taken on Dec. 24, 2021. Piddig town has consolidated more than 200-hectare farm lots for tobacco farming.
LAOAG CITY – Farmers in Piddig, Ilocos Norte are expanding their cropping intensity this year with a renewed interest in tobacco.
Backed by the Universal Leaf Philippines Inc. (ULPI), the biggest tobacco growing and processing company in the country and in close coordination with the National Tobacco Administration and Piddig local government, many farmers here have started planting tobacco as one of their alternative crops as all the needed farm inputs except labor is provided to them at no cost.
Piddig Mayor made this assurance to all interested farmers willing to venture into tobacco farming as the municipality has committed to subsidizing their capital input.
To date, Piddig town has more than 200-hectare consolidated farm lot dedicated to tobacco farming and will entitle the municipality to additional revenue of approximately PHP200 million annually.
The additional revenue represents a share in the tobacco excise tax under Republic Act No. 7171, the law granting benefits to farmers in towns and provinces that produce Virginia tobacco.
Under this law, local governments, which produce Virginia tobacco, are entitled to 15 percent of national tax collections.
“As everything — from seeds, fertilizers, farm equipment and barn will be provided for the farmers, we expect that each farmer can earn PHP70,000-PHP80,000 per hectare from growing tobacco alone," Guillen said in an interview.
Aside from consolidating tobacco farming, the mayor shared that another 100 hectares in Barangay Calambeg are being explored to be developed as a ranch to house the first batch of upgraded cows for wagyu meat production in the future.
Tobacco Production: THE ILOCANO FAMILY'S LIFELINE
TOBACCO as the major cash crop of the Ilocos region has an undeniable impact on the agricultural, economic, and social life of every Ilocano family, and has been a major force in the economic development of Ilocos, especially Region I where flue-cured or Virginia tobacco is grown. The widespread influence of tobacco on the Ilocano families.
Think of the Virginia tobacco and be reminded of the numerous Ilocano farming families who have derived a big bulk of their farming income and livelihood from the industry for many decades since the 50s, the reason the golden leaf industry continues to thrive in the region despite continuing anti-tobacco lobbies and other efforts to curb tobacco production and smoking.
The concentration of tobacco production in Ilocos started in the 50s after an American tobacco firm found out that the soil and climate in the region were good for Virginia or flue-cured tobacco. The Ilocanos then were more than willing to embrace tobacco production because the crops were grown during summer when most of their unirrigated land would lay idle after rice production.
Most farmers in the region, unlike those in the Central Luzon and some regions in Mindanao, own smaller land areas and usually unirrigated, thus giving them a very limited annual income from farming. With tobacco, they were given the opportunity to earn more than what they get from their usual rice-corn cropping rotation. Even without the capital for production, some middlemen or leaf buyers handily loaned the farmers some amount which would be paid after the trading season.
Compared with other crops, tobacco needs more attention and care, and follows strict standards and technology to produce quality leaves that the market requires. But to produce highly priced quality tobacco leaves, a tobacco grower needs patience, diligence and hard work, which are trademark characteristics of the Ilocano.
Members of the Ilocano family work together for this labor-intensive yet lucrative farming venture. A big part of tobacco production including post-harvest activities is mostly done during summer where the children are having their long school break. So, every member of the family, including school-age children help in the farm during this period of production. The father and the elder children are responsible for the production, from seed bedding to the gathering of leaves, construction of curing barns, and loading of tobacco leaves in sticks/strings into the barn. And during harvest and curing period, everyone, including the children and some helpful neighbors, join in the sticking, and later, sorting of leaves. The women usually join their husbands in selling their produce in the trading center.
To the Ilocanos, the tobacco is just an agricultural crop where they can earn big income, especially during summer. There may be health hazards in tobacco production, but this has been addressed by the agency and private contractors with the application of Good Agricultural Practices in the tobacco farming communities.
Tobacco trading usually falls in as early as February up to the last week of May, so the farmers can have the money to celebrate the fiesta of their patrons that are held mostly in the said period, and they have the money in time for the school enrolment in June, and capital for rice production in the ensuing season.
Ilocanos born in the 60s towards the 80s in the farming communities know how tobacco farming has helped most Ilocanos raise a family and send their children to school. Most of these children have become professionals, teachers, lawyers, doctors, and writers. The money was also spent to send members of the family to work abroad as contract workers. Think how these individuals who were successful in their careers and work, contributed to the improvement of the economic condition in their communities.
The number of farmers and hectarage may have dwindled through the years, but the income of farmers per hectare of tobacco remains high. But unlike before, farmers now are given production assistance to subsidize production cost, thus giving them more returns of investment. It also helped that the NTA has eliminated the cowboy system, or trading through intermediaries, and lowered loan interest, which contributed to the reduction of production cost to the advantage of the tobacco growers.
Some farmers who returned to tobacco claimed that the crops they produce other than tobacco yielded very little. Some who shifted to corn production went back to tobacco only after a year or two because they do not have market for corn and they do not receive government assistance, unlike in tobacco production.
It also helped that the local governments are keen to continue their support for tobacco farming for the billions of revenues it brings. The Sin Tax Law generates enormous revenue, in the form of excise taxes, for the national treasury, P3.65 billion in 2017, which the government uses for its education, infrastructure, economic, health and welfare programs all over the country. A part of the excise tax collection is appropriated to beneficiary Virginia tobacco growing provinces, pursuant to R.A. 7171; and, Burley and Native Tobacco growing provinces, pursuant to R.A. 8240.
Ilocos tobacco farmers affected by ‘freak rains’ to get P100-M cash aid
CLIMATE CHANGE GLOBALLY
Every aspect of our lives is being affected by climate change, from the food we eat to the transportation infrastructure we use, to the clothing we wear and the vacation destinations we visit. Everything from our financial security to our health and our children's futures are at stake. Changes in the climate are already taking place. The data shows that the shift cannot be explained only by natural variability. Research shows that human actions, including as fossil fuel burning and land use change, are most likely to be responsible for the observed rise in greenhouse gas concentrations.
Following the publication of the latest report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, over 1,000 scientists from 25 nations held demonstrations last week. In order to avert catastrophic climatic consequences, the research recommends a swift and profound reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2025. "Current actions and plans are terribly insufficient, and even these requirements are not being accomplished," the Scientist Rebellion states in a letter. Their demonstrations "emphasize the seriousness and unfairness of the climatic and ecological crises," according to an organization statement.
Climate experts from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, including Peter Kalmus, shackled themselves to the JP Morgan Chase skyscraper in Los Angeles. Kalmus' voice shakes as he continues, "We've been trying to warn you folks for so many decades. There has been a lack of respect for scientists across the globe. And everything has to come to an end. Everything is going to be lost."
An opinion post in the Guardian by Kalmus has called for the end of fossil fuels and an immediate move to renewable energy. In an op-ed for The Guardian, he says, "I am afraid for my kids, and terrified for mankind." "I am really saddened by the loss of forests and coral reefs and the declining variety of life on our planet. But no matter how terrible things go, I'm going to keep fighting for this Earth, because it's always going to become worse. Until the fossil fuel business and its exponential desire for ever more profit at the cost of all else is ended, it will only become worse. During rallies last week, scientists from all across the globe raised similar concerns and called on their governments to take immediate action to combat climate change.
The impacts of climate change are already being seen in the natural world. Glaciers have receded, rivers and lakes have less ice, animal and plant ranges have expanded, and trees are blossoming earlier as a result of climate change.
Global climate change is having the effects experts warned it would: melting sea ice, rising sea levels, and longer, more extreme heatwaves.
Global temperatures are expected to climb for decades to come, according to scientists, partly as a result of human-produced greenhouse gases. A temperature increase of 2.5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit is predicted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which comprises more than 1,300 experts from the United States and other nations.
As a result of the ongoing effects of global climate change, the ecosystem is already suffering. Plant and animal ranges have shifted, glaciers retreated, rivers and lakes broke up sooner, and trees started blooming earlier.
In the past, researchers predicted that sea ice loss, fast sea level rise, and longer, more powerful heat waves would occur as a consequence of global climate change.
Human activity's greenhouse gas emissions are expected to keep global temperatures rising for decades to come, according to scientists. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) specialists from the United States and other nations estimate a temperature increase of between 2.5 and 10 degrees Fahrenheit during the next century.
Depending on the capacity of different social and environmental systems to resist or adapt to change, the impact of climate change on specific areas will vary throughout time, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
Temperature rises of less than 1.8 to 5.4 degrees F (1 to 3 degrees C) over 1990 levels will have positive consequences in certain locations, but negative impacts on others according to the IPCC. Net yearly expenses are expected to climb in tandem with the rise in global temperatures.
It is predicted that the climate will change during the next century and beyond. A change in the Earth's climate is projected to occur during the next century, and maybe much longer. The scale of climate change over the next few decades is determined by the quantity of heat-trapping gases emitted worldwide and how sensitive the Earth's climate is to those emissions.
Since human-induced warming is being overlaid on a naturally changing climate, the temperature rise has not and will not be uniform or smooth throughout the nation or over time.
As a result of human-induced warming, the temperature increase has not and will not be uniform or smooth throughout the nation or over time. Droughts in the Southwest and heat waves (periods of exceptionally hot weather lasting days to weeks) are expected to worsen, while cold waves are expected to become less severe. Droughts in the Southwest and heat waves (periods of exceptionally hot weather lasting days to weeks) are expected to worsen, while cold waves are expected to become less severe.
To prepare for the future, we need to know how the climate is changing. Forecasting the amount of rain that will fall or the increase in sea levels due to climate change may be done by doing climate research. As a result of climate change, we can also identify which places are most prone to severe weather and which animal species are at risk.