DA and NIA Part 2

May I now recognize the Representative from the Minority, Representative Sheen Gonzales.

Maraming salamat, Mr. Chair. Magandang hapon po sa ating lahat, to my colleagues, sa DA family, headed by Sec. Kiko Laurel.

Bago po ako magtanong ng ilang mga questions, gusto ko pong magpasalamat sa ating Department of Agriculture Secretary sa mga programa po na binibigay doon sa probinsya po ng Eastern Samar, sa Long District of Eastern Samar.

Ang dami na po yung natulungan doon and nagpapasalamat din po ako sa mga darating pa ng mga tulong na ibibigay po sa probinsya po ng Eastern Samar.

Mayroon lang po akong ilang katanungan sa BIFAR.

Noong last year, nagkaroon po kami ng pagpupulong at during the budget season also, budget hearing, mayroon pong pinag-usapan at nag-pledge po ang ating BIFAR na magkakaroon po ng rehabilitation,

yung research and training center ng region.

At ito po ay nasa Giwan, Eastern Samar.

Alam ko po yung lugar na to kasi dito po ako pinanganak sa lugar na to at nag-mayor din po ako dito sa bayan na to.

Simula po ng mabagyo ng Yolanda, hindi pa po ito natutotal rehab.

Si Director Aziz Perez, siya po pa po yung director noon, ng time ng Yolanda.

Hindi pa po ito natutotal rehab pero nagsabi po yung BIFAR last year na magkakaroon po ng pondo at i-rehab po nila.

So, ang tanong ko lang po Mr. Chair, with the good secretary, even the BIFAR through Director Toto, gusto ko lang po itanong ano po kaya ang status na nito?

Yes, Mr. Chair. May ongoing na po tayo rehab doon.

And there po sa national program.

The Fisheries Department Institute of Research, and there po kay Director Mutia.

Sir, naka-concept na sila worth 5 million but kung anong kulang po, willing po ang BIFAR mag-support sa pinansyal.

Nandito po rin ating Director po, iniparty ay, pwede rin siya magbigay ng kanyang opinion na talagang ginagawa na namin yung Seryom Khan, yung project.

Please, with the permission of the Chair.

Thank you, Sir.

Hello, Mr. Chair. Ako po si Maris Mutia, ang currently Executive Director of National Fisheries Research and Development Institute.

Sa kasalukuyan po ay meron po kaming nailaan na about 10.6 million po para po sa rehabilitation ng research facilities po sa Giwan Summer po.

And meron din po counterpart doon, ang BIFAR, around 2.5 million. So ongoing po yun, i-improve po natin yung ating research facilities, yung ating laboratory, dormitory, abalone, hatchery, at iba pa pong facilities.

Matatapos po yun by October po this year.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair.

Ito po ay phase one pa lang po.

Ito.

Thank you po.

Maraming salamat, Mr. Chair. Maraming salamat, ma'am.

Pwede po ba akong makahingi ng rehabilitation plan nyo?

Kasi kailangan po dito yung total rehab. Mahirap po yung pachi-pachi.

Kasi it is the research and training center of the whole region. Nandun po ito.

Paano tayo makakapag-produce o makakapag-produce?

Makakapag-pakita na maganda po ang kahihinat na ng Region 8 in terms of research and development with regards to BIFAR kung hindi po ito maaayos ng tama.

Can I ask the BIFAR family to give me the total rehabilitation plan?

Opo.

Mr. Chair, we will submit po.

Yung rehabilitation plan.

Mr. Chair, thank you.

Yung pangalawang question ko po, yung mandato po ng ating mahal na Pangulo to the department is food sufficiency.

In other words, sa bawat Pilipino, kailangan secure po yung pagkain.

Address naman po ito sa NIA.

Alam ko po na may mga rehabilitasyon.

May mga programang rehabilitasyon.

At sa programang ito, nagbaba kasakali or ako po ay nangihihin ng intervention sa ating administrator na mapasama sa listahan ng pag-rehabilitate po ng Dolores Valley, also called the Sikonton Valley Irrigation Facilities.

Ito po ay located sa Dolores Eastern City.

Ang lugar po ito, ito po ay rice granary ng probinsya ng Eastern Samar.

At hindi lang po ito nagbibigay ng pag-asa sa mga taga Eastern Samar.

At hindi lang po ito nakakapagbigay ng ating pagkain sa Eastern Samar, kundi sa buong Region 8, once upon a time, being the rice granary,

ay naging asset po ito ng ating...

regiyon, ng aming regiyon.

So yung sa akin po, if you have any intervention or meron po kayong plano to rehabilitate that area.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Yes, Mr. Chair.

Actually, totoo yun. Napakaganda po nung area ng ating kagahanagalan na congressman.

And meron po tayong proposal doon, meron po tayong plano doon, Mr. Chair.

At we hope to implement that also.

Next year, ang hindi lamang yun, tinignan namin pati yung mga areas doon, yung mga hindi pa natatapos na mga irrigation projects po doon,

pinapatapos na ng Pangulo, yung sa may katubig.

So lahat po nung sa area ng Samar, Mr. Chair, ay tinitignan natin at ginagawa natin.

Kasi totoo nung nga naman, napakaganda po yung area, Mr. Chair.

Salamat po, Admin. At napakaganda pong pakinggan.

At committed naman po tayo na i-rehabilita yung lugar na yun.

At hinding-hindi po kayo magsisisi dyan.

Pag yan ay na-rehabilita, makikita nyo po ang kabuhayan ng tao at ang probinsya ng Sinlangan Samar ay mag-i-increase yung hanap buhay at ang tinatawag na GDP growth ng probinsya.

Ay sigurado ako na mag-i-increase po.

My last question, Mr. Chair. Actually, I will not ask question anymore.

Kasi yung time ko, tumunog na.

Yung sa akin na lang po, Mr. Chair, yung mga programa ng Department of Agriculture, ipagpatuloy na lang po.

Kasi sa probinsya ng Eastern Samar, alam naman po natin,

yung fishing industry at saka mga farmland po doon, ay umaasa po ang mga tao natin doon, Mr. Chair, Secretary.

Mr. Chair, bababaho ako personally sa Eastern Samar sa October with BIFAR and yung ibang members of my team para magbigay ng dagdag na suporta at makita yung actual situation in the ground

para mas masilbihan pa sila sa 2021.

Maraming salamat po, Mr. Chair.

Dagang salamat, damang salamat, Secretary and the DA family.

God bless.

Thank you very much, Congressman Sheen,

the next interpilator from the majority,

Representative Jam Baronda,

Representative Girlie Veloso,

Representative Brian Poe,

Representative Kukoy Salvador,

Representative Keith Flores,

Representative Abit Garcia,

Representative Zulon,

Representative Sagarbarria,

Representative Kukuyap,

Representative Antonino B. Roman III,

Representative Nicolas Cari,

Representative Luigi Villapuerte,

Representative,

Arogancia,

Deputy Speaker Janette Garin,

Representative Howard Guintu,

Representative Florabel Yatco,

Representative Cheeno Miguel Almario,

Representative Richard Gomez,

Representative Carl Fernandez-Ligaspi,

Representative Joseph Paitun,

Deputy Speaker

Deputy Speaker Biron.

Mr. Chair, sorry. Alright, thank you, Mr. Chair. Secretary, magandang hapon po.

First of all, I would like to thank you for visiting my district and for providing us with one of the biggest warehouse facility in the province of Iloilo.

I was just talking to our regional director with respect to the rice processing facility that your department, your office, has committed since three years ago, Mr. Secretary.

So far, tatlong taon na yung lumipas. Hanggang ngayon, Sec, the project has yet to be implemented.

I recall that in 2023, this was committed under ODA by Yusec Jerome.

Pero hanggang ngayon, as I was talking to Regional Director Arpia, late last year, yung buong farmers organization and cooperatives in the municipality of Dumangas,

which happens to be the biggest, the largest produced rice.

The biggest producing municipality in the entire Panay region, Panay Island, he promised to download the farm equipment from Philmec.

Lahat po, Sec, ng mga requirements including FS, including audited financial statements, were all complied with.

Pero hanggang ngayon, I just want to seek the guidance of the good secretary.

Kung kailan talaga?

Kung kailan talaga ito, Sec, ma-implement. Kasi may warehouse na tayo, pero wala pa rin tayong rice processing facility.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Chair, I'm, well, technically, pasensya na kayo at na-delay talaga yung project ninyo.

But since bumaba ako doon the last time at I coordinated with Philmec, palagang meron na naka-alat sa inyong RPS.

And I would like to ask our...

I would like to ask our Philmec director to give you the actual timelines na now para matapos na ho yan, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Magandang gabi po, Mr. Congressman.

Actually, yung warehouse na itatayo natin doon sa inyo, ang floor area niya ay 1,200 square meters.

At yung bidding ng warehouse, nakapost na this month, sinisimula na po.

Ngayon, yung 1,200 square meters na yun.

Ang kanyang kasama ay 12 tonners na dryer.

Then, pagka po natapos yung warehouse, next year, lalagyan po natin ang rice processing system 2,

na ang capacity niya ay 3 tons per hour ang input capacity po niya.

Thank you, po.

To add lang, Mr. Chair, kailan yung timeline natin matatapos?

Doon po sa mga contractor natin, binibigyan po natin sila ng...

ng 150 days para po matapos yung warehouse.

So, Mr. Chair, I think the commitment is by June next year, dapat tapos siya.

Yes, sir.

Pati po yung rice processing system, nandun na rin po, Mr. Com.

Mr. Chair, Mr. Secretary, I would like to be clarified lang, ano.

Itong mga equipment that goes with the rice processing system,

kapasity of 3 tons per day, is that correct, Mr. Secretary?

Mr. Chair, 3 tons per hour po.

Sorry, 3 tons per hour, yes, I'm corrected.

So, tama ba, Mr. Secretary, Mr. Chair, that the equipment that are included in the facility

would be the following, 4-wheel drive tractor, 4 units, laser leveler, 1 unit,

combined harvester.

4 units, flatbed dryer, 4 units, forklift, 2 units, hauling truck, 2 units,

and conveyor elevator, 2 units.

Tama ba, Mr. Secretary?

Tama po, yun po ang request niyo, Mr. Chair.

Pero yun pong, yung hauling trucks po ay nakikipag-negotiate pa rin po kami sa DBM

kasi until now, hindi pa po kami binibigyan ng go-signal to purchase

sa DBM.

So, yung 4-wheel drive tractors, yung combined harvesters, saka po yung mga whaling scale

nung lahat ng kasama doon sa warehouses at saka doon sa rice processing system, kasama

po yun.

Maliba lang po doon sa hauling trucks.

Okay, because according to the regional director, Mr. Secretary, these equipment have yet to

be bid out.

Wala pa daw pera.

Mr. Chair, tapos na po yung bidding namin sa tractors, saka 4-wheel drive, at saka yung rice combined harvesters,

at iro-roll out na po namin yan ang aming timetable para doon sa distribution niya na ay October, November, December this year.

Okay.

So, the commitment of the Secretary is the entire facility, including the aforesaid equipment,

will all be delivered by June of next year.

Is that correct, Mr. Secretary?

Mr. Chair, the RPS will be committed on June 2027, pero uunahin na natin yung tractors and combined

harvesters itong November, October, November, December kung saan pumasok yung, Mr. Chair.

So, since this is long overdue, malamang pupunta kami mismo para at kasama kayo at namin yan,

Mr. Chair.

At nilista ko na sa aking notebook, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Naniniwala naman tayo sa commitment ng ating butihing Secretary.

Thank you, SEC, for that assurance, and we look forward to receiving the entire facility in the municipality of Dumangas.

I will move to my next question to Usec Palabrica, may kababayan.

Usec, if you recall last year, I raised the issue on the safety and efficacy of your vaccine that you're using for,

may I know if you have already completed the entire clinical trial, a conclusive study that would attest to the efficacy and safety of your ASF vaccine?

Mr. Chair, yes.

We were able to

distribute half a million of ASF vaccine, and the efficacy is 85 to

90 percent, and all those pigs that were vaccinated showed good response.

it's nice to hear that the success rate is is 80 percent but though that

particular clinical trial mr. secretary you said well Africa has to be

documented if you recall I raised this question because no less than the FDA

the two veterinary experts of FDA have rejected this product and did not

recommend the approval of this particular vaccine and yet the

Department of Agriculture insisted in using this

ASF vaccine despite the evaluation of the two vet experts of the FDA not to

recommend the approval but as I said I gave you the benefit of the doubt that

it will go through a regular clinical trial but the clinical trial has to be

conclusive so I'm asking mr. secretary mr. chair where is the document that

shows to attest that the vaccine is

and efficacious considering that the US Department of Agriculture has even

Mr. Chair, with due respect to the FDA,

to veterinarians, we have better veterinarians in the Bureau of Animal

Industry. And we will send you the result. At ito po ang aking

lisensya sa pagiging beterinaryo at ako po ay nagsasabing maayos po ang

bakunang ito. Well, we all believe in science, no?

Hindi tayo, hindi tayo dito nag-a-accuse anybody, or, you know, the vaccine itself—that is not.

We are, we are all science-based, and when you talk of biological products,

especially vaccine, we’re talking of safety and efficacy. And what is at stake

is a multi-billion industry no pork industry so we just want to secure if

you have a conclusive data we would be very happy in Congress to receive it to

have it

is a concern of the whole pork industry mr. secretary you say palabra so it

would be very happy if you'll be able to provide us with a conclusive data on

this specific clinical trial of your ASF vaccine

I agree with mr. chair and we

will send to your office all the documents that will attest that the

vaccine is effective and if we if we can see and effectiveness of the vaccine

we'll send it to your office mr. chair thank you mr. chairman

thank you mr.

secretary

Thank you. Deputy Speaker Biron. The next interpellator from the

minority, Representative James Tan.

Representative Carl Nicolas Cari. Thank you, Mr. Chair, to our Secretary and

the Department. Magandang gabi po sa ating lahat. Ito pong mga katanungan po ng aming

representasyon

ay naka-focus po sa mga nangyayari ngayon dulot ng climate change, global warming,

at gusto lang po namin malaman kung gaano po kahanda ang Departamento ukol po sa mga pagbabago

ng klima na nagdudulot po ng mas malalang epekto sa atin pong mga

magsasaka. At una pong tanong: base sa datos ng DA, gaano na kalaki ang epekto ng pagbabago ng panahon sa ating

mga magsasaka kumpara noong 20 years ago?

Nakakasabay ba ang programs at resources ng DA sa pagbabago ng risks na hinaharap ng ating farmers?

kubara nung 20 years ago nakakasabay ba ang programs at resources ng D.A. sa pagbabago ng risks na hinaharap ng ating farmers?

The question is directed to the Secretary. Anyone who can answer po?

Well, Mr. Chair, climate change is very real and nararamdaman po natin ngayon ang mga nangyayari.

Unfortunately, I cannot say na nakakasabay tayo sa pagbabago ng klima dahil nga I have to admit na hindi ganun kabilis ang reaction ng gobyerno

dahil whatever we experience now or what we learn from now, ngayon lang natin, hihingin lang natin yung budget ngayon para for implementation next year.

Para nga ma-address yun. But of course, meron na tayong naging El Nino, three years ago ba?

Two years ago, no? So yung mga natutunan natin during that time ay ina-apply na natin ngayon, no?

So things should get better but to catch up is really hard.

Some of the interventions na ginagawa nga natin is yung cold storages na tinatayo natin.

May mga mega cold storage, mga modular cold storage na tayong nakabit.

May mga solar irrigation ng NIA na ginawa.

At meron din ng DA ngayon na ini-implement na solar irrigation.

We are implementing solar pumps also instead of engine-driven pumps sa ating mga farms.

At for next year naman, para sa mga aquaculture at fisheries, mga solar-powered aerators naman

para ma-address natin yung fish kill due to low water or stagnant water among others.

Marami pa po tayong ginagawa, no? Like a small water impounding.

At of course, technology ng seeds na mas malakas sa dry conditions.

At of course, meron din tayong mga tinatawag na protective cultivation systems,

basically mga greenhouses para ngayon magkaroon tayo ng shield sa mga heavy rains and floods

para tuloy-tuloy ang produksyon.

So tuloy-tuloy naman ang implementation natin ng mga ito to try to cope up with the,

you know, changes sa ating klima, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Pangalawang tanong po, kapag napinsala ang mga sakahan dahil sa pagbaha, pag-uho ng lupa o iba pang epekto ng masamang panahon,

ano pong financial assistance ang agad pong available na may bibigay po natin sa mga magsasaka

para makapagsimula ulit po sila sa susunod na planting season?

And gano'n po kaya kabilis ang narating na tulong ito sa mga affected na family farmers natin?

Mr. Chair, meron tayong Philippine Crop Insurance, no?

But of course, kailangan mag-apply ang farmer every cropping season para makover sila nito.

Normally, within 21 days after tamaan ng farm,

nakakapag-issue na tayo ng indemnity check sa ating mga farmers that are affected, no?

But of course, not all. Meron talagang mga ilan na nade-delay kasi nga verification and all of that.

Meron din tayong mga support system.

Support ng seeds and fertilizers to replant.

Normally, nasa regional centers na yan, para for deployment, katulad ngayon sa mga baha na inabot natin dito sa Region 3,

meron na tayong nakaprepare na seeds and fertilizers para makareplant ka agad, among others.

Meron din tayong loan program sa SURE na up to, I think, 35,000 pwedeng low-interest loan na makakuha ang farmer

para makarecover.

Meron din tayong programa ng loan restructuring sa kanila.

At worst case scenario, nagbibigay din tayo ng presidential assistance to farmers and fisher folks,

but unfortunately for this year, medyo naubos na.

Pero humihingi tayong nagdagdag pa from the national government.

Then, meron din tayong tupad na inallocate sa DA para sa mga affected farmers.

Dito sa mga climate changes kung kinakailangan, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Isa pa pong katanungan.

Pagkatapos ng matinding pagbaha, paano tinutulungan ng DA ang mga magsasaka natin na malaman kung handa na ba ulit ang kanilang lupa for planting?

May libre of subsidized bang soil testing at technical assistance?

At gaano ito maka-accessible sa mga magsasaka po natin?

Sa ngayon, we have the...

We have, Mr. Chair, 17 mobile soil laboratories aside from the existing land-based...

fixed-based solar laboratories na pwedeng i-access ng mga other farmers.

Although, I have to admit na kulang pa ito at the volume we can process is hindi ganun ka...

Malaki na rin compared to...

Dating lima lang yan eh. Ngayon nasa mga 20 plus na eh.

So, malaking rami yung dinadagdag natin.

But still kulang pa rin.

But libre ito as of the moment.

At pwedeng magpa-test ang mga farmers natin.

But normally naman pag after a bagyo, ang lupa naman normally pwedeng taniman kaagad eh.

Basta lang nag-receive na yung baha.

So, but soil testing is always good to be more accurate sa pangangailangan ng lupa para maka-save din ang cost, Mr. Chair.

Thank you po, Mr. Chair.

And for our final question po, this is related to our advocacy.

Kami po sa Pinoy Workers is very supportive of our fisherfolk and farmers in the West Philippine Sea.

Dahil po ako personal taga-Palawan po ako, kaya this is close to our heart po.

And yung katanungan lang po for the fishing communities in Palawan, particularly those dependent on the fishing grounds in our West Philippine Sea,

what livelihood and production support will be available in this coming budget...

in the 2027 budget?

And how does BEFAR, if that is the case, plan to improve access to assistance such as fuel, ice, fishing gear, insurance, and market support?

Thank you po.

Mr. Chair, sa Palawan, meron tayong bagong port na ginagawa ng Philippine Fisheries Development Authority sa Puerto Princesa area, no?

Near Puerto Princesa.

That will be 15 hectare yata na port.

15 hectare yata na port na lalagyan natin ng ice plant, cold storage, blast freezers.

At ikokonek yon sa other side sa Ulugan Bay.

Para nga yung mga isda from the West Philippine Sea, ibabawa sa Ulugan Bay na port din na meron tayo doon.

Para tas itatransport nalang by land to that port, that new port, which should be finished by next year.

Para ma-process yon at madala sa mga iba-ibang market.

Number one, no?

Tuloy-tuloy yung ating intervention sa seaweed.

Magtatayo tayo ng bagong bioreactor facility rin by this year, hopefully, for planting material, propagation of planting material sa seaweed sa Palawan.

Meron na tayo sa Sorsogon, may Palawan tayo, at meron pa isang location, I forgot lang kung saan.

But Palawan is, definitely we want to increase yung seaweed production natin sa Palawan para yung mga mga isda,

pwede rin mag-aalaga ng kanilang seaweeds.

Meron din tayong livestock program na ipapamahagi like mga kambing at tupa sa mga fisher folks na may spare time sila after fishing sa madaling araw.

Pwede rin sila mag-aalaga ng hayop for their own communities, Mr. Chair.

Ano lang po, Mr. Secretary, regarding po kayo sa cold storage, meron po kayang possibility na magkaroon tayo ng cold storage facilities?

Kasi po, sa mga communities po na nalagayan namin sa west coast, especially po sa mga barangay ng Apurawan, yun po sa Aboyland in Puerto,

yung reklamo po ng mga fisher folk, dahil nga walang cold storage na available para sa kanila, usually naubos na yung catch nila galing sa laot kasi nabibili ng mga buyers na nandun na sa Palawate.

At di na nila nabababa sa Palawan mainland yung catch. At yung nagsasuffer po yung local economy kasi nga nababawasan na po yung availability ng fish.

Kaya meron po kayang provisions po for the budget to allocate for cold storage?

For 2027, Mr. Chair, meron kaming nasa budget namin na solar-powered ice plants na 5 to 10 tons per day na capacity.

Meron kaming 10 to 15, depende sa capacity na units.

And medyo, ilan dun mapupunta talaga sa Palawan.

Kasi nga, yung North Palawan saka Southern Palawan, meron kaming 10 to 15 units.

Yung North Palawan, kailangan may mga ice plant.

Tapos yung cold storage and freezers nandun sa gitna, dun sa may Puerto Princesa para yung fresh fish or seafoods nama may yelo,

madadala natin sa blast freezing area, cold storage areas para ma-process.

And madala sa tourist markets itin atin in Manila and everywhere.

Ayun po yung general plan, Mr. Chair.

Thank you po, Mr. Chair.

And that's for us po.

We just wanted

to express and manifest our support to the agency and

hopefully we could empower our fishing and farmer communities more in the

coming budget. And nandito ang aming

pong tanggapan, nandito po upang magbigay ng mas maigting na suporta po para

sa ating mga kapwang manggagawa. Thank you very much, Mr. Chair, for the time and all the best po to the department and Mr.

Secretary, thank you po. Thank you, Congressman Carl, and Secretary, for the

second round from the minority

Representative Sarah Elago, Representative Brian Poe, Representative Cocoy Salvador, Representative Keith Flores, Representative Steve Solon,

Rep. Chagavaria, Rep. Kukuyap, Rep. Antonio Romano III, Rep. Nicolas Casi, Rep. Luigi Villapuerte,

Rep. Renante Agurgancia, Deputy Speaker Janet Garin,

and the first round, Representative Howard Guintu.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and to the DA family, good evening.

Pasensya na po, alam ko po nga kumakain po kayo.

I would just like to ask, actually my question is directed to PFDA, Mr. Chair.

May I know how much is the funding allocation for the construction of fish ports

for 2027 NEP?

Fish port

Good evening, Mr. Chair.

Magkano po yung budget na nilagay natin, or ang budget na meron para sa mga fish ports natin for 2027?

Actually, ang nasama po sa NEP is 3.8.

Magkano po?

3.8 billion.

3.8 billion.

From this 3.8 billion, magkano po ang naka-allocate sa atin?

Sa ating mga ongoing projects?

Yung 2.1 po.

2.1 sa ongoing, so yung remaining para sa mga...

Deepwater.

For new projects or new proposed fish ports. Tama po?

Sa deepwater po yung balansa po.

Yes, fish ports po. Deepwater.

Pero ang ano po, ilan po doon sa 3.8 billion na binigay po ng...

DBM, ilan po doon sa lumang project, ilan po ang sa bago?

Lahat po sa ongoing po yun.

Ongoing. So sa bago po, wala po tayong naka-allocate.

Wala po pang DBM.

Wala po tayong pondong, hindi po tayong nabigyan.

Pero meron po ba tayong proposal for new fish ports?

Opo, opo.

Actually, ang total proposal po namin is 8 billion po.

I'm sorry.

8 billion.

Ang proposed po natin for both old and new ports.

Opo, opo.

And yet, ang nabigyan po sa atin ay 3.8 billion lang po. Tama po?

Yes, yes.

Mr. Chair, this is where I am concerned, no?

Nakita po natin na, so 2025, ang nabigay po sa PFDA, 5.5 billion.

Tapos po, 2026, 4.5.

Ngayon po, 3.8.

Pababa po na pababa yung pondong na-allocate po sa PFDA.

And yet, kumakita natin, napakarami pong port na pangangailangan ang ating bansa

because of our archipelagic nature.

Alam niyo po, mayroon akong research na nabasa.

There's about 2,800 fishports in Japan.

In Japan po.

Now, wherein talagang makita natin how successful the fishing industry is in Japan.

However, in our country, parang wala pa po ata sa dalawang daan.

O baka 100 plus lang po yung fishport natin.

And yet, we have 7,000 plus islands.

With that, Mr. Chair, we have members here in the appropriation.

Baka naman po pwede po nating tugunan.

Yung pangangailangan ng PFDA with regard to the variants needed in order to fulfill their mandate.

Marami po tayo.

Alam mo, hindi ko na po inaano, pero karamihan po ng pondo ng DA po na pupunta po sa ating mga magsasaka,

sa ating mga farmers.

Parang nakakalimutan po natin na malaking tulong din at malaking portion din ng ating mga magagawa

ay mga fisher folks.

So, kung saan na po pwede po nating dagdagan ang pondo ng DA para po mabihayaan naman po ang ating mga fisher folks.

And then, another question, Mr. Chair.

In 2025, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA,

parang may binan po sila.

They assessed the Philippine fisheries and denied.

They denied comparability findings for two blue swimming crab.

This is a fishery ID 2129 and fishery ID 2130.

I'm just concerned regarding this particular, what do you call it, particular crab, no?

Kasi napakalaki nung nawawala sa atin na potential income from export

just because this particular...

Variant is banned in the U.S.

Meron po ba tayong ginagawang paraan para po matulungan yung ating mga crab fisheries or racers?

Mr. Chair, we would like to request Usec Drus Bayate of Fisheries for officials to give the details of the blue swimming crab issue.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Good evening.

I'm Usec Drus Bayate, Undersecretary for Fisheries.

Our issue with the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

stem from the implementation of the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act.

May import provision dun sa U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act.

At the fishing gears na ginagamit natin sa pag-capture ng crabs,

ang crabs na sinasabi nila alimasag, blue swimming crabs,

this is our major export to the U.S., ang blue crab meat.

So, ang blue crab meat natin in the country are concentrated in the Visayan Sea,

in Guimara Strait,

and Malampaya Sound.

So, itong mga areas na ito,

may findings ang mga researchers in the past,

na pag hinuhuli nila, ginagamit nila yung sinasabi mong fisheries ID.

That is ang isang 2930 and 2931.

31, magkasunod.

2129 at 2130.

Yeah.

Tama po.

That refers to the fishing gear na ginagamit, which is the crab gill net.

At ang isa, nagre-refer sa crab pots.

And traps.

Okay.

So, in the process na nilalagay ito siya, actually, our stakeholders there are artisanal fishers.

These artisanal fishers are stakeholders, na major stakeholders ng coastal municipalities.

They are under the jurisdiction of the local government units.

And BIFAR is committed to assist them.

Kasi, in the process of fishing, at maglagay sila ng kanilang gill net,

nakaka-entangle o nag-i-interact doon ang Irawadi Dolphin.

And, so, that is the summary.

So, ngayon,

ang tanong ng Kano sa atin,

do we have the appropriate policy?

Number two,

do we have mitigating measures na ibaba yung interaction na yun?

Kasi, ang tingin nila, threatened na ang Irawadi Dolphins in the Philippines.

So, ang ginawa natin is,

we passed fisheries administrative order

limiting the length,

the length of the gill nets kasi nakakaratingin ng more than 1 kilometer into 500 meters.

So, yun ang ating policy measure na nilagay.

And then, in-assist natin ang mga LGU

to make sure that they have crafted their local ordinance to mitigate this.

So, yun po ang ating ginawa.

And we will report to them

in the last quarter of this year,

we need to give them an update po

kung na totally na ang commitment natin na in place na lahat.

So, tinutulungan natin lahat ngayon ang ating mga local government units

to craft their ordinance to comply with this requirement.

Maraming salamat po.

You know, the reason why I ask this,

across kasi Western Visayas, we have 6,500 crab raisers.

And sa distrito ko po, 2,600.

So, about 40% po talaga, yan po ang kinabubuhay.

So, with the US market being 90% of our market affected by this banning,

hirap po yung aming mga crab raisers.

So, sana po ma-comply na po natin at ma-regain access na kami sa US market

at malaking tulong po yun sa amin.

Yun lang po, Mr. Chair, I'll be winding up my question and my manifestation.

I would just like to request that if we can take a look at the budget of DA allocated for the PFDA and the fisheries,

maybe we can allocate through the BARC wherein we can provide additional budget sa ating mga fish ports

para naman po matugunan din ang mga pangangailangan ng ating mga manging isda.

Yun lang po. Maraming salamat.

Thank you, Congressman Howard Quinto.

From the majority, Representative Christopher Cucuyap.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, Mayong Gabi'i, Secretary, and DA family.

I'm here to support the budget of DA and if possible, increase the budget.

Alam natin kano ka-hardworking yung DA family natin and the affiliate agencies.

For the first time, I've seen...

Last year, lahat ng reform na kinonsult namin, inaction lang talaga ng DA.

So thank you, DA. We're here for you.

Nakita naman namin ang issue lang, medyo kulang lang tayo ng konti sa pundo.

But the effort is there. Nakita namin. Especially in my province.

A lot of reforms you have made.

Yung sa Bureau of Soil, laboratory.

I think it's one of the most important project you had.

If you're really serious about the issue with the implementation, kung yung efficiency ng productivity natin,

I think one of this is yung ano talaga, yung soil laboratory para yung mga production natin, tsaka yung projection,

is more or less scientific in approach.

And of course, the NEA sa irrigation naman natin, I've seen a lot of improvement in my district.

But may na-observe lang ako yung sa ano natin, QRF. Medyo hindi flexible.

And I think medyo tali kayo. Kaya we're here to support that.

Kung anong changes na pwede niyong gawin.

And of course, the repair and rehab. Very specific.

Kung may mga issues na mas importante, hindi natin mabigyan ng pansin or hindi natin matransfer yung mas importante na programa or proyekto.

Dahil medyo specific din. Detailed.

And again, tali yung kamay niyo na hindi kayo maka-action agad.

And the effort is there. Sinabi niyo naman.

Kung pwede lang sana. Pero yun nga, may restriction.

Yun ang gusto kong ma-address natin.

And if ever, anong matulong ng Congress para ma-actionan at matulungan yung agency niyo.

And regarding naman sa food security program.

I know, Sek, it's very important, especially with the current inflation and all the goods, especially yung pagkain, tumataas yung presyo, and very eccentric and important yung food security.

Yung programa natin, I think we have to ask the DILJ na isama na rin ito sa compliance ng SGLJ to have all LGUs to have their own food security plan para naman makatulong.

The issue of food security is not only a national issue.

But also local.

So siguro tayong lahat magtulong-tulong.

And if we can comply with it, it will be included in the SGLJ.

It would be a great help sa Department of Agriculture.

And yun rin siguro, Mr. Chair.

So thank you and we're here to support your budget.

Thank you, Representative Kukuyap.

I think this is the last from the majority.

Congressman Carlos Cari.

Good morning, Mr. Chair.

Save the best for last.

Ganun ba?

With African swine fever still threatening backyard pig farmers,

how much budget is set aside for 2027 to expand this community pig raising facilities?

Speed up.

Speed up financial payouts for affected farmers and teach low-cost farm protection to rural families nationwide.

Mr. Chair, yung sa vaccine for backyard farmers, yun yung request din namin na sinulong din ni Congressman Briones na madagdagan ang aming budget ng 1 billion na puwede pang ASF o puwede pang AI para kung sakaling

makatulong kami at

may maibigay

kaming vaccine in case may outbreak sa isang lugar.

Yun yung request namin for the vaccine, Mr. Chair.

Natanong ko kasi iyon, Mr. Chair.

Kasi the Visayas State University, may ATI doon, has recently published evidence-based biosecurity guidelines for Leyte hog raisers.

Given that DA Region 8 has recently taken steps in aiding our neighboring hog raisers in southern Leyte by distributing 4.9 million in indemnification aid.

May I know, Honorable Secretary, if it is also possible for the DA to coordinate with Visayas State University

and the LPA?

LGUs in the 5th District of Leyte to roll out low-cost biosecurity training.

Hopefully in the future, the Department can also consider our district for a possible swine recovery facility grant.

Yes, Mr. Chair, no problem for us to coordinate with the State University in the area and do training with ATI.

And,

Pwede,

Pwede din namin isama yan sa Inspire 600 program namin, which we will be designing a biosecure, assuming walang vaccine, yung design na to for backyard farmers na pwede ibigay ng DA at 12.5 or 13.5 million per set up sa ating mga backyard farmers or clusters for hogs.

Yun ang tinatawag namin.

Inspire 600,

Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

About preparedness for prolonged El Nino spells, with Pag-asa forecasting a severe dry spell extending into early 2027,

what direct financial and equipment support is in the budget for farmers whose crops will suffer from water shortages?

Well, doon sa mga area, Mr. Chair, na talagang we will say it's an agricultural drought, na wala nang moisture yung lupa, technically, wala kaming magagawa sa DA doon except mayroon na kaming agreement with DSWD and DOLE na sila napapasok para tumulong in the meantime dahil yung drought areas na wala nang moisture yung lupa,

hindi na talaga.

Pwede pang taniman, pero pwedeng bigyan ng trabaho yung land preparation in preparation for the next cropping.

Doon sa mga slightly na pwede pang taniman, pero hindi na pwede yung usual crops, we have to use other crops, katulad ng corn for drier areas or malunggay and everything,

so we are prepared to give other seeds, fertilizer support.

para makatanim ng ibang bagay na mas resistant sa drought at sa heat, among others, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Chair, about coconut industry modernization, intercropping, and trust fund execution, with copra prices remaining volatile, coconut farming families rely heavily on timely government support

to sustain

their farm

yields and daily expenses.

Given the significant budget allocated under the Coconut farmers and industry trust fund, how will the PCA and DA use the.

The twenty, twenty, seven.

budget to reduce paperwork and bottlenecks, ensuring that essential inputs like free fertilizer and planting

materials

reach farm communities on time?

Well, yung budget natin for PCA

for 2027 is

mostly for yung ating

replanting. Kasi may mission

tayo na inutos ng ating paulo na

100 million trees. By end of

this year, I think we will reach 40 million

trees planted. Pero

pinaka-importante is ma-

unlock natin yung Coco Levy funds

with the

new bill na

sinusulong natin sa

Kongreso at sa Senado

para mabago yung

yung

bagong batas

para sa Coco Levy funds

para ma-access na natin to

at ma-pondohan

ng massive replanting

pagtayo ng mga

facilities to improve yung

income ng ating mga

livelihood ng ating mga

coconut farmers by value

adding sa kanilang mga areas

of course with

scholarships and education

Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Sec. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

One more for

for Nia

about emergency repairs

when typhoons

damage irrigation canals

farmers cannot afford to

wait months for

central emergency fund approvals

while the

fields sit dry.

Most, what funding

or quick release mechanisms

are provided in NIA's

2027 budget

so regional offices

can immediately

fix storm damage intake

gates and get

water back to the fields

before the planting season

passes.

Yes, Mr. Chair. Actually,

for the district,

may request kami

na 2.8

billion

ang

na-approve po sa atin

is 66 million ano po

yung Hilonggo

hindang Hilonggo IS

and then

ito po yung

repair natin

but yung mga iba po

na hindi natin napapuntuhan

is nirequesta po namin sa OCD

para sa yung mga

repair natin ano po

yung typhoon damage

so

in your district po marami rin tayong pinapuntuhan.

Ang pinasok sa OCD na request mo.

Sige, marami pong salamat.

This representation

supports

the budget of DA

and NIA.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

Thank you very much, Representative

Cari.

Since we have been here

for 9 hours

now,

I would like to suspend

the proceeding for

10 minutes so we can take

a dinner break.

The hearing is hereby suspended.

Meron na kami mga plano.

Ang initial plan is

paramihin yung planting material.

So yun ang thrust natin

with the UBE.

Paramihin yung planting material by 3-4 folds.

Kasi per

piece ho no'n, pagkakarinig ko,

40 pesos

per seedlings.

Tapos napaka mahal sa Japan.

800 pesos

yung powdered na UBE.

May pondo na kaming gagamitin

for 2026

from sarili namin.

Then 2027, mas malaki pang pondo.

So eventually, doon sa mga small farmer,

pamimigayin natin yung seedlings.

Oo, kasi natanong ko yan.

Nakikita ko yung yield

per hectare.

Napakaganda.

Kung umaani ng 25 tons,

napakalaking halaga ng pera.

Kung susumayin natin.

Tama ho kayo, ma’am.

Nakita ko siya eh.

Kaya in-encourage ko sila.

Ako, diyan na kayo magtanim kaysa naman sa iba pa.

Ang problema nga, Mr. Secretary, yung seedlings, talagang medyo bitin.

Mr. Chair, yung head dyan, si Yusek Yang.

At papakordinate ko na sa office niyo para masigurado.

Kasi yung Isabela, pinakoconvert namin halos na magtanim nila ng ube kaysa naman yung iba pa.

Kasi pag kinuwenta mo yung halaga, talagang napakalaki.

Pero kailangan lang violet talaga yung ube.

Yung violet na yung pinakamagandang klase, hindi ho ba ang daming klase yan?

Meron na kami na piling limang variants na po, yung napapromote natin.

Oo, yung sa bayan namin sa Jones, Isabela, ang ganda ng klase ng ube.

Eh, bagamat, yung nga, pag gustuhin mo ma magtanim, kasi 25,000 seedlings ang dapat itanim para mas...

Mas maganda, ani per hektar.

Hindi po ba?

Pinadala nila ako ng samples na may picture ako.

Oo, ganda, ganda ho yun.

Sige.

At saka napakalaking demand nung ube talaga.

Nintay lang ho natin si chairman.

Siya ho yung may last parting words sa atin.

Representative.

From minority.

Representative Sara Ilago.

Maraming salamat, Mr. Chair.

Nais kong magtanong tungkol sa implementasyon ng Executive Order No. 100

sa pagtitiyak na magkakaroon tayo ng pag-establish ng floor price ng palay

at magkaroon ng nantiyak na suporta sa ating mga magsasaka sa panahon na napakataas po ng cost of production

at iba pang mga factors na nakakaapekto.

Sa pagbagsak ng presyo ng palay.

Mr. Chair, if I recall, yung EO 100 was sa pag-ano ng floor price sa pagbili ng, I think, government, no?

And it's sa presyo ng palay, no?

Oo, at yun nga, yun nga, yung ano na yun is limited to government

at hindi siya pwede i-apply sa private sector, Mr. Chair.

Pagkano ho ang presyo na na-establish ninyo?

Sa ngayon, ang NFA is we are buying now set ang palay at wet ng 21.

Sa dry naman, 25 to 27, depende sa area.

Pesos per kilo, Mr. Chair.

Sa budget nyo ho ba, saan po nakapaloob yung mga kinakailangan na pondo

para matiyak na nagtatrabaho ang ating steering committee,

na gagawa ng DA ang kanyang responsibilidad?

Ang pondo, sorry.

Matiyak ito.

Mr. Chair, ang pondo natin sa pagbili ng palay ay nasa NFA

at meron pa tayong rise for all na 10 billion.

Sa NFA is 9 billion pambili.

Sa rise for all is 10 billion.

So, total of 19 billion ang pondong pwedeng magamit sa 2026 sa pagbili ng palay, Mr. Chair.

Pwede ho kayong mag-ulat dito sa Section 3,

yung pagkakaroon ng temporary storage ng palay.

Sa public facilities, meron na ho ba tayong mga nakatulungan ng mga NGAs

at iba't ibang instrumentalities nito, GOCCs, LGUs,

pati na rin state universities and colleges,

meron ho ba tayong mga nahikayat, mga naisama sa pagtitiyak na

meron ho silang mga facilities na maaari nating magamit

bilang temporary storage ng palay?

Maybe we can ask NFA to continue.

To continue.