PRES. DUTERTE PLEDGES P500-M FOR BICOL AGRI, FISHERIES REHAB

Pili, Camarines Sur - Just as soon as Christmas Day typhoon Nina left the Philippine territory and even before local residents could clear the streets of fallen trees and blown roofs, President Rody Duterte flew to two of the most devastated provinces in the Bicol Region - Catanduanes and Camarines Sur - and vowed immediate rehabilitation efforts with an initial commitment of P500-million for agriculture and fisheries.

The President arrived in Virac, Catanduanes at past 2 p.m. straight from Davao City and was joined by five Cabinet secretaries - Agriculture, Social Welfare, Energy, Education and Defense - and several undersecretaries in a short ceremony in the provincial capitol of Catanduanes in Virac town.

In Virac, President Duterte approved the allocation by the Dept. of Agriculture of P55-M for the immediate rehabilitation of the Abaca industry of Catanduanes, the release of rice seeds and fertilisers for about 5,000 hectares and the repair of fisheries instrastructure.

Typhoon Nina damaged 85% of the standing Abaca of Catanduanes which at 33,000 hectares is the biggest single producer of the natural fibre in the world today.

From Virac, President Duterte flew by helicopter to Pili, Camarines Sur where local officials led by Governor Miguel Villafuerte met him at the provincial capitol for a short ceremony.

The President initially committed P50-M in rehabilitation funds and seeds and fertilisers for the estimated 21,000 hectares of damaged rice farms.

But after his speech, when I showed him the updated report which was submitted to me while he was already speaking which indicated that the damage to agriculture and fisheries alone could reach P3-B, President Duterte said he was increasing his commitment to P500-M.

Of the amount, P300-M will come from the President's funds while the remaining P200-M will be sourced from the funds of the Dept. of Agriculture.

"I hope you could recover your bearing," the President told the crowd which gathered in front of the Camarines Sur Provincial Capitol even as he urged local officials to be conscious of the threats of climate change.

The President suggested that since the Bicol Region faces threats of typhoons being the country's first window facing the Pacific Ocean, people must learn to adapt.

He suggested that houses must have sturdy designs to withstand strong winds adding that "This is a reality which we must accept."

"Do not despair. Government will help. Life must go on. Recover your bearings," he told the crowd.

The President flew back to Davao City just before dark while the members of the Cabinet took an Air Force plane back to Metro Manila.

Today will be another working day.

By Manny Piñol

"They were lucky! I'd have killed them if I were there!" - Duterte to San Juan Drug Bust

"Talagang papatayin kita, mga p— ina ninyo, kayo ang ano ha... kagaya nu'ng sa shabu sa San Juan, masuwerte sila wala ako sa Maynila. Kung ganun karami isang bahay ng shabu, talagang papatayin kita. Huwag na tayong magdrama. Ako mismo, ako ang babaril kung walang ibang babaril." — President Rody Duterte

TYPHOON NINA DESTROYS CATANDUANES ABACA FARMS

Virac, Catanduanes - From the air, the extent of damage of Typhoon Nina which ravaged the Southern Luzon and Bicol Regions was evident in the hundreds of coconut trees whose tops were blow off by the strong wind.

Typhoon Nina, the strongest to hit Catanduanes in 10 years, hit the agriculture sector hardest virtually wiping out the thriving Abaca industry.

Governor Joseph Cua reported that of the 33,130 hectares of Abaca, a total of 27,936 hectares was heavily damaged.

Catanduanes is the world's biggest producer of Abaca finer, a natural fiber which is endemic to the Philippines.

It is estimated that Catanduanes earns P100-M from its Abaca industry.

Rice farms were also affected but provincial officials still have gather the extent of the damage.

Damage to fisheries is also still being validated.

President Rody Duterte is expected to arrive in Virac, Catanduanes at 2 p.m. today.

From Virac, he will proceed to Pili, Camarines Sur for another meeting with local officials.

Camarines Sur, home province of Vice President Leni Robredo, is one of the hardest provinces by Typhoon Nina.

By Manny Piñol

PRES. DUTERTE COMFORTS MIDSAYAP BOMBING VICTIMS

On Christmas Day, when most people, especially those who hold power and lofty positions in government, hide in vacation places, President Rody Duterte visited victims of a bombing attack in front of a Catholic Church in Midsayap, North Cotabato.

"I just want to give them comfort and boost their spirits," he told me as he entered the Pesante Community Hospital in Midsayap yesterday where most of the victims, including those who suffered minor injuries, received cash assistance personally from the President.

Three other victims who were seriously wounded, including a female Overseas Worker whose leg was amputated, were in major hospitals in Davao City.

The President's visit to a bombing scene was not expected but it did not come as a surprise.

This was vintage Duterte.

The day before, Dec. 24, he spent long hours with children suffering from Cancer in the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) in Davao City.

Children suffering from cancer have been recipients of Duterte's support when he was Mayor of Davao City.

In fact, in 2014, the City Government of Davao turned over to the House of Hope, a halfway house for children from all over Mindanao stricken with cancer, over P3-M representing fines collected from violators of the city's strict Anti-Smoking Ordinance.

The information that he would visit Midsayap actually reached me before lunch time yesterday while I was in my farm in Kidapawan City for my much-needed Christmas Day break.

I served as Governor of North Cotabato for nine years, from 1998 to 2007, and I felt that I had to be in Midsayap, one of the 18 local government units of the province, as part of protocol and also to show my support for my own people.

Arriving a lot earlier than the President who came at about 4 p.m., I was able to gather some information which I shared with him.

I was told that many more churchgoers who attended the Christmas Eve mass would have been injured or maimed were it not for the very long homily of the assistant parish priest of the Sto. Niño Church.

Churchgoers I talked with said that the priest's homily focused mainly on the issue of the alleged "Extra-Judicial Killings" which the Catholic hierarchy is blaming on President Duterte.

"Gusto na naming lumabas kasi mahaba ang sermon nya na ina-atake si President Duterte. Pero nahiya lang kami,' said one churchgoer I talked with.

The long sermon prevented churchgoers from leaving the church earlier where they would be passing through the very place where the grenade was lobbed and exploded.

"Kung napa-aga ang uwian ng mga tao, marami siguro ang nadisgrasya," said provincial board member Rollyboy Sacdalan.

President Duterte laughed when I told him the story and said: "So, this is a drug-related bombing."

President Duterte did not stay long but on the way in and out of the hospital, he met with a huge group of local people who waited for him for four hours.

The crowd went wild as the President posed for selfies and groupies.

In spite of the scare of the terror attack, the crowd dispersed happily after the President left.

Ater all, it is not always that the President visits a town which has just been bombed and most of all, not on Christmas Day.

NO POLITICAL PLANS, AGENDA; I SIMPLY LOVE WHAT I'M DOING!

Damn if you do, damn if you don't!

I guess this is what I am going through right now.

As I seriously move fast to address issues and problems in agriculture and fisheries in the country and in finding solutions to the problems and poverty in the countryside, some people are starting to suspect that I am harbouring political ambitions and agenda.

"My next President!," "My Vice President" and "Future Senator" are among the comments I read in reaction to my Facebook posts on what I have been doing as Secretary of Agriculture.

I find these comments disturbing and I decided to address these issues once and for all.

I must admit that some people have openly suggested to me that I consider a Senate seat in 2022.

But let me set everything straight.

No, I have no political agenda. I have no ambitions to vie for a national political position.

I have personally told President Rody Duterte months ago that I will retire from government service at the end of his term in 2022.

So, why am I working hard and moving fast as Secretary of Agriculture?

It is because I was given a task or a mission if people would call it as such. I am passionate about the things that I am assigned to do.

Those who have worked with me are familiar with my working habits as a public official. I really do things fast. In fact, I must admit that I even cut corners sometimes.

When I was Governor, I packed a tent in my pick-up truck and I spent nights in remote villages just talking to people.

These rural sojourns gave me the opportunity to assess situations up close and helped me find appropriate and effective interventions.

Those who expressed amazement at the speed with which I do things and implement programs are even in for bigger surprises.

I'm just warming up. You have to understand that the budget and programs I am implementing now were crafted by the previous officials of the DA.

Even the 2017 Budget and Programs are results of the planning of the former DA leaders.

When the budgeting for 2018 comes along sometime early next year, I will already be able to lay down the programs and projects which would be reflective of the directions for agriculture and fisheries as set by President Duterte.

These programs and projects would be more focused on Food Production, Poverty Alleviation and greater contribution by the agriculture and fisheries sectors to national growth.

So, let me again set things straight:

I have NO political agenda and I am appealing to people to stop suggesting that I should consider higher political positions. That is not in my Bucket List.

I WORK HARD AND I DO THINGS FAST BECAUSE I LOVE WHAT I AM DOING AND BECAUSE I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES.

Please allow me to do my job and work hard without being suspected of harbouring a political agenda.

Suggesting that I do things the way they are done - fast and quick - because I have political ambitions would be very unfair to me and it would affect my work.

Remember that the political arena is a dog-eats-dog territory.

There are those who crave for very high political positions and I will be placed in the crosshair of political character assassination if they feel that I would be a threat.

Ibigay na natin ang pulitika sa kanila.

Happiness is not about power or lofty positions.

Happiness is all about being able to do what you love to do and of realising your dreams.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all!

T'WAS PRESIDENT DUTERTE'S RESOLVE WHICH GAVE FARMERS FREE IRRIGATION

Watch the Video Footage

"Victory has many fathers but defeat is an orphan."

Yesterday, I came across an article which quoted the head of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) as saying that the "Free Irrigation Policy" recently implemented by government is an "initial victory" of the Filipino farmers.

In a self-congratulatory statement, KMP Secretary General Antonio Flores said "We claim this as an initial victory for farmers. Farmers and irrigators associations have launched a nationwide campaign for free irrigation and formed the Pambansang Ugnayan para sa Libreng Irigasyon at Patubig or PATUBIG to assert free irrigation services."

There was never any mention of how government was able to implement "Free Irrigation" for 2017 in the KMP statement, not even a word of thanks for President Rody Duterte whose resolve actually made this farmers' dream a reality.

Well, let me just set the record straight.

It was actually in M'lang, North Cotabato in August of 2014, when then Davao City Mayor Rody Duterte publicly shared his thoughts on "Free Irrigation."

"Why ask the farmers to pay for something which is their's? Water is national patrimony. Water should be provided free to our farmers just as we allow the traders to use the public highways for free," was what Duterte essentially said during the farmers' week celebration in M'lang where he was guest of honour.

It was a commitment which Duterte kept on repeating during the whole Presidential campaign and which he did not forget when he became President.

It was also a promise which I kept reminding him about when I became Secretary of Agriculture.

Free Irrigation did not come easy. I should know because President Duterte tasked me to work on it even if the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) is not under the Dept. of Agriculture.

First, there was resistance from some members of the government economic team which viewed Free Irrigation as a "subsidy."

Second, even officials of NIA were averse to the idea of Free Irrigation. In fact, even with the public pronouncements of President Duterte on Free Irrigation, NIA under former administrator Florencio Padernal did not include an additional amount in the agency's budget proposal for 2017 to cover the Irrigation Service Fee (ISF).

In Nueva Ecija, I was told that farmers who wanted to hold a forum on Free Irrigation were not allowed to use the NIA facility by regional officials of NIA in Region III.

Honestly, I was deathly worried that President Duterte's commitment of "Free Irrigation" would not be fulfilled.

With the explicit instructions of President Duterte, however, I relayed to the key members of Congress and the Senate his wish for the realisation of his commitment of "Free Irrigation."

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, Cong. Karlo Nograles, Congresswoman Megan Antonino and members of the House Committee on Agriculture headed by Cong. Jose "Bentot" Panganiban, Jr., including opposition leaders, threw their support to Free Irrigation.

It was a unanimous position among Congressmen to support Free Irrigation. In fact, some even proposed that the old accounts of the farmers be condoned.

It was in the Senate, however, where I was really assured that "Free Irrigation" for Filipino rice farmers would be realised when Senator Loren Legarda, head of the powerful Finance Committee committed that she would work on providing additional funding for NIA to cover the ISF for 2017.

The support in the Senate was unanimous as almost all members, including those critical of President Duterte, pushed for Free Irrigation.

Senators Cynthia Villar, Francis Pangilinan, Ralph Recto, Risa Hontiveros, Miguel Zubiri, Manny Pacquiao, Koko Pimentel and Franklin Drilon were among the strongest supporters of Free Irrigation.

It was Cynthia Villar who actually confronted the hard-headed former NIA officials and asked them how much was needed to cover the ISF collections for 2017 and ensure the fulfilment of President Duterte's commitment of Free Irrigation.

This is the true and real story behind the realisation of that age-old dream of the Filipino rice farmers for Free Irrigation.

I am not belittling the efforts of farmers' groups like KMP who batted for Free Irrigation but the fact remains that had it not been for the resolve of President Duterte, it would just have remained a dream.

Looking back at what went through, I ask myself: "What would have happened if the Free Irrigation commitment was not realised?"

I would have resigned as Secretary of Agriculture because I had no face to show to the farmers who believed me when I assured them that the Duterte Presidency meant Free Irrigation.

If President Duterte failed to deliver on his promise of Free Irrigation, the KMP and the other radical groups now claiming victory would certainly be in the streets denouncing the President and attacking him as a liar.

They would have publicly crucified him for reneging on a promise and betraying the farmers.

President Duterte does not relish gratification neither does he want to be glorified for serving the people.

But I believe that in the interest of fairness, the KMP should have at least acknowledged that without President Duterte's strong resolve to fulfil his promises, there would be no "Free Irrigation Victory" to celebrate today.

Free Irrigation has come true because there is a President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

By Manny Piñol

SOLAR-POWERED IRRIGATION SYSTEM A PRODUCT OF TRIPS TO COUNTRYSIDE

The idea to build the first prototype of a Solar-Powered Irrigation System was actually a result of the many trips I made to the countryside which I called "Biyaheng Bukid."

As early as May of 2016, I started travelling all over the country even before I could assume the post of Secretary of Agriculture on June 30.

It was during my trip to Aparri, Cagayan Valley when I saw the great irony of so much water in the huge Cagayan River but rice fields just beside the massive body of flowing water were dry and unproductive during the summer months.

The reason was very simple: The river banks were so deep that to bring water to the vast rice fields, farmers have to use diesel powered centrifugal water pumps which is actually a very expensive operation.

It was in Aparri when I remembered what I saw earlier in Thermal City, Southern California where my friend, Filipino-American Rocky French, operated a Tiliapia fish farm in the middle of the Coachella Valley Desert.

Rocky French used huge solar panels to power three big water pumps which drew water from underground, up to a depth of about 1,200 feet and these supplied water to about 25 acres of fishponds.

In the last week of June, I made a quick trip to California to visit French in his farm in Thermal City and that was when I asked him to design for the country of his birth a small solar-powered system which could be established in a short time with low cost in the many upland and rain-fed rice fields of the Philippines.

Rocky introduced me to Moses Khuu, a young American solar-power engineer who helped him perfect his own system in Coachella Valley.

When the area to build the first solar-powered irrigation system was found in Barangay New Janiuay, M'lang, North Cotabato, Moses Khuu started working on the project initially with his brother-in-law, Gabriel Gonzales, and lately with Korean-American Kyu Whang.

Moses had to travel back to the US several times to procure the needed gadgets to build a No-Inverter Solar-Powered Irrigation System which would run the water pumps even when the sunlight was weak.

The absence of the Solar Inverters in the system that Rocky French and Moses Khuu designed is critical in the viability of the project because without the inverters, the cost of the project would be greatly reduced and there would be no need to buy the expensive batteries.

Frinally, yesterday, I switched on the first No-Inverter Solar-Powered Irrigation System in the presence of officials of Barangay New Janiuay led by Barangay Chairman Godofredo Constantinopla and the landowner, an old farmer named Antonio Jugos.

Pumping out water from a pond just beside the 5-hectare property of old man Jugos using a 10 horsepower water pump, the System is capable of submerging 3 to 4 hectares of rice fields in a day. It could provide water to a contiguous area of between 50 to 100 hectares using a pipe distribution system.

What is amazing with the system is the speed with which it could be assembled in the field.

Moses Khuu told me yesterday that if all the materials are available, he and his team could build the system in two weeks.

Aside from that the cost of providing water is estimated at P120,000 per hectare if the area is only 50 hectares and P60,000 if the coverage is 100 hectares.

President Rody Duterte will be invited to formally switch on the first No-Inverter Solar-Powered Irrigation System early next year and that would signal the start of the Solar-Powered Irrigation Revolution in the country.

With this innovation, water will now be available to farmers in the upland and rain-fed rice fields.

All that would be needed would be a source of water like a small water impounding, a lake or even deep wells and, of course, plenty of sunlight.

By Manny Piñol