Increase Price To Make Seaweeds Production Viable
Mr. Jocelyn "Joc Joc" Bolante, former undersecretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in the Gloria Macapagal Arroyo administration maybe removed as member of a Rotary Club where he is a member. In its regular weekly meeting held recently at Manila Hotel, the Rotary Club of Manila approved a resolution requesting the Rotary Club where Mr. Bolante is a member to delete his name from its list of members. This is my answer to the e-mails which reached Madyaas Pen asking if Mr. Bolante is still a member of a Rotary Club.
Mr. Bolante was not only a member of a Rotary Club, but he is a Past District Governor, a Director of Rotary International and Past President of his club among others.
As undersecretary of DA, Mr. Bolante is alleged to have been the brain of about P800 million liquid fertilizer fund scam done during the election of 2004.
Membership in Rotary is by invitation only. One does not need to apply to be a member. Every year, members of a Rotary Club conduct what is called classification survey. Once there are vacancies in the classification, any member of a Rotary Club may invite probable members to fill up the vacant classifications.
Some examples of classifications in Rotary are local publishing, rice trading, automotive repairs and legal practice among others. Each member represents a business or a profession. A Rotary Club is formed to advance business or profession whatever it is. Any nominee for membership in the club must get unanimous votes of all members before his induction as member. Any dissenting note is enough to stop the induction.
All Rotary Club members are obliged to maintain a high standard of morality and integrity in his community. Once his integrity is questioned, it will be highly probable that his expulsion is forthcoming.
Because of that alleged fertilizer fund scam, the morality and integrity of Mr. Bolante were questioned by his fellow members that may lead to his membership expulsion in the Rotary Club.
Until today, Mr. Bolante has not responded positively to the invitation of the Senate Committee on Agriculture inquiry presided by Sen. Ramon Magsaysay, Jr. Mr. Bolante is now detained in a detention center in Chicago, Illinois. He has applied for asylum in the United States.
-o-
Last Thursday afternoon, August 17, I was invited to attend the regular meeting of the Provincial Seaweeds Development Council (PSDC) presided by Ms. Ermelinda Pollentes of DTI as chairperson.
I found attendance to that said meeting was highly instructive. I found during the said meeting that as discussed, seaweeds growing is highly risky. It will be profitable if the product is given fair and reasonable market price.
Among others, big waves, ripples produced when a boat passes near the plantation, the level of salinity of the water and the extent of pollution in the plant area deter growth. Moreover, the fisherfolk must pay regular visits to his seaweeds project to produce the desired quantity and quality. The way I understand it, it is labor intensive and risky to the producer like a fisherman whose livelihood is in the shallow blue sea.
According to Mr. Mae Guangco, BFAR Provincial Director, Aklan, seaweed is in demand. Buyers in Cebu City buy seaweed at P25 per kilogram provided the seaweed is 98 percent pure and contains just 40 percent moisture. Below that standard, the buying price is lower than P25 per kilogram.
What is the percentage of drying recovery? Mr. Guangco informed the meeting: it is 10 percent. For every 100 kilograms of fresh seaweeds, only 10 kilograms will be left after drying it at 40 percent moisture content.
The method of dehydration is by sun drying. The fisherfolk may haul the fresh seaweeds from the shallow blue sea to the beach. Sun dry it by hanging along pieces of strings tied between and among posts. How long will he dry it? The extent of drying is dependent upon the weather daily. Once dried, the fisherfolk may bring it to the market.
Will they be happy to sell their seaweeds at P25.00 per kilogram on a dry basis? P250.00 is a hunger income. These 100 kilograms of seaweeds after drying will just weight 10 kilograms. If sold at the buyer’s bodega means P250.00, a real fisherfolk exploitation. It is not enough to compensate for their labor. I hope we can find higher price for the seaweeds of our fisherfolk. Let us encourage production and pay the encouraging price.
-o-
One of the topics recently discussed in the Sangguniang Bayan of Kalibo was the trip of some Ati Atihan tribes in Tagbilaran City to attend the Sandugo Festival 2006. The issue came about after Hon. Mark Vega Quimpo presented a resolution to the SB Kalibo for approval thanking their host for spending for their trip, giving them comfortable accommodation and nice reception.
While the resolution of thanks was approved, some SB members requested a copy of the Financial Statement of the KAMB and the list of municipal employees who went with the entourage to Bohol.
In his answer, Mayor Raymar A. Rebaldo requested those who wish a copy of the KAMB Financial Statement "if you could spend time in this office for us to deliberate details of the expenses incurred as I would like to raise some clarification whether which funding support is being queried…"
According to Mayor Rebaldo, 10 municipal officials went to Bohol. They are:
Mr. Bolante was not only a member of a Rotary Club, but he is a Past District Governor, a Director of Rotary International and Past President of his club among others.
As undersecretary of DA, Mr. Bolante is alleged to have been the brain of about P800 million liquid fertilizer fund scam done during the election of 2004.
Membership in Rotary is by invitation only. One does not need to apply to be a member. Every year, members of a Rotary Club conduct what is called classification survey. Once there are vacancies in the classification, any member of a Rotary Club may invite probable members to fill up the vacant classifications.
Some examples of classifications in Rotary are local publishing, rice trading, automotive repairs and legal practice among others. Each member represents a business or a profession. A Rotary Club is formed to advance business or profession whatever it is. Any nominee for membership in the club must get unanimous votes of all members before his induction as member. Any dissenting note is enough to stop the induction.
All Rotary Club members are obliged to maintain a high standard of morality and integrity in his community. Once his integrity is questioned, it will be highly probable that his expulsion is forthcoming.
Because of that alleged fertilizer fund scam, the morality and integrity of Mr. Bolante were questioned by his fellow members that may lead to his membership expulsion in the Rotary Club.
Until today, Mr. Bolante has not responded positively to the invitation of the Senate Committee on Agriculture inquiry presided by Sen. Ramon Magsaysay, Jr. Mr. Bolante is now detained in a detention center in Chicago, Illinois. He has applied for asylum in the United States.
-o-
Last Thursday afternoon, August 17, I was invited to attend the regular meeting of the Provincial Seaweeds Development Council (PSDC) presided by Ms. Ermelinda Pollentes of DTI as chairperson.
I found attendance to that said meeting was highly instructive. I found during the said meeting that as discussed, seaweeds growing is highly risky. It will be profitable if the product is given fair and reasonable market price.
Among others, big waves, ripples produced when a boat passes near the plantation, the level of salinity of the water and the extent of pollution in the plant area deter growth. Moreover, the fisherfolk must pay regular visits to his seaweeds project to produce the desired quantity and quality. The way I understand it, it is labor intensive and risky to the producer like a fisherman whose livelihood is in the shallow blue sea.
According to Mr. Mae Guangco, BFAR Provincial Director, Aklan, seaweed is in demand. Buyers in Cebu City buy seaweed at P25 per kilogram provided the seaweed is 98 percent pure and contains just 40 percent moisture. Below that standard, the buying price is lower than P25 per kilogram.
What is the percentage of drying recovery? Mr. Guangco informed the meeting: it is 10 percent. For every 100 kilograms of fresh seaweeds, only 10 kilograms will be left after drying it at 40 percent moisture content.
The method of dehydration is by sun drying. The fisherfolk may haul the fresh seaweeds from the shallow blue sea to the beach. Sun dry it by hanging along pieces of strings tied between and among posts. How long will he dry it? The extent of drying is dependent upon the weather daily. Once dried, the fisherfolk may bring it to the market.
Will they be happy to sell their seaweeds at P25.00 per kilogram on a dry basis? P250.00 is a hunger income. These 100 kilograms of seaweeds after drying will just weight 10 kilograms. If sold at the buyer’s bodega means P250.00, a real fisherfolk exploitation. It is not enough to compensate for their labor. I hope we can find higher price for the seaweeds of our fisherfolk. Let us encourage production and pay the encouraging price.
-o-
One of the topics recently discussed in the Sangguniang Bayan of Kalibo was the trip of some Ati Atihan tribes in Tagbilaran City to attend the Sandugo Festival 2006. The issue came about after Hon. Mark Vega Quimpo presented a resolution to the SB Kalibo for approval thanking their host for spending for their trip, giving them comfortable accommodation and nice reception.
While the resolution of thanks was approved, some SB members requested a copy of the Financial Statement of the KAMB and the list of municipal employees who went with the entourage to Bohol.
In his answer, Mayor Raymar A. Rebaldo requested those who wish a copy of the KAMB Financial Statement "if you could spend time in this office for us to deliberate details of the expenses incurred as I would like to raise some clarification whether which funding support is being queried…"
According to Mayor Rebaldo, 10 municipal officials went to Bohol. They are:
Hon. Mark V. Quimpo Hon. Ariel O. Fernandez
Mr. Edgardo M. Gerardo Ms. Editha I. De Lemos
Mr. Randy Anthony A. Rebaldo Mr. Terence June T. Toriano
Ms. Rhea Rose M. Ebesate Mr. Leenard M. Cristobal
Ms. Aina T. Belarmino Ms. Lyn S. Irodistan
According to Mr. Randy A. Rebaldo, Secretary to Mayor Rebaldo, there were 129 members of the Ati Atihan group who belonged to the top three awarded tribes in Aklan, including the band who went to Bohol. Of course, their group from Aklan was highly applauded and appreciated while in Bohol especially in Tagbilaran City. No doubt about that.
In my telephone interview, Mr. Rebaldo revealed that their trip was subsidized if not fully paid for out of the P200,000 given by the Tagbilaran City local government and the P30,000 each financial assistance from Governor Carlito S. Marquez and Congressman Joeben T. Miraflores for a total of P260,000.00. Since that money was not enough, the expenses of the Kalibo municipal employees were paid out of the Municipal fund.
But some Kalibo SB members were not aware of the P200,000 from Tagbilaran City and the P60,000 from Governor Marquez and Congressman Miraflores, therefore the query.
The media advisory just also talked on the trip to Tagbilaran City to promote the Kalibo Ati Atihan Festival and did not reveal the P260,000. Madyaas Pen thought Ati Atihan tribes went to Bohol at the expense of KAMB. If the Ati Atihan tribes went to Bohol at their own expenses, why send a resolution of thanks?, said an SB member.
It is just proper and in line with the Filipino customs and tradition to send thank you letter after a guest or guests were invited with all expenses paid and stayed comfortably with the host.
According to Mr. Rebaldo, those Municipal Officials who went to Bohol managed the trip and provided the needed assistance of the tribes during their travel.
Are the 10 officials just enough? That may not be enough. Their number maybe increased provided everybody is informed. If excessive, that is the prerogative of the Mayor or his responsibility.
The SB members deserve to know why the SB will extend "Thank you". It is the function of the KAMB to inform the SB members and the public as mandated in the 1987 constitution. /MP mailto:madyaas_pen@yahoo.com
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