FITS offers training on cutflower production to help local entrepreneurs

by Rizalie A. Calibo

SIQUIJOR, August 20 (PIA) -- The Farmers Information and Technology Services (FITS) Consortium and the Local Government of Siquijor Province conducted a training on “Cut flower Production” for farmers and entrepreneurs interested in cut flower production, propagation and maintenance on August 17-19, 2011 at Dapdap Sunset Grill, Pangi, Siquijor, Siquijor.

Agricultural technicians from the six municipalities, farmer organizations and beneficiaries with assisting agencies also attended the training.

The resource speakers who come from the Department of Agriculture, Regional Office 7 introduced the different kinds of cutflowers, Post-harvest handling, flower arrangement and farming options for farmers.

One of the speakers, Jorge Paculba recommended some of the flowers that would likely thrive well in the province such as Chrysanthemum, anthurium, roses, orchids and gladiola.

Sangguniang Panlalawigan Committee Chair on Tourism and Trade and Industry Arthur Chan in his message said he is very happy that FITS offered such training to would-be entrepreneurs on cut-flower production so that they will be able to supply locally to flower shops here. He said flower shops are sprouting in the province yet they get their supply of flowers from Cebu.

Hopefully, the outcome of the training would be more supply of flowers to serve locally, Provincial Director of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) also agreed. (PIA-Siquiijor/mbcn/rac)

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Bantay Dagat nets illegal fishers

SIQUIJOR, August 20 (PIA) -- The Provincial Bantay Dagat Task Force in coordination with the Bantay Dagat Task Force of the municipality of Siquijor arrested a local fisherman for illegal fishing.

Jay Basong, 32, of barangay Caticugan, Siquijor, Siquijor, who was caught fishing using a trammel net, appeared before authorities and admitted his offense. Fishing equipment seized at the time of Basong’s arrest was also confiscated.

According to the report, the incident occurred when the Provincial and Municipal Bantay Dagat Task Forces conducted a joint seaborne patrol operation regarding an allegation that a fisherman was fishing using a trammel net.

A trammel net is an entangling net which captures fish or other marine animals by causing all or part of the head, fins, legs or other body parts to become entangled or ensnared in the meshes of the net.

Authorities banned the use of such net because it can lead to fish depletion in the sea since small fishes are also caught along with the bigger fishes.

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR-7) reported earlier that the government’s campaign against illegal fishing is on “high gear.”

In a PIA-7 report earlier, BFAR-7 Assistant Regional Director Allan Poquita said, Bantay Dagat Task Forces in the region are now equipped with the state-of-the-art facility that would aid them in patrolling the coastal waters of their own localities to drive illegal fishers.

He said the various Bantay Dagat Task Forces in Central Visyas have intensified their own campaign against illegal fishing.

He said that each Bantay Dagat Task Force in the different towns in the region now have global positioning satellites (GPS) that can help them accomplish more effective arrests.

With the GPS and other modern equipment, law enforcers can support their claim with certainty, Poquita said. (PIA-Siquijor/mbcn/rac)