Sectors in Cagayan are now looking into methods to cushion the impact of the unrelenting dry spell. Small water reservoirs are already being used in the province and are easing the effects of the El Niño phenomenon for fish farmers. Built like small dams or pits, these reservoirs were constructed by the provincial governments of Cagayan and Isabela. These man-made ponds serve as a reserve water supply and also as aid in controlling the erosion of water channels.

Fish breeders have also benefited from these reservoirs. The Liwan Norte Irrigators Association (LNIA) in Enrile, Cagayan, has harvested more than 700 kilos of fish since November. The Liwan Norte reservoirs cover 50 hectares. In a report, LNIA secretary Rolando Maneja said that they mainly breed tilapia, selling these for Php 65 a kilo.

The regional office of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) conducted a demonstration on the use of fish cages. Other individuals have caught on the technology and installed fish cages in these water impoundments. The NLIA charges fees from these fish cage operators. To prevent overfishing, only the hook and line contraption may be used for harvesting.

According to a report, BFAR Assistant Regional Director Severina Bueno said, “Small water impoundment projects and small farm reservoirs are ideal for fish production given their semi-confined feature, which minimizes the threat of floods and strong water current in case of bad weather.” She said that since 2009, about a million tilapia and carp fingerlings have been stored in 104 irrigation facilities. For every hectare, 5,000 fingerlings are stocked.

Jack Enrile, Cagayan senior economic adviser, advised the multiple use of water systems. He recommended that multi-purpose reservoirs should be used to efficiently utilize water from upper catchments and estuaries. Officials from the northern area of the province have already decided to set off the multiple use of their water systems. Enrile said in a report, “Proper water management is the key in easing the impact of drought. Even if irrigation systems have been designed for field crops, they can also be used for cattle or backyard irrigation.”

For Enrile, the management of these water impounding projects still needs reinforcement. “While water for agriculture is essential, we will also activate the multiple uses of this scarce resource for home gardens, poultry and livestock raising, aquaculture and rural enterprise among others,” Enrile said in a report. He added that in cases of El Nino, irrigation structures are the main water providers. As farmers cannot afford these services, they are among the worst hit by the climate change.

In Nueva Vizcaya, the Department of Agriculture (DA) is already looking into possible alternative crops for farmers that are severely affected by the dry spell. After the declaration of the state of calamity, government agencies identified areas that are seriously suffering from the drought at a regional planning workshop held in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan. Suffering from crop losses amounting to around Php 900 million, the provincial government declared Cagayan under the state of calamity last February 15.

Fidel Ballesteros, operations division head and officer-in-charge of the agriculture office in Nueva Vizcaya suggested that farmers plant crops that are able to weather dry the season to lessen their financial losses. Among these crops is the mungbean. He added that these can also provide “soil conditioners” for their land.

Cagayan Valley Agriculture Executive Director Andrew Villacorta estimates the damage of the crops to around P3 billion. Palay, corn and vegetables are among the plants that have dried up because of the dearth in water for irrigation.

The government has resorted to periodic cloud seeding but so far, these have barely produced any rainfall since the operations began last month. The provincial government of Cagayan has promised Php 5 million as assistance to affected famers. In a report, Villacorta said that 1,000 water pumps are being prepared for lending to farmers who are near water sources. He also proposed that 40-50 liters of gasoline for every water pump be subsidized.

Nevertheless, long-term solutions should be looked into to ensure that our agricultural sector would fare better in the coming dry seasons. The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas and Danggayan Dagiti Mannalon ti Cagayan Valley (Danggayan-CV) have blamed the Arroyo government’s policies for the massive crop damage in the region. The privatization of the Magat Dam means that its owner, SN Aboitiz, is in full control of water that the groups believe, should be “communally owned and used.”

According to a report, mining and logging have lowered water levels in watersheds and the Magat dam. The report cited farmers, who said that these operations are the main causes for flash floods in the wet season and the drying up of water irrigation sources during the dry season. Kalinga Governor Floydelia Diasen stressed that the government and the private sector need to cooperate to avert more losses for farmers. She said that denuded watersheds and forests should be fervently reforested to normalize the water levels in river systems.

For further reading:

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/185186/cagayan-eyes-multi-water-source-system-to-taper-effects-of-drought

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/02/14/10/cagayan-farmers-bank-success-cloud-seeding-rain

http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&sec=reader&rp=2&fi=p100212.htm&no=11&date=

http://balita.ph/2010/02/18/cagayan-valley-da-office-conducts-planning-workshop-on-el-nino-phenomenon/

http://kilusangmagbubukid.org/press/290

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/184436/cagayan-valley-benefits-from-small-water-reservoirs-amid-el-nio

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/184070/cagayan-under-state-of-calamity-due-to-el-nintildeo

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/02/16/10/state-calamity-declared-cagayan-due-dry-spell

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/244617/cagayan-valley-reports-p3-billion-drought-damage

image credit: Fr. Jessie

Here are a number of news features released by various news outfits from all over the world.

‘I have never seen a storm like Pepeng’ from Inquirer.net

Director Prisco Nilo of Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said he had never seen a storm act so erratically.

“In my 26 years in PAGASA, I’ve never seen a storm like this, staying over land for so long,” Nilo said.

Agriculture loss to floods in Philippines tops 5 bln pesos from Xinhua.net

MANILA, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) — Rains brought by tropical depression Parma which hovered above the northern Philippines for over a week had destroyed crops and farm products amounting to 5 billion pesos (about 108 million U.S. dollars), the government reported Monday.

UN sends expert from Manila Bulletin

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA) has sent an official to assess the situation in typhoon-devastated areas in the Philippines.

UN-OCHA Undersecretary General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes will be in the country Monday and Tuesday to assess the damage in areas devastated by tropical storm “Ondoy” and typhoon “Pepeng” and confer with government officials handling disaster response and relief activities.

Holmes’ visit was announced by UN Development Program resident representative Jacqueline Badcock during the Manila launch of the UN Flash Appeal for the victims of Ondoy last October 7.

Magat dam still spilling water from ABS-CBN News Network

Typhoon “Pepeng” may have left the country but residents in the provinces of Isabela and Cagayan on Sunday continue to worry as water levels in Magat dam remain critical.

Two of the dam’s gates were earlier opened to continuously release water.

Edwin Paison, dam and reservoir division’s engineer, said says residents should not be alarmed since there has been no heavy rains in the past days to trigger floods.

As of 1 p.m. Sunday however, the state weather agency Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said only 1 gate of the dam was spilling and at 551 cubic meters per second.

We just hope that the Rebuilding process would proceed right away to help the families whose lives were devastated by the typhoons that recently hit the Philippines.

Cagayan Valley Connect is dedicated to featuring the best of Region 2: Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino. If you have any interesting article about tourist spots, latest news and updates, business and anything concerning Cagayan Valley, don’t hesitate to submit them to CagayanValleyConnect.

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The students compete in different fields of campus journalism in preparation for the regional and the national schools press conference. The contests include Editorial, News, Feature and Sports Writing, Editorial Cartooning and Copyreading and Headline Writing in both English and Filipino mediums. Radio Broadcasting is another contested event, which most of the participating schools prepared for.

Isabela Schools Press Conference

For more pictures during the event, please visit: IamMighty Multiply Page.

The DSPC is also a means to hone the campus journalists’ talents, get together with campus journalists from other secondary schools and present the level of skills they already have.

“Champions do not become champions at the ring, they are merely recognized there,” so goes an old adage. The same way goes for the participants of the Isabela Division Schools Press Conference. The students, coaches and schools who prepared well for the event really made waves!

The Internet has changed that. Geographical location does not matter in the Internet. A Filipino accessing the Internet from the United States or the Middle East can get information about Cagayan Valley with a few clicks. Through the Internet, it is now easier for the OFWs to connect with their loved ones and learn what is going on in the Valley.

The youth of today are also very much attuned to the Internet. They play online games, check their Friendster accounts and send emails to anyone in the world. They already have an idea of how powerful the internet is.

Companies and businesses in major cities also realize the power of blogging and websites. That is why they organize events for bloggers and webmasters so they can promote their products and services.

For these reasons and more, CagayanValleyConnect was born.

CagayanValleyConnect.com seeks to promote Cagayan Valley to the world and highlight the emerging trends in the areas of business, tourism, technology, education, and the best of the Internet for the use of students, professionals, businesses, and even government agencies in the region. To do this, we engage in the following goals.

1. Monitor events, news and other noteworthy achievements and happenings in Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino and Nueva Vizcaya.
2. Promote the scenic spots in Cagayan Valley to encourage tourism and stimulate business.
3. Be a venue for professionals and small- and medium-scale enterprises to promote their products and services online.
4. Advocate information technology (internet, blogging and video) literacy among the youth.

To accomplish these goals, we have established our website, www.cagayanvalleyconnect.com. It features diverse stories and articles about Cagayan Valley. As the website grows, it will feature businesses, government agencies, personalities, events, and other topics of great interest to the residents of the region and to the rest of the world. In addition to the website, the following activities will also be undertaken.

1. Establish partnership with schools, colleges and universities to train young journalists in using blogs and other platforms available in the Internet.

2. Conduct seminars and conferences that promote internet literacy among youth, professionals and other interested sectors.

In Nueva Vizcaya, the two churches worth visiting are the St. Dominic Cathedral in the province’s capital, Bayombong; and St. Vincent Ferrer Church in Dupax Del Sur.

St. Dominic is the first cathedral in the province. Before it was wrecked by fire in 1986 and by the powerful earthquake in 1990, it boasted of having the best sounding bells in the country. The church has been rebuilt in the same old site, retaining its original 18th century Spanish style façade.

St. Vincent Ferrer Church, on the other hand, is one of the oldest churches in Northern Luzon. Constructed in the 16th century, it is declared as a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum. It has an underground museum that houses centuries-old artifacts, and the statue of St. Vincent Ferrer, the town’s patron saint.

In Isabela, four of the churches we have visited were: Our Lady of Atocha Church, The Shrine of Our lady of Visitation, The Parish Church of St. Mattias, and the San Pablo Church.

Located along the national highway in Alicia, Isabela, Our Lady of Atocha is a 19th century church built under the leadership of Fr. Francisco Gainza, OP. Inaugurated in 1805, it is a Dominican church, like all the other old churches in Cagayan Valley. With its bricked façade, it is a magnificent sight, diminished by the green tarpaulin posted at the front which we chanced upon on our visit.

The Shrine of Our Lady of Visitacion in Gamu houses the Miraculous Lady of the Visitacion, hence it is a famous pilgrimage site. Located along the Maharlika Highway, travelers frequently stop over at the shrine, but the busiest month is July, when most pilgrims come to offer their thanks and make personal appeals.

Built in 1783 and completed in 1805, The Parish Church of St. Mattias features a cylindrical bell tower, a one of its kind in the country. A baroque church, its façade is made of customized clay bricks stamped with finely designed ornaments like cherubs and saints, and flowers and foliage. Like the façade, the interior is also veneered with ornately designed bricks. The fence that enclosed the church complex also used ornamented bricks like the ones used in the church façade as evident in the distinguishable designs in the fence ruins. Partly damaged during the Second World War, the church was restored to its original form by the People of Tumaini. It was declared a Historical National Landmark in 1989 by virtue of Presidential Decrees 260 (1973) and 1505 (1978).

The San Pablo Church in San Pablo town is the oldest church in the province, built in 1624. It is a church within church ruins. Its six-layer bell tower with a circular apex made of adobe is the tallest in the region. From the outside, the church looks imposing (which it was before it was razed). But as one lets himself in through the gate, one would be welcomed by what remained of what was once a magnificent church. But while the relatively new church inside the ruins is much smaller now, it commands a different kind of awe, as the ruins surrounding it have added a different kind of character to it — one that is hard to define, but good nonetheless.

Cagayan is home to numerous old churches, but we have managed to visit only two so far: the San Jacinto de Ermita Church in Tuguegarao City and the Iguig Church in Iguig town.

Currently being managed by the St. Paul Sisters, the San Jacinto de Ermita Church was constructed in 1604. It served as headquarters by the American soldiers in the Filipino-American War (1899). It was reconstructed after the Second World War.

The Iguig Church was constructed from 1765 to 1787. It is unique in that it is the only centuries-old church in the country that features flying buttresses behind it. But more than that, it is also believed that the church houses the Jubilee Cross containing relic of the True Cross of the Lord Jesus. A certification is displayed inside the church.

Isabela Socio Cultural Awareness Week (ISAW) Celebration 2008

Here’s the explanation for the theme as quoted from the 2008 ISAW brochure:

For many years, ISAW has been a tool in establishing a cultural identity that Isabelinos can proudly claim and strongly associate with. This year’s ISAW Celebration shall focus on promoting Isabela cultural identity and emphasize the significant role of the youth in unifying an apparently culturally diverse Isabela.

The Province of Isabela is home to an assortment of cultures from all different directions and in all shapes and sizes. The problem is not so much the existence of these different cultures or the lack of connection between them, but that the link is yet to be identified and/or recognized.

ISAW aims to find the “bridge”, the invisible thread that links these cultures — a common ground — and use it to uncover the foundation of what we know as Isabela cultural heritage.

The youth — with their ardor, enthusiasm, and wisdom — are still believed to be the hope for the future. What the youth seems to lack now is the proper motivation and driving force to trust that they can make an impact in society and influence decision-making.

ISAW hopes to cultivate within its participants the urge for active civic involvement backed by a genuine appreciation of Isabela cultural heritage and a clear picture of its future; to empower the youth to take part, to affect change towards a unified Isabela.

I was part of the organizers for the first ever ISAW when I was just in first year college. It was fun and we knew that we were doing something good for the development and appreciation of Isabela’s culture among the students of Isabela. Ten years after, the program is still alive and I am really glad for it.

ISAW 2008 features several contests for high school students: Poster-making, Logo Design, Impromptu Speech, Cultural Show, Quiz Show, Essay-writing and Debate. High school students from all over the province of Isabela will have a chance to showcase their intellectual prowess with their peers and learn about trends and issues facing Isabela.

There will also be a State of the Province Address to be delivered by the Governor Grace Padaca, lectures about issues affecting young people and students in Isabela, and film showing among others.

Isabela is one of the provinces of Cagayan Valley in Northern Luzon.

Cagayan Valley

Cagayan Valley is located in the Northeasternmost part of Luzon. It is composed of five provinces: Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino. It is designated as Region 02 in the regional grouping of provinces all over the Philippines. The center of the region is in Tuguegarao City in Cagayan where most of the regional offices of government agencies could be found.

The region can be found on the valley between the Cordillera Mountains to the west and Sierra Madre to the east. The Cagayan River, which is the longest one in the Philippines runs straight through the valley and then exits to the Luzon Strait, which is located at the tip of Luzon in Aparri, Cagayan. Beyond Aparri to the north, the beautiful Batanes group of islands as well as the Babuyan islands are scattered.

As of 2008, the population is the region is almost 4 million and the population density is about 104.8 per squre kilometer. The land area of Cagayan Valey is 26,837 square kilometers.

There are 3 cities in the region, 89 municipalities, 2,311 barangays and 10 Congressional districts. Ilocanos, Ybanags, Itawis, Gaddangs, and Ivatans are some of the ethnic groupings in the region.

Batanes is the northernmost province of Cagayan Valley and of the whole Philippines. The capital of Batanes is Basco and it is composed of ten islands, the most economically active are Itbayat, Batan and Sabtang. They are also the only inhabited islands. Batanes is 190 kilometers south of Taiwan. Jokes have it that you can actually hear a rooster’s crow from Taiwan.

Cagayan is lcoated east of Ilocos Norte and Apayao and north of Isabela and Kalinga. The name of Cagayan is said to be derived from “tagay,” a plant which can be found all over the province. Hence, “Catagayan” means a place where “tagay” is found. Through time, it has been shortened to Cagayan. The capital of Cagayan is Tuguegarao City, which hosts most of the regional offices of government agencies.

Isabela, which can be found south of Cagayan is the second largest province of the Philippines next to Palawan. Its capital is Ilagan. With its arable land and its rural economy, Isabela has been hailed as the rice and corn granary of Luzon.

Nueva Vizcaya lies to the South of Isabela and is located on the Cordillera mountains. Its capital is Bayombong. Much of Nueva Vizcaya has forest land, grasslands and agricultural areas. It is also in Nueva Vizcaya where you can see the famous Dalton Pass right before you leave the Cagayan Valley and enter the province of Nueva Ecija.

Quirino was named after former Philippine President Elpidio Quirino. The province used to be the forest region of Nueva Vizcaya. Ilocanos are the dominant group in the province. Its capital is Cabarroguis.

These five provinces comprise the Cagayan Valley. They are very rich with culture, tradition and history. Together, the Cagayan Valley is an important component in the development of the Philippines.

Please check back after about two weeks or so. That would be ample time for us to set things up and welcome you to this new blog about the Cagayan Valley. So if you are from Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizaya or Quirino, you better watch for this blog!

We’re coming to get ya!