Palawan farmworkers to run for fellow farmers

Published: September 11, 2019 11:22am | PHILIPPINES

A farm tourism destination in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan is organizing a run-for a-cause In an effort to help farmers suffering over plummeting palay prices, with proceeds to be used for buying palay above farm gate price and giving the rice back to them.

The sorry state of rice farmers in the Philippines brought about by plummeting farm gate prices of palay is the centerpiece of a run for a cause to be organized by Yamang Bukid Farm-Palawan on Sept. 28. Proceeds of the event will be used to buy palay from farmers in Narra town, Palawan well above the prevailing prices and redistribute the milled rice back to them.



Dubbed “Takbo para sa mga Magsasaka (Run for the Farmers)”, the five-kilometer run also aims to raise funds to help a non-government organization and a farmer’s group in Palawan, said Hope Alas, tourism officer of Yamang Bukid Farm. “This is for the farmers all over the Philippines. We have been running for other causes but we haven’t had one for our farmers who have toiled so much so we can put food on our tables,” Alas said.

The event coincides with Yamang Bukid Farm’s 5th Agros Farmers’ Festival which will be held at Barangay Bacungan on Sept. 28.
Proceeds of the run will go to the Palawan Center for Appropriate Rural Technology (PCART) and a farmers’ association in the southern town of Narra, Palawan’s rice granary where palay farm gate prices have plunged to as low as P7/kilo, Alas said. Alas said the farm destination, which has been supportive of advocacies for sustainable agriculture, will make the fun run an annual event.

The 42-hectare tourism destination in Barangay Bacungan has been known for employing former illegal loggers as farm workers, teaching them sustainable agriculture and environmental protection and conservation.
The run will start from Bacungan proper, traversing an uphill paved road that ends at the Yamang Bukid Farm welcome marker in Purok (Community) Candes III.
Each ticket costs P350, inclusive of singlet and race bib.
Alas said the race which seeks to enlist at least 1,000 runners will not be exclusive only to Bacungan and Puerto Princesa City residents.
“Other well-meaning individuals who love to help our farmers are also encouraged to buy tickets and we will find someone else to run in their behalf. They can send their registration fees to us through wire or money transfer or other means,” said Alas. The city council, where Alas sought an audience to bring home the advocacy campaign has vowed support for the initiative.

During a break in the council’s session Tuesday, Yamang Bukid Farm’s tourism manager teared up as she appealed help for the farmers.
Upon hearing Alas’s impassioned talk, several spectators watching inside the legislative hall also turned emotional, with a woman weeping openly and asking the farm’s executive assistant Mauin Bumanlag how she can buy tickets.
City councilor Jimmy Carbonell bought some P10,000 worth of tickets.
Alas hoped the event will snowball into “something big” and further raise awareness into the sorry state of Philippine farmers.
She said the event will also be participated by Yamang Bukid farmer-employees, with “farmers helping their fellow farmers.”
“We started out as a place to help former tree poachers become farmers and environment protectors. We want to do something more than that,” she said. For registration and ticket inquiries, interested runners and partners may call mobile phone numbers 0907-237-7258 or 0967-544-3928 or email yamangbukidfarm@gmail.com
Registration fees may also be deposited in these accounts:

BPI Account:
Mauin D. Bumanlag
8879-0345-67

BDO Account:
MAUIN DIAZ BUMANLAG
011950052085
(JL)


Related Stories

Want to learn organic farming? Go to Palawan

  • PUERTO PRINCESA CITY——This city’s emerging farm tourism destination is fast becoming an immersive site for learning organic and sustainable agriculture with the visits recently of farmers and experts who wanted to observe and learn from its agricultural practices.
    Over a dozen agriculturists from the provinces of Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan spent three days at Yamang Bukid Farm-Palawan as part of their season-long training on good farming practices.

    Agriculturists from the provinces of Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan pose with Bro. George Maria, vice president for community relations of Yamang Bukid Farm-Palawan (first row, extreme right) during their visit and exposure to organic farming practices of Puerto Princesa City's emerging farm tourism destination.
    (Photos by Aris Leoven)

    The visit on Tuesday was facilitated by the Department of Agriculture through its Agriculture Training Institute (DA-ATI).
    The farming experts were toured to Yamang Bukid Farm’s 2-hectare main tourism area where they took part in planting lettuce on plots, observe huge pens of native chicken breeds like the Zampen (Zamboanga Peninsula) and interact with farmers as they go about with their different farming practices.

    According to Cristina Gonda-Magnaye, ATI-Mimaropa extension services head, they were overwhelmed by what they saw at YBF.
    “What we saw were beyond our expectations. The technology and good practices are there. The people, especially the farmers are warm and welcoming,” Magnaye said. Fernan Hubo, one of the farm’s agriculturists, said the visitors learned about the Farm’s sustainable agriculture practices such as inter-cropping, contouring and vegetable production.

    The farming experts interacted with farmers as they work on the field and the two groups exchanged ideas on traditional and modern farming practices, said Liza Jean Yocte, another YBF agriculturist.
    “They are able to adopt latest trends in (sustainable) agriculture such as making organic concoction as pesticides in lieu of commercial pest repellants. The farm is continuously developing techniques to make it sustainable,” said Jane Siscar, an agriculturist of the city government of Calapan, Oriental Mindoro. For Jocelyn Bernardo, another DA-ATI agriculturist, the experience was “very inspiring and worth sharing.”

    “You will really love the experience of being in a rural farming place with people and farmers around who are accommodating and friendly,” said Bernardo.
    During their stay at the farm, many of the guests turned emotional as they felt the genuine warmth and care of worker-farmers whom they had interacted with.
    Karen Tulay, an agriculturist of DA-ATI said she was moved by the values espoused by the farmers and the way the farm management takes care of them.

    “Technology can be transferred but the farm’s values cannot be quantified. Here at Yamang Bukid, I found my purpose as a public servant by the way they showed love and care to the farmers,” said Tulay, weeping openly before her fellow participants.

    Roxanne Fadriquel, an agriculturist from Baco town, Oriental Mindoro, said her visit to the farm opened her heart and strengthened her resolve to help farmers in her community.
    (JL)
View Full Post

AdvocaSEAS: A
Coastal Clean Up
Activity

  • Puerto Princesa Vice Mayor Nancy Socrates headed towards the one-kilometer stretch of Talaudyong Beach from the mountains of Barangay Bacungan.

    A coastal clean up activity was held wherein in just a span of an hour, around one hundred kilograms of solid wastes were collected. This initiative was conducted to not just to raise awareness on the threats imposed to our marine life, but also to take part on micro efforts that would create macro effects on the preservation and conservation of our environment.
View Full Post

Narito na ang Negosyong may Puso Package para sa iyo!

  • Yamang Bukid Healthy Products, Inc (YBHPI) proudly presents to you our Negosyong may Puso Package! This is an initiative to support enterprising individuals from various sectors: women, people’s organizations, cooperatives and local traders who may want to have additional income streams.

      You can now be our partner in bringing and uplifting health and wellness in your communities through high-quality and affordable healthy products. For as low as Php 5,000 you can now start your Negosyong may Puso Package! 

    Annabella Mallari is the first entrepreneur who immediately availed of the Negosyong may Puso Package of Yamang Bukid Healthy Products Inc. (YBHPI) The package was turned over by Michael Mallari, one of the supervisors of YBHPI in Mega Manila.

    A single tote bag contains a variety of YBHPI products, specifically the company’s flagship product – Turmeric with Gynura procumbens 10 in 1 Instant Herbal Tea—-that has been making wonders on health as testified by our regular customers.

    Nelia Razon of Tarlac City is now a dealer of Yamang Bukid brand Turmeric 10 in 1 Tea thru the Negosyong may Puso Package. She is with Kristine Jucar of YBHPI Sales and Marketing Department.

      ”Kailangan kong magpa-medical exam bago ako makasampa ng barko. Sabi ng kaibigan ko, inom daw ako ng Turmeric 10 in 1 Tea ng Yamang Bukid. Makakatulong daw. Ayun, after drinking it for almost one month, clear ako sa medical exam ko! Kaya panay bili at baon ko na nito.” Louie Delfinado, Third Officer, Seaman since 2003 testified.

      “Kasama sa aming daily routine ang pag-inom ng Turmeric 10 in 1 tulad ng pagdadasal naming araw-araw dito sa seminaryo. Hindi lang dapat kami spiritually fit, dapat physically fit din kami. Personally, nainom ako nito to feel refreshed, help me gain memory, and aid me with my digestion. Masarap, swabe ang lasa.” Fr. Monching Molina of Our Lady of Peace Seminary shared.

      You can choose your own package to mix and match size varieties of the said flagship item with free marketing collaterals through our Facebook page (@turmerictea.baguiocity) and website (www.yamangbukid.com) that will aid you for higher sales.

      As part of our introductory offer, we are giving a 20-percent discount for every package purchased!

      Your purchases will also help the company in fulfilling its social development agenda -- fund scholars to continue their studies, help patients recover, ensure abandoned elders to have a happier home, groups to strengthen their advocacy works, and individuals to reach their dreams. The company lives to its mission of living a life for others by doing business with a heart.

      Do you want to be our partner in doing business with a heart? Contact us on (+63) 956 371 5057 or (02) 688 9416. You may also visit our website (www.yamangbukid.com), or send us a message on our social media sites. Our account executives will be more than happy to give additional technical and logistical assistance to you.

    Facebook: @turmerictea.baguiocity
    Twitter: @yamangbukid
    Instagram: @yamangbukid
    We assure you the perfect solution to start your own business. We highly value our partners just like as we highly value our customers for a 100% customer satisfaction.

    Grab your Negosyong may Puso Package now!

View Full Post