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Nueva Ecija. PhilAtlas. (n.d.). Retrieved November 17, 2021, from https://www.philatlas.com/luzon/r03/nueva-ecija.html.

Nueva Ecija. It's More Fun in Central Luzon. (n.d.). Retrieved November 17, 2021, from https://itsmorefunincentralluzon.com/provinces/nueva-ecija/.

Sustainable development goals: United Nations Development Programme. UNDP. (n.d.). Retrieved November 17, 2021, from https://www.undp.org/sustainable-development-goals#good-health.

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When the World Health Organization declared a pandemic in early March, there was immediately a need for information and data on the COVID-19 response. In those early weeks, the main question revolved around contact tracing: how many contacts were being traced, how many were being quarantined, and where and how can we get this information.

Before the pandemic, WHO Philippines had already been working with software developers doing apps for monitoring and recording tuberculosis (TB) cases when the pandemic was declared. So they began to explore doing a digital platform that would address information management needs for the COVID-19 response. When technical experts from WHO Philippines presented the app concept to the Department of Health (DOH), the latter was eager to support its development.

The case and contact reporting platform was expected to expand the capacity of the previous COVID-19 information system and supplement other self-reporting, user-driven contract tracing systems. Since its implementation in June 2020, the mobile application has allowed real-time monitoring and helped identify bottlenecks and delays in patient services. Among the tasks it automates are tracking testing specimens, communicating test results, and monitor quarantined contacts.

"The availability of timely and complete information from health facilities for suspected, probable and confirmed COVID-19 cases and tracking down of their close contacts is crucial to save lives and contact tracing is an essential part of the COVID-19 response to trace, test, isolate and quarantine," said DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire during a consultation with WHO on COVID-Kaya last May 2020.

On 3 June 2020, the Philippine Government's Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) that was leading the COVID-19 response formally announced via Resolution No. 43 that it has adopted COVID-KAYA as "the convergent Epidemiological Surveillance system for COVID-19" in all healthcare and testing facilities.

Overcoming Challenges

According to WHO technical experts, managing expectations for such a rapid rollout of a big system was difficult. And while there was already a base system that was initially developed (for TB) and it only needed to be tailored to fit pandemic surveillance needs, there was no time for larger-scale testing or do much troubleshooting. Only two weeks were given for software development and one week for pilot testing in Paranaque (National Capital Region) and Davao cities (Mindanao). On daily calls with WHO and DOH officers, contact tracers in regional and local health offices tested the system by encoding their existing Contact Information Forms (CIFs) or doing manual input of data in real time.

COVID-KAYA was then rolled out nationwide after the testing. However, because the DOH-Epidemiology Bureau (EB) already had an information system (as well as StaySafe.PH and other local contact tracing apps) that was being used in their satellite offices all over the country, it soon became apparent that these systems must be integrated.

To address these, another IATF resolution in June 2020 delineated the functions of both StaySafe.PH app and COVID-KAYA, which are officially collection and storage of data, respectively. Essentially, Resolution No. 45 established COVID-KAYA as the central repository of all data related to the pandemic response. All data from the StaySafe app was required for migration to COVID-Kaya.

This migration took longer than anybody had anticipated. For weeks, the system kept collecting new information every day even as migration was being done. Additionally, those who had become used to using the old system had to be given basic training on how to use COVID-KAYA. It also didn't help that many local government units (LGUs) had their own formatting system in place. Manual correction and cleaning had to be done during data migration.

The system was further given a boost after the two major telecommunications companies of the Philippines, Smart-PLDT and Globe, both granted connectivity boost and free access to the COVID-Kaya app for all registered health workers. All app users connected to both telecom networks do not incur data charges.

Positive contribution to the Philippine pandemic response

Today, 4 months after its rollout, the COVID-KAYA system as over 2 million rows of data and is used by both private and public sectors in the Philippines to write reports and inform local strategies in combatting the pandemic, particularly for surveillance and contact tracing activities. It has indeed become the central repository of COVID-19 data in the country.

COVID-KAYA stores data from all confirmed COVID-19 cases and their close contacts, which meant around 2 million individual records. This comprehensive data has been instrumental in providing data for the government to make evidence-based decisions and actions.

The DOH COVID tracker that publishes daily case numbers and statistics across the nation takes its reports directly from the database. This makes the system not only useful for surveillance and contact tracing but also for monitoring utilization of hospital and treatment facility beds and equipment as well as calculation of positivity rates, case fatality rates and overall demographics of the affected population.

"Ideally, we should have developed such a system even before the pandemic," said Dr. Rajendra Prasad Yadav, of WHO Philippines. Dr. Yadav was one of the WHO technical experts who participated in the development of COVID-KAYA.

He added that with diseases like TB, polio and other highly infectious diseases, a strong digital surveillance would have a huge impact on identifying infection sources and isolating them to prevent further transmission. As such, COVID-KAYA is already being recommended for further improvement and transitioned into a more general surveillance system that could be useful for other diseases and in readiness for future epidemics.

The COVID KAYA app was developed by the DOH Epidemiology Bureau and the World Health Organization (WHO) with funding from the European Union. Since the start of the outbreak, the EU has supported several WHO initiatives in the Philippines, including lab licensing accreditation and quality assurance management and health personnel training and development.

Nearly ten months into the pandemic response in the country, Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe, WHO Representative to the Philippines says: "As the country expands and strengthens testing and contact tracing, isolation and treatment are more effective and pave the way towards better and faster rebuilding of the economy as well as a healthy future for all Filipinos."

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COVID Kaya: A digital platform for COVID-19 information management in the Philippines

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When the World Health Organization declared a pandemic in early March, there was immediately a need for information and data on the COVID-19 response. In those early weeks, the main question revolved around contact tracing: how many contacts were being traced, how many were being quarantined, and where and how can we get this information.

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DOH launches an app that would help collect data and information about a covid-19 carrier and contact tracing.

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The Department of Health (DOH) launched yesterday its new COVID-19 Tracker in line with its commitment to promote transparency and accountability.

The revamped tracker features additional information on the epidemiology of COVID-19 in the country, COVID-19 testing, health facilities, and availability of personal protective equipment (PPEs). The public can now view data on the laboratory testing capacities of the DOH accredited laboratories including the total number of tests and unique individuals tested. Likewise, the public can now have a snapshot of our health system's capacity in responding to the pandemic based on data collected from the DOH DataCollect application.

The DataCollect app gathers daily data from hospitals and stakeholders such as essential resources and supplies, availability of hospital beds, isolation rooms, ICU beds and mechanical ventilators, and human resource needs. The application will also be able to accurately calculate the projected need of PPEs, and link to our logistics offices for delivery of supplies. This will facilitate easier and faster tracking of reports between DOH offices. Under the "Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act" or RA 11332, all our partner hospitals are mandated to implement this system of data collection.

"The new COVID-19 tracker is not perfect and we hope to add more information in the succeeding days, but it is our fervent hope that this responds to the information needs and the call for transparency from our citizens," Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said. "Right now, health facility data is only limited to around 550 reporting hospitals and infirmaries so we call on our hospitals to submit information through our DataCollect App to help us protect our healthcare workers in beating COVID-19," the Secretary added.

The DOH was assisted by epidemiologist Mr. Nel Jason Haw and data science consulting firm Thinking Machines in the creation of its new COVID-19 tracker.

Nel Jason Haw is a faculty of the Health Sciences and Development Studies Programs of the Ateneo de Manila University. He holds a Masters of Science degree in Global Health from Georgetown University, USA and is an incoming PhD student in Epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, USA. He has been assisting the DOH for the last two months in improving its reporting systems for COVID-19 cases. "I volunteered because good quality health data literally saves lives in the middle of an outbreak," Jason explained.

Thinking Machines Data Science Inc, is working closely with DOH and the Department of Science and Technology in delivering quality insights to government agencies and the public to best respond to the pandemic. Filinvest City Foundation powers Thinking Machines, the leading data science company in the country. "We believe data plays an increasingly important role in both the public and private sectors in the fight against COVID-19. We hope to contribute to our country's fight against COVID-19 by making sure that our country's key decision-makers have access to accurate and timely data." L. Josephine Gotianun Yap, president of Filinvest City Foundation said.

"We believe in the effectiveness of data," Thinking Machines CEO Stephanie Sy said. "And we are humbled to be working with the public, civic and private sector in the months ahead to ensure access to timely and comprehensive analytical insights."

"We thank our partners for helping us improve our information systems - proof that public-private partnerships can beat COVID-19!" Secretary Duque concluded.

The New COVID-19 Tracker can be accessed through this link: http:// www.doh.gov.ph/covid19tracker .

DOH encourages the public to send queries and comments on the new COVID-19 tracker to covidtracker@doh.gov.ph .

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DOH LAUNCHES NEW COVID-19 TRACKER AND DOH DATACOLLECT APP Press Release /13 April 2020 | Department of Health website

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The Department of Health (DOH) launched yesterday its new COVID-19 Tracker in line with its commitment to promote transparency and accountability. The revamped tracker features additional information on the epidemiology of COVID-19 in the country, COVID-19 testing, health facilities, and availability of personal protective equipment (PPEs).

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Coronavirus cases in Nueva Ecija is continouosly increasing. Aside from vaccines, discipline is needed. If all people are responsible, we can make it through this and eventually go back to our normal lives.

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Paul Soriano is a young journalist and producer who has covered various development and people's issues in the past three years as part of his engagement with civic media organization Now You Know. Paul joined the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines in 2019, and has ...

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Nueva Ecija records 14 new COVID-19 Delta variant cases

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Paul Soriano is a young journalist and producer who has covered various development and people's issues in the past three years as part of his engagement with civic media organization Now You Know. Paul joined the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines in 2019, and has ...

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MANILA, 15 April 2020 - UN children's agency UNICEF and the Department of Health (DOH) began a virtual training of health workers on COVID-19 Infection Prevention and Control (IPC).

The training, aimed at COVID-19 interventions in home and community settings, was developed in collaboration with DOH, the World Health Organization (WHO) and USAID. The training will build the capacity of up to 2,500 health workers in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao initially. To overcome travel restrictions during the enhanced community quarantine, and to facilitate rapid dissemination, the training is being delivered through a mix of online webinar and offline community platforms for those with limited or no internet access.

The training is consolidated from the Philippine Government, WHO and Centres for Diseases Control (CDC) guidelines. Upon completion of the training, participants will be able to understand the latest information on COVID-19; understand and describe why IPC is important in the context of preparedness, readiness, and response; understand the proper use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE); describe and demonstrate IPC measures at home and in the community; and understand case definitions and management pathways.

"This excellent collaboration among partners combines scientific approaches and practical solutions to stop the spread of COVID-19 at home and in the community. Guiding us in the development of the training are epidemiologists, nutritionists, public health experts and other specialists who aim to not only stop COVID-19 but also to strengthen the Philippines' health system in the long term," UNICEF Philippines Chief of Health and Nutrition Programme Dr. Wigdan Madani says.

The training webinar has so far been an important resource and reliable source of information for communities. "Thank you for the informative presentation you have prepared and presented for us health workers," comments Zina Gervacio, Sanitary Inspector from the Rural Health Unit of Bongabon, Nueva Ecija.

Apart from health workers, the training can also benefit Barangay Health Workers and Sanitary Inspectors, quarantine officers in the points of entry, border patrol personnel, military, police and barangay members of the COVID-19 task force, Barangay Health Emergency Response Team members, local chief executives such as Governors, Mayors, and Barangay Captains, as well as parents, caregivers and the general public. In particular, specific training modules on cleaning and disinfection protocols for different settings (healthcare facility, community/public spaces, and the home) aim to reach an additional 2,000 local government and health care facility staff. The training will be made available for the public to access through the social media channels of DOH and UNICEF Philippines.

UNICEF supports the Philippine Government in fighting COVID-19 through complementing the government's response through technical assistance, provision of essential supplies and support for logistics and transportation, effective communication of safe practices to families, as well as ensuring that the rights of children and their families are protected.

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UNICEF and DOH train 2,500 health workers to help stop the spread of COVID-19

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MANILA, 15 April 2020 - UN children's agency UNICEF and the Department of Health (DOH) began a virtual training of health workers on COVID-19 Infection Prevention and Control (IPC). The training, aimed at COVID-19 interventions in home and community settings, was developed in collaboration with DOH, the World Health Organization (WHO) and USAID.

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This entrepreneur is helping farmers get food to consumers during lockdown

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A social enterprise in the Philippines is helping food producers navigate the logistical challenges of COVID-19 restrictions.

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Bayanihan means having unity to help each other amidst the pandemic.

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BAYANIHAN PROJECT. Jojo Gallego, president of the MV Gallego Foundation Colleges (MVGFC) in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija, says everybody has to play a role under the concept of "bayanihan" amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The MVGFC launched its Bayanihan Project, which involved the distribution of food packs to several villages, persons with disabilities, and a group of tricycle drivers on Thursday (May 6, 2021). (Photo by Marilyn Galang)

CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija - While the government is doing everything to help the people and make lives better amid the pandemic, everybody has to play a role under the concept of "bayanihan", which gives the needy a ray of hope, an educator here said Thursday.

"Malala lang talaga ang problema at siyempre kaya yun ang concept ng bayanihan, tulong-tulong lahat (The problem is really serious, thus, the concept of bayanihan is for everyone to help)," Jojo Gallego, president of the MV Gallego Foundation Colleges (MVGFC), said in an interview.

The school launched its Bayanihan Project, which involved the distribution of food packs to several villages, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and a group of tricycle drivers.

Gallego said the government continuously provides the people with their needs while addressing the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) outbreak.

"Ang eskwelahan po natin (Our school), all the time ang focus in three aspects. Of course, instruction is the most obvious pero nagre-research din po tayo at meron tayo talagang extension project. Kaya ito po, gusto po nating sumuporta sa ating gobyerno, bayanihan dahil hirap na hirap yung mga kababayan natin. Kaya sabi namin maganda itong gawing component ng ating extension program (We are also doing research and we have an extension project. We want to support our government [through] bayanihan because our countrymen are in a difficult situation. So we said it would be good to make it a component of our extension program)," he said.

Charles Agrusolo, chapter head of the barangay PWD association in San Roque Sur here, said PWDs are among those hardest hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, especially those who actually have to work for their everyday needs.

"Sobrang laki po ng epekto sa amin (It has a huge impact on us)," he said as he received packs of rice, vegetables, and canned goods from the Bayanihan Project, a blended version of the popularized community pantry of the MVGFC.

"Ang munting bagay na ito ay napakalaking tulong at kaligayahan para sa aming mga miyembro na PWDs (This little thing is a huge help and provides happiness to our PWD members)," Agrusolo added.

Aside from the PWDs, the project also benefited hundreds of residents in several villages, among them Talipapa, San Josef Sur, San Juan Accfa, Hermogenes C. Concepcion Sr., Zulueta, and Imelda, as well as the tricycle drivers' association in this city, Gallego said.

On top of the food support, he said they also handed scholarship vouchers to qualified students.

"Natutuwa po tayo na andami pong mga nag-donate sa ating Bayanihan Project. Lahat ng mga empleyado, faculty, administrators po ng eskwelahan, hindi lang po yan pati mga kaibigan ng eskwelahan, mga suppliers natin, mga contractors natin. Nung nalaman nila na may magandang proyekto tayong ganito ay kusa po silang nagbigay ng kung anu-ano po na puwede nating i-share sa mga kababayan natin na may kailangan (We are glad that so many people have donated to our Bayanihan Project - employees, faculty members, administrators of the school, also friends of the school, our suppliers, our contractors. When they found out that we had a good project like this, they willingly gave us what we could share with our countrymen who are in need)," Gallego said.

Under the project, two vans manned by employees were commissioned to deliver the food packs to several barangays while a long table with various foodstuffs, such as rice, vegetables, fish, eggs, and hotdogs, was put up for residents of adjoining places inside the school compound in Barangay Zulueta, along Maharlika Highway.

Maricris Malamug, student affairs director, said the Bayanihan Project aims to show the community that anybody can be of help to the needy during these trying times.

She said some of the vegetables were actually harvested inside the school premises.

"Meron po kaming maliit na farm kung saan nagtatanim po tayo ng iba't ibang gulay dun at mga palay (We have a small farm where we grow various vegetables and palay)," Malamug said.

The MVGFC is one of the first nursing schools in Central Luzon, established in 1960 by the country's first health secretary, Manuel Gallego.

The school now offers various courses. (PNA)

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'Bayanihan' concept brings hope amid pandemic, educator says

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CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija - While the government is doing everything to help the people and make lives better amid the pandemic, everybody has to play a role under the concept of "bayanihan", which gives the needy a ray of hope, an educator here said Thursday."Malala lang talaga ang...

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They give food packs to barangay to help the community cope up during pandemic.

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Official Portal of the Department of Agriculture

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Author: DA Communications Group | 30 September 2021

Satisfied with the efficient palay procurement system in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija, Agriculture Secretary William Dar called other local government units (LGUs) to follow suit and implement a similar scheme.

"This is a good model, and I encourage all other LGUs to replicate the same system," he said.

On September 30, Sec. Dar witnessed Danilo Padilla of San Josep, Laur, Nueva Ecija deliver and sell his wet palay at the Provincial Grain Drying Facility in Palayan City.

Under the province's procurement system, Padilla was able to sell his harvest at P14.70 per kilo, translating to a total of P88,000 for his initial delivery. He is set to deliver and sell two more batches next week.

According to the Secretary, the going rate price for rice from traders is capped at P13.00/kilo. With the P1.70/kilo buying price difference, a farmer will earn P85.00 more for every cavan he sells.

"This is a noble practice of the local government leaders here who continuously partner with the national government in making sure that the farmers earn," he said.

Sec. Dar added that the procured palay, once milled are packaged as part of the food packs distributed to residents affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

"I am very happy to have observed this type of procurement, which hopefully will be adapted in other rice-producing provinces," he added. (Photo by Alan Jay Jacalan, DA-AFID)

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Palay Procurement in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija (Sept. 30, 2021) - Official Portal of the Department of Agriculture

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Author: DA Communications Group | 30 September 2021 Satisfied with the efficient palay procurement system in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija, Agriculture Secretary William Dar called other local government units (LGUs) to follow suit and implement a similar scheme. "This is a good model, and I encourage all other LGUs to replicate the same system," he said.

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Insufficient medical personnel is one of the problems Of Nueva Ecija. As we are in the middle of the pandemic, health is essential. It is vital to keep ourselves healthy and safe from the virus. But how can we achieve that if our medical personnel becomes affected by the virus? Hospitals face difficulties as they lack medical equipment and infrastructure that they can use to help the community. We need volunteers who can help other medical personnel assist and treat patients directly affected by the virus.

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Smart technologies aim to reduce the climate risks Filipino farmers face

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Smart technologies aim to reduce the climate risks Filipino farmers face

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Through advanced technology, Novo Ecijano farmers can easily acquire information about the weather that would be a big help to manage their crops and increase productivity.

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LUPAO, Nueva Ecija - Weather monitoring and forecasting through technology is helping farmers in Nueva Ecija manage their crops and increase productivity as the country deals with the impacts of climate change.

Knowing the chance of rain and the expected amount of rainfall just by checking a weather forecast dashboard on his phone makes it easier for Isagani Cajucom, a farmer in Lupao town, to manage the corn that he plants.

The tool, which is one of the components of Project SARAI (Smarter Approaches to Reinvigorate Agriculture as an Industry in the Philippines), helps farmers like Cajucom decide when to plant, irrigate, apply fertilizer and harvest.

Cajucom grows corn-which then become silage, or fermented and stored fodder fed to ruminants such as dairy carabaos-on a 16-hectare plot in the upland part of Barangay Parista. He supplies the Philippine Carabao Center in Muñoz with corn silage.

He said knowing the chance of rain, especially during summer, helps farmers minimize water usage and save money they would have spent on irrigation needs.

"Maganda pagdating ng summer. Imbes na gumastos ka, kung meron na 'yung advisory, maiiwasan mo 'yung labor...at 'yung expenses nababawasan," Cajucom said.

(It's good to use during summer. Instead of spending money for irrigation, the expenses are reduced because of the advisory.)

Aside from weather monitoring, Cajucom said SARAI has "many advantages" as the program also has fertilizer application and pest management components.

Smarter agriculture

The weather forecast monitoring is one of the components of Project SARAI, a program funded by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARD).

Project SARAI aims to reduce climate risks by providing farmers with site-specific crop advisories, which are targeted for rice, corn, banana, coconut, coffee, cacao, sugarcane, soybean and tomato.

Its portal provides real-time weather data, short-term weather forecasts and six-month rainfall outlook, which could be utilized by farmers in making informed decisions. Farmers can also access information on the characteristics of crops, their yield potential as well as management practices and how to deal with pests and diseases.

The Central Luzon State University, one of the country's premier agricultural institutions, field tested the Adaptive Planting Calendar-which provides recommended planting dates or planting windows based on the cumulative rainfall for specified threshold and duration of certain crop-in Lupao and the Science City of Muñoz. Nutrient Management for Corn was also studied in Lupao.

Dr. Gella Patria Abella, study leader of Project SARAI in CLSU, said other farmers in the province who tested the technologies also expressed satisfaction with the outcomes, especially with the increase in yield and income. These results, however, are still up for validation.

Climate impacts

Nueva Ecija, a landlocked province in the Central Luzon region, is the country's largest producer of rice.

But the climate crisis is changing production systems and compromising food security for millions of people in an agricultural country like the Philippines. Hence, farmers who labor in fields to produce food bear the greatest brunt of a warming world.

"Our farmers are given options to use smarter approaches that are science-based. Due to the changing climate, their indigenous knowledge on agriculture can be integrated with smart technologies we are introducing, such that we can adapt to it," Abella, also an associate professor in CLSU, said.

"This way we are steps ahead of climate change impacts," she added.

Institutionalization of SARAI

The pandemic did not only affect the livelihood of Cajucom after large farms that he used to sell his harvest to closed down. The health crisis has also had an impact on the implementation of SARAI Project.

"Dati every week, nagpapalipad ng drone, tinitignan ang area tapos sinasubmit sa [UP Los Baños] 'yung data, picture. Nung nag-pandemic, syempre limitado na... Bumibisita kaya lang hindi na ganoon kadalas," he said.

(They used to fly drones every week to assess the area, then they will submit the data, photos to UPLB. Of course, the visits became limited during the pandemic. They still visit but not as frequently as before).

But Cajucom said he is willing to continue using SARAI technologies even after the end of the project's implementation.

Abella said a proposal seeking to establish a regional center for integrated crop monitoring has been submitted to DOST-PCAARD.

"This will hopefully institutionalize SARAI by establishing a physical office, capacitating regional partners of UPLB with technical knowledge skills," she said, referring to Geographic Information System (GIS) and remote sensing, crop simulation and modelling, and remote agricultural monitoring.

The proposed center also aims to focus on the important crops of Central Luzon-rice, corn, onion, tomato and mango. If approved, the proposal's implementation will be in January 2022.

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Smart technologies aim to reduce the climate risks Filipino farmers face

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LUPAO, Nueva Ecija - Weather monitoring and forecasting through technology is helping farmers in Nueva Ecija manage their crops and increase productivity as the country deals with the impacts of climate change.

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The poverty rate in Nueva Ecija increased to 10.3 percent between 2015 and 2018. It is just a few percentage points lower than the 12.2 percent rate in Central Luzon. According to a 2019 Government Procurement Policy Board list, the provincial government proposed to invest heavily in "multipurpose" structures in various villages, totaling 36 in total and costing more than P100 million.

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Official Portal of the Department of Agriculture

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Author: DA Communications Group | 29 July 2021

Two new warehouses of the Department of Agriculture-National Food Authority (DA-NFA) are now ready to serve the farmers in the country's top rice-producing province in time for the harvest season.

Agriculture Secretary William Dar, NFA Administrator Judy Carol Dansal, and DA Central Luzon Regional Director Crispulo Bautista led the inauguration of the warehouses located in the Science City of Muñoz and in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija on July 28, 2021.

Secretary Dar said the event is important and historic for NFA as it starts to modernize with a line-up of infrastructure development projects that will contribute to the competitiveness of the local rice industry.

"In the future, after the consolidation of farms, we will provide more post-harvest facilities such as farm machineries to realize our vision of modernizing the country's rice industry in the country," the agri chief said.

He added that DA is targeting additional one million metric tons of palay production this year and increase the country's rice sufficiency level up to 95 percent. This will also contribute to more rice supply as the Covid-19 pandemic is still affecting the country.

According to the agri chief, the government is pouring resources to enable Filipino farmers to be more productive.

"We will use every possible means, including modern technologies and innovations, so that collectively our farmers can be globally competitive," Secretary Dar added.

Each warehouse has a capacity of 100,000 sacks and is expected to help intensify NFA's palay procurement and buffer stocking.

The Muñoz warehouse covers the Science City of Muñoz, San Jose City, Talavera, Lupao, and Caranglan, while the Cabanatuan warehouse covers Cabanatuan City, Sta. Rosa, Palayan City, Zaragoza, Peñaranda, and Laur.

Administrator Dansal thanked Secretary Dar for supporting the infrastructure development projects of NFA, adding that 18 warehouses strategically located nationwide have been funded in 2020 and 2021.

"With this new storage facility, we are happy that NFA will have an additional rice depot to serve our farmers here and buy their produce at a fair government price," she said.

Through the Rice Tariffication Law, NFA now serves as a buffer stocking agency, mandated to maintain and sustain the level of rice supply that can be tapped during natural calamities and other unforeseen events.

"These warehouses can now serve the farmers this coming harvest season starting August and September. Hopefully, we will be able to procure more so that we will be having more buffer stock available for the residents of Region 3," NFA Regional Director Elvira Obaña said. ### (DA-AFID)

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New NFA warehouses ready to serve more farmers in Nueva Ecija - Official Portal of the Department of Agriculture

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Author: DA Communications Group | 29 July 2021 Two new warehouses of the Department of Agriculture-National Food Authority (DA-NFA) are now ready to serve the farmers in the country's top rice-producing province in time for the harvest season.

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In 2009, population poverty incidence in Nueva Ecija was estimated at 31.1 percent, much higher than the national average of 26.5 percent. Poverty incidence in Nueva Ecija has gone up from 20.6 percent in 2003
and 30.5 percent in 2006. Nueva Ecija has the highest poverty incidence in Central Luzon by a significant margin.

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Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps)

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Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps)

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Author

Abstract

This study measured and evaluated the effect of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) on the academic performance of the student-beneficiaries of Calaba National High School, Calaba, San Isidro, Nueva Ecija in the Philippines. Survey questionnaires were distributed to ninety five 4Ps student beneficiaries who were purposively selected based on the following criteria- 4Ps beneficiary, enrolled in Calaba National High School at the time of data gathering, and willingness to participate in the study. Analysis of all collected data revealed the significant effect of the program to the performance of student beneficiaries especially in motivating students to attend classes. The result also supports Vroom's Expectancy Theory which assumes that the students' efforts, performance, and behavior are influenced by the importance they place on the desired outcome. In this case, to satisfy the conditionalities and remain eligible for the cash grant which have positive effect on the socio-economic status of their family. Based on the findings, it is therefore recommended that the scope of the program be extended especially that two years have been added to the secondary education; livelihood programs be intensified to provide family-beneficiaries with additional income; and for the concerned agencies and authorities to review the existing budget and disbursement schemes to prevent delay in the release of grants. The increase in the school attendance of students and the diminished drop-out rate indicates the program's positive effect on the lives of the beneficiaries.

Suggested Citation

Marc Jon S Flores & Christine Alaine B Espinoza & Harold C Enrico & Rosemarie R Casimiro, 2019. "Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps): Its Effect on the Academic Performance of Student-Beneficiaries in Calaba National High School in the Philippines,"Journal of Public Administration and Governance, Macrothink Institute, vol. 9(2), pages 193-208, December.
RePEc:mth:jpag88:v:9:y:2019:i:2:p:193-208
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JEL classification:

R00 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General - - - General

Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

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Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps): Its Effect on the Academic Performance of Student-Beneficiaries in Calaba National High School in the Philippines

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Downloadable! This study measured and evaluated the effect of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) on the academic performance of the student-beneficiaries of Calaba National High School, Calaba, San Isidro, Nueva Ecija in the Philippines.

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JICA launches campaign to promote SDG awareness among Filipino youth

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JICA launches campaign to promote SDG awareness among Filipino youth

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The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in the Philippines is working to promote the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) among Filipino youth through a nationwide digital art competition for college students.

The SDGs refer to the global vision of 193 member countries of the United Nations (UN) to help eradicate poverty in the next 15 years. The SDGs are made up of 17 goals, 169 targets, and 230 indicators towards poverty alleviation and sustainable development.

The digital art competition aims to raise awareness on SDGs among the Filipino youth combined with the contribution of JICA in improving the lives of Filipinos.

"JICA began mainstreaming the SDGs within the organization in 2016. We aim to contribute to achieving the SDGs and promoting international cooperation by sharing Japan's experience and through Official Development Assistance (ODA) to partner countries like the Philippines," said JICA Senior Representative Aya Kano.

In the Philippines, JICA is implementing over 100 development cooperation projects that support the SDG targets.

The digital art contest on SDGs, according to JICA, is a venue for young Filipinos to become familiar with SDGs and understand how working towards achieving them will improve society and lives.

For instance, to achieve zero hunger, JICA has helped more than 300 agrarian reform communities through credit and infrastructure support. Moreover, JICA's maternal and child health projects in remote areas like the Cordillera helped increase facility-based delivery in the area to 92% (2015) from 65% (2010), which helped promote good health and well-being.

JICA has constructed over 7,000 school buildings since the 1960s and rehabilitated about 10,000 elementary and secondary schools in the country to support quality education. When the Philippines launched the K-12 Basic Education Program, JICA supported the country through a senior high school modeling project in six (6) pilot technical vocational schools.

On gender equality, a JICA forestland resource management project helps empower women leaders in Nueva Ecija through livelihood project. On clean water and sanitation, JICA and Maynilad Water Services, Inc. partnered for a water resource management program in Metro Manila to serve the needs of rising population and water demand.

Among the other JICA development cooperation activities related to SDGs are the grant aid to upgrade power distribution in electric cooperatives in Mindanao (for SDG target on affordable and clean energy), 11 transport infrastructure projects in the Philippines' Build Build Build agenda (decent work and economic growth), human resource and supply value chain development support (industry, innovation, and infrastructure), nearly 73 poverty reduction projects on disaster risk reduction, agriculture, and environment (SDG target on reduced inequalities), flood control management in 10 Philippine critical river basins (sustainable cities and communities), partnership with Japanese SMEs to raise agriculture productivity and introduce technologies on waste management and recycling (SDG targets on responsible consumption and production and climate action).

The other projects, meanwhile, help address SDG targets involving life below water (e.g. partnership with Philippine universities to protect marine biodiversity); life on land (e.g. forestland management project in critical river basins); peace, justice and strong institutions (e.g. capacity building in Mindanao's conflict areas); and partnerships (e.g. dispatch of Japanese volunteers and partnership with Japanese NGOs to support development work).

For the digital art activity, JICA partnered with the Embassy of Japan in Manila and the Japan Foundation as well as media organizations, namely Philippine Television Network, Inc., CNN Philippines, ABS-CBN, and Rappler.

Details about the JICA digital art competition on the SDGs: Building an Inclusive Future can be found here:

and JICA's Facebook Page:

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JICA launches campaign to promote SDG awareness among Filipino youth | Philippines | Countries & Regions | JICA

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The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in the Philippines is working to promote the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) among Filipino youth through a nationwide digital art competition for college students. The SDGs refer to the global vision of 193 member countries of the United Nations (UN) to help eradicate poverty in the next 15 years.

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Despite the rice resources of these Novo Ecijano have, they persist in being poor. The province, primarily an agricultural community, is lorded over by wealthy traders who reap the majority of the profits. Other issues in Nueva Ecija include a lack of potable water, insufficient medical personnel, and so on. The PBSP or Philippine Business for Social Progress can intervene through a non-governmental organization in the province. The rice farmer's land preparation and labor-intensive stages for the first intervention. Approximately P6,000.00 can increase the rice farmer's income by offering an alternative credit system with low-interest charges. The second and third interventions offer alternative income-generating endeavors in livestock contract growing and basket manufacturing, respectively.

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As stated above, Nueva Ecija is a rice-growing province and the country's leading onion producer. Some farmers are continuously working for their families. According to an article, this province has high poverty which is 22.6%. As the population keeps on increasing, the need for wealth is constantly growing too. It makes it hard as we are in the middle of adversity. We should solve this issue quickly since it would help the province's economic, global, and social stability. Helping those who are suffering and giving care for them is essential, especially during this pandemic.

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The Sustainable Development Goals, otherwise known as Global Goals, were adopted by United Nations in 2015. Known as the universal call to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030, all people enjoy peace, freedom, and prosperity. The 17 SDGs are interconnected; they recognize that actions in one area will impact outcomes in others and that development must balance social, economic, and environmental sustainability.

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Nueva Ecija was created as a military commandancia in 1777 by Governor General Narciso Claveria. Spanish records in the Philippines recognize two Spanish countries in the Pacific–Las Islas Filipinas and Nueva Ecija. The province of Tayabas (now Aurora and Quezon), including the Polillio Islands, was once part of the province of Pampanga. From 1777 to 1917, its territory was subdivided to give way to the creation of provinces.

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The Spanish colonists named Nueva Ecija after the Spanish city of Ecija. Its indigenous names, such as Pinagpanaan, which means "the place where the arrow hit" – defining the area's pre-colonial artistry in archery – were abolished and changed by the government during the post-colonial period following World War II, causing outrage among scholars and indigenous communities.

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Nueva Ecija is the Philippines' central rice-growing province and the country's leading onion producer. Nueva Ecija is one of the country's leading agricultural producers. Its main crops are rice and corn, but it also produces a lot of onions.

The province is known as the "Rice Granary of the Philippines," and its other essential crops include mango, calamansi (calamondin orange), banana, garlic, and vegetables.

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The province is predominantly Roman Catholic (about 82.43%). Other Christian denominations include Iglesia ni Cristo (5.55%), Born-again Christians, Philippine Independent Church (2.50%), Evangelical (1.70%), and Methodists (1.62%). The remaining minorities (6.2%) are The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh-day Adventists, and Muslims. Anitists and animists are also represented in the province practiced by indigenous ethnic groups.

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The population of Nueva Ecija grew from 134,147 in 1903 to 2,310,134 in 2020, an increase of 2,175,987 people over 117 years. The latest census figures in 2020 denote a positive growth rate of 1.51%, or an increase of 158,673 people, from the previous population of 2,151,461 in 2015.

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The age group with the most people in Nueva Ecija, according to the 2015 Census, is 5 to 9, with 219,684 people. When all age groups are combined, those aged 14 and under make up 30.14 percent of the young dependent population, including infants/babies, children, and young adolescents/teenagers (648,524). Those aged 15 to 64, roughly the economically active population and actual or potential members of the labor force, account for 64.54 percent of the total population (1,388,552). Finally, the old dependent people, including senior citizens aged 65 and up, account for 5.32 percent of the total population (114,385). The age group with the lowest population, on the other hand, is 80 and up, with 19,625 people.

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Nueva Ecija, otherwise known as the Rice Granary of the Philippines, covers 5,689.69 square kilometers (2,196.80 square miles) of land.