Brief History of Gubat
State of the Municipality Address



 

THE MUNICIPAL AGRICULTURAL & FISHERIES COUNCIL OF GUBAT, SORSOGON | page 3

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3. AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

Status:
There are 106 backyard fish farmers who are recipients of free tilapia seedlings procured and distributed by LGU. Production results are still poor since modern methods are yet to be used.
Roles of MAFC:

  • Through a resolution, has proposed to the LGU to construct a tilapia freshwater hatchery to produce sex-reversed tilapia seedlings for sale to backyard fish farmers and rice-fish culturists
  • Encourage backyard fish farmers to turn their backyards into integrated crop-livestock-fish farms
Expected Project Impact:
  • Production of adequate quantity of sex-reversed tilapia seedlings to support a massive rice-fish culture production, utilizing the available rice field potentials of more than 2, 000 hectares
  • Production of at least 300 kilos per hectare per year, increasing the municipal per capita consumption of 30 kilos to 40 kilos, a quantity higher than the national per capita of 30 kilos
  • To enable the rice farmers to attain a 50 % increase in their farm production
4. INTEGRATED FARMING

Status:
There are three units of integrated farming projects in the municipality. A unit is composed of vegetable plants, poultry project, swine fattening project, tilapia backyard farm, rice farm and fruit trees. Roles of MAFC:
  • Convince more farmers to engage in integrated farming by conducting community assemblies
  • See to it that all available technologies be applied in the management of integrated farms
  • Assist in looking for market outlets of integrated farm products
  • Assist in the procurement of needed supplies and materials
Expected Project Impact:
  • Make the community self-reliant in integrated farm products and prevent importation of the same
  • Produce enough products for sale in other provinces
5. MANGROVE REFORESTATION PROJECT

Status:
It is estimated that 75 % of the original mangrove areas has been denuded. As population increases, the area of existing mangroves conversely decreases. With the inclusion of the environment sector and the creation of a responsible environment committee, mangrove conservation and reforestation is now a major MAFC concern.

The initial planting of 9.5 hectares with 95, 000 propagules in Barangays Rizal, Cogon, Tiris and Pinontingan is highly encouraging.

Roles of MAFC:
  • Successfully worked through a resolution for the allocation of LGU funds to finance a program of mangrove reforestation
  • Maintenance of the newly-planted propagules by representatives of organized BAFC's of organized coastal barangays
  • Is working for the allocation of more funds to finance additional projects in mangrove reforestation
Expected Project Impact:
  • Greater benefits can be derived from mangrove forests than from man-made salt water fishponds as mangrove forests provides refuge and serve as sanctuary for fishes
  • Mangrove forests are a good source of fuel and building materials.
  • They serve as wind and wave brakes and prevent soil erosion and flooding
  • They also purify polluted air
6. HYBRID RICE PRODUCTION

Status:
The municipality of Gubat has been selected as pilot area on hybrid rice production. At present there are now 99 farmers engaged in hybrid rice production. Initial results proved very successful as evidenced by the selection of Gubat as"Best LGU in Hybrid Rice Production" on the national level. Right now, an experimental area has been planted with hybrid rice seed production with technical management assistance from PhilRice. Roles of MAFC:
  • Passed Resolution # 11-s-03 "Requesting the LGU of Gubat to allocate funds to be used at Farmers Field School at Barangay Cabigaan, Gubat, Sorsogon" which was favorably acted upon by the LGU
  • Assist in information dissemination on hybrid rice production
  • Assist in the campaign to encourage more farmers to engage in hybrid rice production
  • Ask the MAO technologists in persuading farmers to adopt rice production technology they have learned from seminars and workshops
  • Assist in marketing hybrid rice production
Expected Project Impact:
  • Produce a better tasting quality rice variety
  • Increase rice production per unit area by about 15 %
  • Serve as a prototype project for adoption by other rice-producing municipalities of the province of Sorsogon
7. CRABLET PRODUCTION PROJECT

Status:
The LGU is financing two projects located in Barangay Cota na Daco and Barangay Rizal. These two projects are managed by BFARMC and are now producing on a commercial scale. Crablet buyers from Batangas, Samar, Camarines Sur and nearby towns come to buy the crablets.

The project areas are enclosed with nylon nets with appropriate mesh size capable of preventing the escape of crablet stock and allowing free water movement. The mangrove trees growing inside the enclosed area are left to grow and serve as hiding places of the crablet stock, making this an environment-friendly endeavor. Roles of MAFC:
  • Initiated and worked for the release of funds for the two projects
  • Assist in guiding the operators in the technical management of the project
  • Initiate additional projects
Expected Project Impact:
  • Provides additional employment and improves the earning capacity of those already engaged in crablet production business.
Our experiences in 2002 were a good learning experience for us at Gubat MAFC. We were forced to find ways to improve. 2003 will not be any different. It will be another good learning experience for us. And we will again find ways to improve. This is the story of MAFC Gubat and this is what we envision to be story of Gubat MAFC, a never-ending cycle of learning and improving.

Thank you.

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