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MATRI WHAT’S INSIDE PAGE 02

farmers in crisis

by ASHLEY NUEVA

COASTAL SHIFT news analysis

Aquamarine fishport relocates facility to Ligao City

STS Kristine drowns Albay’s crops, sinks farmers’ livelihoods

by CAROL JASMIN MIRANDA Due to a contractual dispute and concerns over political involvement, the Aquamarine Fish Port Service Cooperative has transferred its operations from Legazpi City to a newly established facility in Tuburan, Ligao City.

by ASHLEY DOROTHY NUEVA

As Severe Tropical Storm (STS) Kristine swept across the Bicol region, it left behind more than just uprooted trees and flooded streets; it wreaked havoc on the lifeblood of Albay’s economy, which is its agriculture. The typhoon’s impact was particularly severe in Ligao, where large portions of rice, corn, and high-value crops were destroyed, leaving farmers struggling to recover. “It was beyond what we expected, the extent of the crop damage in Ligao was severe,” Cheryl Ann Requiza, the officer in charge-city agriculturalist of Ligao City, said. Business owners in the agricultural sector, especially those reliant on rice production, like Andres Layug also, faced major financial setbacks. This has resulted in a significant drop in revenue, affecting the entire supply chain. The devastation has forced the Philippines to rely even more heavily on rice imports, with the country projected to remain the world’s top importer of this staple food. According to the US Department of Agriculture, rice imports are expected to reach 4.7 million metric tons (MT) this year, up by 2.2 percent from earlier estimates due to strong purchases from Vietnam. Projections for 2025 indicate imports could climb further to 4.9 million MT as local farms deliver smaller harvests, compounded by the effects of El Niño, La Niña, and recent typhoons. While local government units and agricultural agencies have quickly mobilized relief efforts, the distribution of aid has raised concerns. Some farmers are questioning why only selected individuals received the government’s P10,000 assistance. “Not everyone was given the aid, and that’s a big concern for us,” Requiza said.

Continue reading on page 3

OPINION

PAGE 05

spoiled promises editorial

SPOILED PROMISES The government’s outright disregard for the education sector has been glaring since day one, and it only gets worse. Continue reading on page 5

FEATURE

PAGE 09

Love, Labor & Legacy SCI-TECH

Crop Damage, Financial Losses Based on the crop damage report, Ligao City experienced an estimated P52.2 million in agricultural losses, with P30 million lost in rice crops, P8.6 million in corn, and P11.8 million in high-value crops like bananas and vegetables. Furthermore, coastal areas experienced landslides that affected coconut trees, with losses reaching P915,000. In addition to the damage, the typhoon is expected to affect the market supply, particularly vegetables. Requiza noted that the destruction of crops, especially in upland areas, would likely cause a rise in prices due to limited supply, though products from unaffected areas might mitigate the shortage. “Yes, we can expect prices to go up, especially for vegetables, due to the damage. However, products from other areas that weren’t

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GOOD PLASTICS SPORTS

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ABYSSAL SURGE

Volume XIX Issue No. 1 | August 2024 - January 2025

FIELD OF DESPAIR. Aris Lalugan, 51, carries the remaining sack of harvested rice to sell for a good price after the onslaught of STS Kristine in San Agustin, Oas, Albay, on November 5, 2024. Photo by NATHANIEL ROSALES

WISDOM KNOWS NO BOUNDS

NEWS

The Official School-Community Publication of Bicol Regional Science High School Division of Ligao, Region V

heavily affected may fill the gap for us,” she said. Agri-Impact on Local Businesses Andres Layug, the owner of a rice mill in Oas, shared his personal experience of the typhoon’s impact. As a business that depends heavily on rice production, Layug’s business suffered significant losses. “The impact was intense. STS Kristine severely affected us. Much of the rice that had already been ordered got drenched,” Layug recalled. Due to the heavy rain and flooding, much of the rice was damaged, resulting in lower-quality products that he could only sell at a reduced price. Financially, Layug faced steep losses. His losses totaled approximately over P300,000 in capital, which was a major setback for his business. With rising operational costs and lowerquality rice, Layug had to grapple with significant financial challenges. Layug expressed his frustration with the lack of support for privately funded businesses like his. Unlike other farmers who benefited from government programs, Layug’s business struggled without any substantial help. “As a privately funded business, we have not received any sort of assistance from our local government before, during, or after the typhoon,” he explained. Future Disaster Preparedness Requiza and Layug emphasized the importance of improving support systems for farmers and businesses in the aftermath of disasters. For Requiza, Ligao City is working on improving its disaster preparedness through close coordination with the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office. By adjusting the cropping calendar based on weather forecasts, the city aims to reduce the risk of damage during future typhoons. Furthermore, alternative crops like adlay have been discussed as potential solutions to the region’s reliance on rice farming, though Requiza mentioned that no specific programs for adlay are currently in place in Ligao. “We don’t have a program related to adlay yet. But if someone provides planting materials, why not? We do have areas where it can be planted,” she said, highlighting the possibility of using adlay as a disaster-resilient crop in the future. As Bicol’s farming community continues to recover, it is evident that while efforts have been made to assist, more comprehensive and accessible support systems must be put in place to safeguard the future of agriculture in the region.

DATA DIVE

Estimated Loss (Php) As of October 29, 2024, the reported crop damage in ligao city due to severe tropical storm kristine

RICE Estimated Loss (Php)

30, 807, 626.00 CORN Estimated Loss (Php)

8, 695, 817.00 HIGH VALUE CROPS (HVC) Estimated Loss (Php)

11, 818, 050.00 COCONUT Estimated Loss (Php)

915,000.00 TOTAL

52,236,493.00 Source: Department of Agriculture Ligao

news brief

Brisayan math olympiads stun in int’l competitions by GIAN CARLO NAVARRO

SCAN THE CODE

he Bicol Regional Science High School (BRSHS) made its mark in global mathematics competitions this year, securing medals at the Thailand Mathematics Olympiad (TIMO) Heat Round and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Mathematical Olympiad (Big Bay Bei), both of which were held online. There were a total of five silver medalists, 13 bronze medalists, and 10 merit awardees in TIMO, while there were six gold medalists and one silver medalist in Big Bay Bei.

Athena Navera, a gold medalist in Big Bay Bei, shared her experiences, including technical challenges caused by stormy weather during the competition. “I felt very nervous about the power interruptions. The uncertainty made it hard to focus, but preparation and prayer helped me stay focused,” Navera said. She added that the absence of calculators made it more challenging to perform under time constraints. Participants were mentored by BRSHS math teachers, namely Maria Tricia San Jose,

Loyd Quililan, and Joemylene Sañosa. According to Sañosa, the team had to make several adjustments to their training schedule due to disruptions caused by the weather. “We only held three training sessions, but we ensured the students had the necessary materials to study independently,” she said. The qualifiers can participate in both olympics, either online or onsite. The TIMO onsite finals will take place in Chiang Mai, Thailand, while the Big Bay Bei onsite finals will be in Hong Kong.