THROUGH former city kagawad Jun Lavadia, I was invited with my wife Minda to attend the blessing of the office of the Kalunggay Farmers of Camarines Sur, KFCS for short, which the former city councilor heads. The association was organized to encourage the planting of kalunggay or malunggay in the Filipino by our local farmers. From what I have gathered, a Mandaluyong based corporate entity which is engaged in the production of Natural Ingredients and other fruit enzymes is buying malunggay (moringo) seeds at large scale and willing to buy the air-dried seeds from the farmers at a farm gate price of Ten (P10.00) pesos per kilo and shall commit to purchase the product for a period of five (5) years and renewable for another five (5) years. The farmer on the other hand is also required to commit that he shall exclusively sell to the corporation the aired-dried seeds produced or gathered from his farm for the same period.

        I have interviewed several farmers during the office blessing who have expressed their keen interest into the production of moringo seeds. One farmer told me that rice production at this time is no longer profitable as it used to be in the light of the high cost of inputs and the very low selling price of palay.

        It takes only eight months from the day of planting for the malunggay to be harvestable and ready for marketing. This new endeavor has opened a new window of opportunity for our Bicol farmers. I am planning to try it myself. This will keep me close to nature at the same time and it is good for the health of one who is not getting any younger.

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        I am glad that the city government of Naga and the Department of Social Welfare and Development have taken notice of the proliferation of mendicants and street children in the city, a concern which I pointed out in this column last week. News reports are that the DWSD does not have the necessary budgetary allocation for the physical facilities to house street children and is soliciting support from the city government for the purpose. It is a sad commentary that while Malacañang could give doleouts of P200 to P500 thousand to local officials, basic services for the welfare of street children are totally overlooked.

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        The University of the Philippines is celebrating its centennial anniversary this year. No doubt, the university has played a virtal role in the social, economic and political development of our country. Many great minds who have served the executive, legislative and judicial departments of our country are graduates of the University of the Philippines. I therefore, salute the university in its 100th year and may it continue to grow and thrive as a great institution of learning.

QUOTATION OF THE WEEK:
        “TO KEEP THE HEART UNWRINKLED,
        TO BE HOPEFUL, KINDLY, CHEERFUL,
        REVERENT THAT IS TO TRIUMPH
        OVER OLD AGE.”

- AMOS BRONSON ALCOTT

FOR OUR WORD OF LIFE:
        “A GOOD TREE CANNOT BEAR BAD FRUIT,
        NOR CAN A ROTTEN TREE BEAR GOOD FRUIT.”

- MATHEW 7:16