Promoting Multi-functionality of Rural Landscape: The Need for a Landscape Approach

Dr. Rachmat Mulia is an ecological modeler that also has agriculture and forestry statistics as a background. He has more than 10 years of experience linking the development of sustainable agriculture such as agroforestry and sustainable forestry practices, both at farm and landscape scale, with rural food security, farmer’s resilience to climate change, and environmental services to include carbon and water services, and biodiversity. Thanks to different projects that he has led or has been participating in, he also has experience in developing green growth orientation and measures at a provincial scale, especially those related to the agriculture and forestry sector, and assess the impact of the measures on the provincial economy and ecosystem services. In addition, he has also been involved in projects and studies related to rural development, especially on the potential role of livelihood diversification to enhance rural household’s income and resilience to both economic and environmental shocks

Assessment of Copper Total Bioaccumulation and Genotoxicity in Boac River, Marinduque Island, Philippines Two Decades Post-Mining Disaster: Pseudodon sp. as Aquatic Fauna Indicator

In 1996, a mining drainage tunnel burst and released copper wastes into the Boac River—rendering it dead. Two decades after the disaster, the river is now used for aquaculture farming. This study assessed the total bioaccumulation of copper and its genotoxicity in the mussel Pseudodon sp. farmed in the river. A total of 30 Pseudodon sp. were collected randomly from the downstream tributaries of the river in September 2015. Total bioaccumulation in terms of total copper concentrations was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry and the genotoxicity by micronucleus cytome assay. The total copper concentrations were present in the soft tissues (Mean + Standard Error of the Mean [SEM] of 0.0550 + 0.0003 ppm). Genotoxic indicators of nuclear alterations showed the formation of micronuclei yielding the highest frequency (Mean + SEM of 10.257 + 0.793 per 1000 cells). Binucleated, nuclear buds, agranular, apoptotic, and necrotic nuclear anomalies were likewise evident. Total copper concentrations and the frequency of the hemocyte micronuclei occurrences showed a significant relationship (r=0.366; p = 0.047) while the other nuclear abnormalities were not significantly related to the total copper concentrations. Continuous biomonitoring of mining-affected areas is necessary to safeguard people’s health from the effects of mining wastes. Keywords: bioaccumulation · copper · energy use · genotoxicity · heavy metal · mining · nuclear abnormalitie

A Mixed-Integer Programming Model for Optimal Allocation of COVID-19 Vaccines in Davao City

With the emergence of COVID-19 in Davao City, the need to acquire herd immunity through vaccination is paramount in averting the further spread of the disease in addition to complying with health and safety protocols. This study presents a reformulation of Smalley et al.’s (2015) oral cholera vaccine—mixed-integer programming model (OCV-MIP) to fit the context of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign in the city for 5 years, with consideration of the possible need for annual revaccination, given limited supply and budget resources, to minimize COVID-19 cases further. The population is divided into subgroups with associated incidence rates serving as the basis for the optimal allocation of vaccines. Different ways of population stratification by some combinations of risk areas and age group divisions were explored. The results revealed that it is optimal to prioritize the vaccination of subgroups with the highest incidence rates. Keywords: forecasting · COVID-19 · Davao City · LINGO · Mixed-Integer Programming · Optimization · Philippines · SARS-CoV-2 · Vaccine

Where Are We in the Innovation Pathway Towards Agri 4.0?

Prof. Larry N. Digal, PhD, is a professor of agricultural and applied economics, School of Management, and the former chancellor of the University of the Philippines Mindanao. He finished his PhD and MS in Agricultural Economics at the University of Sydney in Australia and Purdue University in Lafayette, Indiana, USA, respectively. He finished his undergraduate degree in the same field at the University of the Philippines Los Baños cum laude and received the Gamma Sigma Delta Honor Society of Agriculture Gold Medal Award for Academic Excellence and the Joan Gonzales Gold Medal also for Academic Excellence. He excelled in his area of specialization particularly in the “economics of sustainable agricultural value chains.” In this area, he developed, led many research projects and programs, developed research networks in UP Mindanao with links to international partners, mentored junior researchers, developed and led interdisciplinary research groups, led conferences and published extensively. His research interests also include industrial organization of agricultural markets, market power, and policy

Forecasting COVID-19 Cases in the Philippines Using Various Mathematical Models

Due to the rapid increase of COVID-19 infection cases in many countries such as the Philippines, efforts in forecasting daily infections have been made to better manage the pandemic and respond effectively. In this study, we considered the cumulative COVID-19 infection cases in the Philippines from 6 March 2020 to 31 July 2020, and forecasted the cases from 1–15 August 2020 using various mathematical models—weighted moving average, exponential smoothing, Susceptible-Exposed-Infected-Recovered (SEIR) model, Ornstein-Uhlenbeck process, Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) model, and random forest. We compared the results to the actual data using traditional error metrics. Our results showed that the ARIMA (1,2,1) model had the closest forecast values to the actual data. Policymakers can use this result in determining which forecast method to use for their community to have data-based information for the preparation of their personnel and facilities. Keywords: forecasting · epidemics · moving average · exponential smoothing · ARIMA · Ornstein-Uhlenbeck · SEIR · random fores

The Impact of Conflict to the Sustainability and Resilience Capacity of Local Food Systems

Prof. Emma Ruth V. Bayogan, PhD, retired this year but continues to work as an adjunct professor at the Department of Biological Sciences and Environmental Studies, University of the Philippines Mindanao. Her research works are focused on postharvest biology and technology, horticulture, sustainable agriculture, and seed technology coupled with extension activities. She is the current President of the PhilFruits Association. Through Dr. Bayogan’s leadership, the Postharvest Laboratory was established in UP Mindanao and their laboratory regularly coordinated trainings for postharvest handling technologies. Dr. Bayogan served as the Program Leader of the DOST PCAARRD-funded research program “Enhancing Livelihood Opportunities in ConflictVulnerable Areas in Mindanao through the LIFE (Livelihood Improvement through Facilitated Extension) Model” from 2017 to 2021 (LIFE UP Mindanao), which aimed to improve farmers’ livelihood and quality of life through facilitated extension. The program’s paper “Giving Farmers uwen fananafedew: Improving Agricultural Extension in Conflict-Vulnerable Areas through the Livelihood Improvement through Facilitated Extension (LIFE) Model” won Best Development Paper in 2020 during the SMAARRDEC’s Regional Symposium on Research Development and Extension Highlights and in 2021 as representative of Region XI for the National Symposium on Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of PCAARRD

Beyond Counting Houses: Are We Providing Adequate Housing? An Assessment of Residential Satisfaction of Socialized Housing in Davao City, Philippines

Since 1992, the socialized housing program has been the primary mode of housing delivery in the Philippines. Thus, aside from production concerns, the evaluation of the housing program in terms of housing adequacy is imperative. This paper explores the level of end-users' satisfaction with socialized housing in Davao City, Philippines. Respondents were asked to rate their level of satisfaction with a number of housing variables, which were summarized into six components using Exploratory Factor Analysis and Confirmatory Factor Analysis. Results showed that most e1nd-users are “highly satisfied” with their living conditions. Residents’ satisfaction is primarily influenced by the social environment, acquisition and financing, and dwelling units. However, satisfaction levels vary significantly among different house types, with those living in rowhouses being moderately satisfied. This paper also highlights how socialized housing delivery deviated from its mandate by functioning as a free market, leaving out its intended beneficiaries: the underprivileged population. Therefore, this calls for a review of the current socialized housing standards by the Philippines’ central housing agency, the Department of Human Settlement and Urban Development, to improve the current housing delivery and condition. Keywords: end-users · residential satisfaction · renters · rowhouse · socialized housing · target beneficiarie

A Preliminary Qualitative Assessment of the University of the Philippines Visayas’s Technology Business Incubation Project in Western Visayas, Philippines

The primary role of business incubators is to provide a variety of services, resources, and facilities in support of start-ups or enterprises in the early stages of their ventures. While business incubator success indicators have been studied elsewhere, knowledge is scarce regarding incubator processes and how their support programs are organized to achieve their goal of helping out start-ups thrive and survive. This study presents an assessment of the University of the Philippines Visayas’s traditional business incubation facility based in Western Visayas, Philippines, highlighting the activities involved, outputs, and outcomes. Primary data were gathered to describe the project’s activities, outputs, and outcomes, while secondary data were sought from secondary data sources. The key success factors of the incubation project were derived from key informant interviews participated by 16 incubated enterprises. Incubatees underwent six activities throughout the project that led to the formulation of a business plan and improved incubatees’ enterprises. The project’s outcomes gauged through hard (definable and quantifiable results) and soft measures (subjective and unquantifiable results) were highlighted. The most prominent outcome based on hard measures is the growth of their enterprise. The effectiveness of the partnership has the highest impact among the soft measures. Results of the study show that incubatees deemed connections and/or partnerships as crucial to the growth of their enterprises and affiliations with other institutions serve as a window of opportunity to secure financial assistance, marketing services, and technical support. Moreover, gaining trust and establishing good working teams with individuals who are passionate and highly committed were also identified as important factors for the project’s success. Keywords: business incubation · entrepreneurship · partnershi