Department of Agriculture(DA)

October 15, 2018 Dear Gerard Ian German, Greetings! Thank you for your request dated Oct 10, 2018 12:45:06 PM under Executive Order No. 2 (s. 2016) on Freedom of Information in the Executive Branch. Your Request You asked for Information on Tomato Over-Production, Kalayaan, Laguna. Response to Request Your FOI request is approved. I enclose a copies of some of the information you requested. Due to privacy concern, we cannot disclose the contact detail of the farmer you are looking. However, we can provide you data from http://farmersguidemap.da.gov.ph/ , a color-coded guide map which identifies the crops that are most suitable in agricultural parcels, and overlays soil properties, elevation, rainfall pattern, temperature and more importantly, the projected climate-induced multi-hazards. According to Philippine Statistics Authority (April-June 2018), production of tomato increased by 1.8 percent from 72.19 thousand metric tons in the same quarter of the previous year to 73.50 thousand metric tons this year. The growth was supported by the following: * bigger fruits harvested in CALABARZON due to use of high yielding variety (Fantastic); and * increased area planted due to the following: * provision of seeds from DA-RFO through the LGUs in Central Luzon; * more demand for ketchup processing in Central Luzon; * more farmers in Northern Mindanao were encouraged to plant due to high * demand from Visayas and Metro Manila markets; and * temporary shifting from cabbage to tomato production in CALABARZON to maintain soil fertility. * Ilocos Region, recorded the bulk of tomato production this quarter at 27.52 thousand metric tons which was 37.4 percent of the national total. Central Luzon came next with 11.0 percent and CALABARZON, 9.8 percent. As for tomato, it's an all year round crop but please take note that tomatoes can be grown in varied soil types such as sandy loam to clay-loam with rich organic matter but should not be planted in areas with long period of flooding. The ideal soil pH is 6.0-6.5. It can be harvested in 90-100 days after transplanting during the cool season and 60-90 days after transplanting during hot season. To help you more on your research, attached are the price monitoring of tomatoes and production guide of tomato. This is also statement released by Sec. Piñol regarding tomato production in Kalayaan, Laguna Marketing help offered DA READY TO COMPENSATE LAGUNA TOMATO FARMERS By Manny Piñol Two days after the social media showed photos of tomatoes produced by farmers from Kalayaan, Laguna which were left to rot because there were no takers, I called up the village chairman and assured him of help from the Department of Agriculture. I told Barangay Chairman Froilan Reyes that the DA will find a way to compensate the tomato farmers. The tomato farmers were also invited to join the TienDA Malasakit Store opening in Taguig City on Oct. 13 where they could sell their tomatoes. The DA will provide the transportation to haul their tomatoes from Kalayaan to Taguig. Chairman Reyes said they will bring about 5 tons of tomatoes to be sold in the TienDA. The tomato farmers will also be linked up with institutional buyers who use tomatoes for high value products. They will also be trained to plant other vegetable varieties and provided with production loans under the Production Loan Easy Access program of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council. Chairman Reyes said he will also request for the construction of a farm to market road in his village. (October 10, 2018) Your right to request a review If you are unhappy with this response to your FOI request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response by writing to Sec. Manny F. Piñol. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made within 15 calendar days from the date when you received this letter. We will complete the review and tell you the result within 30 calendar days from the date when we receive your review request. If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Office of the President under Administrative Order No. 22 (s. 2011). Thank you. Respectfully, Kristel Merle FOI Receiving Officer