nautical mile - Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority - Department of ...

4PERSONNEL OF THE MONTHPERSONNEL OF THE MONTHThe Most Traveled FPAianEDUARDO L. AJUSTOWondering how is it to navigate the globe?Literally travel and be treated like aroyalty as an expatriate? Basking in the sun,white beaches littered by scantily clad movingobjects, martinis and a driver, all these and moreas you go about your business ala James Bond?We have somebody just like him here in FPA.Does Eduardo Ajusto ring a bell to you?Before joining the FPA by destiny, choice or awild stroke of fate, he served as an expatriateto the African countries Zimbabwe, Kenya,Johannesburg, South Africa, Malawi,Mozambique and Zambia. He also had a stintat the Middle East in the Kingdom of SaudiArabia and Pakistan. He served as an expertagriculturist and has transferred technologicalknow how to these mentioned countries. Heworked hand in hand with Americanvolunteers, Dutch, Norwegian and Belgianexpatriates.His travels in Kenya were purely observationtours in the projects sponsored byUNICEF-UN undertakings.The United Nations World Health Organizationsrequired also his services for its waterdevelopment projects in the regions of theRepublic of Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia).AMWAY’s liquid...His stint in Saudi Arabia composed mainlyof being a farm manager and anagriculturist. His knowledge and impeccableintellectual capability were also maximizedin his full involvement in developing arid land(desert land) for conversion to areas plantedfor vegetables intensive projects. Specificallypertaining to Saudi cropping pattern that isfor winter crops and for summer crops as wellas livestock productions such as chicken,goats, sheep and cattle.“In Zimbabwe I worked with differentInternational Organizations, such asEuropean Countries Community; NorwegianSaves the Children Program; CooperativeBelgian Organization, NetherlandsVolunteers Organization, World VisionInternational from U.S.A.; Lutheran WorldFederation; International Volunteers Services;United Nation Volunteers, World HealthOrganization- UN Projects; and with FAO –United Nations based in Harare, Republicof Zimbabwe”, he added.In between these periods he functioned alsoas a consultant. While maximizing his stayhe was privileged to understand the culture,traditions, beliefs and the rich arts thesecountries offered his worthwhile stay.He boasted of traveling with the followingairlines:Philippine Airlines, KLM (Royal DutchAirlines), Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways,Cathay pacific Airways, Saudia Airlines,Middle East Airlines, Lufthansa PakistanAirways, African Airways, Kenya Airways,Zimbabwe Airways, Malawi Airways, SouthAfrican Airways.Currently Mr. Ajusto is the ProvincialDevelopment Officer II in Pampanga, withinthe coverage of Region III. Obviously he’s gotwhat it takes to be a qualified reliableFPAian.Sa ganitong kondisyon, nalilito ang ating mga field officer kung ano ang tamang paraan upangmakontrol ang pamamahagi ng LOC sa pamilihan lalo na sa pamamaraang direct selling.A reference case is the one filed by Mr. Reynaldo Q. Segismundo, Project Development Officer -Ilocos Sur, against Ms. Christine A. Cerqueda, an Amway independent distributor from Pasay Cityand Ms. Salvacion Alagar Palpallatoc of Vigan, Ilocos Sur, who is also an independent distributorunder Ms. Cerqueda’s network. The case is filed with the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office of Vigan,Ilocos Sur docketed I. S. No. 00-110 forviolation of PD 1144 for using, promoting,selling, loaning, offering for sale a fertilizerand pesticide product without the necessarylicense, an experimental or efficacy testingpermit and product registration with FPA.Respondent Ms. Cerqueda alleged that asan independent distributor, she introducedLOC in Ilocos Sur fully aware of the product’sefficacy as evidenced by its convincing testresults from vegetable farms in Buguias,Benguet. Respondent Ms. Palpallatoc, onthe other hand, alleged that Ms. Cerquedavisited her at Vigan, Ilocos Sur andintroduced LOC as a product which washesthe toxic residues harmful to plants and actsto eliminate worms, insects and other pests.To witness the vaunted effect of the productpersonally, she proposed to contact farmercooperators for experimental use of theproduct. Being formerly connected with theProvincial Agrarian Reform Office, she wasable to convince DAR provincial personnelto conduct efficacy testing at the farms offarmer cooperators under the AgrarianReform Cooperatives. Spraying started inFebruary 1999. Thereafter, the effect ofLOC on crops was monitored.On February 24, 1999, about 7:00 PM, therespondents requested for a meeting withfarmers, where respondent Ms. Palpallatocacting as the resource person, promotedLOC and stated the product has the qualityof being a fertilizer, insecticide, stickerbinder, pH regulator and plant growthinducer, a five in one product. An open forumwas preceded by the actual selling/loaningof the product to the farmers present duringthe meeting. The act plainly demonstratedthe intent to sell the product.Atty. Dominador Ll. Arquelada, 2nd AssistantProvincial Prosecutor, opined that the issuefor resolution is whether or not therespondents violated PD 1144.After thorough consideration, bolstered bylaboratory analysis conducted by theRegional Soils Laboratory and the BSWMestablishing that LOC contained fertilizer,predominantly nitrogen, the ProvincialProsecutor determined that there isprobable cause against the respondents.Sec. (8) and (9) of PD 1144 was violatedfor selling, loaning, offering for sale and usingwithout an FPA license an unregisteredproduct.The prosecutor, in a Resolution dated May29, 2000, recommended that a case be filedagainst Ms. Christine Cerqueda and Ms.Salvacion Alagar Palpallatoc with theRegional Trial Court of Vigan, Ilocos Sur forviolation of Sec. (8) and Sec. (9) of PD 1144.NewswatchA Monthly Publication ofA Monthly Publication of the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority, Department of AgriculturricultureVol. ol. V, , No. . 20 June 2000Amway’s Liquid Organic Compound : A case in pointControversy and confusion shroudthe marketing of Amway’s LiquidOrganicCompound(LOC). It was stated that thereare benefits derived from the usageof said product in terms of its pesticidaland fertilizing properties. Theproblem, however, is that LOC is notregistered with FPA and those sellingthe product are not licensed with FPAeither. Worse, the company adoptsnetworking, through independentdistributors, as a marketing strategywhich is direct selling to the farmerend users. Not much different fromthe unlicensed fertilizer and pesticidepeddlers which our field personnel arehard put in curtailing. These Amway independent distributors advertise that this LOC controlspests and fertilize the plant and target farmers as clients but, on the contrary, maintain thatthe product is neither a fertilizer nor a pesticide, hence it is beyond the jurisdiction of FPA.The FPA Board, thru Resolution No. 01-2000 dated June 14, 2000, resolvedto authorize Secretary Edgardo J. Angarato enter into a Memorandum ofAgreement (MOA) with the Departmentof Public Works and Highways (DPWH)for technical services and to constitute theFPA Pre-qualification, Bids and AwardsCommittee (PBAC) to evaluate the bidsof building contractors. The proposedconstruction of the FPA building withlaboratory facilities was approved by theFPA Board in its April 20, 1999 meeting.Subsequently, during evaluation of FPA’sFY 2000 budget, the Department ofBudget and Management recommended theapproval of the P60M funding for the project.The House of Representatives and the Senate,likewise, approved the appropriations for thebuilding during deliberations of the FY 2000budget. The proposed four storey building willbe built within the Bureau of Animal IndustryIlocos farmers whom LOC was sold.Update on FPA BuildingThe FPA Board on its June 14, 2000 meeting.turn to p. 4compound in Visayas Avenue, Diliman, QuezonCity.Base sa mga pangyayaring ito, lumalaki angposibilidad nating magkaroon ng sarilingbuilding at tuluyan nang makaiwas sa mgatulo at pagbaha na sanhi ng mga butas atturn to p. 3NAFEDA First AllLeaders’ ConferenceThe National Federation of EmployeesAssociation of the Department of Agriculture(NAFEDA), a league of employeesassociations of DA and its offices, bureausand attached agencies, conductedits first conference of leaders at the NationalFood Authority Staff House inBaguio City on June 26 - 30, 2000.Ang FPA Employees’ Association, nakinatawan nina G. Romeo S. Villanueva,Pangalawang Pangulo, at G. Gregorio M.Arboleda, Jr., Kalihim, ay kabilang sa mgaunyon mula sa 18 ahensiya ng DA nadumalo sa naturang pagpupulong.Naging tagapagsalita sina G. FerdinandGaite, Pangulo ng Confederation for theUnity, Recognition and Advancement ofGovernment Employees (COURAGE).Kanyang tinalakay ang kasalukuyangsituwasyon ng sektor ng mga kawani ngpamahalaan. Ang pagpapahayag ngpaningin ng pribadong sektor sakasalukuyang kondisyong pangekonomiya at pampulitika ay ipinahatidni Bb. Edelyn Lu, Pangulo ng GrainsRetailers Confederation. Ang pagsusuri atpananaw ng mga magsasaka sakasalukuyang kalagayan ng agrikulturang bansa ang siya namang tinalakay niKa Daneng Ramos, Sekretaryo-Heneralng Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas.Ang public sector unionism at prinsipyo ngmilitante, progresibo at makabayangunyonismo ay tinalakay ni G. SantiagoDasmarinas, First Vice-President,COURAGE. Ang paksang Globalisasyonna umani ng higit na atensiyon, aytinalakay ni Bb. Rose B. Guzman, Direktorng Ibon Research Foundation. Angglobalisasyon na itinataguyod ng mgabansang may maunlad na ekonomiya atpangunahing prodyuser ng mga kalakalna siya ring pasimuno sa pagtatatag ngGATT-WTO (General Agreement on Tariffand Trade-World Trade Organization).Ang mga bansang ito ay dumaranas ngturn to p. 3

2Info bits!Ano ang “nautical mile” at ano ang pagkakaiba nitosa “normal mile” at “kilometer”Ang “nautical mile” ay naka base sa “circumference” ngplanetang daigdig. Kung hahatiin mo ang daigdig ng kalahati mulasa ekwador, pwede mong kuhanin ang kalahati at tingnan ang ekwadorbilang bilog. Puwede mo ngayong hatiin itong bilog na ito sa “360 degrees”.Pagkatapos puwede mo na ngayong hatiin ang bawat “degree” sa 60 minuto.Ang isang minutong “arc” sa planetang daigdig ay isang “nautical mile”. Itongparaan na ito ay ginagamit ng ibat’ ibang daigdig para sa pangkalawakanat pangkaragatang paglalakbay.Ang “Knot” ay isang yunit ng pagdetermina ng bilis. Kung ikaw aynaglalakbay sa bilis na isang “nautical mile” sa bawat oras, ikaw at tinatayangnaglalakbay sa bilis na isang “knot”.Ang “kilometer” ay ginagamit din ang planetang daigdig bilang basehan nglayo. Kung hahatiin mo sa kalahati ang daigdig sa linyang nagmumula sa“North Pole” hanggang “Paris” at pagkatapos ay susukatin mo ang distansiyang kurbada na tumatakbo mula “North Pole” hanggang sa “equator” doonsa bilog, pagkatapos hatiin mo ang distansiya sa 10,000, magkakaroon kang tradisyunal na yunit para sa kilometrahe na binigyan depinisyon noong1791 ng “French Academy of Sciences”. Ang isang “nautical mile” ay 1,852 metro.Ang isang nautical mile ay 1.1508 miles, o 6,076 feet sa English measurement.Para makapaglakbay pabilog sa ekwador ng planetang daigdig kailangangmong maglakbay ng 360* 60 = 21,600 nautical miles, o 24,857 milya, o dikaya’y 40,003 kilometrahe.Phone EtiquetteGood telephone skills are a business essential these days. Yetstrangely, as we rely on the phone more and more, the communication skillsof many people in the workforce seem to be getting worse and worse.We all have recent memories of rude operators or ill-informed sales reps providingnothing but frustration when all we wanted were simple answers to uncomplicatedquestions. Likely, that memory includes taking your business elsewhere.Don’t let this happen to your own company. Here’s a retrospective on some of thebasics of good telephone technique and etiquette:· Answer the phone (by the second or third ring!) with a warm, clear,articulate greeting that includes your company name and your ownname.· Know what you’re talking about. You and your employees should beknowledgeable enough to converse about your products over the phonewithout having to speculate or follow a canned script. If you don’t knowwhat you’re talking about, pleasantly and promptly refer them tosomeone who does.· Smile, you’re on the phone! People can hear the extra warmth in yourvoice, even when they can’t see you. By physically smiling, you willautomatically appear friendlier to the ear. Sounds silly, but it works.· Speak slowly and clearly. There’s no substitute for clarity.· If you must put people on hold, ask their permission first. And let themknow if they’re in for a long wait. And don’tplay that annoying canned “hold music” —hardly anybody likes it, and many peoplewon’t put up with such torture. Findsomething more interesting for them to listento.· Customer service counts. Make sure you andyour staff are trained to express politeness,friendliness, and helpfulness over the phone.Just because your customers can’t see you,doesn’t mean they’re not forming a clearimpression of you.· Make good phone service a company policy.Come up with a good phone strategy andlead your employees by example. Morecustomers and profits will follow.Use A Journal To Free Your MindThe human mind has many built-in ways to dealwith stress and anxiety. One is the capacity forexpelling our fears by talking about them. Sometimes,by just discussing something that terrifies us, weunderstand that our anguish is way overblown, or wediscover a way to handle it.On the other hand, we may not want to talk aboutour innermost anxieties with anyone out of fear ofembarrassment. If that is the case, it might be time tobuy a journal.A journal, or a diary as it is sometimes called, is a bookfilled with blank pages that are ready to be filled byyou. You can go to a stationery store, a gift shop, adepartment store, or even the supermarket to get one.And it can be anything from a beautiful leather-boundnumber to a common spiral notebook.By keeping it in a well-hidden place — or getting onewith a lock on it — you are free to reveal your mostintimate thoughts and fears and obsessions withoutworrying about being found out. This book is only foryou. It’s where you hash out all your fears and problems— and hopefully where you discover solutions and enjoyrevelations about yourself that help you grow into theperson you really want to become.For example, you are in a relationship you think youwant to get out of, but you don’t know why. (Write itall down.) You are secretly afraid of the dark. (Write itall down.) Your boss or your housemates are drivingyou crazy, but you’re afraid to reveal this to anyonefor fear that it might get back to them. (Write it alldown!) You’ve always wanted to write poetry, butyou’re afraid your friends will laugh at you. (Write itall down!!) You are in love and you want to sing aboutit. (Write it all down!!!)You will be amazed by how much better you feel whenyou see all these turbulent thoughts captured andturn to p. 3HTML training for FPAiansThe Re-echo seminar on HTML – Hypertext Markup Language washeld at the FPA conference room from June 26 to July 7. Theseemingly long period was not really intended, this developed becauseof a series of cancellation of work due to the typhoon, heavy rains andstrong wind.Nevertheless every division comes up with its own personal web pagesand official web page. The neophytes produced an impressive andinteresting output.The undertaking was intended to build up the capability of each divisionin developing its own homepage using Hypertext Mark Up Language.A wide plethora of participants comprises the more than willing to learngroup. Ms. Cecille Quimbo and Luningning Soccoral of the Office of theExecutive Director, Malou Cruz in tandem with Ms. Allen Sibal from thePesticide Regulatory Services Division, Ms. Cora Taniajura and Gingdela China from the Finance Division, Reggie Lagance and Dr. JudithVien of the Fertilizer Regulatory Services Division, Ms. Rose Villanuevaand Nelia Samson of the Administrative Services Division, Jim Blancoand Alfonso Aldover of the Field Operations Division, Ms. Digna Pucanand Joseph Solangon of the Pesticide Research Development Divisionand Pesticide Monitoring System Development, Ms. Perla Acevedra andElizabeth Pelle.NAFEDA...krisis na dulot ng overproduction at ang kawalan ng mapagbebentahanng sobrang kalakal na ito. Kaya sila ay bumuo ng pandaigdigangkasunduan sa kalakalan na ang isa sa mga patakaran ay alisin angproteksiyong ibinibigay ng taripa. Kung walang taripa, mas mababaang presyo sa pamilihan ng mga imported na kalakal na hindimakabubuti sa lokal na industriya na ang resulta ay unemployment athigit pang kahirapan. Inilarawan din ang pagkakaugnay ng WorldBank-International Monetary Fund, GATT-WTO-globalization, tradeliberalization, deregulation, privatization at reorganization/reorientation.Ang epekto ng mga patakarang isinusulong ng pamahalaan alinsunodsa tagubilin ng IMF-WB tulad ng panibagong buwis (road users’ tax),pagtataas ng singil sa kuryente, pagbenta ng mga sensitibongkompanyang pambayan tulad ng Petron, PNB, MWSS, PAL. Kaugnaydin ang nakaambang reorganization sa burukrasya na magreresultasa malawakang lay off.Tinalakay at sinang-ayunan ng mga kinatawan ang konstitusyon ngNAFEDA at binalangkas ang two-year plan ng pederasyon. Napagusapandin ang mga benepisyo. May nakakuha ng P18,000.00 noongDisyembre, staple allowance na isang sakong bigas o P1,000.00 kadabuwan at iba pang non-wage benefits tulad ng free medical servicesand annual physical examinations. Ito ay nakukuha sa pamamagitanng pakikipag negosasyon ng unyon sa management. Ang usapang ito,3na tinatawag na collective negotiation agreement ay pinagtibay ngExecutive Order # 180 - Par. V. Sec. 13 “Terms and conditions ofemployment or improvement thereof, except those that are fixed bylaw, maybe subject of negotiations between duly recognized employees’organizations and appropriate government authorities”.Samakatuwid, sa pamamagitan ng isang matatag at aktibong unyon,maaaring makakuha ng kaukulang benepisyo para sa kapakananng lahat ng mga kawani.Sa pagtatapos ng kumperensiya, pinagtibay ang mga sumusunod naresolusyon, 1) pakikipag dialogue kay Secretary Angara ukol sareorganization 2) representasyon ng NAFEDA sa AgriculturalBureaucracy Restructuring Plan Task Force na bumabalangkas ngorganizational function and staffing modification ng mga ahensiya at3) pagpundar ng provident fund na magagamit sa mga proyektongpangkabuhayan at gastusin para sa kapakanan ng mga kawani.Use a journal...tamed by your own handwriting. The secret thoughts are suddenlycrystallized and for the first time, they appear not as magnifiedmonsters in your mind, but as concrete opportunities on a piece ofpaper. Suddenly, your problems and fears and aspirations anddreams are put into perspective as they sit on the pages of a bookthat only you can open. And your understanding of them growsexponentiall.Over time, you’ll read how your life has progressed. A diary is like atrusted old friend that serves as a window into your soul. It gives youa chance to frame your problems, and then to picture them beingresolved.And many months later, it allows you to laugh at those fears youonce wrote about. And conquered!Update on FPA...sira ng bubong ng kasalukuyang opisina sa NIA Complex.In the draft MOA, the Project Management Office (PMO) for SpecialBuildings of the DPWH shall assist FPA in the preparation of the plans,specifications and other tender documents required for the project.The PMO shall also provide technical expertise to effectively manageand supervise the building construction. Specifically, the DPWH-PMOtechnical assistance shall be composed of three phases, namely a)Planning and Design, b) Contract Documentation and c) ConstructionProper. These phases of work shall include, among others, approval ofplans, designs and specifications, assistance in the pre-qualification ofcontractors, analysis and review of bid proposals, supervision of theimplementation of the project in conformity with approved plans andspecifications and the review and processing of all billings of contractorsand suppliers in accordance with the terms of contract.With the basic documentation in place, we can be assured of a smoothand orderly commencement of the construction of the FPA building.Such signifies FPA’ coming of age, of a visible manifestation of respectand acceptance of FPA’s importance and relevance in line with thenational leadership’s and the legislatures recognition through theirapproval of appropriations for the construction which paved the wayfor the establishment of FPA house. Mabuhay po ang mga taongnaging kabahagi sa pagsasakatuparan ng proyektong ito.