Bansalan Municipal Government affirms commitment to promote modern agriculture

Bansalan Mayor Quilin Sarte (4th from Left)and Legacy Monsanto Corporate Affairs Head Chat Garrido-Ocampo (3rd from left) hold a copy of Municipal Resolution No 107, S. 2012 which declares Bansalan’s support for the promotion of agricultural biotechnology to modernize agriculture in the municipality. Also in the photo are key barangay captains and municipal government officers.

The Municipality of Bansalan through its Chief Executive, Mayor Quilin Sarte,  affirms the municipal government’s earlier commitment to promote agricultural biotechnology as an instrument to modernize agriculture in the said municipality. Bansalan is a first class municipality in Davao del Sur which is about 72 kilometers from Davao City.

It may be recalled that Bansalan issued a resolution in 2012 “allowing the implementation of the provisions of R.A. 8435 specifically on the prescribed policies in section 3 of the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act of 1997 purposely to modernize the agriculture sector by transforming the said sector from a resource-based to a technology-based industry” 

The said resolution underscored that the commercialization of biotech products is needed to enable farmers to compete in a globalized economy and to deliver solutions to technical problems affecting crops and livestock. 

Monsanto Turns Over a Multi Purpose Hall to Lozano High School of General Santos City

Monsanto Philippines, a company recently acquired by Bayer, turned over a multi-purpose hall to the faculty and students of Lozano High School at Sitio Cabuay, Brgy. Sinawal. General Santos City. Present during the turn-over ceremony were members of the Research and Development Team from Legacy Monsanto Philippines. 

Also present were Charina Ocampo, Legacy Monsanto Corporate Engagement Lead and Barangay Chairman Rodolfo Lozano. Legacy Monsanto Philippines constructed the multi-purpose hall in partnership with Outsource Asia and FP Canizares Construction to benefit more than 200 students, eighty percent of which are from the B’laan tribe.

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Monsanto PH, Catholic Women’s League extend support to abandoned elderly in Laguna

Monsanto Philippines recently partnered with the Catholic Women’s League- Immaculate Conception Parish of Los Baños (CWL-ICP) to reach out to the abandoned elderly of Bahay ni Maria in Calamba, Laguna. Monsanto employees together with the officers and members of Catholic Women’s League brought cheer to the elderly residents by giving love donations and serenading them with songs.  

Monsanto’s Corporate Engagement Lead Charina Ocampo said “we exert effort to reach out to marginalized groups such as abandoned elderly and people with disabilities because they are an integral part of our society. We interact on a personal level and not just provide donations because they also have emotional and psychological needs.”

Monsanto and Human Nature scholars graduate from Gawad Kalinga’s School for Experiential and Entrepreneurial Development (SEED)

It was a highly emotional graduation ceremony as the scholars of Monsanto and Human Nature received their diploma marking the end of their two-year course at Gawad Kalinga’s School for Experiential and Entrepreneurial Development (GK-SEED). The scholars have definitely grown very close not only to each other but also to their mentors as evidenced by the exchange of warm messages accompanied by heartfelt tears indicating a mixture of joy, excitement and sadness as their two-year live-in training ends. 

The GK-SEED was launched in 2014 to provide an education-based solution to rural development. It is the country’s first school for social entrepreneurship for the poor which prepares students to create social enterprises with a vision to develop rural areas through rural job and wealth creation. During the two-year program, students take a variety of courses that focus on character development, enterprise management, communications, business math, and agriculture. 

Monsanto PH conducts financial literacy training for Pangasinan farmers

Monsanto Philippines, in partnership with the local government of Urbiztondo, recently conducted a seminar on financial literacy to 200 corn farmers. 

Monsanto Philippines recently conducted a seminar on financial literacy for 200 corn farmers in Urbiztondo, Pangasinan, with the goal of broadening farmer’s knowledge on managing farm income and finances. The event was organized in partnership with the local government of Urbiztondo, a third class municipality, through its Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO).

The training was facilitated by financial consultants from the International Marketing Group-Wealth Academy (IMG-Wealth Academy). The 200 farmers who attended the training were selected from each of the corn farming barangays of Urbiztondo. In his opening remarks, Mayor Martin Sison II highlighted that trainings like this are beneficial especially to farmers. He requested the “attendees to share the knowledge that they have gained from the seminar to their fellow farmers and neighbors so that everyone can benefit from it.”

Monsanto PH urges authorities to address proliferation of counterfeit seeds

Monsanto Philippines urged for the support of the government to help address the proliferation of illegal Bt corn seeds during a recently held media briefing at Marco Polo Hotel, Davao City. During the media briefing, company officials stressed that the sale and planting of illegal seeds pose a threat to farmers and the entire corn industry. 

Dr. Gabriel Romero, Regulatory Policy and Scientific Affairs Lead of Monsanto Philippines elaborated on the increased incidence of counterfeit seeds and its emerging threats to the country’s corn industry. “Adulterated seeds or fake seeds directly affect our farmers. The seeds may be low-priced but they are also of low-quality. Worse, they come out without proper stewardship measures, and thereby threaten GM technology and farmer’s livelihood,” he explained. “We want to put an end to this concern, as it sets in danger the very livelihood of our corn farmers as well as the corn industry,” Dr. Romero added. 

Monsanto Equips Iloilo Community Tools to Balanced Meals

Monsanto Philippines Inc. strengthened its campaign to food sufficiency and access to balanced meals in the country by recently contributing planting materials, such as seedlings, to over 54 families at Monsanto - Gawad Kalinga (GK) Village in Barangay Aldeguer, Sara, Iloilo.  

Corporate Affairs Lead Charina Ocampo of Monsanto Philippines, together with Monsanto-GK Village President Hadjie Balome, led the turnover of planting materials in the village, encouraging members of the community to grow their own vegetable garden. Monsanto shared 540 packs of bitter gourd, squash and string bean to the members of the village, which are meant to establish a sustainable source of nutrition in the community. 

According to Balome, the project not only helps the community to access balanced meals but also helps them to potentially earn.“These seedlings do not require high maintenance when planted and they actually grow relatively quick. This also allows the community to readily have healthier food options. Since they’re easily harvested, they can also choose to sell them,” Monsanto-GK Village President Hadjie Balome said.

Monsanto, Gawad Kalinga Introduce First Batch of Graduate Scholars under Entrepreneurship Program

Four (4) Monsanto-SEED scholars proudly showcase their products from their respective enterprises – a result of their 2-year enterprise management study at SEED. 

Entrepreneurship program to produce first batch of scholars

Monsanto Philippines, in partnership with Gawad Kalinga (GK), is set to introduce the first batch of young entrepreneurs who will graduate from a two-year enterprise management course of GK’s School for Experiential and Entrepreneurial Development (GK-SEED) Program. Thirty (30) scholars sponsored by Monsanto are expected to graduate under the SEED Program.  

Monsanto PH Underscores Safety of Plant Operations

Monsanto Philippines underscored the safety of its plant operations during the recently conducted media briefing at their RIB (Refuge-In-a-Bag) Plant in Pulilan, Bulacan. For almost four years since its opening in 2014, the blending and packing facility has zero recordable injury or health issue incidence. 

Monsanto Pulilan Plant is the first RIB Plant in Asia and second in the world, spanning a total land area of 6,000 square meters. The first time Monsanto opened its doors to the members of the media was during its opening in 2004 with the purpose of sharing information on the safety of its plant operations as well as highlighting the benefits of agricultural biotechnology.

Monsanto Philippines launches SMART Farm program

Farmer training program aims to improve productivity and livelihood of over 20,000 farmers in the country

Monsanto Philippines launched this month a nationwide farmer training program, dubbed SMART Farm, meant to teach smallholder corn growers across the country best farm management practices and the latest corn planting technologies. In its first year, the program targets to reach out to over 20,000 farmers in different corn regions in the Philippines. 

Monsanto Employees Give Back to their Alabang Community

Monsanto Employees Give Back to their Alabang Community

Monsanto Philippines’ employees recently visited Elsie Gaches Village in Alabang, Muntinlupa City to bring Christmas gifts to its residents and engage them in joyful activities. The facility is the country’s largest shelter for orphaned children and adults with development disorders or disabilities. Over 150 residents of Elsie Gaches Village joined the program organized by the Monsanto employees.

Corporate Engagement Lead Charina Garrido Ocampo said: “Concern for others and sharing are part of Monsanto’s company culture. Together with our local partners, we develop programs that allow us to give back to various communities where we are present -- like building schools and housing infrastructure, providing financial literacy to women farmers, and educating the youth about agriculture and biotechnology.” 

Monsanto PH Teaching the Significance of Ag-Biotech to the Youth of Cagayan Valley

Monsanto Philippines recently reached out to more than 250 students of Tuguegarao West Cental School in Cagayan and conducted an educational session through story-telling of Lina’s Town Rises again, Corporate Engagement Lead of Monsanto Philippines and author of Lina’s Town Rises Again, Charina Garrido-Ocampo imparted the importance of agricultural biotechnology as a solution to feed a growing nation. “We, at Monsanto wanted to educate young minds to engage in agriculture because we are an agricultural country and 32% of our population are into agriculture,” she pointed out. 

Through the animation viewing of the story which emphasizes on the positive impact of biotech corn (Dekalb®) in the lives of Filipino farmers, Monsanto Philippines wanted to encourage children to embrace farming and the products of agricultural biotechnology as a means of transforming farmers’ lives and farming communities. 

Monsanto boosts school-based feeding program in Bulacan through “Gulayan sa Paaralan”

Program aims to improve nutritional status of school beneficiaries

In support of the Gulayan Program of the Provincial Government of Bulacan and the Department of Education (DepEd) in Central Luzon, Monsanto Philippines and Tabon Elementary School recently opened the Gulayan sa Paaralan at the campus of the said school in Pulilan, Bulacan, Monsanto provided over a thousand vegetable seedlings to address short-term hunger and make balanced meal more accessible among public school children.

The Gulayan sa Paaralan Program is a national effort of DepEd that directs public schools to set up and maintain a school vegetable garden as a source of ingredients for the school-based feeding program (SBFP), which further aims to improve the nutritional status of the beneficiaries by at least 70% at the end of 120 feeding days. 

Monsanto cites biotech crops’ role in addressing nutritional gaps in PH schools

Educational roadshow to share practices on how to bring balanced meals to students

Monsanto Philippines recently underscored the relevance of biotechnology in promoting nutrition among Filipinos, especially among younger students. This was shared by Monsanto Corporate Affairs Lead Charina Garrido-Ocampo during a media briefing in Quezon City. 

During the launch of its educational roadshow dubbed as Monsanto Fun Kitchen, Ocampo shared that despite efforts to improve nutrition in the country, making balanced meal accessible remains a challenge.  

Monsanto, Cagayan gov’t partner to broaden financial literacy in the province

Monsanto Philippines recently partnered with the Cagayan Provincial Government, through its Provincial Learning and Resource Center (PLRC), to conduct a financial literacy workshop to more than 200 government employees and underprivileged college students, mostly children of local farmers in the province of Cagayan.

The program, in partnership with the International Marketing Group-Wealth Academy (IMG-Wealth Academy), aims to build the participants’ know-how in financial management. The 200 participants were selected from select municipalities and farming communities in Cagayan, mostly from the most underserved areas in the province.

Monsanto Philippines Corporate Affairs Head Charina Ocampo highlights the importance of broadening financial literacy especially in the rural areas. 

According to her, the country stands as one of the 30 least financially literate countries in the world, with only 25 percent of adults aware of the basics of managing their money.