Message of Secretary Proceso Alcala delivered by Director Efren Nuestro

Message

Secretary Proceso J. Alcala

(Message delivered by BAI Director Efren C. Nuestro on behalf of Department of Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala during the inauguration & blessing of La Union Honeybee Center, Raois, Bacnotan, La Union, September 2, 2011)

The Honorable La Union First District Congressman Victor Ortega, former DA Secretary now Bohol Third District Congressman Arthur Yap; Governor Manuel Ortega, SB Member Franklin Almodovar to represent Bacnotan Mayor Rufino Fontanilla,  NARTDI Executive, Dr. Apolonio Sito;  OIC DMMMSU President, Dr. Diosdado Bangug;  DMMMSU VP for R&E, Dr. Florentina Dumlao;  Engr., Orlando Balloguing, President of Beekeeper Association of Philippines, Inc., Dr. Jose Reaño, private sector representative to the NARDTI Advisory Board, Provincial Board Member Pepe Ortega, fellow government workers,  guests, ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon to everyone and most specially our beekeepers.    

It is an honor to for me to be invited here in this special occasion which is the inauguration and blessing of La Union Honeybee Center here in Raois, Bacnotan, La Union.

The Department of Agriculture, in general, and the Bureau of Animal Industry, in particular is happy to witness this momentous event as a new development in the honey industry in the Philippines.   The Department of Agriculture has already recognized the inclusion of the apiculture/beekeeping as  one of the commodities of the Department of Agriculture and the significant contribution of this emerging industry in the agriculture sector.

The country is producing honey at 150 metric tons per year. This is not enough to satisfy the requirement of the different end-users using this honey such as the households, hotels, restaurants and other institutional buyers. The country has imported honey in 2009 at 399 tons valued at $ US 1.32 million or an estimated peso value of P61 million.   We are also importing artificial honey of 104 tons valued at P4 million. In 2009, the major supplier of natural honey is Australia which contributes around 89 percent of the supply of honey in 2009.  India contributed three (3) percent, United States and Austria contributed both two (2) percent. Thailand and Egypt contributed both only one (1) percent. 

With this new La Union Honeybee Center which the province of La Union envisioned to make your province the “Honeybee Capital of the North” we believe that this is a good move for the honey industry stakeholders to be competitive and profitable.  This center basically answers that concern of our beekeepers of getting one-stop-shop center that will help our beekeepers to improve their post-production and marketing activities of the supply chain of the bee industry which will encourage more farmers to go into the beekeeping and produce more honey.

The Secretary would be happy to note of the development of apiculture in La Union and rest assured that he will provide the much needed support to the industry.

On a personal note, BAI Director Efren Nuestro said that while going to La Union he saw billboard of a big fastfood chain which support in promoting the honeybee industry by posting says the words “Bee Happy” with their mascot.   To him he said that it shows of the unity or cooperation of the food service stakeholder with the honey industry stakeholders for the apiculture development in the province.

Let’s all move forward to a higher level of call and become a “Champion” in our individual area of participation in the honeybee industry development in the country. Good afternoon again to each one and “Mabuhay ang honey industry” in La Union and in the Philippines.