MOAs authorized for health services, rice-duck farming

            New MOAs were authorized by the 12^th Sangguniang Panlungsod in its 22^nd Regular Session conducted on May 30, 2011.  These are SP Resolution No. 413-2011, A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING HIS HONOR, CITY MAYOR FERDINAND M. AMANTE, JR., M. D., TO ENTER INTO AND SIGN A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY GOVERNMENT OF BUTUAN AND HONORABLE FLORENCIO C. GARAY, CONGRESSMAN, CARAMCAM DISTRICT, MANGAGOY, BISLIG CITY, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES; and SP Resolution No. 414-2011, A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING HIS HONOR, CITY MAYOR FERDINAND M. AMANTE, JR., M.D., TO ENTER INTO AND SIGN A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY GOVERNMENT OF BUTUAN AND MIDTOWN AGRI-PRODUCTS PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION (MAPPA), AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. 

            The agreement with Representative Garay is a partnership for medical services to be provided by Butuan Medical Center to patients identified and recommended by the Representative’s office.  These patients are indorsed in a letter, in which the extent of the assistance to be granted is stipulated.  The referred patient’s bill is forwarded by the Butuan Medical Center (BMC) to Representative Garay’s office, which shall answer the incurred hospital expenses. 

            Subject to availability of funds, the program may only be availed by in-patients and emergency patients, whose medical assistance covers and is limited to medicines and diagnostic procedures, hospitalization, surgery, and all other incidental expenses using hospital facilities.   

            This program has a Congressional Medical Assistance Program (CMAP) of PhP 500,000.00. 

            The MOA with MAPPA is grounded on the implementation of an Integrated Rice-Duck Farming System, an agricultural approach which aims to improve the capabilities of the rice-duck farmers in developing their rice lands for increased production and income; establish an organic rice and duck industry in Butuan City through the rice-duck farming integration technology; and encourage the private sectors, cooperatives, and non-government organizations to invest on duck breeder farms and hatchery centers, and supply ducklings to the rice-duck farmers. 

            Initial implementation of the program will cover 40 hectares of irrigated rice production areas in the pre-selected barangays of Baan Km. 3 and Antongalon.  To operate it, the City Government will provide financial support in the amount of One Million Philippine Pesos (PhP1,000,000.00) to MAPPA for the purchase of starter kits, comprising 150 ducklings, 2.5 bundles of nets with ropes, bamboo sticks and nails, and 200 kilos of starter feeds.   

            Aside from the kits, MAPPA will extend technical support to all farmers enrolled in the rice-duck farming system; produce manuals and similar types of learning materials to guide the farmer members; conduct seminars and trainings for them; and coordinate with other government agencies and institutions willing to invest in organic duck-egg-meat sub-industry. 

            To ensure the continuity of the program, the buy-back scheme of payment is followed.  To pay for the starter kits which are treated as soft loans with no interest and penalty to the rice-duck farmer-members, MAPPA will buy back all the ducks six months after for meat purposes or twelve months after for egg purposes.  The collections will be remitted to the Office of the City Treasurer on the account of the farmer-members for funding of expansion areas.