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2.3.1. Emerging
Issues and Concerns
3.1.1.1
Agriculture
Agricultural
Crop
Food
self-sufficiency and Food Security
Domestic
production of palay in Zamboanga City is
not enough to meet the needs of the
current population. Furthermore,
considering current trends in area planted
to palay and yield per hectare, projected
domestic production would not be enough to
meet the needs of the projected
population. Nonetheless, the population is
assured of a regular supply of palay by
the neighboring cities and province. While
food self-sufficiency is a major concern,
food security is not a pressing issue in
Zamboanga City.
Considering
the data on demand for palay vis-à-vis
production in 1993, the City is short by
about one-third of its requirement. By the
year 2021, if the current production level
of about 3.3 mt/ha will be sustained, the
area harvested to palay has to be tripled
if the intention is food self-sufficiency.
This is not realistic given the
difficulties of developing the potentially
irrigable lands and the conversion of some
of the irrigated rice lands.
At this point,
there should be no illusion that the City
will be able to meet its food requirements
in terms of palay. The City will always be
a net importer of palay or rice from the
neighboring cities and provinces.
Inadequacy of Support Services to Farmers
Among the crops identified for processing
include mango, durian, cassava.
Rehabilitation of
Irrigation Facilities and Development of
Irrigable Lands
There are irrigated lands,
which would require rehabilitation at this
point in time. The
Rehabilitation of these farms would
augment current productivity levels of
some rice farms.
Furthermore, some 22,000 hectares of land
have been identified as potentially
irrigable.
These are the
areas, which could be irrigated if the
seven watershed areas of the city will be
preserved.
Land Use
Conversion
Conversion of
agricultural lands to non-agricultural
uses poses a threat to food production in
the City. This is critical given the
conversion of prime agricultural lands,
i.e.,
Irrigate rice lands in the City to
residential and industrial uses.
Poor Performance
of Farmers’ Cooperatives
The land bank
of the Philippines has documented that the
farmers’ cooperatives that they are
serving are characterized by poor
performance. This implies the need to
strengthen these cooperatives (there are
presently 53 registered cooperatives) If
the intention is to utilize them as
implementers of various development
projects of both the government and
non-government organizations.
Livestock and
Poultry
Livestock and
poultry include large ruminants primarily
cattle and small ruminants such as goats,
swine, chicken and ducks.
Low Value
Added From Livestock and Poultry
There is a low
value added in poultry and livestock
because products are sold in raw form.
This is partly because of the absence of
processing plants in the City. This
implies the relative importance of putting
up meat processing plants and
slaughterhouses in the City.
Inadequacy
of Support Services for Livestock and
Poultry Production
Among the
support services identified by the
livestock and poultry farmers include
adequate stocks of cattle fatteners and
breeders, infrastructure support (e.g.,
farm-to-market roads), provision of
technical assistance, and market matching
between growers and market
outlets/processors (e.g., contract
growing).
Establishment of Feed mills for Poultry
and Livestock Production
It has been
cited that the establishment of feed mills
in the City will be advantageous to the
livestock and poultry raisers. This is
because the farmers will be able to avail
of cheaper feeds. Moreover, their
dependence on feeds coming from Cebu City
and other neighboring towns and provinces
will be lessened.
A related
issue here, though, would be the
enhancement of corn production in the City
to be able to provide abundant supply of
raw materials for the feed mills.
Production
of “Halal” Food for the BIMP-EAGA
The City
has great potential in terms of producing
“halal” chicken for the EAGA market. This
could be done among commercial and
backyard raisers of broiler chicken in the
City.
Fisheries
and Aquatic Resources
There is a
decline in the production from municipal
fishing. Partly, this is being attributed
to the encroachment of big vessels on the
municipal waters.
Illegal
Fishing Activities
Some of the
illegal fishing activities in the City
include the use of “hulbot-hulbot”, “purse
seiner”, and the use of super light with
high voltage. These illegal fishing
practices lead to the destruction of the
marine resources in the City.
Provision of
Livelihood Activities for Fishing
Communities
Given the very limited income from
municipal fishing operations, it is
imperative top provide alternative
livelihood activities to fishing
communities in the City.
Information
Dissemination on the Rights and
Obligations of Fisher Folks
The fisher folks should know both their
rights and obligations. This could be made
possible through comprehensive information
dissemination program on the topics
pertinent to fishing operations. The
Zamboanga State College of Marine Science
and Technology may be tapped to assist in
this regard.
Inadequacy of
Support Services for Seaweed Farmers
The City significantly contributes to
seaweed production in the region. It is
thus important to provide market
assistance to seaweed growers. Moreover,
the provision of drying and other post
harvest facilities to other seaweed
growers is necessary.
Processing o
Fish Products and Seaweed
The volume of production from fisheries
and aquatic resources would suffice if the
intention is to put up processing
facilities in the City. The establishment
of fish processing plants would also
enhance more production from fishing
activities.
2.3.1.2
Trade and Industry
Low Industrial
Productivity
Due to inadequate post-harvest handling
and storage facilities, collection of
products for processing is difficult for
processors. Consequently, value-added for
agricultural/marine-base products is not
optimized and the industries have not
developed and expanded as expected.
In Region IX, regional labor productivity
is P18, 675 gross domestic products per
employed person, which is just 70% of the
national average in 1994; it is the lowest
in Mindanao.
Low Investment
Generation
The creation of a good business climate
for investments needs to be undertaken,
primarily through the provision of local
incentives to priority industries and ease
of access to information and business
registration. (An investments incentives
ordinance is pending before the
Sangguniang Panglungsod.)
Similarly, infrastructure support
facilities for identified industrial and
commercial sites should be prioritized to
attract investors from the locality and
the BIMP-EAGA. For one, inefficient power
distribution is a problem. Also, the
transfer of seaport and airport would help
a lot to accelerate the industrial
development of the city. The poor road
condition increases the transport cost of
products. This needs to be addressed too.
Poor Access of
SMEs to Support Assistance
The small and
medium enterprises (SMEs) in the city have
expressed the need to have access to
assistance on financing, technology and
marketing, among others.
Further
Development of Trading
Trading should
be encouraged and developed as the people
have shown their inherent skills in
trading. Consequently, trading investments
on shipping and allied services should be
promoted. Similarly, the high cost of
shipping and transport is deterring the
city from becoming the shopping capital of
the BIMP-EAGA.
2.3.1.3
Tourism
Weak
Enforcement of City Ordinances on
Environmental Sanitation
It was noted that city ordinances having to
do with environmental sanitation were
poorly enforced. This is coupled with
insufficient support services for solid
waste disposal and the lack of
appreciation for a clean and beautiful
environment on the part of its citizenry.
Lack of
Priority Accorded to Tourism
Tourism appears not to be priority of the
city government despite its enormous
potential to achieve the following:
Income and employment generation
Business development (small manufacturing
and retail trade)
Higher tax base for the city government
Environmental conservation
Greater cultural awareness both among the
Filipinos as well as the foreign visitors
More intense historical awareness among the
people, especially the young, of the
critical and
important participation of the city of
Zamboanga in the major events in
Philippine History
Positioning of Zamboanga City as a strategic
player in the BIMP-EAGA and tourism
markets
especially in cruise shipping
The following may be evidences of this lack
of priority:
Deterioration of some tourist attractions,
notably Pasonanca Park and Sta. Cruz
Island, due to the
lack of maintenance.
Absence of an operational city tourist
information center
Lack of directional signages and
standardized tourism markers.
Need to
Upgrade Support Infrastructure
There is a need to upgrade support
infrastructure such as drainage systems
for the city center-based attractions
(Plaza Pershing and Petit Barracks) and
for the island-based tourist attractions
(berthing facilities going to Sta. Cruz
Island).
Squatter
Encroachment
The problem of
squatter encroachment is evident in some
tourist areas such as Pasonanca Park and
the vicinity of Fort Pillar.
Insufficient
Skilled manpower for Tourism
Skilled
tourism manpower is necessary to establish
the city as a prime tourist destination
area in BIMP-EAGA and ASEAN. The personnel
of tourist establishments need to undergo
a continuous program of human resource
development to better address the needs of
the visitors.
Lack of
Dynamic Government-Private Sector
Partnership on Tourism Development
There is a
significant segment of the private sector
who are all too willing and able to assist
the City Government in the drive to
upgrade the tourist attractions and
facilities of Zamboanga City but are
largely untapped by the LGU. This points
to need to revitalize and transform the
City Tourism Council into a dynamic
partnership between the City Government
and the private sector to undertake
tourism investments
Image Problem
Zamboanga City
has an image problem. It is largely
perceived as an area with peace and order
problems. Damage control has to be done to
ensure that anyone, whether domestic or
foreign tourist, who visits the city will
have fond memories, evoking a desire to
return net time, with more of his family
members, friends, and associates. Tourism
thrives on repeat business and this can
only happen when the aspect of security is
adequately addressed.
2.3.2 Agriculture and Fisheries
Sub-sector
2.3.2.1 Agricultural
Crops Production
Palay
Production
Area Harvested
In 1996, a
total of 9, 864 hectares were harvested to
palay in Zamboanga City. Of these, about
5,267 hectares (or 53% of the total) were
irrigated, and the remaining 47%, rain
fed. Zamboanga City contributed about 9%
of the total area harvested to palay in
Region IX (Table III-1). In the irrigated
areas, palay is being planted at least
twice a year (i.e., two cropping seasons).
The total area
harvested to palay has grown at a rate of
1.7% per year from 1980-1996. This trend
in Zamboanga City is better than the
regional pattern. For the same period
covered, total area harvested to palay in
the region declined at an average rate of
0.08% per year (Table III-2).
Total
Production
Total palay
production was estimated at 33, 177 metric
tons (mt) in 1996. About 61% of the total
produce was from irrigating areas, while
the remaining 9% of the total regional
production of palay. From 1980-1996, total
palay production in Zamboanga City has
grown at a rate of 1.7% per year. Except
for the province of Zamboanga del Norte,
this growth rate is higher than that of
Region IX and the provinces in the region.
Average Yield
In 1996, the
yield per hectare for palay in Zamboanga
City was computed at 3.3 metric tons per
hectare (mt/ha). In irrigates areas, the
average yield was 3,62 mt/ha; while in
rain fed areas, 2.82 mt/ha (Table III-1).
Average yield per hectare in Zamboanga
City has not significantly increased from
1980-1996. the rate of growth in average
yield per hectare was computed at a
negligible 0.02% per year from 1980-1996.
This is the lowest growth rate among the
provinces in Region IX.
Table III-1.
Palay: Estimated Production and Area
Harvested By Crop Type, By Region and By
Province, 1980-1990
Figure III-1. Palay:
Production (MT) By Region and By Province,
1980-1996
Figure III-2. Palay:
Production (MT), Zamboanga City, 1980-1996
Figure III-3.
Palay: Area Harvested (ha.) By Region and
By Province, 1980-1996
Figure III-4.
Area Harvested (Ha.), Zamboanga City,
1980-1996
Table III-2.
Palay: Average Annual Geometric Growth
Rate and Production, Area Harvested and
Average Yield By Region and By Province,
1980-1996
Table III-3.
Palay: Yield Per Hectare (Mt/Ha) By Crop,
By Region and By Province, 1980-1990
Figure
III-5. Palay: Average Yield
(MT/HA) By Region and By Province,
1980-1996
Figure
III-6. Palay: Average Yield
(MT/HA), Zamboanga City, 1980-1996
Corn
Production
Area Harvested
In 1996, the
total area harvested to corn was 3, 775
hectares. Zamboanga City contributed only
2% of total regional area harvested to
corn. From 1985-1996, the area harvested
to corn has not increased much in
Zamboanga City (Tables III-4 & 6, Table
III-5-Annex).
The total area
harvested to corn has significantly
declined from 1985-1996 at a rate of 6.59
% per year. At the regional level, though,
area planted to corn has declined at an
average rate of 0.91% per year. The trend
is the same in all the provinces of Region
IX.
Total Production
Corn
production in 1996 was estimated to be 4,
615 metric tons. Zamboanga City
contributed only 2% of regional corn
production. Similar to the trend in area
planted to corn, the total corn production
declined at an average rate of 5.89% from
1985-1996.
Average Yield
The average
yield per hectare for corn was computed at
a low of 1.12 mt/ha. This yield level is a
little higher than the regional average
yield of 0.91% mt/ha. and those for the
provinces in Region IX. It may be
recalled, though, that Zamboanga City
contributed only 2% to both regional areas
planted to corn and population.
Area
Planted and Production of Other Major
Crops
Table III-7
shows the production volumes of different
crops in the city.
Coconut
In 1996, total
area planted to coconut in Zamboanga City
was about 40, 939 hectares, with total
production estimated at 330, 133 metric
tons. It may be noted that area harvested
to coconut is slightly declining through
the years.
Banana
In 1996, area
harvested to banana was estimated at, 3,
308 hectares; total production of banana
for the same year was estimated at 24, 132
metric tons. An increasing trend both in
areas harvested and production of banana
is evident from 1985-1996.
Cassava
About 1,
848 hectares were harvested to cassava in
1996. Total production of cassava for the
same year was estimated at 8, 891 metric
tons. Both area planted and production of
cassava in Zamboanga City were generally
increasing from 1985-1996.
Other Major Crops
Other major
crops planted in Zamboanga City in terms
of area harvested include coffee (951
hectares), mango (480 hectares), camote,
eggplant, and abaca, among others.
Table
III-4. Corn: Production, Harvested
and Average Yield By Region And By
Province, 1985-1996
Table
III-6. Corn: Average Annual
Geometric Growth Rate Of Production, Area
Harvested and Average Yield By Region and
By Province, 1985-1996
Figure
III-7. Corn: Production (MT)
By Region and By Province,
1985-1996
Figure
III-8. Corn: Area Harvested (ha) By
Region and By Province, 1985-1996
Figure
III-9. Corn: Average Yield
(Mt/Ha) By Region and By Province,
1985-1996
Table
III-7. Crop Production and Harvested,
Zamboanga City (Crop Production in
Kilograms, Area in Hectares), 1985-1992
Table III-7
(cont’d). Crop Production and
Harvested, Zamboanga City (Crop Production
in Kilograms, Area in Hectares), 1985-1992
Figure
III-10. Crop Production (in
kgs.), Zamboanga City, 1996
Figure
III-11. Area Harvested (Ha) by
Crop Type, Zamboanga City, 1996
2.3.2.2
Irrigation
Service Area
To date, a
total of 2, 718 hectares of agricultural
lands in Zamboanga City are irrigated. Of
these, 1991 hectares (73% of the total)
are under the Communal Irrigation System
(CIS). The remaining 727 hectares (27%(
are under private irrigation. The bul;k of
the existing CIS irrigation in Zamboanga
City in terms of actual area irrigated
include Mercedes CIS (636 hectares),
Manicahan CIS (250 hectares), Ayala CIS
(187 hectares), Preza Mayor CIS (150
hectares), and Curuan CIS (115 hectares),
among others. On the other hand, private
irrigation systems are mostly located in
Sibulao, Bingkol, Tamion, and Siguinan
(Tables III-8 to III-10).
Table
III-8. Zamboanga City
Irrigation Profile, Communal and Private
System
|
Item |
Potential Area
(Has) |
Service
Area (Has) |
Partially
Identified Watershed Area |
|
CIS
Private
CY ’97
Projects
Projects
for later Years |
1, 991
727
1, 144
1, 306 |
1, 991
727
-
- |
21, 833
-
-
- |
|
Total |
5, 168 |
2, 718 |
21, 833 |
Source: NIA,
Region IX
Table
III-9. Existing CIS in
Zamboanga City, August 1997
|
Name of Project |
Service Area (Has) |
|
1.
Ayala CIP
2.
Talisayan
CIS
3.
Boalan CIS
4.
Bolong CIS
5.
Bunguiao
CIS
6.
Curuan CIS
7.
Guiwan CIS
8.
Manicahan
CIS
9.
Mercedes
CIS
10.
Preza
Mayor CIS
11.
Quiniput
CIS
12.
Lumiyap/Kaputatan
CIS
13.
Taloptap
SSRIP
14.
Curuan
SRIP
15.
Bunguiao
SRIP |
187
100
35
100
95
115
103
250
636
150
75
80
15
22
28 |
|
Total |
1, 991 |
Source: NIA,
Region IX
Table
III-10. Existing Private
Systems of Zamboanga City, August 1997
|
Name Of
Project |
Service
Area (Has) |
|
1.
Buenagatas
CIS
| |