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An Economic Analysis of Factors Affecting Vaccination Status of Children Aged 1 to 5 years old in Barangay Anos, Los Baños, Laguna
No full textThe study analyzed the factors affecting the vaccination status of children aged 1 to 5 years old in Barangay Anos, Los Baños, Laguna. A total of 84 primary caregivers from Barangay Anos were randomly selected as the respondents for this study and a questionnaire was used through a face-to-face interview. Descriptive statistics was used to describe the socio-demographic factors of the primary caregivers and logistic regression was used to identify which variables would be statistically significant to the study. Marginal effects of the logistic regression were also computed to determine the effect of each independent variable on the vaccination status of children aged 1 to 5 years old. Results show that the majority of the primary caregivers has a high literacy level. Furthermore, logistic regression showed that age and number of children are statistically significant. Results show that the age of respondent and the number of children aged five and below were statistically significant factors. Moreover, findings indicate that there is a higher probability of primary caregivers’ children to be fully-immunized when they are younger and when they have more children aged five and below
Factors Influencing Academic Productivity: A Focus on Review Time Allocation Among UPLB BS Economics Students
No full textThis study attempted to determine the effect of review hours to the academic productivity of students. While there are studies that tested the effect of study on academic productivity, these literatures fail to take leisure hours/activities into consideration. With this, the study tried to measure the total time available for UPLB BS Economics students that comprises of study hours, which includes class hours and review hours, and leisure hours, which includes hours allocated for Physical Activity, Indoor Activity, Social Media, Reading, and Dating. Voluntary Response Sampling was used in this study in which the link for the survey questionnaire was disseminated through email and the population decides whether to voluntary participate or not.
Multiple Linear Regression Analysis was used to determine the effect of the Percentage Hours for Review to the General Weighted Average (GWA) of the students. Other factors that can affect GWA was also taken into consideration such as Batch, Number of Units Taken, Organization membership, Type of High School the students graduated from, and the Honor they achieved during High School. Results show that three variables have a significant relationship with the students’ GWA, which are: Percentage Hours for Review, Batch, and Honors achieved during High School. It was determined that Percentage Hours for Review has a significant negative relationship with GWA. Individuals who graduated with High Honors and Highest Honors during High School was determined to negatively affect GWA. Meanwhile, batches tend to positively affect GWA when compared to Batch 2019
Post-Pandemic Coping Strategies of Food Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMES) in Bacoor City, Cavite
No full textThe impacts of the pandemic proved to be transcendent over time as food micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the country continued to burden business owners to find ways to cope with the limited resources they have and available support from the government and private entities. Grounded on the Theory of the Firm and supplemented by the SME Competitiveness Framework formulated by the International Trade Centre (ITC), this study tried to unveil the post-pandemic coping strategies adopted by food MSMEs in Bacoor City, Cavite. Data and insights were collected from 110 micro, 73 small, and 17 medium-sized business owners and managers in the city. Most of the firms were operating for between 3 to 5 years during the conduct of the survey, consequently, most of the respondents were owners and tertiary education finishers. While only 4 percentage points higher, most of the respondents were male. Using descriptive statistics, it was found that food MSMEs mainly faced capital insufficiency and lack of manpower for day-to-day operations during the post-pandemic phase. While many firms showcased resiliency, this was mostly associated with firm-level efforts and initial capacity since they availed of little to no private and government assistance. Credit affordability and improvement of accessibility to assistance programs were the main recommendations, however, potential disparities that could arise from different firm characteristics should be considered consequently. This implies that support programs should be more targeted to contribute to firm survival
Analysis of the Effect of Covid-19 Pandemic on the Nutritional Status of Dayap Elementary School Students in Calauan, Laguna, 2023
No full textThis study analyzed the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the nutritional status of the Dayap Elementary School students in Dayap, Calauan, Laguna and sought to achieve the following specific objectives: describe the students of the Dayap Elementary School and their households; determine the level of food security of their household and the nutritional status of the students before and during the pandemic; analyze the significance of the changes in the household food security and nutritional status of the students before and during the pandemic; and recommend policy options that would help improve the nutritional status of the schoolchildren.
A total of 294 Grades 4 to 6 students’ health records, encompassing height, weight, gender, and age, along with previous data of the same students three years prior were requested from the School. Surveys were conducted with household heads of the said students to gather socio-economic details. Relevant nutritional tables from the Department of Health were used as the basis to determine the students’ nutritional status based on the students’ Body Mass Index (BMI) and Height-for-Age metrics. To determine if a primary school student experienced food insecurity during the previous 12 months, the FAO’s Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) was utilized. Paired Wilcoxon signed rank test was applied to determine if there are significant changes in the food security level and nutritional status of the students before and during the pandemic. Multinomial logistic regression (MLR) analysis was performed to determine factors affecting the health and nutritional status of the students.
Results revealed a decrease in food secure households per grade level during the pandemic. Based on BMI, there was an improvement in the nutritional status of severely wasted students in Grades 4 and 6 during the pandemic. However, students with normal nutritional status in Grade 5 had a decrease in their average mean rank during the pandemic, indicating deterioration in their conditions. Regarding height-for-age, students in Grades 4 and 5 who were stunted before the pandemic had improvement, whereas those with initially normal nutritional status in Grades 5 and 6 experienced a decline in their nutritional status during the pandemic. MLR analysis proved that using BMI as indicator, the education of the household head, income, gender, household size, school feeding program, and food security level were significant. However, using the height-for-age as basis, only gender of the household head and household size were found significant.
It can be concluded that the COVID-19 Pandemic worsened the food security and nutritional status of the primary school students of Dayap Elementary School. The following were recommended: promotion of health education for household heads; partnering with medical professionals and medical schools for community health clinics and/or health outreach programs; further improvement of SBFP; implementation of farm- to-school program; and establishment of community gardens
Analysis of the Factors Affecting Adoption of Mobile Lending by the Farmer Cooperative Members in Calauan, Laguna, 2024
No full textDigital financial technology has been increasing in relevance in the Philippines. The Philippines has a low level of banking penetration and reliance on informal lending. The credit needs of farmers in Calauan were identified in previous studies and the need to improve access to credit was recommended. Recently, the cooperatives’ leadership expressed interest in expanding the credit services to members through mobile lending. Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation has planned and implemented their Moneybela assisted mobile banking in Calauan, Laguna and other areas in the Philippines.
This study aims to identify significant factors in the adoption of mobile lending. The Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology was used as the main theoretical background. The creation of a model that shows the direct effect of theoretical factors and trust on the behavioral intention to adopt mobile lending by the farmer cooperative members as measured by the indicators was a primary focus of this study.
Data was collected through scheduled interviews in the locale of the cooperatives involved. The Inang Kalikasan Agriculture Cooperative and Imok Agrarian Reform Community Women and Farmers Agriculture Cooperative were the cooperatives studied because of their agricultural operations as accredited by the Municipal Agriculturist. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling using SmartPLS software was done to analyze the Likert scale data gathered on Performance Expectancy, Effort Expectancy, Social Influence, Facilitating Conditions, and Trust as factors affecting the Behavioral Intention to adopt mobile lending. Qualitative data was also collected to better understand the features and hindrances of mobile lending as perceived by the farmer cooperative members.
Performance Expectancy and Trust were statistically significant factors with a positive relationship in the behavioral intention to adopt mobile lending. Thematic analysis found that cooperative members were mainly hesitant to adopt due to fear of negative outcomes such as scams and credit problems. The respondents also recognized the accessibility and convenience of mobile lending as the most beneficial features to them.
It is recommended that mobile lenders conduct further information campaigns to educate potential users in rural areas. They should highlight the possible utility and trustworthiness of their platform. This can be shown through competitive interest rates and repayment schemes and digital cybersecurity features. Future researchers should conduct follow up studies on the adoption of mobile lending and financial technologies to better track the progress and path to adoption of users
Supply Chain Analysis of African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) in Calamba, Laguna
No full textCatfish is one of the top five (5) industries in global aquaculture production during 2019 according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and is one of the top 10 highest contributing industries in terms of aquaculture and inland municipal fisheries production based on the 2022 Annual Report published by Bureau of Food and Aquatic Resources last 2023. Region 4A ranks fourth (4th) in national aquaculture production, in which, Laguna is one of the top provinces engaging in catfish farming. Among the eight (8) municipalities identified by BFAR-Region 4A engaging in catfish farming within the province, 39 fish farms out of the 98 fish farms engaging in African catfish farming are from the City of Calamba followed by Santa Rosa City with 29 fish farms, and Santa Cruz with nine (9) African catfish farms. According to the Municipal Agricultural Services Office of Calamba City, five (5) percent of the fisherfolks in Calamba, Laguna were identified as catfish pond operators which contributes 50.06 metric tonnes of annual production to the total African catfish production in the province.
The primary objective of this study was to conduct an in-depth analysis of the African catfish supply chain within Calamba, Laguna. The research aimed to comprehensively characterize the various key stakeholders involved in the chain, and identify their distinctive attributes, activities, and interrelationships. Furthermore, it sought to provide a detailed mapping of the supply chain network, showing the dynamics of actor relationships, flow patterns, and geographical distribution. Additionally, the study assessed the profitability of each supply chain participant through a thorough cost and return analysis.
This study was conducted in four barangays in Calamba, Laguna which is Brgy. Looc, Lingga, Uwisan, and Sampiruhan. The respondents of this study are the 25 African catfish fisherfolks, four (4) fisherfolk-retailers, four (4) wholesalers, two (2) wholesaler- retailers, and four (4) retailers who were interconnected with each other within the supply chain.
With the key findings, there were eight (8) key players identified, and eight sub- chains were mapped within four barangays. The key players involved in the African catfish supply chain are as follows: input suppliers, fisherfolks, fisherfolk-retailers, distributors, outside or external traders, wholesalers, wholesaler-retailers, and retailers. The study found that same-level players in the industry have similar operational practices, suggesting that there is a strong collaboration existing within the supply chain network. Most fisherfolks fund themselves, with some getting aid from the government or other sources. The supply chain in Calamba has eight (8) sub-chains across four areas, all involved in catfish farming. They start with the input suppliers but each sub-chains involve different key players. Traders from various places like Tanauan, Cavite, Malabon, Quezon City, and Tagaytay are part of the chain, showing its wide reach. Payment methods include cash and online platforms like GCash, with cash being more common. Prices vary among sub-chains due to market players and local trends. Moreover, fingerlings and grown catfish are sold at different rates, and distribution varies by area in which Brgy. Uwisan has the highest volume with an average of 1,550 kg total African catfish harvested in a cycle.
Among the different sub-chains mapped out in this study, sub-chain 6 is the most efficient due to its simple operations and direct sourcing of the retailers directly buying the catfish from the fisherfolks. Sub-chain 2, on the other hand, was identified as the least efficient since it has more players, leading to higher losses and costs because of external traders. Similarly, regarding responsiveness, sub-chain 4 stands out as the most responsive with its 4.79% back-order rate. Conversely, sub-chain 2 emerges as the least responsive, presenting a high back-order rate of 38.40%. This is attributed to the fact that sub-chain 2 not only supplies catfish to external traders but also directly markets African catfish to end consumers.
Furthermore, a comprehensive analysis of costs and returns highlighted fisherfolk-retailers as the most profitable players within the supply chain, showing the most favorable cost-return ratios of 1.14 to 2.10. In contrast, traders, particularly African catfish wholesalers, exhibited lower profitability having -0.10 to 0.05 pesos revenue per every peso spent, emphasizing the significant influence of input prices, operational expenses, and the market selling prices on the player\u27s end.
Meanwhile, several factors were identified as influencing chain performance, including relationship marketing, information dissemination, transportation logistics, inventory management, pricing strategies, and production practices. While the industry demonstrated a concerted effort towards optimizing operational efficiency, deficiencies in responsiveness were noted.
The most significant concern identified in this study is the supply-demand gap existing within the chain. It was mentioned that a particular trader ideally aims to sell at least 20 kg of African catfish in a day to have ample amount of profit, however, it was shown that both fisherfolk and fisherfolk retailers harvested catfish in a cycle ranging from 100 to 3,000 kg depending on the size of their fish culture used. In essence, if one cycle is composed of four (4) months, a maximum of 24.5 kg of African catfish can be distributed to the traders daily, excluding the losses due to possible cases of shrinkage, physical damage, and quality degradation on the harvested catfish. If the catfish producer lowers its production level to 2,400 kg in a cycle, only 19.7 kg of the African catfish can be distributed to the traders, not meeting the target of at least 20 kg in a day. And this problem was deeply rooted in the lack of enough resources and inputs on the producer’s end.
Other challenges within the chain encompassed environmental concerns, limited technical support for key players, resource constraints, and inadequate facilities. Distribution players raised additional issues regarding transportation constraints, demand volatility, and marketing strategy deficiencies. The chain\u27s vulnerability to disruptions underscored the need for enhanced product differentiation and strategic partnerships. Despite these challenges, the study identified opportunities for industry expansion, particularly through leveraging existing relationship networks and further assistance for input sourcing and other resources. Moreover, the study delves into the opportunity for the exploration of value chain partnerships with processing actors and external institutions to enhance industry viability.
With all the findings and results per the objective of this study, several recommendations were formulated in helping to improve the productivity of the industry. For fisherfolk and fisherfolk-retailers, it is more of expanding their reach in terms of their pool of customers, leveraging technology as a way to optimize their marketing, and engaging with a more organized and effective inventory and logistics management within the chain. For wholesalers, wholesaler-retailers, and retailers, it is more on utilizing different marketing platforms and venturing into marketing strategies to further boost their productivity in terms of awareness in the market and sales. Moreover, as it was mentioned that there is no existing processing sector within the chain, and in the African catfish industry within Calamba, Laguna, it was also recommended to explore having a value chain partnership with processing actors or with external institutions or agencies such as the CFARMC, MAO, and BFAR as well the cooperatives within the locality. For the government institutions involved, having training and empowerment programs could aid in product knowledge, customer service skills, and marketing strategies of the players of the chain. Moreover, they also play a big role in promoting the whole African catfish industry in the locality by raising awareness within the community on these kinds of fish species.
Overall, the African catfish supply chain in Calamba, Laguna, although faces a stagnant progress of development over the years has still a lot of development entry points that the industry could take advantage of. It is just important to take note that each actor plays a role as well in the development of the whole supply chain
Entrepreneurial Intentions and Competencies of Grade 12 Students in Liceo De Los Baños, Laguna
No full textThe Philippines has a dynamic entrepreneurial landscape, with 6.2% of adults as established business owners and 18.4% in early-stage entrepreneurship, surpassing the regional average. Factors such as favorable economic conditions, access to capital, a supportive ecosystem, and technological advancements contribute to this growth, leading to a rise in startups. SMEs, and social enterprises. Entrepreneurship is seen as path to improving economic and social status, with around 38% of filipinos self-employed. However, the country faces a high business discontinuation rate of 12.6%, higher than the ASEAN average, indicating challenges like market volatility and regulatory hurdles. Government agencies like DTI, DOST, BSP, and CHED support entrepreneurship through various programs. Initiatives like the Youth Entrepreneurship and Cooperativism in Schools (YECS) and DOST-Academe Technology-based Enterprise Development (DATBED) aim to develop students\u27 entrepreneurial skills. Filipino youth are increasingly viewing entrepreneurship as viable career alternative, supported by formal degree programs and industry partnerships. Despite theses efforts, gaps remain in understanding students\u27 needs and challenges, including access to resources, mentorship, and cultural influences on entrepreneurial aspirations.
The general objective of this study was to assess the entrepreneurial intentions and competencies of senior high school students at Liceo De Los Baños. Specifically, the study aimed to present the socio-demographic characteristics of Grade 12 students, determine their levels of entrepreneurial intention, and identify the factors influencing theses intentions. Additionally, the study sought to determine the level of entrepreneurial competency among the students and analyze the relationship between their educational strands and their entrepreneurial intention and competencies. Based on these findings, the study aimed to recommend initiatives and policies to enhance the entrepreneurial intentions and competencies of secondary school students.
The study at Liceo De Los Baños assessed the entrepreneurial intentions and competencies of Grade 12 students. The sample included 200 students, with a near-equal gender split: 51% male and 49% female. Students were from four academic strands: ABM, GAS, HUMSS, and STEM. Gender distribution varied, with more female in ABM and STEM, and more males in GAS. HUMMSS had a balanced ratio. Most students had three sibling and were typically middle children. Entrepreneurial intentions were measured using a Likert Scale, revealing higher intentions among female students. Gas students showed the highest entrepreneurial intentions, while STEM and ABM students had lower intentions, likely due to their focus on technical skills and employment. HUMSS students had moderate intentions. Key factors influencing entrepreneurial intentions included prior entrepreneurial experience, which negatively impacted intentions, and positive personal attitudes and perceived behavioral control, which improved them. Social capita also played a significant role. entrepreneurial competencies showed moderate proficiency in opportunity seeking, persistence, and goal setting. Risk-taking was low, indicating reluctance to engage in ventures. Information seeking, planning, and self-confidence scored higher. No Significant association was found between academic strands entrepreneurial intentions. The result highlight the need for targeted programs and supportive environments to enhance students\u27 readiness for entrepreneurial endeavors.
According to Christian Jorge G. Lenox, the senior high school coordinator at Liceo de Los Baños, the current curriculum allocates insufficient time for entrepreneurship education, leading to superficial understanding of entrepreneurial concepts. This results in students missing essential components like hands-on projectsm real-world problem-solving and critical thinking exercises. Additionally, the curriculum lacks the integration of real-world applications and project-based learning, depriving students of practical experiences crucial for developing entrepreneurial skills. Extracurricular opportunities such as entrepreneurship clubs and workshops are also limited. To address these issues, it is recommended to extend the curriculum hours dedicated to entrepreneurship, as practiced in Malaysia, enabling a more comprehensive and hands-on learning experience. Integrating practical activities, such as business plan development and market research projects, as seen in Malaysia, enabling a more comprehensive and hands-on learning experience. Integrating practical activities, such as business plan development and market research projects as seen in Indonesia, can enhance students\u27 critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Establishing entrepreneurship clubs and organizing competitions, similar to initiatives in Singapore, can provide platforms for practical engagement and mentorship. Moreover, addressing the shortage of specialized teachers requires strategic measures such professional development programs, industry partnership, and the involvement of entrepreneurs in the teaching process, as observed in Thailand and Vietnam. Developing comprehensive teaching resources and establishing Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) can provide ongoing support and improve teaching methods. Advocacy for government policies supporting specialized teacher training and industry partnership is also crucial. Comprehensive studies among K-12 students in both public and private schools in the Philippines is recommended to understand their educational experiences and outcomes. By including diverse school environments, disparities and commonalities in educational attainment, resource allocation, and student engagement can be identified. The results can inform policy decisions and strategies to promote equity and excellence in education for all students. Adapting these strategies to the local context in the Philippines will require collaborative efforts among government, educational institutions, industries, and communities to create an environment conducive to nurturing future entrepreneurs. These initiatives are essential for enhancing entrepreneurial intentions and competencies among Filipino students, ultimately contributing to the country\u27s economic innovation and development
Selected Agribusiness Employers\u27 Expectations and Students\u27 Perceptions on Employability Skills of UPLB BS ABME Students
No full textAgribusiness education is essential for preparing students for careers in the agricultural sector, yet a gap often exists between the skills graduates have and those employers need. This study aimed to assess the alignment between the self-perceived employability skills of BS Agribusiness Management and Entrepreneurship (BS ABME) students and the expectations of agribusiness employers.
Using a descriptive cross-sectional design, the research involved 89 junior and senior BS ABME students and 52 employers from agribusiness firms. Data was collected via surveys distributed through email, personal messages, and on-site delivery, and analyzed using descriptive statistics and the Wilcoxon rank-sum test to identify gaps between employers\u27 expectations and students\u27 self-perceived skills.
The study found both alignments and differences in employability skill perceptions. Students prioritized communication, problem-solving, and learning, while employers valued learning, positive attitudes and behavior, and communication. Notable gaps were observed in perceptions of learning, positive attitudes, personal development, and pre-graduation work experience. Skills were categorized into academic, personal management, and teamwork skills. Both students and employers rated IT literacy the lowest among academic skills. Significant differences were found in critical thinking, logical evaluation, problem-solving in math, IT literacy, and business language proficiency. In personal management skills, differences were noted in self-confidence, conscientiousness, responsibility, positive attitude, creativity, innovative thinking, and personal ethics. No significant differences were found regarding teamwork skills.
Effective methods for enhancing employability skills identified by students included lectures, internships, industry job placements, and group case studies for academic skills. Personal management skills were best developed through internships, industry job placements, group case studies, and assignments. Teamwork skills were enhanced through group case studies, assignments/projects, and team presentations. Both students and employers emphasized the importance of joining organizations, curriculum modifications, longer internships, extra-curricular activities, certifications, and hands-on experiences.
Employers ranked pre-graduation work experience the lowest among employability skills but highlighted the importance of internships in hiring. Despite rating IT literacy low, employers acknowledged its importance as an additional skill for agribusiness students. Employers valued positive attitudes and behavior, emphasizing attributes like proactiveness, flexibility, grit, resilience, and professionalism as crucial for workplace success. There was strong alignment between students and employers on teamwork skills.
To bridge the gap between employer expectations and students’ self-perceived skills, several recommendations were made. For BS ABME students, it is highly recommended to have an active engagement in case studies, and extracurricular activities to cultivate ethical behavior and professionalism and other essential skills. Improving IT literacy by enrolling in relevant courses and utilizing online resources is also highly encouraged. For the Department of Agribusiness Management and Entrepreneurship (DAME), integrating more courses that cultivate soft and hard skills are essential skills such as incorporating specialized courses on agribusiness operations, marketing, and finance is highly suggested. Also, further strengthen industry partnerships to provide meaningful internships and practical experiences. Lastly, continuously evaluate the curriculum based on feedback from industry stakeholders and students.
For employers, collaboration with educational institutions is suggested to align academic learning with industry needs. This can be done by offering internships, hands-on experience, career fairs, mentorship and career advancement programs.
Lastly, it is suggested for further studies to increase the diversity of respondents and categorize agribusinesses by specific sectors. Also, expand the assessment of employability skills to include a broader range of competencies. Investigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on employability skills from both students and employers are also suggested
Rice Farmers\u27 Awareness and Perception of Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund-Rice Extension Services Program (RCEF-RESP) in Nagcarlan, Laguna, Philippines
No full textThe Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) reduced consumer prices of milled rice from P46 to P39 in 2019. With this, the implemented law addressed consumers’ need for low-cost rice. However, on the rice production side, local farmers were put at a disadvantageous position due to the removal of quantitative restrictions on imported rice. To address this, a 10B appropriation of tariffs collected from rice imports would directly go to the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) aimed at assisting local farmers. Part of the revenues has been dedicated to RCEF-Research Extension Program (RCEF-RESP) which has operated over 200 Farmer Field Schools (FFS) nationwide. Its training programs focused on the production of inbred rice and seed, farm mechanization, and other relevant skills. The country is predominantly reliant on the public provision of extension services given by the Department of Agriculture and affiliated organizations, however, there are little to no studies reviewing the impact of agricultural services and training programs offered by local government units other than quantification of intervention to farmers such as reporting accomplishments on the number of bags of seeds distributed, number of farmers attendance in training, number of fertilizers distributed (in bags/in kg), and other quantifiable inputs. Public advisory services have historically been underfunded, in part because it is difficult to demonstrate the impact of extension. This study aimed to explore the nature and reach of agricultural extension activities in Nagcarlan, Laguna. Particularly, it assessed farmers’ perception of RCEF-RESP on Production of High-Quality Inbred Rice, Seed Certification, and Farm Mechanization in terms of knowledge transfer, which is inclusive of quality of training methods and delivery; as well as the adoption of improved practices, and evaluated the effectiveness in terms of yield productivity. Ultimately, the study aimed to recommend potential developmental pathways in the delivery of these agricultural training services in Nagcarlan, Laguna.
Following a descriptive quantitative research design, data were collected using a validated structured questionnaire and were distributed to a total of 85 farmers belonging to select barangays in Nagcarlan, namely, Brgy Yukos, Brgy Taytay, Brgy Manaol, Brgy Banago, Brgy Silangang Napapatid, Brgy Palayan, and Brgy Malaya. The data was subjected to various non-parametric statistical methods such as descriptive statistics i.e., frequencies, means, mode, and standard deviation, Mann-Whitney U test, Spearman rho correlation test, Ordinal regression, and Wilcoxon signed-rank test.
The study revealed that majority of farmers were male, aged 30-86 years old, had graduated high school, had more than 31 years of experience, and lived with 3-5 family members. Their major source of household income comes from sales of crop yield. Most of the farmers who have off-farm employment are in the services sector. The findings also indicated that most of the farmers have access to agricultural extension services and information, and are particularly trusting with information from cooperatives/farmers’ associations, fellow farmers, and government extension staff. In terms of participation to RCEF-RESP, majority of the farmers are aware of RCEF-RESP on Production of High- Quality Inbred Rice, Seed Certification, and Farm Mechanization, however, most of them have not participated in the season-long training. Furthermore, farmers’ perception was assessed in terms of adoption and knowledge transfer, the latter being further characterized by extent of dissemination, overall perception, extent of usage and effectiveness of training methods, the extent of satisfaction to trainers, and perceived impact of training approaches. With that, farmer participants generally perceived that they learned a lot from the sessions, particularly from the PalayCheck system, basic rice machinery operation, and integrated pest management which were all disseminated and completely adopted in their respective farms. In terms of training methods, the majority of the farmers perceived that seminars, method demonstrations, result demonstrations, booklets, and meetings were effective to a great extent. The farmers generally perceived that the performance of RCEF-RESP trainers is satisfactory, in which, this perception is associated with their training approach of providing opportunities to farmers to understand and demonstrate learning. Finally, it was reported that the amount of palay harvest was higher after joining RCEF-RESP than before, rendering a statistically significant change in yield productivity.
In light of the findings, key focus areas were identified to provide recommendations for capacity improvement of RCEF-RESP. Firstly, there was a need to increase participation in RCEF-RESP by strengthening extension personnel, supplementing advisory services with physical marketing collaterals, and conducting marketing events. Secondly, intensifying farmer-driven orientation of the program was recommended through performing community appraisal and modifying training program formulation. Lastly, the study suggests that in order to ensure inter-coordination within RCEF programs, there is a need to intensify production means and assist in farm transition
An Enterprise Study of Bamboo Processing Enterprises in Selected Areas in Cavite Province
No full textAn enterprise study was conducted to analyze the state and performance of micro- to small-scale bamboo processing enterprises in selected areas in Cavite. Specifically, the researcher aimed to: a) discuss the environmental factors affecting the bamboo processing enterprises in Cavite; b) present their socio-demographic and business profiles; c) describe their management practices and the key functional problems they encounter; d) analyze the key players’ entrepreneurial traits and characteristics through the model of entrepreneurial orientation (EO) with its five dimensions; e) assess the enterprises’ business performance; f) discuss the levels of EO dimensions across socio-demographic and business profiles; g) examine the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and business performance; and h) formulate recommendations to improve their business performance.
A total of 82 respondents were covered in the study, consisting of 66 bamboo skewer manufacturers and 16 bamboo furniture and handicraft manufacturers. The researcher employed the snowball sampling method for the former, whereas a complete enumeration was intended for the latter. The researcher employed a combination of qualitative and quantitative research designs to address the research objectives, employing descriptive and non-parametric correlational research tools. The researcher used the EO model to analyze entrepreneurial traits and characteristics, which were then subject to statistical analysis, examining its association across demographic and business profiles and its correlation to the business performance among key players. In analyzing the enterprise environment, PESTLE analysis and SWOT analysis were utilized.
The macro-environmental analysis identified various factors affecting bamboo- based enterprises in the Philippines, discussing the government initiatives that provide both opportunities and challenges for the industry. The country’s economic recovery from the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic generally benefited the industry, as reflected in the surge in the respondents’ sales in 2022. Positive social forces are comprised of changing consumer preferences and the rising house resettlement projects, but the trend of poverty incidence poses challenges. Technological advancements drive growth, leading to the emergence of engineered bamboo products, while the province’s environmental suitability for cultivating kawayan tinik (Bambusa blumeana) and global wood shortages offer opportunities despite local climate impacts on bamboo quality.
Findings revealed that females dominate the bamboo skewer manufacturing sector (89.39%). 78.79% were married, while the average age recorded was 46. They all operate on microscale and subsistence levels, 95.45% were informal and unregistered, and their average years of operations was 19.53. They are all native to Maragondon and situated across its eight rural barangays. In contrast, the average age of bamboo furniture and handicraft manufacturers was 38.94. Most of them were married males (62.50%), with 62.50% identified as migrants from San Carlos, Pangasinan. The average business existence was lower than that of bamboo skewer manufacturers, operating for an average of 11.63 years. Manufacturers are scattered along major highways of the 7th and 8th districts of the province.
Women predominantly handle the major operations for bamboo skewer manufacturing. Utilizing different sizes of Kawayan Tinik (Bambusa blumeana), manufacturers rely on traditional hand-held tools in the manufacturing process. Product lines are limited to food skewers of different sizes. Word-of-mouth strategy is usually employed to be known by skewer trader-buyers who hold the higher bargaining power. Workforce units are family members who are not being paid. Their financial practices are characterized as informal since they do not employ formal recording and budgeting practices. Key functional problems they face include inconsistent quality of poles, unfavorable weather conditions, physical exhaustion, lack of control over prices, lack of market awareness, and low sales.
Contrastingly, more diverse product lines were discovered in the sector of bamboo furniture and handicraft manufacturers, ranging from woven handicrafts, traditional furniture and handicrafts, agricultural implements, and nipa huts (bahay kubo) to different varieties of engineered bamboo products. This means that manufacturing processes are more complex and differentiated. All of these utilize Kawayan Tinik (Bambusa blumeana) since it is the most abundant species in the province and the most favorable material for construction and handicraft purposes. A cost-plus pricing strategy was common among them. Road-side displays, word of mouth, and Facebook marketing were the common marketing strategies targeting the identified markets within Region 4a (CALABARZON) and the National Capital Region (NCR). The typical clients would comprise owners of farm lots, resorts, restaurants, recreational parks, and LGUs, among others. About 75% of the respondents employ stay-in laborers paid on a per-output basis. The financial aspect of bamboo furniture and handicraft manufacturers can also be distinguished based on their products. Weavers of bamboo handicrafts would require an initial capital of Php5,145, and the payback period is within one month. Traditional bamboo furniture and handicraft makers require Php50,000 to Php350,000 with payback periods of one month to one and a half years of operations. As of the third quarter of 2023, the shared-service facility of Kawayang Maragondon Municipal Economic Enterprise (KMMEE), one of the respondents producing engineered bamboo products, is valued at Php3,903,000. Manufacturers of bamboo furniture and handicrafts are said to be constrained by pest infestation, shortage of other forest raw materials, unfavorable weather conditions, high degree of product substitutability, plagiarism on social media, seasonality of some products, cash advances from laborers, uncompetitive salaries for laborers, high cost of production, lack of working capital, and high cost of outbound logistics.
The assessment of entrepreneurial orientation revealed that the bamboo skewer manufacturers had the highest manifestation of autonomy dimension (5.15) as they operate with strong family ties wherein decisions are made collaboratively with open communication and shared responsibility. Meanwhile, the proactiveness was measured as moderately manifested (4.15), with nearly half (48.48%) of the population still producing skewers during the COVID-19 pandemic despite being unable to sell their produce. They were by the opportunity of a surge in sales from the possible reopening of the economy. However, they are relatively weak in risk-taking (3.51), innovativeness (3.47), and competitive aggressiveness (3.13) dimensions. On the other hand, risk-taking (4.90) was found, with most of the manufacturers being migrants who took the risk of venturing into a new location. The innovativeness dimension was also relatively strong, with several manufacturers adopting modern designs for nipa huts with steel roofing, electrical systems, sliding windows, etc., and the fact that there exists a pioneer producer of engineered bamboo products in the province. However, most of the manufacturing processes are still traditional for 15 out of 16 respondents. Interestingly, artisans appear to have a relatively strong autonomy (4.75). They are always encouraged to contribute ideas, particularly in the production aspect, but their access to important financial information is inadequate.
The subjective assessment of product performance identified that bamboo skewer manufacturers had moderate success in sales and market share establishment (4.16). They perceived that the local food industry in the province and parts of NCR heavily rely on their production, with some expressing positive earnings given the low capitalization and minimal efforts while manufacturing at their households. However, the recorded sales undoubtedly fall below the municipality\u27s minimum wage, making the venture sustainably challenging. Bamboo furniture and handicraft manufacturers, on the other hand, demonstrated a relatively strong product performance (5.07). They were able to exploit the opportunity from the surge in tourism and recreational activities across CALABARZON. However, operational bottlenecks in catering to simultaneous projects have become an issue for most of the traditional manufacturers. In terms of profitability, bamboo skewer manufacturers accrued an average monthly net income of Php3,462.88 with a net profit margin of 81.26%. However, when factoring in notional labor costs relative to the municipality’s minimum wage, a theoretical net loss and negative profit margin were determined. Bamboo furniture and handicraft profitability varied widely. Weavers of bamboo handicrafts had an average annual net income of Php290,000 (77.98% profit margin), while traditional furniture and handicrafts showed diverse net income and profit margins ranging from Php30,730 (5.49%) to Php1,657,665 (23.18%). In 2022, KMMEE experienced a net income loss of Php268,900 (-67.23%).
In the correlation analysis conducted for entrepreneurial orientation and business performance, proactiveness and autonomy dimensions were linked to better product performance among bamboo skewer manufacturers. However, none of the dimensions showed significance in explaining the variation of their profit margins, suggesting a further outlook on the moderating variables. Proactiveness and innovativeness, on the other hand, were the key dimensions for the increased sales and successful market share establishment among bamboo furniture and handicraft manufacturers. In the dimension of profitability, proactiveness was linked to higher profits, whereas risk-taking and innovativeness were associated with lower profits.
Overall, specific recommendations for each key stakeholder were formulated to enhance the overall performance of the bamboo processing industry in Cavite. For bamboo skewer manufacturers, the researcher recommended the implementation of proactive concentric diversification, expanding product lines by introducing other items, such as chopsticks, coffee stirrers, toothpicks, and popsicle sticks, to take advantage of the growing food industry and green consumerism. A need for value addition through proactively investing in product sterilization and packaging was also emphasized. Fostering collaboration, better networks, wider market reach, formation of strategic alliances among players, and engaging in e-marketing activities were given importance. Business registration was also recommended, bringing them closer to support programs and increasing recognition in the national industry. On the other hand, strategic recommendations for bamboo furniture and handicraft manufacturers involve innovating new and unique designs that are harder to imitate, utilizing the benefits of the Barangay Micro Business Enterprise (BMBE) Act of 2002, and short and long-term operational expansion, catering to the growing demand from domestic markets. To enhance their operational efficiency and to increase their market reach, it was recommended that they diversify their distribution channels, access the shared-service facility in Maragondon, and implement better inventory and forecast management.
The national government, with the support agencies constituting the Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Council (PBIDC) and Local Government Units (LGU), were recommended to invest in the construction of cemented roads near bamboo stands, systematic data and information management, and the establishment of “Bagsakan” centers for bamboo skewer manufacturers. Spearheading governmental interventions, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Science and Technology – Forest Product Research and Development Institute (DOST-FPRDI) were recommended to intensify training and seminars that would leverage and improve the important EO dimensions among the players. Lastly, future researchers are suggested to expand the study to region 4A, which has considerably larger numbers of bamboo furniture and handicraft manufacturers. They were also recommended to delve into bamboo pole farmers and traders and explore consumer behavior and perceptions of bamboo products, aiming for a more comprehensive grasp of the industry