Varietal Trial of Traditional Upland Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Varieties Collected in the Province of Negros Occidental

Thirteen traditional upland rice varieties (Kadidit Pilit, Red 64, Masipag 9, Masipag 15, Dinorado, Mindoro, Camuros, Masipag 22, Palawan, Suleg, Biday, Pilit , Pilit Talacdan) were evaluated in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) in three replicates at the experimental area of Central Philippines State University (CPSU), Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental from November 2012 - April 2013. The parameters compared were their agronomic data on growth and yield, including grain characteristics. These data were processed using the one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) with the Statistical Tool for Agricultural Research (STAR) (Version 2.0.1) while Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT) were used to compare significant treatment means at 1% level. The upland rice varieties showed significant variation in growth, yield showed distinct grain characteristics. Biday variety was the tallest, produced longer and wider leaves, and bore the longest panicle. Mindoro and Masipag 22 produced the most number of tillers. Pilit talacdan had the biggest culm, produced the heaviest panicle, with the highest number of filled grains per panicle. Pilit variety gave the heaviest weight of 1,000 grains. The grain features were also found to be distinct in each variety. The yield significantly varied among the upland rice varieties. Pilit and Pilit Talacdan gave the highest yield among the varieties grown at CPSU condition. The performing varieties would be used for upland rice improvement and breeding program and for further verification in the farmer’s field.

Institutional Resource Management Practices: A Case Study of CPSU Reservation

The study assessed the existing land resources, management practices and resource utilization of the Central Philippines State University reservation in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental. It is a descriptive research that employed line-plot method for vegetation analysis; point counts, transect walk, cruising method, and mist netting for faunal assessment; secondary data analysis for processing of geospatial information and socio-economic profiles; and, interviews and focused group discussions for sourcing data on land management practices and resource utilization. Significant findings showed that the institution has a very vast area of 4,653 hectares land reservation. but the biological and physical resources therein are under threat because of the presence of settlers who compete for and misuse the land. As a developing institution, the university is expected to need more land area for expansion of physical plant facilities and enterprise development. It is therefore apparent that the university must efficiently use and manage the valuable resources granted by the government in order to become a self-sustaining institution that consistently provides quality instruction, research, extension and production and fosters growth and sustainable development within an ecologically balanced environment and an empowered community in the reservation.

Socio-Economic Profile of Coastal Barangays in Ilog, Negros Occidental

The Municipality of Ilog is considered as one of the coastal municipalities of the Province of Negros Occidental, Philippines. It has a total land area of 28,170 hectares and covers four coastal barangays with a total coastal area of 4,419.38 hectares and were recipient of mangrove rehabilitation project in 2008. These barangays barangays have a population of 15,433 with the majority depending on coastal resources. The ever-changing socio-economic profile had contributed to the past and present conditions of the coastal resources and government projects and will continue to affect their conditions in the future. Thus, the study examined the socio-economic profile of coastal barangays in the municipality of Ilog, Negros Occidental using descriptive research design by employing stratified random sampling technique in three categories of respondents such as purok officials, people’s organizations, and barangay health workers. The findings revealed that the dominant ages of the population were 31-40 and 41-50. Most of the respondents were married, male, and with an average of 3 children. Majority of their occupation were fishing and fish vending. Generally, annual family income is very. However, as to category of respondents, people’s organization respondents had the highest income. These overall results of the study may be used as basis for integral program planning of the Local Government Units of municipality of Ilog on Coastal Resource Management.

Physical Profile of the Sub-watersheds of Southern Cauayan Municipal Forest and Watershed Reserve in Negros Occidental, Philippines

The Southern Cauayan Municipal Forest and Watershed Reserve (SCMFWR) is a 6,000-hectare area in the forests of southwestern Negros in the Philippines. It is part of the Greater Calatong Watershed, which supplies water to farmers in Cauayan and Sipalay City. This study describes the profile of the sub-watersheds within the SCMFWR. The data may be used as basis for management purposes and monitoring of the overall health of the reserve. Specifically, the study delineated boundaries, and drainage areas, classified sub-watersheds, described land use, and determined water discharge of three major river tributaries Cabanbanan, Tinagpito, and Banso and their physical characteristics. The drainage areas of the three rivers were delineated using Topographic Map from the Philippine National Mapping and Resource Information Authority, Google Map, and ASTER GDEM 2011, and secondary data/maps from the Provincial Environment Management Office. DENR manual on watershed characterization was used for the sub-watershed classification. The measurement of water discharge was done by measuring average crosssectional areas of the river and water velocities obtained through the floatation method. Other watershed and river characteristics were gathered by ocular observation. The study determined that SCMFWR is divided into three subwatersheds with a total area of 2944.78 ha. that feeds the three river systems.

Anthropogenic Effects in Tropical Forest Patches of Sipalay City Negros Occidental, Philippines

Tropical rain forests are viable economic resources for people and their surrounding communities for they serve as sources of food and other materials. This descriptive research provides baseline information that describes and analyzes the socio-economic characteristics of human communities within the three forest patches of Sipalay City and the impact of their activities on these forest reserves. Quantitative and qualitative approaches were employed using survey, ethnobiology workshops, focus group discussions, and key informant interview methods to selected respondents living in these forests. Majority of the households that were natives and lived within the watershed reservation areas relied on farming and live below the poverty threshold due to lack of education, poor road network, and poor access to electricity and communication. Hence, forest areas were utilized in planting crops to support respondents’ meager incomes. Hunting, illegal logging, charcoal making, mining, dumping of garbage within the reservation, cutting of trees for firewood, kaingin/slash and burn system and human settlements were some of the anthropogenic activities that adversely affected the reservation and contributed to the decrease of vegetation, forest cover, and floral and faunal resources of Sipalay Forest Reserves. Given the situation, majority of the human communities living within the tropical forest were still willing to join programs that protect the remaining forest patches in Sipalay. Findings served as bases for identification of appropriate interventions for the management and development of the area.

The Potentials of Kabugan Cave for Ecotourism and Sustainable Resource Management

Caves are valued for their scientific, economic, educational, cultural, historical and aesthetic importance. Because of this, the Philippine government has continuously implemented numerous initiatives for the protection and preservation of caves. To this end, many groups and agencies are conducting an assessment on the potential of caves for ecotourism purposes. This study was done to assess the Kabugan Cave in Brgy. Tagukon, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, Philippines. Specifically, it aimed to assess the biophysical condition of the cave, determine the faunal and floral species composition, the threats and the present use of the cave, and cave viability for ecotourism destination. The cave was 430.0 meter away from the main road and accessible by all means of land transportation. The surface was vegetated with different endemic and exotic plant species. Three vertebrate such as bats “Ptenochirus jagori”, birds “Aeodramus fuciphagus” frog “Platymantis species” and one invertebrate like Tailless whip scorpions “Amblypygi” that considered few. The cave is used as playing ground and resting area of the farmers. Source of drinking water was observed within the vicinity of the cave. Anthropogenic activities such as vandalism, graffiti, and hole digging inside the cave were drastically observed. The cave got an average assessment score of 0.62 and is classified as Class 3. This means that the cave is potential for ecotourism and safe to cater visitors for exploration, educational tour, research and other forms of documentation. It is recommended that Kabugan Cave should include in the Comprehensive Land Use Plan as a potential for ecotourism.