SUSTAINABLE BEEKEEPING
Environmental sustainability demands that ecosystems are not damaged beyond their capacity to maintain their own biological processes, functions, biodiversity and natural productivity.

Dear beekeeper friends on this forum.
By this means I have a special request for which I ask your valued support :

There are sometimes opportunities that are unique to let go. With the new Government and a new DA , there are new roads to enter and explore. With the arrival of Preceso Alcala as the new Secretary of Agriculture I had the opportunity to bring the present state of the beekeeping sector under his attention after he requested me to present a proposal for a more sustainable apicultural sector that focusses , among others, on the integration of beekeeping in exisiting agricultural projects. Both apis mellifera as well as the various local pollinating insects play their own unique role in the sector and therefor requires different approaches for their integration for the needs of the rural poor. Indeed there are possibilities to make the Philippines less dependant on importing honey bee products ( 85 % or perhaps more).

My intention is to be part of that proces.

I would appreciate it very much if you could endorse me to the new Secretary of the Department of Agriculture , Proceso Alcala,  as Tropical Apicultural Advisor .
Kindly send this to Mr. Dante Delima who is coordinating the endorsement towards the Secretary.
Email of Dante Delima : huni_07@yahoo.com.ph
Copy email directly to:   procyalcala@gmail.com
and a copy to myself : ejrobberts@gmail.com

Kind regards, SB

I just want to know Spanish Bee if your position as an "advisor" to sec. Alacala will cost additional burden to Filipino taxpayers? I have nothing against your intention and I believe you really want to help our beekeeping industry. However, if this intended position will cost more than just by tapping our own local, more experienced, competent academicians, and technicians on the field. I'm sorry to say, you will not get my support. Please fill us in so we got more information on this matter.

We have lots of very competent and well experienced people who I'm surely believe can fill-in the position as an "advisor" to sec. Alacala. The likes of Dr. Cervacia or Dr. Sito are only few well experienced and respected professionals both whom are working to institutions that already subsidized by the government.

For more than 4 years, I tried to make PBF to be apolitical, but I guess we have to face the ever changing world to save our dying honey bees.

Happy beekeeping!

Quote:


I hope I didn't offend you SB. I expected already that my personal opinion would not totally be accepted by anyone. So, I care less because I'm speaking from the heart.

You know politics is rotten in the Philippines, it's been in the system and culture of Filipinos since time immemorial. For me beekeeping and honeybees don't need politics and politicians. Just ask around and see for yourself what these bee organizations done to beekeeping industry in the country. It created divisiveness, rather unity and cooperation to all Pinoy beekeepers. But, I don't like to be fatalistic. I have hope for good change. PBF is making a niche for good change. Here in PBF you can talk anything about beekeeping, but politics.

Happy beekeeping!

Pinoybee wrote on 07/28/10 at 23:12:38:


You should have high hopes Sir PinoyBee.
From the PBF's point of view, there is no politics here, everybody here in PBF always have the bees as the main catalyst. Personally, I am a friend to most bee institutions, but my friendship with them will end once they start to neglect the welfare and development of beekeeping.
There's a lot of work that has to be done, so trying to beat the hell out of the other group to is a total waste of time and resources.
This is my personal stand and I could attest that this is also the same stand that most if not all PBF members have.