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Davao Media-Citizen Council elects officers
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 24 March) – The Davao Media-Citizen Council (DMCC) on Saturday elected its officers from representatives of various fields — media, business, law and academe. MindaNews’ Special Reports Editor Carolyn O. Arguillas was elected chair while Antonio Peralta representing the business sector was elected vice chair. Peralta chairs the Southern Mindanao Business […].....»»
PM s Prizes for Space to showcase sector s talent
The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand's growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister's Prizes for Space today."New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am excited to announce these prizes which will help foster talent, which plays an important role in.....»»
PSALM expects P100 billion from CBK privatization
The Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM) is expected to generate as much as P100 billon from the privatization of the 796.46-megawatt (MW) Caliraya-Botocan-Kalayaan (CBK) hydroelectric power plant complex in Laguna, bolstering the cash position of the cash-strapped state firm......»»
Scorching schools: How heat worsens conditions of poor students in PH
[This is the second and last part of a special report on how extreme heat in 2023 impacted the education sector in the Philippines. Click here for the first part.] CEBU CITY, Philippines – The same analysis by Cebu Daily News Digital (CDN Digital) showed that even private schools, which usually have better facilities and.....»»
Creative economy grows to P1.72 trillion
The value of the country’s creative economy rose by 6.8 percent in 2023 from a year ago as the sector employed more people, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority......»»
Indian banking sector continues to improve with better asset quality, high credit growth: Survey
New Delhi [India], March 21 (ANI): The health of the Indian banking sector continues to improve with better asset quality and high credit growth, a survey conducted by industry body FICCI and banking association Indian Banks' Association (IBA) showed. The eighteenth round of the survey was carried out for the period July to December 2023. Those banks that were surveyed together represent about 77 per cent of the banking i.....»»
Public sector banks doing better in managing NPAs vis-a-vis their private counterparts: FICCI-IBA survey
New Delhi [India], March 21 (ANI): Public sector banks in India are doing better in comparison to their private sector counterparts in terms of non-performing assets, a survey conducted by industry body FICCI and banking association Indian Banks' Association (IBA) found. A nonperforming asset refers to loans or advances that are on the brink of default. According to the survey, a large majority (77 per cent) of the respon.....»»
MUP pension takeaways
In every fiscal year, there should be nothing extraordinarily appropriated for the sole benefit of military and uniformed personnel, active or retired. The MUP’s number of pensioner-beneficiaries has already breached the 120,000 mark and counting. The 2023 allocation of P139.51 billion for their pensions alone bleeds government coffers dry; its budgetary impact further depletes public funds for the rest of state workers, active or retired — outside of the MUP universe. When the finance secretary referred to the pension issue as the “elephant in the room” but nowhere in the President’s State of the Nation Address was mention made of an overhaul of the system, this could be construed by cynics as axiomatic of a lack of political will. Instead, the “game theory” model conveniently adopted by the present dispensation is to do nothing for fear that a financial embargo might stir up a hornet’s nest. Must every president, in effect, “babysit” the military, police, and other armed services in a quid pro quo? Have we become what in the mind of Samuel Huntington is a praetorian society that “shirks” the much-vaunted state policy that “civilian authority is at all times supreme over the military?” What about the implied mandate or reach (if any) of the Civil Service Commission over the military, police, uniformed service? What has happened to the notion that no government employee — more so civilian — should be left behind within the purview of a level-playing field? What about the sacred aim of a “salary standardization law” if there is a Great Cultural Divide between the military and the civilian sectors of the government bureaucracy where two classes with the same salary grades have astronomically different compensation packages — retirement or pension-wise? Insofar as the “fiscal collapse” the finance secretary warned against if no pragmatic move would put an end to this MUP dilemma, it remains a time bomb waiting to explode. It could luminously reach a point where the President would be confronted with “lifeboat ethics” or that moral quandary of whom to give up to save another. Whoever reduced the President to the dog that caught the car doesn’t cut it, either. When typhoon “Egay” caused “agri damage” that soared to P4.5 billion, hit 181 cities and municipalities, and affected 142,000 farmers and fishers in nine regions, methinks covering the damage of 30 “Typhoon Egays” should be as easy as paying MUPs over P140 billion a year. What this mathematical comparison illustrates is the disturbing fact that government can hardly allocate even a measly amount for natural calamities affecting communities, agriculture, infrastructure. There ought to be a philosophical approach to resolving the MUP paradox by identifying the proximate cause of the problem and reverting back to the original scheme at parity with the larger body of government workers or employees in the civilian bureaucracy. There must be a future-proof review as to why the salaries of MUPs and retirees were doubled during the term of the President’s predecessor toward possibly reverting such “political payoff” back to the old configuration. In the altar of public service delivery, the role of the MUP is not unique. For their parochial and arrogant argument of serving at the risk of life and limb to hold true, they must add more meat on that bone. It’s the greatest anomaly of all time for the national budget to have to allocate for MUP pensions some P300 billion for 2024. Note that the allocation for the pension of civilian government employees was only P1.15 billion in 2017 and P1.6 billion in 2022. If we have some 1.7 million government employees inclusive of military/uniformed personnel, it’s obvious who gets more than the lion’s share of the budget pie. An “insane” 1 percent of MUP payouts is a drop in the bucket. Please draw the sword to cut this Gordian knot! Or shop for other best-practice pension plans. The post MUP pension takeaways appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DA studies Taiwan-inspired agribiz proposals
The Department of Agriculture is hoping to adopt Taiwan’s agricultural technologies such as data analysis and mobile applications. In a statement on Friday, DA said officials will be reviewing business proposals from 47 agri-entrepreneurs who recently completed the Filipino Young Farmers Internship Program in Taiwan and returned to the Philippines on 14 July. The program ran for 11 months and was created through the partnership of DA-Agricultural Training Institute, Manila Economic and Cultural Office, and Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office. “Youth involvement in the agriculture sector is highly important as we are facing the challenge of an aging farmer population. Having completed their international internship program, we believe that they are now prepared to take the next level of their training,” ATI Director Remelyn R. Recoter said. Through a planning workshop, the young agri-entrepreneurs were required to write agribusiness proposals on agricultural and fisheries techniques, marketing strategies, and management practices. Recoter said this will also help the youth apply for new foreign internships in the future. Since 2017, Taiwan has been implementing smart agriculture with the use of sensors, the internet, mobile applications, robotics and artificial intelligence to boost its agricultural production amid a faster aging population. Global data show that half of the population of Taiwan are aged 40 and older; meanwhile, in the Philippines half of total population are 25 years old and younger. Taiwan’s Council for Agriculture is advancing the aforementioned technologies for greenhouse farms where plants are protected from the harmful effects of the sun and rain, resulting in stable production levels year-round. Philippine agricultural exports decreased by 20.8 percent to $1.55 billion in the first quarter this year from $1.95 billion in the same period last year, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority. The post DA studies Taiwan-inspired agribiz proposals appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
ARBO value-chain strategy offers solid ground for MASAGANA rice program
The value chain strategy for agricultural products, which the Department of Agrarian Reform piloted in 2013, particularly on farm clustering, marketing, and linking smallholders to providers of inputs and credit, would be a solid ground for the four strategies of the Department of Agriculture’s MASAGANA Rice Industry Development Program (MRIDP). The DAR’s ARBO (Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organization) clustering program, in partnership with Caritas’ Catholic Relief Service, was piloted in 2013 in Bukidnon (in three sites) and Misamis Oriental (two sites). Phase 1 involved linking ARBs with the corporate supply chain, which lasted until 2015, said Assistant Director Lita Rosales of DAR’s Bureau of Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Development. Then Phase 2—from 2015 to 2017—involved linking farmer smallholders to markets with microfinance. The sites involved in this phase expanded to 98. Phase 3 after 2017 (which was disrupted a bit by the pandemic) already covered 150 sites of clustered farms in practically the entire country, she explained. DAR’s mandate was always to work with ARBOs and clusters formed by them, which DAR linked with suppliers of farm inputs, corporate markets, and providers of farm machinery and post-harvest technologies. The DAR’s ARBO program covered farm clusters producing coconut, corn, sugar, cacao, coffee, livestock, poultry and fisheries, and even rice. With the MIRDP set to be fully adopted, the wealth of experience of ARBOs can hasten the learning curve of newly-organized clusters to be formed by the different attached agencies of the DA. These include the irrigators associations (both national and communal irrigation systems) of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), the SWISAs (or small water irrigation systems associations) of the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM), and rice farm cooperatives registered with the Cooperatives Development Authority (CDA). Farmer-members of these groups must be registered with the Registry System for the Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) to avail of government interventions. The DA met with DAR and BSWM last 12 July to discuss how the clustering of farmers would be expedited and a follow-up meeting for this purpose has been set for 16 August. Since ARBOs are covered by the Agrarian Production Credit Program (APCP) jointly implemented by the DA, DAR, and the Land Bank of the Philippines, they can avail of loans under the program and in turn, re-lend to eligible ARBs to finance their agri-production projects and activities. The APCP aims to achieve sustainable crop production and increase the incomes of ARBs and their households through the provision of credit and capacity-building assistance. The other DAR programs for ARBOs that could jibe with the thrusts and strategies of MIRDP are stocks and market liberalization, land reform (including the development of land markets), agro-processing and input supply channels, urban finance, and market institutions. MRIDP's MASAGANA stands for MAtatag (climate change adaptation or resiliency), SAma-sama (clustering and consolidation of farms), GAnado (motivated farmers in the rice value chain), and NApapanahon (digital transformation to improve farming practices and program implementation). "MAtatag" aims to boost farmers' climate change resiliency by adjusting the planting calendar during the wet season, shifting main production to the dry season, and promoting crop diversification and crop-livestock-fisheries integration using balanced fertilization, proper irrigation, and other climate-smart practices. "SAma-sama" seeks to create economies of scale by clustering farmers and consolidating farms at the barangay and municipal levels and converging interventions. They will be linked to millers and the NFA, enabling cooperation between farmers, millers, and government institutions to achieve better prices, better quality rice, and appropriate seed distribution. This, too, is the essence of "GAnado", or the value chain approach. "NApapanahon" supports the first three approaches by providing timely and accurate information for decision-making, making interventions digitally based, location-specific, and efficient. The MIRDP will support rice clusters with seeds, fertilizers, and soil ameliorants; training-related activities; credit programs and loan facilities; crop insurance; market assistance; irrigation projects (NIS, CIS, and Small Water Impounding Projects), production and post-harvest machinery and equipment and facilities. The post ARBO value-chain strategy offers solid ground for MASAGANA rice program appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Tech advancements in agri sans job threats in Date 2024
Despite the pivotal role of technology, artificial intelligence (AI), and the Internet of Things (IoT) in agricultural development, farmers and laborers in Davao Region face no immediate threat......»»
First Gen income up 4 percent to P15.4 billion in 2023
Lopez-led power firm First Gen Corp. grew its income by four percent to P15.4 billion in 2023, from the previous year’s profit of P14.3 billion, mainly due to contributions from its geothermal subsidiary Energy Development Corp......»»
Ma-inspire, maantig ang puso sa pelikulang ‘White Bird: A Wonder Story’
NAAALALA niyo pa ba ang 2017 hit movie na “Wonder?” Makalipas ang pitong taon, mayroon na itong follow-up movie na pinamagatang “White Bird: A Wonder Story” na eksklusibong mapapanood sa Ayala Malls Cinemas. Ang bagong pelikula ay base rin sa nobela na isinulat ni RJ Palacio na author din ng “Wonder.” Inspiring at talaga namang.....»»
27 Moro cooperatives get agri inputs from BARMM
Up to 27 large cooperatives of marginalized farmers in Bangsamoro barangays in Cotabato province, mostly former Moro secessionist guerillas, had received P11.9 million worth of farming supplies and livestock feeds from the regional autonomous government......»»
‘Squid Game’ star O Yeong-su nakonbikto sa kasong sexual misconduct
Nakonbikto sa kasong sexual misconduct ang sikat nga “Squid Game” actor nga si O Yeong-su. Gikunpirmar kini sa usa ka local court niadtong Marso 15. Si Yeong-su gipasakaan og kaso nga sexual misconduct human sa iyang pagpasakit og usa ka babaye niadtong 2017. ALSO READ: ‘Squid Game’ star indicted over sexual misconduct Matud sa report.....»»
FACES OF CEBU: Regine Villamejor, 27, the ‘fisherman’s daughter’
CEBU CITY, Philippines — “My father told me one time that he wanted to sleep more, but he said (that) he had to work hard in order for me to continue my studies.” That is what 27-year-old Regine Villamejor told Cebu Daily News in 2017. Seven years later, Villamejor, who was known to the people.....»»
‘Squid Game’ star O Yeong-su ‘guilty’ sa kasong sexual misconduct
NAPATUNAYANG “guilty” o may pagkakasala sa kasong sexual misconduct ang sikat na “Squid Game” actor na si O Yeong-su. Kinumpirma ito mismo ng local court noong March 15 matapos siyang sampahan ng reklamo kaugnay sa pananakit niya sa isang babae noong 2017. Base sa report ng Suwon District Court, naganap ang insidente nang manatili ang.....»»
Blackwater relishes strong start
If Blackwater’s 3-0 start in the PBA Philippine Cup is a portent of things to come, Bossing team owner Dioceldo Sy said yesterday he’s enjoying the habit of winning. Only twice in 21 previous conferences has Blackwater gone over .500, posting identical 7-4 records in the 2017-18 Governors Cup and 2019 Commissioner’s Cup......»»
MNLF community gets agri-aqua livelihood aid
A peace and development community of the Moro National Liberation Front in this city has received assistance to boost its agri-aqua livelihood......»»
House probe on irregular sale of NFA rice set on March 7
The House agri committee will investigate on Thursday the disadvantageous sale of 75,000 sacks of deteriorating or aging rice by the NFA......»»