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Leave Agriculture, solon asks Marcos anew
Minority leader Marcelino Libanan renewed his call for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to leave the Department of Agriculture, which he concurrently heads, as he aims to help the country attain food security and sufficiency and address the deepening woes in the farming industry. In his counter SoNA delivered yesterday before House members, Libanan, who heads the Minority Bloc, said Marcos should appoint a full-time DA chief and focus on the business on the executive as it needs “undivided attention.” “The President’s mind needs to be freed from the nitty-gritty of a department-level affair,” the 4Ps solon contended during his speech. He continued by saying, “The whole bureaucracy — nay, the whole country — needs his undivided attention at the helm of the ship of the state. The Chief Executive should leave the agriculture portfolio to someone in his bosom confidence. The lawmaker further questioned why Marcos could not place a permanent DA chief just like he did in the Department of National Defense, now headed by Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, after months of being shepherded by caretakers. “Why can’t this administration find the same intelligence, the same gravitas for the full-time stewardship of the Agriculture department?” he asked. Libanan first aired a similar question during a probe into the sugar fiasco (Sugar Order 4) in the House of Representatives last year, which the Malacañang refused to comment. Libanan pointed out that while food security is a pressing concern, it is, however, subsumed in the far larger concern of national security. “The former can be delegated to a subaltern, but the grander national security should be handled by no less than the Chief Executive himself,” Libanan continued. Marcos maintaining his position in the Agriculture portfolio drew mixed reactions from several lawmakers, with others agreeing he should stay in the post. Last June, Mr. Marcos announced that he would remain in the position as the Agriculture chief in light of the deepening woes hounding the industry of agriculture. He also expressed confidence that he can push reforms in the sector since he is in a position where stakeholders “cannot say no” to him as the President. The post Leave Agriculture, solon asks Marcos anew appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DTI chief asks EU: Upgrade GSP deal
It is high time for the government to initiate free trade agreement talks with the European Union, Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual said on Tuesday. Pascual said this during the Malacañang press briefing after reporters asked the Trade chief on the updates of the free trade agreement and the Generalized System of Preference Plus or GSP+ trade with the bloc. “I’ll be going to Brussels towards the end of June to follow-up on the EU GSP+ and also potentially the free trade agreement with the EU,” Pascual said. “We need to start negotiating a free trade agreement, so that’s what we’re discussing and we’ll see. We have support from businesses in Europe that are operating in the Philippines and some members of the European Parliament,” he added. Price of development However, Pascual said the Philippines will no longer be eligible for the GSP+ benefits once it transitions to an upper-middle income country. “This was mentioned to me by the parliamentarians who visited my office. I said we need to initiate the negotiations on a free trade agreement,” Pascual added. Last year, National Economic and Development Authority Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said that the Philippines had the potential to attain the status of an upper-middle-income country by 2024. As per the World Bank’s classification, an upper-middle-income country refers to a nation with a gross national income (GNI) per capita ranging between $4,096 and $12,695. The economic officials from the previous administration believed that this achievement could have been accomplished earlier if it weren’t for the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, the Philippines has actively pursued the establishment of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Union (EU). President Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr held a meeting with Ursula Von der Leyen, the President of the European Council, during the ASEAN-EU summit in Belgium last year. The post DTI chief asks EU: Upgrade GSP deal appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PRO-Davao no idea of Quiboloy’s whereabouts
THE Police Regional Office-Davao Region (PRO-Davao) has responded to the accusations of Makabayan ACT Teachers Party-List Rep. France Castro that they are “clueless about the whereabouts of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy”......»»
Baltimore Bridge collapse: Police had about 90 seconds to stop traffic before bridge fell
BALTIMORE — It was the middle of the night when a dispatcher’s warning crackled over the radio: A massive cargo ship had lost its steering capabilities and was heading toward the Francis Scott Key Bridge. Within about 90 seconds, police officers who happened to be nearby responded that they managed to stop vehicle traffic over.....»»
The future of food
I met Ella, Singapore's first robotic barista, at Changi International Airport. Ella serves various drinks non-stop, from a classic latte to a Pandan Tea latte......»»
Stop motorcycle taxi expansion, Marcos urged
Various transport groups yesterday appealed to President Marcos to stop the expansion of motorcycle taxis in Metro Manila amid the impending decision of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board o authorize several companies as players in the pilot study......»»
Low subsidy forces LRTA to cut budget for train rehab
The Light Rail Transit Authority is cutting its budget for the restoration of trains to make the most of the lower subsidy given to the agency this year......»»
SEC formally asks NTC to block Binance
In a letter to the NTC, SEC Chairperson Emilio Aquino says Binance 'poses a threat to the security of the funds of investing Filipinos'.....»»
Rama asks Malacañang to suspend Gwen over CBRT dispute
CEBU CITY, Philippines – Preventive Suspension. Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama is seeking the suspension of Governor Gwen Garcia over issues related to the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT). Rama filed an administrative complaint before the Office of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. against Garcia after the governor issued a cease and desist order to the.....»»
Blinken Arrives in South Korea to Attend Democracy Summit
Seoul, South Korea - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived Sunday in South Korea on the first stop of a brief Asia tour also including the Philippines, as Washington moves to reinforce ties with two key regional allies.Blinken landed Sunday afternoon ahead of the third Summit for Democracy on Monday, an initiative of U.S. President Joe Biden, which Seoul is hosting this week.Before arriving in Se.....»»
US State Secretary Blinken begins Middle East tour, marks his first stop in Saudi Arabia
Jeddah [Saudi Arabia], March 21 (ANI): US State Secretary Antony Blinken who began his Middle East tour arrived in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, marking his first stop on this trip to discuss efforts to reach an "immediate ceasefire agreement" between Israel and Hamas, The New York Times reported. Blinken's visit to Jeddah came as US President Joe Biden's administration was hoping it could convince Saudi Arabia to establish.....»»
DepEd asks teacher to explain scolding of students in viral video
DepEd has issued a show cause order against a public school teacher who went viral for scolding her students while live-streaming on TikTok — an incident that some believe is an overstep in classroom discipline but educators say is proof of deeper issues in the school system......»»
Explainer: What is Ramadan and why does it require Muslims to fast?
Ramadan, a holy month of fasting in Islam, begins this week, and asks Muslims to give thanks to God for the sustenance the Earth provides.....»»
Pope Francis asks aide to read ceremonial speech due to bronchitis
Afterwards, the pope is able to meet German Chancellor Olaf Scholz during an audience at the Vatican.....»»
People Power
A child asks her aunt to explain the People Power photographs on display at the MIC Cursillo House in Davao City on Sunday (25 February 2024), the 38th commemoration of the People Power Revolution. MindaNews photo by CAROLYN O. ARGUILLAS.....»»
OSG asks SC to review, recall protection writs granted to green activists
The two environmental activists, who were abducted in September 2023, received an arrest warrant on Tuesday, facing charges of oral defamation......»»
Sony to Kick Off Its Creators Workshop Series
Indulge in a day filled with inspiration and creativity at the first-ever Sony Creators Workshop with lifestyle and travel content creators Cha Ocampo, Janina Manipol, and Gabs Gibbs. The first workshop will be on February 21, at 4 PM at Pat’s Putts, Ayala Center Bloc, Cebu featuring Cha Ocampo. Sony’s Creators Workshop, inspired by the […].....»»
Muslim-Christian peace bloc provides free BARMM, Region 12 CS exam review
Peace advocates have fused ranks to provide free civil service (CS) exam review for marginalized Moro residents in Bangsamoro provinces and in nearby towns and cities in Region 12......»»
NEDA’s bid to scrap telcos’ congressional franchise requirement opposed
The head of the 28-member minority bloc in the House of Representatives has opposed a proposal of the National Economic and Development Authority to scrap the legislative franchise requirement for telecommunications companies......»»
DepEd to push for additional benefits for teachers
he Department of Education will push for “additional benefits” for teachers before Congress, amid a pending bill filed by the Makabayan bloc seeking to increase teachers’ monthly salary to P50,000......»»