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SMC starts works on Pangasinan tollway
Food-to-infrastructure conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC) has started the civil works for the Pangasinan Link Expressway (PLEX), laying the bedrock for a P34-billion project that would improve travel and tourism in Northern Luzon......»»
Philippines bags $1.53B worth of investments in Australia
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has secured deals worth $1.53 billion or P86 billion in investments during the Philippine Business Forum at the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit in Melbourne, according to the Presidential Communications Office......»»
Mitsubishi bags P9 billion airport train deal
The supplier of the new generation trains for the Light Rail Transit Line 1 has bagged a P9-billion deal to provide the airport express for the North-South Commuter Railway......»»
SBMA officials in hot water
Subic Bay Freeport — Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority chairperson and administrator Jonathan Tan on Friday ordered the suspension of Seaport department manager Jerome Martinez and consultant Rico Reyes after various brokers said that they were allegedly extorted for their shipments in Subic Bay Freeport. In a meeting with port users at the Boardroom of the Administration Building, Tan assured that the SBMA will conduct a thorough investigation on the matter and would ensure a swift decision on the two officials. He added that he does not tolerate illicit activities such as extortion, citing that the agency will weed out any unscrupulous officials and consultants. Zambales Representative Jay Khonghun backed the decision of Tan, urging other port users to come forward and reveal their experiences regarding extortion inside the Freeport. “These brokers complained that they were being extorted for money, that alone is a clear indication of the actions being done against them. They only want to work and earn their money,” Khonghun said. Regarding the P3.6-billion drugs that were intercepted in Pampanga, Tan said that it was a controlled release in coordination with the SBMA, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, National Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Customs Port of Subic. The SBMA chief added that the controlled release is to apprehend those involved in the said shipment. “We are working with various agencies regarding the controlled release of the said drugs. The SBMA relinquishes the authority on the drugs and let the proper authorities handle the controlled release,” Tan said. The P3.6 billion worth of shabu was seized at a warehouse in Mexico on Wednesday and was intercepted by operatives from the BoC Port of Subic, NBI, the PDEA and the Department of Justice. Tan said that the 530 kilos of shabu is placed in mixed red tea bags and golden tea bags inside brown boxes. He added that the boxes also contained chicharon or dried fish. The post SBMA officials in hot water appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PBBM urged to appoint full-time DA chief
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. should appoint a “full-time and competent alter ego” to lead the Department of Agriculture, said Senator Francis Escudero on Monday. In a radio interview, Escudero lamented that the DA chief should address the challenges confronted by the agricultural sector with “urgency” including the administration’s campaign against rice smuggling and hoarding. “If that’s really important, it should have a full-time and dedicated secretary and not just a part-time one,” he lamented. While he understands the President’s desire to hold on to the position in a bid to “personally oversee” the sector, Escudero stressed that “there are too many national issues and concerns that Marcos has to attend to as head of state.” “The President’s intention was good. But the problem is, he has only one body, two hands and his 24 hours is for ours, too,” he added. Escudero further pressed the need to focus on resolving woes related to the agricultural sector, particularly rice smuggling and hoarding — which is mainly blamed for the high prices of rice in the markets. Also, Escudero reiterated his call to the government to expose the names of people, not just the trading companies, involved in rice smuggling and hoarding in the country. He said filing the appropriate charges must also be filed against them. The Bureau of Customs reported Saturday that it has seized P31.5 billion worth of smuggled goods, including agricultural products, from January to September this year. The majority of the items seized by the bureau were counterfeit items such as shoes, bags and clothes. The smuggled agricultural products were logged at P3.3 billion. Despite this huge amount of seizure accomplishments by the BoC, Escudero previously lamented that there were no charges filed against any individual involved in the smuggling. The post PBBM urged to appoint full-time DA chief appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Escudero urges Marcos to appoint full-time DA chief
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. should appoint a “full-time and competent alter ego” to lead the Department of Agriculture, said Senator Francis Escudero on Monday. In a radio interview, Escudero lamented that the DA chief should address the challenges confronted by the agricultural sector with “urgency” including the administration's campaign against rice smuggling and hoarding. “Kung mahalaga talaga iyan, kailangang may full-time at dedicated na kalihim at hindi part-time lamang (If that's really important, it should have a full-time and dedicated secretary and not just a part-time one,” he lamented. While he understands the President's desire to hold on to the position in a bid to "personally oversee" the sector, Escudero stressed that “there are too many national issues and concerns that Marcos has to attend to as head of state.” “Maganda ang intensyon ng Pangulo. Ang problema ay iisa lang ang katawan niya, dadalawa lamang ang mga kamay niya at ang 24 oras niya ay 24 oras din nating lahat (The President’s intention was good. But the problem is, he has only one body, two hands and his 24 hours time is for ours too),” he added. Escudero further pressed the need to focus on resolving woes related to the agricultural sector, particularly rice smuggling and hoarding, which are mainly blamed for the high prices of rice in the markets. Also, Escudero reiterated his call for the government to expose the names of people, not just the trading companies, involved in rice smuggling and hoarding in the country. He said appropriate charges must also be filed against them. The Bureau of Customs reported Saturday that it has seized P31.5 billion worth of smuggled goods, including agricultural products, from January to September this year. The majority of the items seized by the bureau were counterfeit items such as shoes, bags and clothes. The smuggled agricultural products were logged at P3.3 billion. Escudero had previously lamented that no charges have been filed against any individual involved in the smuggling of goods into the country. The post Escudero urges Marcos to appoint full-time DA chief appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
More rice, please
The distribution of confiscated rice to approximately 5,000 underprivileged beneficiaries in the Zamboanga Peninsula on Tuesday, led by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian, marked a significant step forward. The 5,000 bags of Jasmine rice, which accounts for approximately 11.8 percent of the total 42,180 bags of imported rice valued at P42 million confiscated by the Bureau of Customs-Port of Zamboanga in a raid on a warehouse in Barangay San Jose Gusu, Zamboanga City on 19 May, effectively addressed the immediate food requirements of some of the most impoverished beneficiaries residing in the municipalities of Tungawan, Sibuco and Zamboanga City. More indigents in the province struggling with food insecurity and lacking access to nutritious meals await the distribution of the remaining 37,180 bags. They, too, want to be assured of sustenance during times of hardship. A matter of concern, however, is the possibility that unscrupulous government officials may repurpose confiscated smuggled rice for their personal gain, instead of utilizing it for the intended public welfare. Over the weeks since August, a total of P940 million worth of smuggled rice was seized by authorities. In three warehouses in Bulacan, P500 million worth of smuggled rice was found. This was not confiscated though. The warehouses were just padlocked, and we are in the dark if charges were filed against the owners. An estimated P40 million worth of smuggled rice from Vietnam, Thailand, and China was seized in Bacoor, Cavite, and Pulang Lupa, Las Piñas, on 14 September. On 18 September, government agents raided warehouses in Tondo, Manila, where P400 million worth of suspected smuggled rice and other imported products were found. Confiscating smuggled goods, such as rice, should allow the government to tackle the illicit trade while ensuring fairness in the distribution of the seized items. We ought to exempt our country from the roster of developing nations because it is where the poor bear a disproportionate burden due to smuggling activities, making it imperative to prioritize their welfare over the interests of greedy traders in cahoots with corrupt officials. By ensuring a fair distribution of nearly a billion pesos worth of confiscated smuggled rice, the national government reduces the demand for illegal markets, discourages ongoing smuggling activities, and encourages legal channels for food distribution. Rather than going uneaten inside sealed warehouses or having them destroyed, distributing them prevents waste and maximizes their value for the benefit of those in need. While distributing them can address immediate food needs, it should only be part of a broader strategy to address poverty, promote sustainable livelihoods, and improve access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities for disadvantaged populations. In bridging the gap between the haves and have-nots, ensuring that even the most vulnerable members of society have access to basic necessities has taken off in Zamboanga. We keep our right fingers crossed that the distribution of hundreds of thousands of 25-kilo bags of smuggled rice reaches the tables of underprivileged Filipinos to signal genuine public goodwill and trust in authorities. On the left hand, we do the same thing that the government prioritizes efforts to identify and hold corrupt officials involved in smuggling accountable, ensuring that they do not benefit from the distribution of seized rice. The post More rice, please appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Extra rice, please
If only it were possible to give up rice, perhaps Filipinos once again grappling with rising prices of the grain would prefer something else to go with their daing or adobo. Alas, kare-kare, caldereta, and most sauce-y Pinoy dishes are no good without steaming white rice. It’s not all about taste or eating habits either. Most Filipinos eat a lot of rice because it is filling. A movie starring the comedian Dolphy featured a family sharing a plateful of rice, taking turns sniffing at a piece of salted fish before gobbling down a mouthful of the kanin (cooked rice). It filled their bellies and certainly fired up their imaginations. In fact, jokes abound about the Pinoy getting by with unli (unlimited) rice, a little soup, or even that fried chicken gravy. It is no laughing matter, however, that many of our kababayans cannot afford a balanced meal containing proper amounts of carbohydrates, proteins, and vegetables regularly. Rice is supposed to be cheap and readily available. Yet here we are, still on the hunt for the P20 per kilo rice promised during the last State of the Nation Address. We sent someone out to buy that rice, but he came back empty-handed. The cheapest kilo of rice, he said, cost P50. And news lately of rice prices expected to continue rising until September leaves us wondering — once again — how in the world did the agricultural Philippines end up importing rice in the first place? Vietnam, which learned rice technology from us, currently pegs the price at “$540 per metric ton, (or) about P30 to P32 per kilo,” said Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. president Danilo Fausto in a dzBB Super Radyo interview, as reported in a news article. This, he added, is higher than its prices at other times of the year, at “$420 to $440, about P23 to P24 per kilo.” We need to import rice so that the country will have enough supply, he said, suggesting that government should “intervene” and discuss the supply issue with our ASEAN neighbors. Some sources blame the rise in rice prices on “the effects of price manipulation and price speculation,” pointing a finger at businessmen who use the supply and demand equation to make more profit. On the other hand, price watchdogs say it’s the government that has failed to keep a tight rein on prices, letting the fluctuations happen because of inaction. But, perhaps, it is more of slow action that is ailing our government. The Commission on Audit’s latest report released this month flagged the Department of Agriculture over one, “its failure to distribute a total of 855,493 bags of rice seeds meant for farmers under the P10-billion Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund;” and two, failure “to distribute 2,088 pieces of farm machinery, out of the total 22,520 procured equipment.” Also, some “14,192 bags of rice seeds were damaged” while the rest were either donated or kept for the next planting season. Whatever may have caused these incidents, the fact remains that our farmers were “deprived of their needed assistance,” said CoA, and state funds have been likely wasted over damaged goods and equipment rusting in their yards. A review of the Rice Tariffication Law is once more called for. Better prioritization is also demanded of the agencies concerned tasked to support our farmers and the local production of rice, as well as those tasked to protect consumers from price hikes. If the world supply is low, we could try to eat less rice and try other alternatives. There’s always a choice of bread or corn, or even the much-derided kamote, to eat with your Iberian roast chicken — but for bangus, bistek, and sinigang — extra rice, please. The post Extra rice, please appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Pope winds up Portugal visit with big outdoor Mass
Pope Francis celebrated an open-air Mass before a huge crowd on Sunday at a waterside park near Lisbon to wrap up an international jamboree of Catholic youth. Around 1.5 million people attended the service at the Parque Tejo on the eastern outskirts of the Portuguese capital, the Vatican said. The crowd waved national flags and cheered as the 86-year-old pope arrived at the park, which was built for the occasion on a former landfill site. Many had camped out overnight in sleeping bags or floor mats after attending a vigil there held by the pope. "You are the hope of a different world," Francis said in his homily as many national flags fluttered in the sea of pilgrims. The leader of the world's 1.3 billion Roman Catholics also urged the pilgrims to pray for those who could not come "because of armed conflicts and wars". "There are many of them in our world. In thinking of this continent, I feel great sorrow for beloved Ukraine, which continues to suffer greatly," he added to applause. With little shade in the park, pilgrims protected themselves from the blazing sun with umbrellas or makeshift tents made from sheets. "It's extraordinary to be able to be here to see our Pope Francis who has managed to gather people from the whole world," Pimentel Gomes, a 52-year-old priest from Brazil, told AFP as he sat for breakfast before the Mass. Unforgettable days The pope, who now uses a wheelchair or walking stick to get around, addressed some 24,000 event volunteers on Sunday afternoon to thank them before flying back to Rome. "You have made these unforgettable days possible," he said. Francis is expected to give a press conference onboard the papal plane, which is set to land in Rome at around 10:15 p.m. (2015 GMT) This was his first foreign trip since he spent nine nights in hospital after undergoing hernia surgery in June. Charlotte Bordas, a 26-year-old who came from Mont-de-Marsan in southwestern France, said she was moved to see the pope had made the trip despite his health problems. "We see he's really tired, weakened, but he still took the time to come to see us, talk to us, and it is particularly touching for me to see him," she told AFP. Francis arrived in Portugal on Wednesday for World Youth Day, a six-day international Catholic jamboree featuring festive, cultural, and religious events. It comes as Francis attempts to galvanize young Catholics at a time when secularism and priest pedophilia scandals cause some to abandon pews in Europe. Room for everybody The pope met 13 victims of clerical abuse at the Holy See's diplomatic mission in Lisbon during his first day in Portugal. He also met 15 youths from war-torn Ukraine, visited a community center in Lisbon's impoverished Serafina neighborhood, and prayed at the shrine of Fatima north of the Portuguese capital. During his visit Francis stressed his call for inclusivity, telling the World Youth Day opening ceremony on Thursday that "in the Church, there is room for everyone". He then led the crowd of half a million people in a chant of "todos, todos, todos" or "everyone, everyone, everyone" to press his point. "It has been an extraordinary moment of joy, of energy, with remarkable speeches by the Holy Father," Portugal's Socialist Prime Minister Antonio Costa told public television RTP. Francis received an enthusiastic welcome throughout his visit to the Catholic-majority country, with well-wishers lining the streets to see him go by. World Youth Day, created in 1986 by John Paul II, is the largest Catholic gathering in the world and features a wide range of events, including concerts and prayer sessions. This edition, initially scheduled for August 2022 but postponed because of the pandemic, is the fourth for Francis after Rio de Janeiro in 2013, Krakow in 2016 and Panama in 2019. At the end of Sunday's Mass, the pope announced that Seoul in South Korea would host the next edition in 2027. The post Pope winds up Portugal visit with big outdoor Mass appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Pinyapel, Bakong products diversify, fight climate change
The Design Center of the Philippines has made 200 products out of Pinyapel, a paper from pineapple leaves, and Bakong, an aquatic plant, and helping build 60 small businesses while protecting the environment in the process. The Filipino-made products have resulted from 170 intellectual properties since 2019 under the center’s Smart Materials Development Program. This aims to conserve wastes and natural resources by transforming them into innovative products while generating jobs for the less privileged. “Pinyapel and Bakong highlight the design center’s response to the growing local and international call for global action on climate resiliency, addressing social, economic and environmental issues that threaten the general public,” Rose Marie O. Mendoza, the center’s chief industrial specialist, told the Daily Tribune last Friday. Mendoza, a recipient of this year’s The Eight Bravo Empowered Women Awards organized by the Security Bank Corp. and Zonta Club of Makati & Environs Foundation Inc., shared that the Philippines is the world’s third largest producer of pineapples. Alternatives to plastic Their leaves are processed mostly into alternatives to plastic packaging and dining materials in reducing air and garbage pollution. The DCP aims to help cut plastic production in the world by at least 300 million tons. Mendoza, however, said the center continues to explore other ways to use Pinyapel. “On top of this is a boiling pot of materials and products that has great potential to help the country mitigate climate change while brewing potential industries to contribute to the country’s economic complexity,” she said. Bakong, meanwhile, is a plant growing year-round near Bangalao Lake in Cagayan whose fibers are mostly used to make fabrics, furniture, bags and home accessories. Sustainable clothing material Mendoza said the DCP plans to increase manufacturing of Bakong as luxury brands have taken notice of the sustainable clothing material. Luxury clothes are projected to rake in global revenues up to $278 billion by 2031, more than double of the $103 billion this year. “Supported by the sustainable research and development framework of creation-protection-commercialization -industrialization, the design center will not stop introducing new products to the market, rather push these materials and products to scale,” she said. The DCP is an agency of the Department of Trade and Industry mandated to promote design as a creative tool towards the production of new products, purpose-driven design decisions and human-centered products and systems that improve the quality of human life. The post Pinyapel, Bakong products diversify, fight climate change appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Poe warns impact of India’s rice export ban
The Philippines should brace for the impending impact of the recent rice export curb by India, Senator Grace Poe warned Wednesday. Poe, who chairs the Senate panel on economic affairs, said the export ban was “unfortunate” coming at a time when hectares of Philippine rice fields were flooded due to the typhoons and monsoon rains. “We cannot blame India for their decision. They have an obligation to prioritize their 1.4 billion citizens,” she said in a statement. India, the world’s largest rice exporter, announced on 20 July it was banning non-basmati white rice exports to stem domestic inflation. On Tuesday, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the concurrent secretary of the Department of Agriculture, expressed concern about the negative effect of typhoon “Egay” on the country’s rice production. Agriculture Undersecretary Mercedita Sombilla earlier revealed the government’s plan to import 1.3 million metric tons of rice. The National Food Authority on Tuesday reported that the rice stockpile is good for only two days, which falls short of the minimum inventory requirement to help the Philippines ride through calamities. The NFA added that its buffer stock as of 30 June is 1.22 million bags or 60,819.95 metric tons or MT. It is just enough for two days based on a daily rice consumption rate of 679, 670 bags or 33,983.5 MT. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the Philippines is only 81.5 percent rice self-sufficient, which means the rest of its requirement is imported. “The reasons for such high import dependence are too many to discuss here. Simply put, our agriculture sector is not blessed with either good geography or good governance,” Poe said. Last year, the country imported 3.79 million MT of rice, including 3.16 million MT from Vietnam. The next largest import partners were Myanmar, Pakistan, and Thailand. From India, the Philippines imported a mere 10,045 MT. “But this does not exclude us from the collateral impact of their decision. The decline in global supply from the biggest rice exporter is expected to cause a spike in global rice prices because of speculation,” Poe said. Data showed that non-basmati rice, the category subject to the ban, accounts for roughly 81.2 percent of India’s total rice exports. “This means that in one fell swoop, India has created a 17.86-million MT shortage in the global rice market. Those who will fill that gap can certainly charge a premium,” Poe said. She added that Vietnam, which supplies more than 90 percent of the Philippines’ rice imports, has increased its price to $600 per MT compared to the previous $500 per MT. The post Poe warns impact of India’s rice export ban appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Global wearable firm moves to Vietnam
The government should work harder in pursuing a free trade agreement, or FTA, with the European Union, or else the wearables sector will be “collateral damage” in the tough competition against ASEAN neighbors. This is after the Confederation of Wearable Exporters of the Philippines or CONWEP executive director Maria Teresita Jocson-Agoncillo revealed that a global brand has already folded and packed things up to transfer to Vietnam. “It is because Vietnam has an FTA with the European Union. They enjoy zero tariffs because their exports are Europe bound. Here, they are paying 12 percent duties,” Jocson-Agoncillo said on the sidelines of the EU-Phl FTA press briefing on Tuesday at the Board of Investments. Asked for the name of the brand, the CONWEP executive did not divulge the brand, as she is a signatory of a non-disclosure agreement with the said brand. Aside from not having an FTA with the EU, workers in ASEAN competitors, such as Vietnam and Cambodia, have significantly low wages compared to the Philippines. Double-digit declines Further, Jocson-Agoncillo said their industry has experienced double-digit declines in 2022. “There are three reasons, the market, the global market, is slowing down. After the surge last year, I’m really getting fewer orders. We’re getting to be very uncompetitive. We just had a recent wage hike. So, there’s another one coming our way. Compared to Cambodia, and Vietnam, we’re reaching $8 minimum wage already. My competitors are at six and seven dollars a day. I have another wage hike coming,” she told reporters. On Tuesday, Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual said his department will make sure that the EU-PHL FTA will be realized under the term of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Benefits of EU-FTA Further, Jocson-Agoncillo said an increase of 300 percent in their exports is expected if the proposed free trade agreement with the EU is realized in the coming years, which can be leveled with the exports they are making to the United States. “We’re doing $200 million now for the European market. So easily, we can move forward to $600 million in the first two years. It can push on to a $800 million to $1 billion performance per year, the fourth or fifth year of implementation of the EU-FTA. I am now at $900 million for the US,” she said. Further, Jocson-Agoncillo stressed that export expansion would also result in more jobs for Filipinos in factories that produce wearables, namely clothing, footwear, textile and bags. “We can create about 120,000 to 250,000 new jobs,” she said. Aside from garments and wearables, BoI managing head Ceferino Rodolfo said other export products that would benefit are in the sector of agriculture. “Of course, there are also other sectors, in particular in the agricultural sector. If you look at the value profile of most advanced economies, the highly protected sectors would be the resource base. So, in particular agriculture, and then the garments are highly protected,” Rodolfo said. The post Global wearable firm moves to Vietnam appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DA admits rice supply tight
Ever the optimist, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assured the public on Tuesday the country has enough rice buffer stocks amid the agricultural damage wrought by typhoon “Egay” in Northern Luzon. In a short video message, Mr. Marcos said he had met with Department of Agriculture officials after “Egay” hit Northern Luzon and caused about P1.94 billion worth of damage to agriculture. He said he discussed the effects of the typhoon on rice production and how to ensure there will be enough rice stocks. “As of now, it appears that the supply is okay,” Marcos said. The President made the assurance after the National Food Authority, or NFA, said its buffer stock of rice was good only for two days and that it has to import 1.3 million metric tons to replenish this. In a Malacañang press briefing, DA Undersecretary Mercedita Sombilla revealed the government has received applications to import, and the sanitary and phytosanitary import certificates were being processed. “I think we really need the help of the private sector in situations like this,” Sombilla said. “Their support is crucial in a situation like this.” The DA said it was also looking at ways to boost the NFA’s buffer stock through contract-growing, among other measures, like asking rice cooperatives and farmers to sell all that they produce to the NFA. The government’s decision to import rice comes amid concerns about the tight rice supply. The Rice Tariffication Law mandates a nine-day buffer stock, but the NFA’s current inventory is seven days short of that. The DA was apparently caught unaware by the NFA pronouncement. “I will have to talk, to discuss (with the NFA) how they are coming up with that two days (of buffer stock). But, of course, their stocks really are very low,” Sombilla said. “I’m not sure if the two-day buffer stock is applicable nationwide,” she added, pointing out that the NFA’s stock “is intended for emergencies.” Also on Tuesday, the DA warned unscrupulous traders not to jack up rice prices on account of the weather disturbances. “This July, we were hit by typhoons. Based on our price monitoring, the prices of rice and vegetables went up, especially our imported rice,” said DA Deputy spokesperson Rex Estoperez. He said they had monitored price increases of P1.50 to P2 per kilo of rice following the recent typhoons. “Some traders are only after profits. We are asking them to keep prices reasonable. In our monitoring, rice prices had increased by P1.50 to P2 per kilo,” he added. Estoperez urged the public to stop buying more rice than they need. “If we panic, that will put more pressure on supply and prices,” he said. Local traders, on the other hand, blamed the rising prices of rice imported from Vietnam, Thailand and India for the increase in local retail prices. “Private traders are scaling down their imports because of rising international prices while holding on to their stocks and waiting for local prices to go up further,” said Raul Montemayor of the Federation of Free Farmers. Likewise, July and August are lean rice harvest months, he said. “If imports do not come in as needed in the coming months, we could have very tight supplies before harvests start in late September and peak in October and November. The typhoons could further delay harvests since farmers will have to replant,” Montemayor explained. He said the NFA can only stabilize the price of rice if it has enough inventory, but it has a low buffer stock because it failed to buy rice from local farmers due to the low prices it offered. The DA had previously said there was enough rice to cover year-round requirements despite the effects of the typhoons. ‘Importing again’ Noting the NFA pronouncement, the President said the government has already looked at rice sources, whether local or foreign, to purchase the Filipinos’ staple grain. “We have already made a schedule on where we will source our production, where we will make local purchases and, if necessary, we will proceed with importing again, Marcos said. “It’s good that in our discussion, we observed that our rice imports are decreasing. However, in emergencies like this, we need to assess whether there is still a need for rice importation,” he said. The DA will send 111,873 bags of rice seeds, 14,426 bags of corn seeds, and 2,582 kilos of different vegetable seeds to areas hit by Egay to increase local production and support. The post DA admits rice supply tight appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DA buffer stock of rice sufficient—PBBM
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has enough buffer stock of rice amid the agricultural damage left by Super Typhoon Egay in Northern Luzon, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assured on Tuesday. In a short video message, President Marcos said he met with DA leaders after Typhoon Egay hit Northern Luzon and caused about P1.94 billion worth of damage to agriculture. He said he discussed the effects of Typhoon Egay on the country's rice production and how to ensure there is enough rice. "As of now, it appears that the supply (of rice) is okay," Marcos said. On the other hand, the President said that they are still carefully looking at some "agricultural inputs" to ensure that the effects of "Egay" won't cause the price of rice on the market to go up. "We have already made a schedule on where we will source our production; where we will make local purchases; and if necessary, we will proceed with importing again," Marcos said. "It's good that in our discussion, we have observed that our rice imports are decreasing. However, in emergencies like this, we need to assess whether there is still a need for rice importation," he added. The DA will send 111,873 bags of rice seeds, 14,426 bags of corn seeds, and 2,582 kilograms of different vegetable seeds to areas hit by Egay to increase local rice production and production support. It also recommended to fast-track efforts for the distribution of readily available assistance to rice farmers, especially those in calamity-stricken areas, and ensure the availability of the Quick Response Fund for the immediate rehabilitation of affected areas to be augmented by credit assistance. One of the DA's suggestions is to buy available rice stocks right away at the lowest price possible to cover the 15-day buffer stock, as long as the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) and its rules and regulations are followed. The DA also said that families with less money should be able to get cheap rice through the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or the Food Stamp Program and that local government unit (LGU) resources should be used to respond to disasters. The post DA buffer stock of rice sufficient—PBBM appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Egay’s agri damage reached P1-B — DA
The Department of Agriculture on Saturday reported that damages to agri-products now reached the P1-billion mark. On its Bulletin No. 7 issued at 2:00 p.m. on 29 July 2023, the DA said the damage and losses brought by “Egay” have increased from P512.9 million to P1.36 billion with a volume of production loss of 62,259 metric tons, affecting 98,969 hectares of agricultural land and 91,268 farmers. The increase is due to the updated reports from Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Western Visayas, and Central Luzon. The affected commodities include rice, corn, high-value crops, livestock and poultry, and fisheries. Damage was also incurred in agricultural facilities and fishing paraphernalia. The following assistance is available for distribution to affected farmers and fishers: A total of 111,873 bags of rice seeds, 14,426 bags of corn, and 2,582 kilograms of assorted vegetable seeds from the regions affected by "Egay" (CAR, Regions I II, III, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, VI, and XIII); Drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry; fingerlings assistance to affected fisherfolk from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR); Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan Program from the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) with a loanable amount of up to PhP 25,000 payable in three years at zero interest; and Quick Response Fund (QRF) for the rehabilitation of affected areas. The post Egay’s agri damage reached P1-B — DA appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Solons hail benefits of new agrarian law
The newly enacted Republic Act 11953 or New Agrarian Emancipation Act, which was signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on 7 July, will not only liberate thousands of farmers from long-standing debts but is also expected to boost rice production in the country. Thus said Speaker Martin Romualdez, one of the principal authors of the House version of the legislation, who has high hopes the new law will significantly contribute to the country’s rice sufficiency. “Now that our farmers will soon be free of debt, I hope they will be able to increase their production to at least 100 50-kilo bags per hectare, from the present 60 to 70 cavans. But, of course, the government will have to help along the way,” Romualdez said yesterday. The enactment of the law, he said, also grants farmers additional resources to spend on essential needs such as food, education, shelter, wellness, and other family expenses that they would have had to skip otherwise due to the high cost of living that coincided with their unpaid debt. RA 11953 wrote off “all principal loans, unpaid amortization, and interest” of 610,054 agrarian reform beneficiaries totaling P57 billion from the time of the President’s father, Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. Farmers who were granted land under Presidential Decree 27, signed by Marcos Sr. in October 1972, were the beneficiaries of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program. Marcos Jr. earlier thanked the 19th Congress for expediting the legislation’s passage, which several administrations had failed to accomplish. With the enactment of the law freeing farmers from debt, Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, among the principal authors of the law, believes that it would likewise pave the way for the estate tax amnesty exemption for agrarian reform beneficiaries who transferred agrarian land to their heirs. “Good policy does not only seek to correct the mistakes of the past,” Salceda said, citing “the imposition of heavy debts and the tying up of agrarian land” as the key issues addressed by the newly enacted law. He added: “One of the reasons productivity from agrarian lands has stagnated is because they cannot be transferred to the younger generation of farmers, because of debts and attached liens, and the estate tax.” Agri boost Echoing Romualdez, Leyte Rep. Richard Gomez said the law would help improve the plight of the farmers, give a needed boost to the agriculture industry and ensure food security for the country. Gomez was also a proponent of the law. He said: “This gives hope to our farmers that soon, they will be the rightful owners of the land they have been tilling for decades, and that they would no longer be bound to serve and kowtow to the demands of wealthy landowners.” Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co also believes the New Agrarian Emancipation Act would give farmers a fresh start and the opportunity to improve their livelihood. “It is a positive move from the government to support and uplift our agricultural sector,” the chairman of the House appropriations panel added. The New Agrarian Emancipation Act is among the 33 measures the House has approved out of the 42 priority measures of the Marcos administration identified through the Legislative-Executive Advisory Council or LEDAC. The post Solons hail benefits of new agrarian law appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Restive Mayon now affects over 9.5K families in Albay
The number of families affected by the restive Mayon volcano in Albay province has significantly climbed to 9,571 families or 37, 231 individuals, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said on Wednesday. The latest figure is higher than the reported 3,876 families displaced on Tuesday. NDRRMC said 4,417 families equating to 15,502 persons are currently staying within 22 activated evacuation centers while the rest are either sheltered by their relatives or aided by friends. Some 41 search and rescue teams from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Bureau of Fire Protection are on-standby with 148 SRR mobility assets including 17 air, 103 land, and 28 water vehicles are ready to deploy if needed. The national government has already extended P33.64 million worth of assistance to the Bicol Region consisting of dinner, hot meals, distilled water in six-liter bottles, family food packs, hygiene kits, family and modular tents, sleeping bags, and other necessary items. The government has also pre-positioned a relief stockpile amounting to P2.57 billion from the Office of the Civil Defense and Department of Social Welfare and Development. The post Restive Mayon now affects over 9.5K families in Albay appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Holcim flagship cement now Excel ECOPlanet
Highlighting success in significantly reducing the product’s carbon footprint while still delivering equal to better construction performance, one of the country’s known building solutions providers, Holcim Philippines Inc. has rebranded its flagship blended cement, now calling it Excel ECOPlanet. During a recent launch in Pasay City, Holcim Philippines president and CEO Horia Adrian said Excel ECOPlanet will continue to provide excellent performance for general construction applications, with concrete made durable due to its high resistance to sulfate and low porosity. Using Excel ECOPlanet will also improve workability and minimize shrinkage and cracks in concrete, Adrian told reporters. First blended cement for construction Launched over 20 years ago, Excel was among the first blended cement produced by Holcim Philippines for general construction and has become one of the most trusted brands in the market with over two billion bags sold. Through the company’s continuous improvement initiatives, the product’s carbon footprint is now at least 30 percent lower than ordinary Portland Cement qualifying it to bear the ECOPlanet mark, which is reserved for the Holcim Group’s line of high-performance and eco-friendly types of cement. Introduced by the Holcim Group in 2021, ECOPlanet is said to be the world’s broadest range of green cement with at least 30 percent lower emissions to help builders all over the world reduce the carbon footprint of construction. “Excel ECOPlanet is an important milestone in our sustainability journey in the Philippines. It combines the strong legacy of Excel in the country and the Group’s direction of accelerating innovation to decarbonize buildings. We are proud that Excel is classified as an ECOPlanet product and excited to see our customers continue using this in building progress in the country,” according to Adrian. ‘Likas at Lakas’ Further, he said Holcim Philippines will run a campaign called “Likas at Lakas” to underscore its commitment to providing sustainable products for building strong and durable structures. Since 2018, Holcim Philippines has reduced its carbon footprint by more than 20 percent by producing more blended cement, replacing coal with qualified wastes as alternative fuels and raw materials, and improving the efficiency of operations. Moreover, the company has accelerated innovations to produce a wider variety of high-performance blended cement for specific applications such as Solido for roads, Aqua-X for water protection, and WallRight Prime for masonry. Holcim Philippines’ carbon footprint reduction program is aligned with the Holcim Group’s net zero direction and the country’s Nationally Determined Contributions. Aside from its own initiatives, Holcim Philippines is working with key stakeholders to encourage the consumption of low-carbon products to help reduce the footprint of the built environment. The post Holcim flagship cement now Excel ECOPlanet appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Another disgraceful police scandal
With too many whys, a clear-cut and independent full-blown investigation is imperative into the now infamous alleged police cover-up and pilferage of illegal drugs worth billions. But by any yardstick, the police can’t be a party to such an investigation. Not only because the investigation involves top police officers but also — and more damningly — because the police brass hasn’t been exactly forthright about their own promised probe of the disgraceful incident. In fact, Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos said that as early as February, his department had raised concerns to police brass about the slow pace of the police investigation into the arrest of Police Master Sergeant Rodolfo Mayo Jr., the seizure of illegal drugs worth P6.7 billion, and what happened to the drug haul afterward. Apparently, the concerns were ignored, forcing Mr. Abalos to launch another inquiry, this time with the National Police Commission in the lead. It was only after Mr. Abalos publicly disclosed what he described as a “massive attempt to cover up” Mayo’s arrest did the police brass divulge its investigation report that found a coterie of 49 Drug Enforcement Group officers and men liable for criminal and administrative charges amid irregularities in the illegal drug seizure. At the same time, police also officially divulged that some DEG officers speciously stole from the drug haul at least 42 kg of illegal drugs, that was found in an abandoned car near Camp Crame. Mr. Abalos wasn’t alone in raising suspicions about the slow pace of the official police probe into Mayo’s arrest last October, however. Last month, an evidently peeved Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, chairperson of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs, lashed out, saying that after six months the police special investigation task group looking into the incident still had nothing to show for it. “Why is it said that the PNP SITG is foot-dragging or dilly-dallying on their probe? Are they covering up for something we don’t know or are they still trying to make up a different script about his arrest and involvement in shabu stockpiling and possibly for recycling?” Mr. Barbers furiously asked then. Aside from these damning cover-up allegations, a flurry of other questions surfaced about Mayo’s arrest. CCTV footage, for instance, purportedly showed that instead of immediately spiriting away a handcuffed Mayo following his arrest in Tondo, Manila, police officers entered a nearby building with him and then suspiciously transferred bags and luggage into several vehicles. The building in question, which Mayo allegedly owned, was where the illegal drugs were stored. Even more puzzling, Abalos said, the police apparently already had Mayo in their custody even before the raid. A DEG report claimed he was arrested after a hot pursuit operation the following day. Worse, Mayo was even listed as an arresting officer in a different operation on the day of the raid. In the aftermath, other serious issues surfaced, including revelations of the disgusting practice of drug operatives setting aside 30 percent of seized illegal drugs to pay off informants. Nonetheless, the latest police scandal ricochets into broader issues like if the police organization can still restore integrity and professionalism in the ranks amid the temptations of lucrative criminal activities. Particularly so since the police brass haven’t so far demonstrated political will for serious reforms. Outgoing PNP chief Gen. Adolfo Azurin Jr., who is set to retire tomorrow (24 April), for instance, was reticent about the Abalos exposè until last week, only to issue a lame blanket denial that senior police officers had covered up the Mayo case. Yet, something must urgently be done about the increasing police involvement in mafia-life criminal undertakings. We can’t take such urgency lightly. A recent report by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Crime, for instance, predicts that emboldened Filipino mafia-style criminal groups, particularly state-embedded actors like the police, are going to step up their nefarious violent doings in the next few years. Not doing anything now therefore means we’ll end up paying a steep price later on. Email: nevqjr@yahoo.com.ph The post Another disgraceful police scandal appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
BOC seizes P10 billion fake goods
Government agents confiscated counterfeit signature bags, shoes and other products amounting to at least P10 billion during a raid on a storage facility in Binondo, Manila on Tuesday......»»