We are sorry, the requested page does not exist
Mayor orders probe on alleged consumption of confiscated fish by CLO Enforcement Team
Mayor orders probe on alleged consumption of confiscated fish by CLO Enforcement Team.....»»
Blue Eagles coach tempers Final Four expectations amid momentum
Ateneo Blue Eagles head coach Sergio Veloso is not getting ahead of himself as his team is slowly showing its form in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament......»»
NAIA sale to pay debts
Amid the excitement over the successful privatization of NAIA’s rehab and operation, Finance Secretary Ralph Recto mused about the future of NAIA beyond the 15-year San Miguel concession period......»»
DA chief orders transfer of suspended NFA supervisors’ authority
The transfer of authority of suspended warehouse supervisors of the National Food Authority has been ordered by Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. yesterday as NFA facilities remain closed amid the suspension order of the Office of the Ombudsman......»»
Pork SRP sought amid high retail prices
A suggested retail price on pork should be imposed amid high retail prices resulting from tight local supply caused by the African swine fever outbreak in the country, according to the Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines......»»
60 provinces still reeling from ASF
Up to 60 provinces and 492 towns are still grappling with African swine fever amid the continuous spread of the virus in the country, the Department of Agriculture said over the weekend......»»
Chile sees Philippines as market for pork
Chile sees strong growth potential for pork exports to the Philippines amid the country’s growing population and its fight with African swine fever......»»
Rice sufficiency a pipe dream?
An Indian agricultural economist advised the government to secure investments in rice farmland abroad as it believes the Philippines’ goal of rice self-sufficiency through domestic production is impossible. Dr. Samarendu Mohanty, former principal scientist at the International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines, said the country has smaller arable land to grow enough rice to satisfy consumer demand for the commodity amid its expanding population. “In other countries, they have arable land. The Philippines doesn’t have it because the country is an island nation,” he said during the recent 6th International Rice Congress in Pasay City. “You can take all the measures to expand productivity here, like having certified seeds and fertilizer, but I don’t think you’ll be self-sufficient with the population you have,” Mohanty added. The agricultural economist said the solution is to invest in farmland abroad under a backward linkage method. This distributes inputs from the farm sector to the non-farm sector, which includes agrochemicals, processing, and trading. “You need to find a country where this can be done legally and where there is land and water. Many African countries — Cambodia, Vietnam, and Myanmar — have bigger land the Philippines can invest in and get back the supply to the country,” Mohanty explained. “There’s an Indian company producing rice in Africa and exporting it somewhere else. The Philippines cannot invest in land in India because of land restrictions,” he added. ‘Out of luck’ According to the World Economic Forum, India is the world’s second-top rice producer after China. However, India and other countries recently announced they would limit their rice exports as consumer demand and commodity prices have risen in their local markets. “If you have to address it through imports and the exporting countries have food restrictions, then you’re out of luck. But if you have backward linkages, you can be assured that your rice was produced in Vietnam or another country. Nobody can take that away because that’s your investment,” Mohanty said. He said the government must create policies and conduct discussions with its foreign counterpart and business community abroad to negotiate investments in external rice production. “The government has to facilitate that. The private sector will enter if there’s assurance from the government that they can bring back rice to the country,” Mohanty explained. He said India will resume rice exportations in May next year, with the country’s total production of at least 135 million tons. A portion amounting to 25 million tons is usually left as surplus. The Indian embassy in Manila said on 18 October that India allocated 295,000 metric tons of rice to the Philippines, the biggest share of its non-basmati white rice export, following its bilateral talks with the Marcos administration in August. Department of Agriculture Undersecretary Mercedita Sombilla said the two governments and the private sector will still discuss the rice imports’ price terms. She, however, was optimistic that the rice imports would help stabilize the prices of the commodity in the domestic market. Mohanty said India will likely export more rice in the future. “There’s a green revolution happening in the eastern part now. I expect India to have more than 30 million tons of surplus,” he said. The post Rice sufficiency a pipe dream? appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Palawan still ASF-free
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan – Amid the recent outbreak of African swine fever in an island barangay in Palawan, the province’s veterinary chief said Friday that it is able to maintain its status as a “dark green zone” and can transport swine stocks to other parts of the country. The swift containment efforts of the disease, supported by vigilant surveillance conducted by the Provincial Veterinary Office and various provincial government offices, was the reason for sustaining its status as a free zone. ProVet officer-in-charge Dr. Darius Mangcucang explained that the color code shows that Palawan maintains its status as an “ASF-free zone” according to the national plan for prevention and control zoning established by the Department of Agriculture. “When we say ‘dark green zone,’ it means we are still ASF-free. Although we had an ASF incursion, the good thing is that we were able to contain it immediately. It didn’t spread beyond Barangay Cocoro,” said Mangcucang, adding that even Magsaysay remains free from ASF. His explanation followed the receipt of a letter from the Bureau of Animal Industry within the DA which supported ProVet’s request to retain Magsaysay town and the entire province in the “dark green zone,” given that the ASF case in Barangay Cocoro had been effectively isolated. In addition to reaffirming Palawan’s ASF-free status, Mangcucang highlighted that the BAI had also bestowed Magsaysay and Cuyo with Recognition of Active Surveillance for ASF certificates. The recognition was granted after blood samples collected from the swine populations in these two municipalities between 18 and 19 September tested negative for the disease. He emphasized that this successful testing was the basis for the BAI’s confirmation of Palawan’s ongoing status as ASF-free. The post Palawan still ASF-free appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
IMF board approves $300-M loan for Burkina Faso
The International Monetary Fund's (IMF) executive board approved a $300 million loan agreement for the West African nation of Burkina Faso to help bolster its economy and reduce poverty. The landlocked country has had two military coups since January last year, while contending with a deteriorating security situation and multiple economic shocks, including the war in Ukraine and the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The four-year loan agreement worth around $302 million, should "create fiscal space for priority spending, strengthen resilience to shocks while reducing poverty, and bolster fiscal discipline, transparency and governance," the IMF announced in a statement. Burkina Faso saw its fiscal buffers eroded "substantially" last year, along with a sharp decline in economic growth, according to the IMF. "Burkina Faso faces a challenging macroeconomic outlook amid large development and security needs, compounded by acute food insecurity and long-standing fragility," IMF Deputy Managing Director Kenji Okamura said. "For the country’s long-term development process, it remains essential to sustain structural reforms to foster economic growth and diversification as well as to reduce poverty," he added. Burkina Faso has been battling a deadly jihadist insurgency since 2015, a spillover from the conflict in neighboring Mali which has also affected its eastern neighbor Niger. All three countries have had military coups since 2020. More than 40 percent of Burkina Faso's population lives in poverty, according to the IMF, while the UN refugee agency estimates that more than two million people are internally displaced as a result of "persistent insecurity." The post IMF board approves $300-M loan for Burkina Faso appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Morocco medics face flow of quake victims with limited resources
The hospital in Amizmiz caring for Moroccans injured in the earthquake is now a tent pitched on asphalt under a blazing sun, and it has only around a dozen beds. When one bed becomes free, it is immediately filled again as the flow of victims from the disaster keeps on coming from villages at the foot of the Atlas mountains. Three days after Friday night's quake, the strongest ever to hit the North African country, relief workers are battling to cope in the aftermath. Patients are now being cared for under the large grey tent because of fears that the hospital building itself may be vulnerable to aftershocks. An ambulance brings the latest victim, 81-year-old Lhoucein Barouj whose leg is fractured. The old man has a haggard look, his mouth open. Relatives said he was seen by a traditional osteopath, but this will be the first hospital treatment he has received in three days. He has not had any pain relief either. "We had to carry him out of the house ourselves in a blanket and carry him for kilometers (miles)," said his daughter Habiba. Then "we waited in a field" for helpers, who came eventually to their village, Ait Mbarek. As in other mountainside villages hit by the 6.8-magnitude quake, landslides have blocked access, and a shutdown in communications has also delayed treatment for many of those affected. Basic care The quake struck southwest of the tourist center of Marrakesh, killing more than 2,800 people and injuring a similar number, according to the latest official figures. Most of the victims were in Al-Haouz province, where the epicenter was. On Monday, some arrivals seeking medical help looked exhausted and disoriented, among them a little girl in a Bugs Bunny T-shirt, her head bandaged as she lay cradled in her father's arms. The hospital at Amizmiz is local, and can handle basic medical care. But "we can't treat everything here", said ophthalmologist Doha Hamidallah. "We handle primary treatment such as sutures and fractures. But more serious cases are sent to Marrakesh University Hospital" some 50 kilometers (30 miles) away, she said. Hamidallah, who is in her 30s, arrived from Casablanca on Sunday to help along with "dozens of other doctors of all kinds from all over the kingdom". They take it in turns to triage patients. Tired and overwhelmed nurses deal with the flow of new patients arriving in private, public or military ambulances amid the clatter of helicopters above. Others distribute medicine to those who need it, mostly people with diabetes. "We also have to treat patients who were not injured directly by the quake, but who've been unable to get their medicine," said Christophe, a carer with the Moroccan Red Crescent. The first hours after the quake were difficult in the small hospital. "In terms of coordination, we could only go with the flow," said Dr Hamidallah. Mobile teams A voice is raised behind her, adding to the hubbub. "We need someone local who knows the area. Anybody?" A team is being formed at short notice to head out to houses in Anougal which have been cut off. "We send out mobile teams with doctors to the isolated villages," explained Christophe. Soldiers have also set up a field hospital nearby, and some 35 kilometres further east the authorities are putting up a temporary clinic with prefabricated buildings. This is at the entrance to Ouirgane, parts of which have been badly affected. Another military hospital was deployed on Monday morning in Asni village. More than 300 patients have already been admitted, military doctor Colonel Youssef Qamouss told AFP. Organising care has been complicated, but vital to manage stocks of the medical equipment available. John Johnson of the French group Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders), awaiting a green light from the authorities to help, said the Moroccans are coping well. "They have everything they need for primary care, but some things are lacking for trauma patients" such as anti-tetanus shots and painkillers, he said. There will also be a need for mental care in the days and months to come, he added. A few streets away, life has come to a standstill. One man stands with his arms crossed, staring at what used to be his home. The post Morocco medics face flow of quake victims with limited resources appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bontoc town bans pigs, pork products entry
BAGUIO CITY — The local government of Bontoc town in Mountain Province announced that it is temporarily banning the entry of hogs and pork products from the lowland municipalities amid reported cases of the African swine fever in other areas, particular in Cervantes, Ilocos Sur. In a public advisory, Bontoc Mayor Jerome Tudlong Jr. warned residents of the town to be aware of ASF cases logged in backyard farms of Cervantes and is said to be fast spreading in nearby areas. “To prevent further spread of this disease and to help protect the livelihood of our swine raisers against the re-infection of ASF in our municipality, the entry of live swine/pigs, pork, locally processed pork products and by-products from the said area is hereby temporarily suspended,” Tudlong said. To recall, the hog disease was earlier detected in a barangay in Cervantes last July this year, which prompted other towns of Ilocos Sur to safeguard their borders to ensure that no pigs or pork products can enter their areas of responsibility. On 24 July 2023, the provincial government of Benguet issued a temporary ban of entries of hogs and swine products from Cervantes. In the first week of August, Abra Province and Bauko, Mountain Province did the same. Checkpoints were setup in the boundaries of Ilocos Sur and nearby provinces. On 12 August, three hog traders were intercepted transporting 11 pigs from Cervantes. The post Bontoc town bans pigs, pork products entry appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Mt. Province capital bans live pigs, pork from Ilocos Sur town due to ASF
The town of Bontoc in Mountain Province has temporarily banned hogs and pork products coming from lowland municipalities — particularly Cervantes, Ilocos Sur — amid a rise in cases of African Swine Fever (ASF)......»»
Dinagat eyes state of calamity amid ASF rise
BUTUAN CITY — The local government of Libjo in Dinagat Islands is recommended to be placed under a state of calamity as a consequence of the continued increase of African swine fever cases. The recommendation was pushed by the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council led by Libjo Mayor Melody Llamera Compasivo to the Sangguniang Bayan a day earlier. “The people in the municipality are alarmed by the rising cases of ASF. A solution to deter the further spread of the ASF is necessary,” said the MDRRMC’s statement. The state of calamity proposal was approved by both the MDRRMC members and the 16 barangay chairpersons of the town. “Based on the data provided by the Municipal Agriculture Office, six barangays in the town are already affected by the ASF,” the statement said. As of 7 August, some 163 heads of hogs were already culled in the affected barangays as a measure to stop the spread of the disease to other villages. The MDRRMC has suggested the installation of footbath checkpoints at the entry points of barangays that have not yet been impacted by ASF. Also, the council proposed that the sale of live hogs and pork by-products should only be permitted in barangays that have not yet been impacted by the disease. The Libjo SB is expected to make the declaration during its regular session this week. In other developments, the ASF has also invaded the Antique Swine Production and Artificial Insemination Center in Sibalom town. Public Health Division of the Provincial Veterinarian chief Dr. Marco Rafael Ardamil explained that the ASPAIC is the source of the piglets being dispersed by the provincial government for the sugar migrant workers and other Antiqueños requesting livelihood projects. ASPAIC in Barangay Pangpang used to have 62 hogs but one boar died on 26 July, while 61 others, including eight sows, eight gilts, two boars, 19 weanling pigs and 24 piglets, were depopulated on 2 August. Ardamil said he immediately did a necropsy and submitted a blood sample for testing to the Department of Agriculture Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory after the incident on 26 July. The post Dinagat eyes state of calamity amid ASF rise appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Algeria battles raging wildfires that have killed 34
Algerian firefighters were Tuesday battling blazes that have killed 34 people across the tinder-dry north, destroyed homes and coastal resorts and turned vast forest areas into blackened wastelands. Witnesses described fleeing walls of flames that raged "like a blowtorch", and TV footage showed charred cars, burnt-out shops and smoldering fields and scrubland as thousands of residents were evacuated. Severe fires raged through the mountain forests of the Kabylia region on the Mediterranean coast, fanned by hot winds amid blistering summer heat that peaked at 48 degrees Celsius (118 degrees Fahrenheit) Monday. President Abdelmadjid Tebboune sent his condolences to the families of those killed -- among them 10 soldiers trapped by flames at Beni Ksila, in Bejaia province, according to the defense ministry. Authorities reported progress in fighting back the almost 100 fires reported in recent days, having mobilized more than 8,000 civil defense personnel, over 500 fire trucks and multiple chartered aircraft. "Out of 97 declared fires, only 15 remained" at 8:30 am (0730 GMT) Tuesday, including two in worst-hit Bejaia, civil defense information officer Karim Belhafsi said on national television. The interior ministry expected to soon announce "the total extinction of all fires", he said, as the public prosecutor of Bejaia ordered an investigation into the causes of the fires and possible perpetrators. An unknown number of people suffered injuries from burns to smoke inhalation, and more then 1,500 were evacuated as the fires hit 15 provinces, especially Bejaia, Bouira and Jijel. Climate change and drought Much of the water-scarce northern African region has been hit by serious drought, severe summer heat and regular wildfires, a trend expected to worsen as climate change intensifies. Serious fires have also raged in recent days in neighboring Tunisia, especially the northwestern Tabarka region. An AFP team there witnessed significant damage and saw helicopters and Canadair water bombers in action. More than 300 people were evacuated from the coastal village of Melloula by boat and overland. Northern and eastern Algeria battle forest fires every summer. In August last year, 37 people were killed by fires in the northeastern El Tarf region, a year after 90 died, mostly in Kabylia. To prepare for this year's fire season, Algerian authorities deployed observation drones and created multiple helicopter landing sites. The government in May announced the purchase of a large water bomber aircraft and the rental of six others from South America. Algeria also placed an order with Russia for four water bombers, but reported that their delivery was delayed by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The post Algeria battles raging wildfires that have killed 34 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Negros Occidental ships out 10,000 hogs amid ASF scare
Amid the spread of African swine fever and other hog diseases, Negros Occidental has shipped out 10,000 healthy pigs to other provinces and cities in the country, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said yesterday......»»
Aquaculture pushed amid El Niño declaration
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said that the government will continue to improve infrastructure and systems to maintain the favorable status of aquaculture production in the country. Marcos made the statement on the sidelines of Livestock Philippines 2023 in Pasay, where he was asked how the government plans to maintain the production volume of aquaculture despite the declaration of the El Niño phenomenon by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration. “Well, we have to adjust to it in the sense that we must accept the fact that this is the new normal,” Marcos said. “These challenges are what we will face. So, we will continue to improve the infrastructure and systems.” The President added that the government is confident that it can solve the problem of water scarcity when it comes to livestock production. However, he said crops will have a harder time during El Niño. He also expressed confidence that the government will be able to control African Swine Fever and Avian influenza, which is the biggest issues facing the livestock industry. “So, slowly, it seems that we are able to control it, and we see that the supply here is good,” Marcos said. “The prices are not fluctuating too much; they are relatively stable.” The Chief Executive also said that the government will continue investing in research and development to improve the country’s aquaculture production, adding that the government would improve aquaculture products’ marketing and distribution. “That’s why I think as long as we continue to do this and further develop and take advantage of all these new vaccines that are coming out, we will be able to sustain it — not only sustain it but also improve it, make it more efficient, make it more streamlined,” Marcos said. In other developments, Quirino Governor Dax Cua on Wednesday said that local governments are working together to address the effects of El Niño, which has been causing drought in many parts of the country. The post Aquaculture pushed amid El Niño declaration appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
No state of calamity in Negros Occidental
The provincial government of Negros Occidental is not keen on declaring a state of calamity amid an increase in hog deaths due to African swine fever and other diseases in the province......»»
Solon urges DoH mitigates ASF, avian virus
Senator Francis Tolentino on Saturday urged the Department of Health to assist the Bureau of Animal Industry to mitigate the outbreak of the African Swine Fever and Avian Influenza Flu in the country. In a radio interview, Tolentino asked new Health Secretary, Ted Herbosa to provide ASF and avian flu vaccines access to hog and fowl farmers, highly affected by the viruses. Tolentino lamented that the current policy only allows a limited number of doses for livestock and poultry. The senator asked the DoH to collaborate with BAI to address the limited vaccine stocks. “We have many farmers enduring the high prices of swine flu doses as pronounced by the Bureau of Animal Industry from P400 to P600. Can DoH link the farmers to the Bureau of Animal Industry so we can help them?” Tolentino asked Herbosa. In response, Herbosa said he will immediately reach out to the Department of Agriculture to sort things out. Tolentino recently filed Senate Resolution 580 which seeks to determine the appropriate government actions in preventing and controlling another possible outbreak of the avian influenza virus in the country. The national government should declare a state of national calamity amid the severe impact of ASF, he added. Reports submitted by the BAI showed that at least nine regions remained affected by avian flu as of 9 February, with more than 300,000 poultry mortalities have been recorded since the bird flu outbreak in 2022. In Negros Occidental, ASF has spread in hog farms with nine new cases reported in Victorias City, of the number, seven were brought to the Victorias Food Corp. slaughterhouse have tested positive for the virus. Earlier this month, the DA-BAI asked the Food and Drug Administration to certify a Vietnam-made African swine fever vaccine so it can immediately distribute doses nationwide. BAI assistant director Arlene Vytiaco previously said they are pushing for the avian flu vaccine after its trial has recorded positive results on pigs by producing antibodies. The vaccine was already endorsed to the FDA for the issuance of a Certificate of Product Registration. Vytico said the vaccine manufacturer is ready to supply 600,000 vaccines to the Philippines, however, it still requires a certification for commercial release of the vaccine in the country. The post Solon urges DoH mitigates ASF, avian virus appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
5 Negros LGUs ban hogs, pork products
The mayors of three towns and two cities in Negros Occidental have banned the entry of hogs and pork products from other areas in the province amid the spread of African swine fever and other swine diseases......»»