Agriculture modernization still priority for 2021
As the new year ushers in, the government is still banking on the mechanization and industrialization of the agriculture sector to boost the growth of the farm sector and contribute further to economic recovery......»»
Mandaue hydroponics farming gets boost
The Department of Agriculture in Central Visayas has recently provided farmers of the Casili Farmers Association in Barangay Casili, Mandaue City with hydroponics farming and organic fertilizers. Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes said Casili farmers started cultivating the 2,000-square-meter farmland in 2021 and it was only in January that farmers started to plant vegetables such as sponge gourd, eggplant, kamote tops and more. “The land called Casili Community Garden is a private lot. But with the effort of our Casili barangay captain, he was able to secure clearance from its owners and turn it into a farm,” the mayor said. Cortes said that the project transformed more organic waste into fertilizers and use recyclable waste, such as plastic bottles, to serve as do-it-yourself plant pots which contributed to the city’s decreasing waste collection. He added that Mandaue’s waste is 27 percent organic, 36 percent recyclable, 35 percent residual and two percent special waste such as treated medical waste, sludge and grease trap waste. The post Mandaue hydroponics farming gets boost appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Dust in the air worsened in 2022: UN
The amount of dust in the world's air worsened in 2022, the United Nations said on Thursday, as it called for more research into how climate change may increase sandstorm hotspots. The UN's World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said the slight rise was due to increased emissions from west-central Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, the Iranian Plateau and northwestern China. "Human activities are having an impact on sand and dust storms," WMO chief Petteri Taalas said in the global weather agency's Airborne Dust Bulletin. "For example higher temperatures, drought and higher evaporation lead to lower soil moisture. Combined with poor land management, this is conducive to more sand and dust storms." The annual WMO report looked at the incidence and hazards of dust storms and their impact on society. "The global average of annual mean dust surface concentrations in 2022 was slightly higher than that in 2021," it said. Last year's figure was 13.8 micrograms (one millionth of a gram) per cubic meter; in 2021 the figure had been 13.5. The peak estimated annual mean dust surface concentration was located in the Bodele region in Chad, with a figure between 900 and 1,200 micrograms per cubic meter. In the southern hemisphere, the highest concentrations were found in central Australia and the west coast of South Africa, with figures between 200 and 300. Darkened skies "Every year, around 2,000 million tonnes of dust enters the atmosphere, darkening skies and harming air quality in regions that can be thousands of kilometers away, and affecting economies, ecosystems, weather and climate," the report said. "Much of this is a natural process, but a large part of it is the result of poor water and land management." The bulletin detailed three major incidents in 2022, including the March "exceptional dust outbreak" from northern Africa over Spain and Portugal. European Union air quality regulations set a mean daily limit of 50 micrograms, but in southeastern Spain peak hourly values topping 3,500 were recorded. The severe dust storm over the Middle East in May which "dramatically reduced the visibility all over the region" and the cropland dust storm in the eastern United States that month were also detailed. "Sand and dust storms have impacts on health, on transport including aviation, ground transportation, road and railroad transportation and agriculture. This affects public health and safety, and economies," said Taalas. The bulletin called for further research into dust storms and climate change, which remain largely "unexplored". The WMO wants the whole world covered by weather disaster early warning systems within four years to protect people from the worsening impacts of climate change. Taalas wants dust storm forecasting skills and warning services brought under the same umbrella. The post Dust in the air worsened in 2022: UN appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Villanueva urges DA to address over 3.5K unfilled positions
The Department of Agriculture should address the lingering problem of unfilled positions in its agencies, Senate Minority Leader Joel Villanueva stressed Thursday. During the Senate’s Finance Subcommittee B hearing on the proposed 2024 budget of the DA and its attached agencies, Villanueva grilled agriculture executives over the increasing number of unfilled positions in the department from 2021 up to 2014. In his presentation, Villanueva said he number of unfilled positions has increased from 3,451 in 2021 to 3,579 a year later, in 2022. Although it went down to 3,566 in 2023 and the number remained until 2024, Villanueva lamented that the number is still higher than in 2021. “Walang diperenseya. Walang nangyari. Baka naman po ‘yung position diyan ay inutil talaga, mahirap i-fill up, mataas 'yung requirement tapos ang baba ng sweldo kaya walang naga-apply. But you let us know,” he said. Villanueva also questioned the department’s 5,765 job orders and contract of service personnel. He asked if these personnel have no chance to fill the vacant permanent positions in the department. “What would you feel if you were one of the 5,765 job order personnel? Would you be able to sleep at night or pray, hoping that the numbers would somehow change in the next two years? Is there a chance to change it?” Villanueva asked. In response, the DA officials said they are in the process of filling up the positions. DA assured the Senate that a substantial number of vacant positions will be occupied by next year. Villanueva then suggested the DA should conduct a “right-sizing” in its agency if it would really be hard for them to fill in the existing positions. The post Villanueva urges DA to address over 3.5K unfilled positions appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Marcos OKs P12.7-B cash aid to rice farmers
Malacañang on Saturday announced that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has approved the release of P12.7 billion worth of cash aid to farmers under the government's Rice Farmers Financial Assistance program. Marcos also ordered the immediate distribution of assistance to augment the productivity challenges confronting rice farmers in the country. “[This would] help them cope with the increasing cost of production and sustain their productivity even in the face of challenges like the coming El Niño [phenomenon],” P Marcos said. Under the RFFA, the government has identified about 2.3 million small-time rice farmer beneficiaries, who signed up to the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture, on 30 June 30, 2023. Each beneficiary will receive P5,000 in financial assistance, which will sourced through the excess tariff collection from rice importations in 2022, amounting to around P12.7 billion. Among the qualified RFFA beneficiaries include farm cooperatives associations, irrigators associations, agrarian reform beneficiaries organizations, small water impounding systems associations, and other farm groups. RFFA is an unconditional financial assistance for farmers tilling below two hectares of land, as mandated under Republic Act 11598 or the Cash Assistance to Filipino Farmers Act of 2021. Marcos also approved the utilization of P700 million in excess tariff collections for the “Palayamanan Plus” conditional cash transfer under the Household Crop Diversification Program. This targets to ensure "food, nutrition and income security" to be provided to RSBSA-registered farmers, who are also listed in the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. Around 78,000 beneficiaries are expected to each receive P10,000 from the Palayamanan Plus conditional cash transfer program. Presidential Communications Office Secretary Cheloy Garafil said the two proposed financial assistance packages support the government's Masagana Rice Industry Development Program. Marcos earlier said his administration would be "relentless in finding sustainable solutions to address the agricultural issues in the country gearing toward a New Philippines.” "The President also emphasized that providing financial assistance to affected farmers is just one of the steps of the administration to sustain their source of income," said Garafil. The post Marcos OKs P12.7-B cash aid to rice farmers appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Phl moves up in innovation list
The Philippines has improved three spots higher to 56th out of 132 countries in the 2023 Global Innovation Index. The index shows the Philippines ranked highest in business sophistication at 38th, followed by knowledge and technology outputs at 46th, and market sophistication at 55th. However, the country placed lowest in human capital and research at 88th, followed by infrastructure at 86th, and institutions at 79th. For four years now, the Philippines has remained in the lower spots for innovation input which refers to the creation of a conducive environment for innovations. This aspect includes government policies, financial aid to entrepreneurs, research projects, and training for the labor force. The Philippines placed 69th in innovation inputs this year, compared to 76th in 2022, 72nd in 2021 and 70th in 2020. In contrast, the country has ranked among the higher spots for innovation output which refers to the number of patents, firms in the technology industry, technology exports and intellectual property receipts, and levels of labor productivity. Slide in outputs For innovation outputs, the Philippines placed 52nd this year, compared to 51st in 2022, 40th in 2021 and 41st in 2020. Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. vowed to continue creating and maximizing innovation projects to boost the Philippine economy. “The DoST shall remain focused on driving the country’s science, technology, and innovation-driven economic development by continuously investing in programs and projects that can advance the country’s productivity and competitiveness in the global knowledge economy,” he said. “Our good performance in innovation outputs compared to innovation inputs is reflective of our country’s ability to translate our innovation investments,” Solidum added. DoST’s programs include Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program and the Community Empowerment thru Science and Technology, and Balik-Scientist Program, among others. Balik-scientists Science and Technology Undersecretary Leah Buendia told the Daily Tribune the government has attracted 625 balik-scientists back to the Philippines and aims to increase collaborations with this group by 10 percent each year. She said 230 of them are dedicated to advancing technologies in Philippine agriculture, forestry and natural resources. This year, the DoST aims to organize 101 collaborations with balik-scientists knowledgeable in other sectors including health, industrials, energy and emerging industries. The 2023 Global Innovation Index was published by the World Intellectual Property Organization of the United Nations. The post Phl moves up in innovation list appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Balik-Tanaw | The Parable of the Vineyard Workers and the plight of migrant workers
In 2021, the Philippine Statistic Authority estimates that about 1.83 million OFWs worked abroad from April to September of the same year. The same data reveal that about “four in every ten” OFWs work low-status or ‘elementary’ jobs, such as street vendors, construction and factory workers, cleaners, domestic helpers, and agriculture laborers. They are the hired workers, doing the 3Ds works, (dirty, dangerous, and demeaning). It was recorded that the majority of OFWs work in Asia, specifically Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Singapore, and Qatar. The post Balik-Tanaw | The Parable of the Vineyard Workers and the plight of migrant workers appeared first on Bulatlat......»»
Marcos bets on early harvest
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is betting on the harvest season to come earlier than projected to end the persisting price shock that required a government response of putting a cap on retail prices. The price ceiling was accompanied by an order increasing the farm gate prices to relieve farmers of the low offers from traders. Marcos expressed optimism that the early harvest of palay (unhusked rice) would help lower market grain prices. In a chance media interview Saturday, Marcos expressed hope that Filipinos will once again reap the effects of “more improved production” in the agriculture sector. He also reiterated his decision to order the temporary imposition of ceilings on rice was in response to the sudden spike in retail prices of the staple grain. “We’re already harvesting. When that comes in, I think we will see the prices go down. It would be determined by market forces,” Marcos said on the sidelines of rice distribution to about 2,000 qualified beneficiaries in Iriga City, Camarines Sur. In August, the Department of Agriculture, or DA, reported an estimated 900,000 metric tons of the palay output. Marcos said the palay harvest, which is expected to peak in late September to October, will contribute mainly to the country’s production from July to December. By this time, the DA estimated that the palay harvest would peak at 11.5 million metric tons. Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that the national palay output from January to June 2023 rose to 9.02 million MT, 3.4 percent more than the 8.7 million MT production for the same period in 2022 and 2021. Marcos added that the government is currently dealing with hoarding of rice supply to manipulate the price of the staple grain. Supply’s not the problem As hoarders are suspected of delaying the release of rice, Marcos said, “There’s no need not worry about the supply.” He said the country has sufficient stock of the staple. “We are here to help those in need because we know that the price of rice has increased,” he added. Marcos said rice prices were so high, prompting the government to impose a price cap. Under Executive Order 39, which took effect on 5 September, Marcos ordered the implementation of a price ceiling of P41 per kilogram for regular milled rice and P45 per kg for well-milled rice. Marcos stressed that one of the government’s thrusts is to address the gaps and challenges in the agricultural sector, particularly “rice distribution that affects supply and prices.” “We have a lot of rice, but it is not being correctly distributed. That’s why we have no problem with the rice supply here in the Philippines,” he said. Marcos said DA is exhausting efforts to boost the supply and reduce the cost of rice. In the meantime, he said the government must implement measures such as imposing a price cap, providing cash aid to rice retailers, and setting new palay buying price range for the National Food Authority to help farmers and secure inventory. Farmers happy with hike The DA said farmers from different regions were happy with the increase in the buying price of the National Food Authority at the farmgate of P16 to P19 per kilogram for fresh palay and P19 to P23 for dry palay. The new buying prices of NFA were ordered by President Ferdinand Marcos, who is concurrent Agriculture Secretary, on Monday last week to ensure that farmers, who are currently harvesting their wet season crop, would not suffer from abruptly declining prices for their fresh harvest beginning this month. DA Undersecretary Leo Sebastian said the farmers told them that traders usually use the NFA as their benchmark in setting their buying prices from farmers for the fresh palay. With the mandated price hike for NFA, such drastic price declines would not materialize. Jing Villamente The post Marcos bets on early harvest appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Marcos sees early palay harvest to reduce rice prices
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expressed optimism that the early harvest of palay (unhusked rice) would help bring down the prices of rice in the markets. In a chance media interview, Marcos expressed hope that Filipinos will once again reap the effects of “more improved production” in the agriculture sector. He also reiterated his decision to order the temporary imposition of the mandated price ceilings on rice because of the sudden spike in the prices of the staple grain. “We're already harvesting. When that comes in, I think we will see the prices go down. It would be determined by market forces. Maybe if the market itself lowers the price, we could reduce it),” Marcos said on the sidelines of rice distribution to about 2,000 qualified beneficiaries in Iriga City, Camarines Sur on Saturday. In August, the Department of Agriculture reported an estimated 900,000 metric tons of the palay harvest output. Marcos said the palay harvest, which is expected to peak in late September to October, will contribute largely to the country's production from July to December. By this time, the DA estimated that the palay harvest to peak at 11.5 million metric tons. Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that the national palay output from January to June 2023 rose to 9.02 million MT, 3.4 percent more than the 8.7 million MT production for the same period in 2022 and 2021. Moreover, Marcos said the government is currently dealing with hoarding of rice supply to manipulate the price of the staple grain. Amid the hoarders delaying the release of rice, Marcos stressed “There’s no need not worry about the supply.” He said the country has sufficient stock of the staple. “Nandito po kami upang magbigay naman ng tulong sa mga nangangailangan dahil alam po nating nagtaas ang presyo ng bigas (We are here to help those in need because we know that the price of rice has increased),” he added. Marcos said the rice price was so high prompting the government to impose a price cap. Under Executive Order 39, which took effect on 5 September, Marcos ordered the implementation of a price ceiling of P41 per kilogram for regular milled rice and P45 per kg for well-milled rice. Marcos stressed that one of the government's thrusts is to address the gaps and challenges in the agricultural sector, particularly “rice distribution that affects supply and prices.” “Marami naman tayong bigas hindi lang nailalabas nang tama. Kaya’t hindi problema ang supply sa atin dito sa Pilipinas (We have lost of rice but it is not being correctly distributed. That’s why we have no problem with the rice supply here in the Philippines),” he said. Marcos said the DA is exhausting all efforts to boost the supply and reduce the cost of rice in the country. In the meantime, he said the government has to implement measures such as the imposition of a price cap, provision of cash aid to rice retailers, as well as setting new palay buying price range for the National Food Authority to help farmers and secure inventory. The post Marcos sees early palay harvest to reduce rice prices appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Digitizing a must — Concepcion
Honing and making micro, small and medium enterprises fully engrossed with digitization is now a must for every country in the ASEAN Region to fully realize the expanding opportunities presented by digital transformation, according to ASEAN-Business Advisory Council Philippines chairperson Joey Concepcion. “The power of digitalization is there; we just have to use it. It’s time that we really focus on the objective of greater prosperity, especially for those at the bottom of the pyramid, using whatever tools we have,” Concepcion said during a panel discussion on ASEAN’s Digital Powerhouse at the Nexus of Connectivity and Transformation in Jakarta, Indonesia on Sunday. “We must enable MSMEs to use digitalization to their advantage. Digital growth is seen to boost cross-border e-commerce by providing MSMEs with access to new markets and is hoped to promote financial inclusion to underserved populations,” he added. Further, Concepcion noted that although the rapid growth of digital adoption in the ASEAN bodes well for the region’s economies, its growth must be inclusive, with MSMEs being crucial to sustainable growth, to fully realize the expanding opportunities presented by digital transformation. “All of these tools are important to uplift the lives of our people. That’s why we are here: how do we solve big problems, especially for those who are at the bottom of the pyramid,” he said, pointing out that four of the 10 countries in the ASEAN have nearly a fifth of their populations still living in poverty. Region’s biggest tech players The session gathered some of the region’s biggest technology players, as well as key stakeholders from leading multinational companies, global financial institutions, and government organizations. The session delved into the development of strategic policies — including financial technology, e-trade, and cross-border trade facilitation. “The power of digital has to be used. The crisis pushed people to use these tools and this is one of the reasons we in the ASEAN BAC Philippines proposed to sign an MoU with each ASEAN country to focus on sectors that will bring development, specifically agriculture and MSMEs,” he said. He also pointed out that digitalization will stand to benefit even the one-man businesses — also known as nanopreneurs — who now have a better chance at succeeding because they have access to marketing tools and digital payment solutions. “We are the big brothers. Unless we embrace the MSMEs in our value chain this is going to take a long time. That is our mission as ASEAN BAC heads, to see to it that greater prosperity is achieved,” he said. Private sector feedback The ASEAN BAC was organized to provide private sector feedback and guidance to boost ASEAN’s efforts towards economic integration. It was said in the discussion that ASEAN has emerged as the world’s fastest-growing Internet market, with a 40 percent annual growth in the value of e-commerce between 2016 and 2021. Further, it is set to become the world’s fastest-growing digital market driven by a growing consumer market and the rapid adoption of social commerce platforms by its population. “This growth must be inclusive to unlock the benefits. It must be used to enable MSMEs,” he said. Phl case cited Concepcion cited the Philippines case as an example of how digital technology has helped MSMEs compete with big corporations and gave birth to a thriving digital economy that was further hastened by the pandemic lockdowns. Aside from Concepcion, other speakers in the session were Sam Myers, deputy trade commissioner for Asia Pacific (Southeast Asia) at the UK Department for Business and Trade; Haslina Taib, CEO of Dynamic Technologies; Yuem Kuan Moon, CEO of Singtel; and Kok Ping Soon, CEO of Singapore Business Federation. Bank of Indonesia Governor Dr. Perry Warijjyo, Temasek Holdings CEO Dilhan Pillay Sandrasegara; and Japan External Trade Organization Chairman Ishiguro Norihiko delivered keynote remarks, while ASEAN-BAC Indonesia Policy Manager for Digital Transformation Yohanes Lukiman gave a policy presentation. The post Digitizing a must — Concepcion appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DTI, partners to innovate cacao industry in MIMAROPA
The Department of Trade and Industry MIMAROPA Region recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Korean Intellectual Property Office, Korea Invention Promotion Association and SAGANA Marinduque Agriculture Cooperative to foster collaboration, innovation and sustainable economic growth through an IP Sharing Project for the cacao-based cooperative. DTI MIMAROPA OIC-Regional Director Rodolfo Mariposque led the MOU signing with DTI Marinduque Provincial Director Roniel Macatol, SAGANA chairwoman Donna Lecaroz and KIPA general manager Joohyun Ryu on 9 August 2023 in Santa Cruz, Marinduque. The IP Sharing Project aims to contribute significantly to the growing cacao industry in the region through research and development and world-class technology. On 10 August 2023, KIPA and KIPO also collaborated with DTI MIMAROPA to hand over an uraro drying technology that improves the shelf life and quality of uraro starch. This starch is the primary raw material used by the Bahi Agricultural Fisheries Association for the production of its arrowroot cookies and other products. In 2021, KIPA granted BAFA an uraro processing equipment to improve the local productivity of the uraro farmers of Gasan in Marinduque. The drying technology serves as an aftercare project of the international project grant. The post DTI, partners to innovate cacao industry in MIMAROPA appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Nothing can drag a Boholana down
No pandemic, nor deadly natural catastrophe can bring down a Boholana: this is the living faith by which Lourdes Sultan, managing director of Travel Village Tours and Travel and owner of several vessels which comprise the Loboc River Cruise in Bohol, lives by. Sultan, a tour operator in Loboc for the past 35 years, is a perfect epitome of a resilient Filipina who did not falter while going through such major upheavals as typhoon “Odette” in 2021 that wrecked her vessels; the magnitude 7.2 earthquake in Bohol in 2013 and the perennial flooding in Loboc, and the global pandemic that shut down international borders, barring the arrival of tourists in the country. “The floating restaurant business here in Loboc started 30 years ago but in 2000, we decided to dwell in the floating restaurant operation. We used to have eight vessels, but after typhoon “Odette” hit us in December 2021, we are now left with four,” said Sultan in an interview. She said that pre-pandemic, there were 26 vessels plying the Loboc River serving foreign and local tourists, but the number was diminished because of the unfortunate wrath of natural catastrophes. Pandemic, ‘Odette’ challenge She said the strong earthquake in 2013, the declaration of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, and the pummeling of the province by typhoon “Odette” in 2021 were the worst challenges that her enterprise has endured. “The pandemic made us totally close operations. During that time, we tried to maintain and improve our vessels in preparation for the reopening of borders. Indeed, losses with Odette and the pandemic were in the millions,” she told the Daily Tribune. Aside from that, Sultan said operators of floating restaurants were also required by the local government to update their vessels, making them shell out additional costs. In 2021, Sultan said tourist arrivals trickled, as some restrictions were modified and eased by the Inter-Agency Task Force of the national government. “Even if we only cater to domestic customers, we were more hopeful back then. But amid the high hopes, typhoon “Odette” hit us on 16 December 2021—a strong typhoon during an enduring contagion. We decided to let go of some workers. But luckily, we hired them back when things got better in March 2022,” she shared. Typhoon “Odette,” that pummeled Bohol before Christmas Day, was considered by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office as the worst ever to hit the province, prompting the Provincial Capitol to declare a state of calamity after incurring massive devastation on agriculture and infrastructure and inundated swaths to the island. Not yet pre-pandemic She said, however, that the tourism industry in Loboc is not yet in the pre-pandemic state, saying that foot traffic is only at 70 percent to date, even if they are fully booked during daily operations, especially weekends. “Revenge travel is real. The influx of domestic travelers is greater now compared to pre-pandemic. Aside from local tourists, European and Asian tourists are now coming back,” she said. As of July 2023, the Department of Tourism logged a total of 3,000,079 international visitor arrivals. On the other hand, the country’s inbound tourism receipts from 1 January to 30 June 2023 climbed to P212 billion or 502.02 percent higher than the P35-billion tourism revenue generated from the same period last year. Support for DoT program Sultan, also the president of the Bohol Federation of Travel and Tour Operators and an officer of the Bohol Provincial Tourism Council, said she is backing the DoT program Faith-based Tourism Circuits, as part of the department’s thrust to develop new tourism circuits and multi-dimensional tourism products. Last 14 to 17 August, the DoT Central Visayas, in partnership with the Provincial Government of Bohol, organized a familiarization tour of Bohol’s Faith-based Tourism Circuits, with the aim to promote and showcase Bohol’s historical and cultural assets specifically its century-old churches, heritage houses, religious landmarks and living cultural traditions. Through Bohol’s Faith-based Tourism Circuits, participants, including members of the media, visited some of Bohol’s heritage churches declared as National Historical Landmarks or cultural treasures and experienced a few of their inherent traditions such as Asin Tibuok, among others. The main highlight of the tour was the canonical crowning of the image of the Virgen de la Asunción of the Municipality of Dauis, officiated by Papal Nuncio Charles Brown last 15 August. “The direction is we do not want the churches to be just tourist spots, but for tourists to have a glimpse of the spiritual component,” according to Sultan. The post Nothing can drag a Boholana down appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Salt maker request: Redeem our dying industry, amend ‘Asin’Law
A gourmet salt manufacturer in Albuquerque, Bohol is asking for the country’s lawmakers to amend Republic Act 8172, otherwise known as the Act for Salt Iodization Nationwide or ASIN Law, as the statute continues to kill their industry that has been operating in Albuquerque for more than a century now. In an interview, Nestor Manungas, proprietor of ASINAN ni Tan Inong, the maker of the unique Asin Tibuok, said RA 8172 has been hindering them to manufacture the condiment because the law mandates that salt produced in the country should contain iodine. “We cannot do that in our product because our way of producing Asin Tibuok is completely different from the normal way of making salt. We use direct heat, so minerals, like iodine, will definitely wear out or destroy the product,” he said. Signed into law by late-President Fidel V. Ramos in 1995, RA 8172 seeks to eliminate iodine deficiency disorders by mandating all salt producers and manufacturers to iodize their products. Ease of Doing Business Also, Manungas hit the Food and Drug Administration for being so sluggish in releasing approvals on their product, despite the presence of the Ease of Doing Business Law. “The US FDA is even better, we got it quickly. But here, we got them (FDA permit) more than two years ago. Although the Department of Trade and Industry helped us in the process, but it’s still too long. Other manufacturers have already given up on operating here because of bureaucratic hardships in acquiring business operation permits,” according to Manungas. Manungas’ Asin Tibuok, under the company Tan Inong Manufacturing Corporation, is currently making waves in terms of exports in various parts of the world, particularly in the United States, Europe, Australia, Japan and China. “This year we have a huge demand in Europe. Foreigners appreciate our salt as they find it totally different from Himalayan salt because it has a smoky flavor that they like in the taste of their food. But hopefully, we can sell on a large scale here in the country. I hope the business founded by our ancestors will not be dissolved,” he said. Stringent process Making Asin Tibuok, said to be on the brink of extinction, is not easy as it is very labor-intensive. Traditionally, Asin Tibuok making begins by soaking coconut husks for three months in saltwater coming from pools by the mangrove at the back of the manufacturing house of Manungas in Albuquerque. These husks will go through the burning process in a highly controlled manner. Subsequently, the ashes collected from the burnt are manually poured on large filters and more seawater will be poured through the ashes to make a very highly concentrated brine. After this, specially made clay pots are placed over a wood fire, and the concentrated brine is transferred continuously for eight hours into the boiling pots. Manungas and his assistants usually keep a close eye on evaporation so that the pots will not crack, resulting in a smoky sphere of salt that can weigh as much as one kilo. These pots of rocky salt are priced at P800. Business group support Since last year, the Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. has been urging lawmakers to amend Republic Act 8172 to revive the country’s salt production industry. Its president, Danilo Fausto said the country continues to import 93 percent of its salt requirement, even though the Philippines has the second longest shoreline in the world. “We have 36,000 kilometers of shoreline. It’s really embarrassing that we are importing salt from Australia and China, and some also in Thailand and New Zealand,” Fausto said. Fausto added the country in 2021 imported 646,000 metric tons of salt, which is being used as fertilizer for coconut trees. On the other hand, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry is also pushing for amendments to the Asin Law to help local manufacturers in the country, aside from other monumental reforms that would help micro, small, and medium enterprises to recoup from the ill effects of the pandemic and economic headwinds. But during his second State of the Nation Address, the proposed amendment for the ASIN Law was not included on the priority bills President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. requested for lawmakers of the House of Representatives to focus on. The post Salt maker request: Redeem our dying industry, amend ‘Asin’Law appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DA reports ample rice supply
The Department of Agriculture on Tuesday cited the Philippine Statistics Authority report that palay output from January to June 2023 rose to 9 million metric tons, from 8.7 MMT produced for the same period last year and in 2021, even higher than the department earlier projected. Agriculture Undersecretary for Rice Industry Development Leocadio Sebastian said the PSA report that there is an impressive growth in rice production for 1st half of 2023 should not put the rice prices in the market to jack up. The PSA, according to Sebastian has even confirmed a 3 percent growth in production over the same period in 2022. “This is excellent news,” he said, noting that the PSA report is also higher than the PRISM (Philippine Rice Information System) estimate of 8.7 MMT (300,000 MT more) that DA earlier used in its rice supply outlook. The 9.0 MMT palay is equivalent to 5.9 MMT milled rice (200.000 MT more than PRISM estimate of 5.7 MMT), Sebastian said, adding that 9MMT palay production for the first half of 2023 is also higher than the production levels for first half output of 2022 and 2021. “With the 3 percent production growth in the 1st Semester, we can expect that barring the occurrence of destructive typhoons, the production for 2023 could surpass 20 MMT,” Sebastian declared. He added that the country’s rice production will continue to grow considering the good palay price in the previous cropping and provision of various interventions by DA (of seeds, fertilizers, biofertilizers, soil ameliorants, farm machinery extension support). The recent production reports affirm that the country’s current supply outlook for rice (carryover, production, imports) negates speculations of rice supply shortage. However, traders took advantage of the reported increase in rice prices in the global market and India’s stoppage of exporting their rice to other countries. On the other hand, the private sector reported to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. last week that more imported rice is arriving this month (2.05 MMT already arrived from January to 1st week of August) and September. In a special meeting, the private sector rice stakeholders also informed President Marcos that 300,000 metric tons of rice are coming in August. The present situation in the local market showed traders has increased the prices of rice with the lowest kind can be bought at P50 per kilo. These promoted the DA to announced that they will inspect warehouses over what seemed to be manipulation of stocks to justify the increase in retail price of rice. DA spokesperson Rex Estoperez said the DA is still empowered to visit warehouse, mobilizing their Inspectorate and Enforcement group for this purpose. The post DA reports ample rice supply appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Manhattan of Pasay City (4)
Critics of land reclamation must learn from the vast experience of the Netherlands, the mother of all reclaimed land in the world. There is a Dutch adage: “While God created the earth, the Dutch created the Netherlands.” The Netherlands became the world’s second largest exporter of food and agricultural products, next to the United States of America, because of the vast land it reclaimed from the sea, which turned fertile for agriculture and grazing cows. The Netherlands’ efforts to control and conquer its landscape were driven by its aggressive need to create land for dairy and agricultural production. The development of the Netherlands’ system of dikes and reclaimed lands were driven by its need to keep its feet dry and survive. The Dutch had always controlled and conquered water for their own economic benefit. Like colonization, which led to a massive expansion of Dutch land overseas, water management and land reclamation was a process of domestic expansion. EPC contractor Netherlands-based Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V., a leading global dredging contractor and marine services provider, was hired by the City of Pasay to build its iconic Manhattan project on Manila Bay because of its vast experience with huge reclamation projects. More than 50 percent of the Netherlands is below sea level, and a system of dikes has been in constant use for many years to reclaim and to protect the land. The Dutch created a system of dams and dikes, land reclamation and water drainage, in total the largest hydraulic engineering project undertaken in the twentieth century. Huge areas of reclaimed land were closed off with dikes some 20 miles long. The soil on the reclaimed land, once desalinated, were found to be fertile and suited for cow grazing and agricultural production. Because of this, the Netherlands became the world’s second largest producer of agricultural products. In addition to the fertile soil, the land is flat. The Netherlands enjoys temperatures and a moderate climate suitable for farming. Therefore, crop growth and livestock and poultry raising are done with the utmost ease and effectiveness. They employ robots to pick up fruits and to process vegetables. Their focus is on sustainable farming, keeping in mind the environment and their social responsibility. The Netherlands is keenly focused on educating its agricultural and other work force in the latest technology and research. Its universities engage in agriculture studies, education, and research. The world’s biggest food and beverage companies have their research and development laboratories in the Netherlands. The country is in central Europe which is an ideal spot geographically for exporters. The country also has exceptional infrastructure and the most remarkable logistics and supply teams. This has led the Netherlands to become the second largest exporter in the world. The Dutch nation has become an expert in the trading sector. They have developed a sustainable and profitable agriculture sector which has made them No. 2 in the world. The Netherlands’ agriculture industry had a net worth of 85 billion in 2021. It exports its food products to far-flung areas, like its organic eggs to America. Germany receives 25 percent of all its agriculture imports from the Netherlands. Today, around 27 percent of the Netherlands is actually below sea level. This area is home to over 60 percent of the country’s population of approximately 17 million people. The Netherlands is approximately 41,543 square kilometers, while the Philippines is 300,000 sq. km., making the Netherlands seven times smaller than the Philippines. A large part of the Netherlands is highly susceptible to flooding. Time will tell if the North Sea Protection Works are strong enough to protect the country from the onslaught of a storm surge like that experienced by Filipinos with “Yolanda.” The post Manhattan of Pasay City (4) appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Farmers encouraged to register with DFA program
Department of Agriculture Undersecretary Leo Sebastian, head of the Rice Industry Development, urges farmers to take advantage of registering with the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture as part of the minimum requirement to obtain certified seeds through the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF). Sebastian said the call was made through a midterm evaluation report conducted by the International Rice Research Institute, which noted that farmers should be encouraged to register to take advantage of the RCEF. The RCEF budget allocation was evaluated based on the results from the quantitative and qualitative assessments using four criteria: quantitative impact on yield, inclusivity of the component, budget utilization, and efficiency in achieving stated targets. "The seeds component has high marks on all four criteria, which suggests the program is meeting its goals and relevance for the individual farmers. However, many farmers who could be recipients of CS are not yet registered in the RSBSA during the period covered in the evaluation," Sebastian explained. He added that despite the 95 to 97 percent utilization rate of certified seeds that farmers receive from the RCEF seed component, the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) confirmed that 3 to 5 percent of farmers had experienced late delivery of certified seeds based on surveys that were echoed by focused group discussions and key informant interviews. The midterm evaluation, which was up to July 2023, also brought up the need to establish a mechanism to identify locations where delivery is late, followed by synchronization of the timing of seed delivery with the cropping calendar in areas where late seed delivery was experienced. RCEF was designed to improve the competitiveness of rice production in the Philippines to increase the income of farmers, according to Sebastian. "Central to current efforts in promoting the competitiveness of rice farming is the creation of the RCEF made through the passage of the Rice Tariffication Law in March 2019," the DA official said. "Section 13b. of Republic Act 11203 creating RCEF provides that PhilRice use 30% of the RCEF (P3 billion) to implement the development, propagation and promotion of certified inbred rice seeds to rice farmers and the organization of rice farmers into seed grower associations/cooperatives engaged in seed production and trade," he farther explained. Specifically, the seed component aims to: 1. Increase utilization of certified inbred rice seeds in provinces with a high potential of improving competitiveness; 2. Improve quality, availability of, and access to certified inbred rice seeds; and 3. Increase the number of organized farmers engaged in seed production and trade. Since the RCEF implementation in 2019, rice supply has become more stable with record production of 19.96 million tons (palay terms) in 2021. Rice production slightly declined in 2022 with 19.76 million tons, but this level is still much higher than rice output in the first two years of the RCEF program. The midterm evaluation said rice yield also increased from 4.04 tons/ha in 2019 to 4.11 tons/ha in 2022. Domestic rice production is also complemented by imports with an average volume of 3 million tons (milled terms) over the period 2019-2022. Aside from improvements in national rice output, prices of milled rice decreased much more rapidly following the RTL. This enabled the country to compete with prices in its rice-producing neighbors like Thailand and Vietnam. "The evaluation noted that rice inflation declined with RCEF leading to stabilized prices of milled rice. Likewise, there was a pronounced decline in farmgate prices of palay between 2019 and 2021 but prices were relatively stable since 2022, enabling farmers to enjoy stable rice prices because they are shielded from periods of abnormally low prices and this enhances efficiency in the farm sector," Sebastian said. RCEF was designed to improve the competitiveness of rice production in the Philippines to increase the income of farmers. Central to current efforts in promoting the competitiveness of rice farming is the creation of the RCEF made through the passage of the Rice Tariffication Law in March 2019. The four component programs of RCEF – seed, mechanization, extension, and credit aim to help attain the goal of improving the competitiveness of Filipino rice farmers, increasing their income, and sustaining the resilience and responsiveness of the industry. To this end, the four programs collectively target to contribute to increasing yield up to 5t/ha in medium-yielding provinces and 6t/ha in high-yielding provinces. They also strive to contribute to reducing production costs by 30 percent, reduce postharvest losses to 12 percent and trim down marketing costs by P1/kg. The post Farmers encouraged to register with DFA program appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Tobacco on list of agri products in proposed economic sabotage law, says Villar
Senator Cynthia Villar assured that tobacco is included in the list of agricultural products covered by her proposed Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act of 2023. She said the proposed measure would amend the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act to include hoarding, profiteering, and a cartel of agricultural products as "economic sabotage." “Tobacco will be included in the agricultural products covered by this law,” Villar, who is chairperson of the Senate Agriculture and Food Committee, made the assurance during the International Tobacco Agricultural Summit held at Shangri-La Hotel in Taguig City on Thursday, where she was the guest speaker. Citing a report from the National Tobacco Administration, Villar noted that the tobacco industry contributes to employment and revenue generation in the country, supporting around 2.2 million Filipinos directly or indirectly. The lawmaker added that tobacco has contributed nearly P16 billion to the country's gross domestic product in 2021. The Oxford Business Group's Economic Impact Report showed that tobacco cultivation was present in 23 provinces across 12 regions in the Philippines, with the Ilocos Region being the top producer at 69 percent, followed by Cagayan Valley at 23 percent, and Northern Mindanao ranking third, as of April 2022. Villar underscored the industry's significance to rural economies is highlighted by a 47.8 percent increase in the area planted for tobacco between 2019 and 2022. Since 2013, she said the implementation of sin taxes for tobacco and alcohol, resulted in additional funds for the national health budget, including Universal Health Care. The sin tax revenue, primarily from tobacco collections (mainly cigarettes), accounted for 58 percent of all sin tax collections and comprised 54 percent of the health budget in 2020. "Tobacco-producing provinces receive shares from tax collected to be used in funding livelihood programs, infrastructure projects, and promote economically viable alternative agricultural products for the farmers," she said. However, Villar noted that tobacco—like any other agricultural product— is not spared from criminal activities like smuggling and tax evasion. Such crimes, she said, undermine the livelihood of farmers by "saturating the market with cheap, adulterated, and untaxed products.” The Bureau of Customs earlier reported an estimated P3 billion loss in excise taxes from illicit cigarette operations between 2019 and 2022. As reported by Euromonitor, the incidence of illicit cigarette trade is projected to increase from 12.2 percent in 2020 to 18.5 percent in 2023. “This illicit competition leads to reduced prices and demand for locally grown tobacco, resulting in income loss among our farmers,” she lamented. Villar recalled the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act was passed in 2016, unfortunately, not a single smuggler has been imprisoned since then. Thus, seeking to amend the law will further strengthen policies and punishments against smuggling acts. The post Tobacco on list of agri products in proposed economic sabotage law, says Villar appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PBBM to tobacco industry: Innovate, be sustainable
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called for innovation in the tobacco industry to protect the livelihoods of thousands of tobacco farmers and safeguard the environment. In a speech at the International Tobacco Agricultural Summit on Wednesday, Marcos Jr. said that the tobacco industry had been a "vibrant catalyst for economic growth" in the country, particularly in parts of Northern Luzon and Mindanao. Marcos said that the industry became an indispensable bedrock that generates income, livelihood, opportunities and employment for many Filipinos. However, Marcos Jr. acknowledged that the tobacco industry has also been affected by changes in health policies in recent years. "As such, we must seek ways to protect the livelihood of thousands of our tobacco farmers," he said. Marcos Jr. urged the Department of Agriculture, the National Tobacco Administration, the academe and the private sector to explore other crops that can be grown alongside tobacco to help address food security. "So, together, let us embark on a journey of continuous exploration and engage in profound, future-driven discussions that would help bring tobacco farming and its allied industries into the future," he said. Marcos Jr. also said that he wants the tobacco industry to be "responsible" and "sustainable." "I urge the industry to adopt innovative and sustainable practices that will protect the health of our people and the environment," he said. Meanwhile, Michael Tan, Director of LT Group, which owns and distributes most cigarette brands in the Philippines, says the tobacco business needs assistance. He said that the sector's earnings support the construction of infrastructure, medical care and educational programs in areas where tobacco is grown. "The economic impact of tobacco farming extends beyond the farmers themselves as it supports a network of suppliers, traders and manufacturers involved in production and distribution of tobacco products," said Tan. The Philippines exports 53 percent of its tobacco, while 47 percent is sold to domestic manufacturers, according to NTA data for 2021–2022. The post PBBM to tobacco industry: Innovate, be sustainable appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
ARTA backpedals, nixes TOP-CRMS
The Anti-Red Tape Authority, or ARTA, made a surprising move in backtracking on an earlier approval of a port digitalization plan, apparently bowing to pressures from several powerful groups. ARTA’s about-face effectively shot down what could be the Marcos administration’s most potent anti-smuggling weapon. ARTA issued a memorandum last 25 July signed by ARTA director general, Secretary Ernesto Perez, in which it said its reevaluation of the Trusted Operator Program-Container Registry and Monitoring System or TOP-CRMS regulatory impact statement, or RIS, convinced it that reducing the cost of container deposits from the scheme was not accurate based on the benefit-cost analysis. Perez said the decision is “final” and denied bowing to outside pressures. “That’s our final recommendation unless either party will submit to us additional relevant documents,” Perez indicated. Part of the ARTA report reads: “Port congestion may not be used by PPA or Philippine Port Authority as a justification for government intervention,” with the proposed TOP-CRMS. It added that the PPA “cannot use congestion as a justification or basis to establish the proposed... TOP-CRMS.” The PPA which is the main beneficiary of the digitalization scheme indicated that it is studying its options. “We’ll study our options. As far as we are concerned, ARTA already issued a Good Practice RIS with a 36/40 rating for the TOP-CRMS program. I don’t think they have retracted that or recalled the rating which they previously issued,” PPA general manager Jay Santiago said. “So I don’t know what was the purpose of that ARTA memo nor its value or its effect on the previously issued Good Practice RIS rating. We submitted all required documents to ARTA sometimes twice even and they even consulted all stakeholders including oppositors before they issued the Good Practice RIS. The situation has not changed so we don’t understand what happened,” Santiago added. Complete reversal The latest ARTA memorandum is a complete turnaround from its 2 February evaluation which greenlighted the TOP-CRMS implementation and allowed the PPA to resume its suspended modernization plan. ARTA gave the program a rating of 36, meaning a “Good Practice RIS.” ARTA said in a February statement after it assessed the program, “PPA has provided concise and satisfactory evidence on all RIA sections. Hence, the RIS was assessed as Good Practice.” ARTA stressed there should be more regulations to address the current issue, which is also the leading cause of the problem. The PPA’s TOP-CRMS also meets ARTA’s criteria for cost-saving mechanisms, including the fee on container deposits and port access roads, and has reduced the dwell time of empty container returns to less than 72 hours. Under Section 6 of Presidential Decree 857, PPA must supervise, control, regulate, construct, maintain, operate, and provide facilities or services belonging to the Authority. Thus, under this mandate, TOP-CRMS will provide efficient port services to the public. Santiago said then, “With the approval by ARTA, I believe the concern on ease of doing business has been sufficiently addressed.” “PPA will continue to fine-tune the program, and the implementation of PPA AO No. 04-2021 and its IOG will be constantly monitored, and the necessary adjustments to the IOG will be made as necessary. TOP-CRMS seeks to remove the payment of container deposits and efficiently manage the return of empty containers. There have been a series of public consultations, and we have adjusted based on the need of the stakeholders,” Santiago added. Anti-smuggling initiative Ironically, ARTA reversed its TOP-CRMS recommendation a day after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. warned in his State of the Nation Address that the days of smugglers and hoarders of agricultural products are numbered as he identified the proposed Amendment of the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act as a priority legislation. The Chief Executive said in Filipino, “One of the reasons behind the higher prices is that smugglers and hoarders manipulate the prices of agricultural products. We will run after them, and we will file charges against them. We will not let these practices continue. The days of the smugglers and hoarders are numbered.” The President is also the secretary of agriculture. The PPA’s TOP-CRMS is a government-owned container monitoring system providing a whole-of-government approach to tracking container movement and management by giving relevant government agencies access to information and even automating and streamlining their processes. The anti-smuggling feature of the TOP-CRMS preempts cargo diversion or diverting shipments to another warehouse with real-time container tracking. Law enforcers could quickly identify where the shipments are located, which port stakeholders said would eliminate “for hire consignees,” as all foreign-owned shipping containers, both laden and empty, are monitored. Similar to the tracking system now in use among private port operators, the technology makes it easy for investigators to identify and prosecute suspected smugglers. Pressure from smugglers Industry insiders suspect that a powerful group of smugglers is pressuring concerned government agencies and regulators to stop the implementation of the TOP-CRMS because it would have a profound negative impact on their illegal activities. More importantly, the TOP-CRMS can detect illegal contraband and prevent entry into the country’s ports. It can eliminate smuggled drugs from entering any country’s entry points, including illegal arms shipments and, God forbid, nuclear materials. The data collected by the system can be shared with concerned agencies in charge of tax collection, law enforcement, import permit authorization, trade department, anti-smuggling units, intelligence units, etc. The wealth of data from the system will provide the PNP, AFP, BOC, BIR, DTI, DA, DSWD, Intelligence Community, and other relevant agencies an efficient tool to deter all forms of smuggling activities. The post ARTA backpedals, nixes TOP-CRMS appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Gadon to focus on generating jobs
Controversial lawyer, now Presidential Adviser for Poverty Alleviation, Secretary Lorenzo “Larry” Gadon will focus on generating jobs for those families that live below the poverty line to reduce the number of poor in the country. “My number one concern really is how to generate more jobs and how to increase the purchasing power of the people. That’s where the problem is. It is because 56 percent of our workforce, which is about 75 million Filipinos, belongs to the services sector. They are those casual and temporary employees or those who have seasonal jobs. So, after working for three or six months, after that they end up with nothing,” Gadon said in an interview on Daily Tribune’s digital show “Straight Talk” on Wednesday. Gadon said families that are considered on the poverty line are those earning under P12,500 per month, who do not have the capacity to buy enough decent food, and medicines, and who cannot afford a good education for their children. “We will focus our attention on them, particularly those that belong to the informal sector, the likes of tricycle and jeepney drivers. It is because their income is unstable. Their situation was even worsened by the pandemic,” Gadon said. He said poverty is the fourth top concern the Marcos Administration should face, although President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is firm about addressing the issue. Based on the latest report of the Asian Development Bank, in the Philippines, 18.1 percent of the population lived below the national poverty line in 2021, while the proportion of the employed population earning less than the $1.90 (P100) purchasing power parity per day in 2022 was 2.2 percent. Rechanneling of jobs Gadon added that another factor that contributes to the continuous poverty experienced by most families is that only 28 percent of Filipino workers are in the industrial sector, while 18 percent are in the agricultural sector. “It is surprising that we consider ourselves as an agricultural country and yet only 18 percent work in the agriculture sector. My solution to that is to re-channel the Filipino workforce to the more stable and more resilient jobs which are in the industrial and agricultural sectors,” Gadon said. The Philippine Statistics Authority reported on 7 July that the country’s employment rate as of May 2023 rose to 95.7 percent, or 48.26 million Filipinos, compared to 82.4 percent in April 2023, which showed a 13.3 percent increase. During the President’s State of the Nation Address on Monday, he said more had to be done to provide jobs for the remaining workforce and the underemployed Filipinos looking for better career options. “But even with our current high rate of employment, we must do more. We will generate additional jobs for the remaining 4.3 percent of our workforce, as well as for the 11.7 percent underemployed Filipinos seeking better employment opportunities,” the Chief Executive said. Being the Presidential Adviser for Poverty Alleviation, Gadon plays a pivotal role in advising the President on strategies and policies aimed at combating poverty and improving the lives of the most vulnerable sectors of society. He will work closely with government agencies, non-government organizations, and other stakeholders to design and implement comprehensive programs to address the root causes of poverty. His wealth of experience as a corporate executive and legal counsel in diverse sectors, including manufacturing, information technology, realty development, healthcare, resorts and hotels, construction and trading, will contribute to the formulation of innovative and sustainable poverty alleviation strategies. The post Gadon to focus on generating jobs appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PBBM: Phl-Malaysia partnership ‘important to ASEAN, world’
MALAYSIA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Malaysian King Al-Sultan Abdullah expressed hope that the warm relationship enjoyed by Malaysia and the Philippines will continue to blossom for the mutual benefit of the people and nations. In his remarks during the state banquet in honor of visiting Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos, the Malaysian King said the Philippines is an essential partner to Malaysia, given the Philippines' proximity and active involvement in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. "Bound by our shared aspirations of progress, peace and prosperity, our two countries share many commonalities and strong people-to-people ties to this day, we have faced many common challenges, but we have also achieved much more together. "Mutual efforts and understanding are vital to further elevate our close relations and good cooperation to new heights. I hope that Malaysia and the Philippines can expand their collaborations and partnership in new and emerging areas such as agriculture, digital economy and halal food industry," said His Majesty. Marcos, for his part, said that he believes the Philippines and Malaysia can work together to "recreate ourselves" and "transform ourselves" in the post-pandemic world. He added that these partnerships will be strengthened by the close people-to-people ties between the two countries. "It is important not only to Malaysia, it is not only important to the Philippines, it is not only important to (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations), but it is important to the rest of the world," Marcos said. "And that we hope is the part that we will play as partners, Malaysia and the Philippines, in the years to come," he added. The President received a State Welcome Ceremony, complete with a 21-gun salute, when he arrived at the Istana Negara, also referred to as the National Palace, earlier on Wednesday. The King and Queen of Malaysia, along with Prime Minister Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his wife, Dato' Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, personally greeted him. The President is currently in a three-day official trip to the nearby Southeast Asian nation after making a stop in Manila last March. The Philippines holds the 15th position among Malaysia's trading partners in terms of global trade and ranks as the fifth largest among the ASEAN member states. The total trade between the two countries reached $9.42 billion in 2022, marking a significant growth of 20.1 percent compared to the previous year's recorded value in 2021. The post PBBM: Phl-Malaysia partnership ‘important to ASEAN, world’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»