Allowing more pork imports to leave local hog raisers bankrupt – agri groups
A bill seeking to nullify President Rodrigo Duterte's order to lift the cap on pork imports has earned the nod of various agricultural groups. The post Allowing more pork imports to leave local hog raisers bankrupt – agri groups appeared first on Bulatlat......»»
Wanted for high-profile crimes killed in Bangsamoro police operation
A suspect in a series of motorcycle theft, multiple murder, extortion and operation of a drug den, who has links with local terrorist groups, was killed while his companion was wounded in a shootout with policemen in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte on Thursday......»»
DA-Davao officials off the hook
The Sandiganbayan on Monday revealed that it has acquitted five former officials of the Department of Agriculture in Davao Region in relation to the alleged anomalous P4.92-million payments to private suppliers in 2004. In its 44-page decision signed 28 July 2023, the anti-graft court junked the graft cases against regional technical director Romulo Palcon, OIC/administrative officer III Godofredo Ramos, budget officer II Gilda Cordero-Panal, regional accountant Mariflor Garcia, and regional cashiers Rita Retino and Corazon Ebero for the prosecution’s failure to prove their guilt beyond reasonable doubt. To recall, the five DA-Davao region officials were accused of allowing private suppliers Everland Agri Corporation, Mintal Fruit Nursery and Asian Hybrid Technology Inc., to take the payments despite the lack of documentation, among others, in violation of the Government Procurement Reform Act or RA 9184. They allegedly conspired with one another and gave unwarranted benefits to the suppliers by signing Bids and Awards Committee resolutions for the disbursement amounting to P4,916,906 in public funds. However, according to the court’s current decision, the prosecution failed to prove that there was indeed a conspiracy. “On the issue of conspiracy, it is the prosecution that carries this burden of proving its existence... This Court finds that the prosecution failed to fulfill this burden,” said the Sandiganbayan. The anti-graft court also ruled that there was “no showing that the winning bidders conspired or connived with any member of the BAC or any of the accused or whether the accused themselves conspired between and among themselves.” “This alone casts doubt on the culpability of the accused for the crime charged,” it added. The Sandiganbayan also emphasized that it has been consistently demanded that the prosecution bear the burden of proving every element of the offense charged beyond a reasonable doubt, such that a verdict of conviction cannot merely rely on the weakness of the defense but instead on the strength of the prosecution’s evidence. The post DA-Davao officials off the hook appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Extra rice, anyone?
The rice supply in the country has stabilized, enough to provide for the daily food requirements of Filipinos for the next six months, the Department of Agriculture said Thursday. According to DA Undersecretary Leo Sebastian, the supply of the staple grain for the rest of the year has been assured, so much so that the government is already preparing for next summer’s 2024 supply. Sebastian said they are now moving to mitigate the possible “cyclical” effects of the El Niño phenomenon on rice harvests next year. “As the country experienced it (El Niño) in 2016 and 2019, we will now help farmers in areas affected by the phenomenon to plant other crops that do not need much water like mongo and corn.” Sebastian, who heads the DA’s Masagana Rice Industry Program, earlier said that a bountiful harvest from the January-June rice planting season has increased production by around six percent. “This is based on PhilRice PRISM data of 8.153-million metric tons palay production in 2022 to 8.605-MMT of palay or 5.6-MMT of milled rice in 2023,” he explained. Sebastian said the volume, plus the carryover stock of 1.8-MMT milled rice, as augmented by import arrivals of 1.8-MMT, is enough to fill the demand/consumption of 7-MMT from January to June next year. “By the end of June, the available stock will be good for more than two months, in addition to the incoming supply from the new harvest and import arrivals in the coming months,” the DA official said. Imports easing Sebastian pointed out that the high cost of rice production locally and globally has pushed up the price of palay or unmilled rice, as well as milled rice. The vagaries of the global pricing of rice have eased private importation, allowing local farmers to enjoy “good prices” for their produce, he explained. “Global prices of rice are such that private importers are not engaging in importation. Our government (through the National Food Authority), on the other hand, is prohibited by law from importing,” he said. At the same time, the DA, concurrently headed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., said it is in constant communication with rice farmers to lower their prices so that most Filipinos would be able to afford it. “You can buy P25 per kilo of rice in our Kadiwa outlets. And we are also asking some cooperatives that have enough rice supplies to sell their harvest at a lower price,” he said. Well-milled rice is selling in Metro Manila at P40 to P42 a kilo, with some agri-cooperatives selling at P38 per kilo. “This gives us enough rice supply for the next six months,” Sebastian said. The post Extra rice, anyone? appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DAR vows securing farmers’ soft loans
The Department of Agrarian Reform has committed assistance to farmers by securing loans from banking institutions to elevate their lives and livelihoods, as anchored in the Kapatid Angat Lahat Agri Program with Private Sector Advisory Council-Jobs Sector Group Joey Concepcion in the lead. Conrado Estrella made this assurance during his meeting with Concepcion on Monday, along with other stakeholders in the agriculture sector. “We thank the Department of Agrarian Reform for expressing willingness to help our initiative to help our farmers scale up. Uplifting the lives of our small farmers is a daunting task. We need all hands-on deck to accomplish this, and we are glad that we have DAR Secretary Estrella’s commitment to extend a helping hand,” Concepcion said. During the meeting, Concepcion emphasized the need for small farmers to achieve scale, saying it would be hard for them to succeed without it. “Farmers cannot obtain a loan from banks that they can use to boost production and improve their lives because they cannot use their land as collateral under agrarian reform law,” he said. Farm clustering Among the recommendations by KALAP and the think tank group Foundation for Economic Freedom, represented by Dr. Fermin Adriano, is the implementation of farm clustering to boost productivity and help ensure food security. “Clustering does not mean consolidation of land ownership but merely the clustering of land for better production scheduling,” said Adriano, adding this process has already led to higher farm productivity in China, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, among others. “The process would enable the government to effectively provide assistance to farmers who are clustered because it will deal with groups rather than millions of individual small tillers,” he added. He said clustering would also pave the way for the use of modern farm machinery and technologies, thereby achieving economies of scale, and allowing the development of downstream industries like food processing activities, because of an adequate and reliable supply of raw materials. Improve access to government services On the other hand, he stressed that the process would also improve access to government services like extension, and credit for clustered farms. Farming will also be more attractive to private sector groups to invest in agriculture because of lesser transactions. To accelerate farm clustering, Adriano called for the immediate and proper implementation of the law condoning the debt of defaulting agrarian reform beneficiaries. “The implementing rules and regulations of the law must ensure that the administrative burden of transferring land ownership to farmer beneficiaries is not burdensome and allow beneficiaries to enter into a leasehold contract agreement with investors but ensure that land will not be converted to non-agricultural uses,” he said. Adriano also advocated for the promotion of agricultural joint-venture agreements between small landowners and agribusiness corporations. Estrella, for his part, expressed support for the proposal, saying the DAR can check within their network of beneficiaries. Big brother companies The DAR chief also lauded the KALAP’s big brother companies for their commitment to sharing their technology and best practices with the DAR and their willingness to become an assured market for the farmers. “I am happy that KALAP’s big brothers are willing to share their technology with DAR. We want to tap into the knowledge of the big brothers to better prepare the beneficiaries of agrarian reform so that the land will be utilized properly,” Estrella said, adding they can also help extend credit assistance to agrarian reform beneficiaries if needed. Meanwhile, National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Administrator Eddie Guillen said the private sector plays a huge role in the success of the agriculture sector. “Around 80 percent of the success of the agricultural sector depends on the private sector. If magsucceed ito sa mga agri reform beneficiaries, mas madaming makikinabang,” he said. Guillen also revealed that President Marcos wants to harmonize concerned agencies and their functions, instead of establishing a task force. President Marcos earlier ordered the geomapping of all agricultural lands in the country to establish soil maps for specific agricultural products to ensure increased yield and improve farmers’ income. The post DAR vows securing farmers’ soft loans appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Group warns vs Masagana Rice Program, calls it blueprint for bankrupt agri
A group of peasant women rallied against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s recently approved Masagana Rice Program, claiming that it won't result in 97% rice self-sufficiency by 2028 as promised......»»
Bong Go lauds Senate approval of bill institutionalizing DTI’s SSF project
Acknowledging how the global health crisis has adversely affected Filipinos’ livelihood, Sen. Bong Go has been advocating for initiatives promoting economic growth and job creation in the country. It is for this reason that the senator pushes to institutionalize the Shared Service Facilities project under the Department of Trade and Industry. On Monday, 22 May, the Senate approved the third and final reading of Senate Bill No. 2021. The proposed measure seeks to amend Republic Act No. 6977 or the Magna Carta for Small Enterprises as amended by RA 9501, otherwise known as the Magna Carta for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises. “As a nation, we must recognize the immense potential and significance of these enterprises in driving our economy forward, creating jobs, and uplifting the lives of our people,” underscored Go. “MSMEs form the backbone of our economy, comprising a significant portion of our business landscape. They are the engines of innovation, providing employment opportunities, and contributing to the overall socio-economic progress of our communities,” he added. The proposed bill, which Go co-authored and co-sponsored, aims to improve the competitiveness of MSMEs by granting them access to shared facilities and services, technology, and skills training. The SSF project, in cooperation with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), local government units, and other private organizations, shall operate by establishing shared facilities in various locations across the country. These facilities are made accessible to MSMEs from different industries, such as agri-processing, manufacturing, and services. The participating MSMEs can utilize the shared equipment, allowing them to upgrade their production capabilities without incurring substantial costs. “SSFs shall play a pivotal role in enhancing productivity, efficiency, and product quality. Through shared access to modern machinery, advanced technology, and specialized training, our entrepreneurs can optimize their operations and improve their competitiveness. This, in turn, leads to increased production, higher revenue generation, and ultimately, the creation of more jobs for our people,” Go asserted. “Ang trabaho natin bilang lingkod-bayan ay ang alalayan ang ating mga mamamayan, lalo na sa panahon ng krisis. Tulungan natin silang tulungan nila ang kanilang mga sarili sa pamamagitan ng mas pinabuti at mas pinalakas na mga programa ng gobyerno, katulad ng SSF,” he urged. The post Bong Go lauds Senate approval of bill institutionalizing DTI’s SSF project appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Binance ban a boon to local crypto firms
Local crypto traders are now experiencing as much as four times higher transaction volumes as investors shift their tokens from Binance......»»
Mga babaeng nakunan pwede bang mag-leave with pay?
SA pagdiriwang ng Buwan ng Mga Kababaihan, nagbigay ng libreng konsultasyong legal ang public service program na “CIA wita BA” at isa na nga rito ay kung maaari bang mag-leave with pay ang mga babaeng nakunan. Maraming napag-usapang batas na may kinalaman sa mga karapatan ng kababaihan. Isa sa mga natalakay sa segment na “Yes.....»»
Red carpet to be rolled out for FIVB world meet
The Philippines will leave no stone unturned for the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championships 2025 – in terms of hosting the event for the first time ever and competing anew after 50 long years......»»
Tech advancements in agri sans job threats in Date 2024
Despite the pivotal role of technology, artificial intelligence (AI), and the Internet of Things (IoT) in agricultural development, farmers and laborers in Davao Region face no immediate threat......»»
13 killed in vehicles collision in southern Philippines
MANILA, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Thirteen people were killed after a passenger van and a dump truck collided on a highway in Cotabato province in the southern Philippines on Monday, police and local media said. Police said the van, with about 15 passengers aboard, was negotiating a sloping curve when it was hit by the speeding dump truck in the opposite lane. The accident happened after 12 noon local time. In.....»»
Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 1600 GMT, March 25
JAKARTA -- One was killed and nine others, including children, went missing after a landslide struck a village in the Indonesian province of West Java on Sunday, a local official said Monday. The disaster took place in Cibenda village in West Bandung regency on Sunday after torrential rain reportedly poured over the area for around two hours. (Indonesia-Landslide) - - - - SYDNEY -- Local media repo.....»»
3 suspected rebels killed in clash in Philippines Batangas
MANILA, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Three suspected rebels were killed in a clash with government forces in Batangas province, south of Manila, on Tuesday, the Philippine military said. The military said a 30-minute gunfight broke out around 6:30 a.m. local time after the troops ran into a group of New People's Army (NPA) rebels in Rosario town. The troops recovered three rifles, six jungle packs, and some mater.....»»
Xinhua world news summary at 1530 GMT, March 26
MANILA -- Three suspected rebels were killed in a clash with government forces in Batangas province, south of Manila, on Tuesday, the Philippine military said. The military said a 30-minute gunfight broke out around 6:30 a.m. local time after the troops ran into a group of New People's Army (NPA) rebels in Rosario town. (Philippines-Clash) - - - - BEIRUT -- Two people were killed and nine other civ.....»»
Rice imports as of mid-March 886,963 MT
The country’s rice imports as of mid-March have surpassed the total volume recorded in the entire first quarter of last year by a double-digit rate, to over 880,000 metric tons, government data showed......»»
DENR defends LLDA on lake sharing
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources defended yesterday the decision of the Laguna Lake Development Authority to increase the share of commercial operators in Laguna de Bay, saying it was the local government units who recommended to President Marcos the modification in the sharing agreement as small fisherfolk could not meet the required supply of fish......»»
2 hurt in another gun attack in Cotabato City
Two local residents were wounded in another ambush incident in this city at about 11:00 p.m. Monday......»»
Philippines vows hosting readiness for men’s volleyball world championship
The Philippines assured to leave no stone unturned in the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championships 2025 — in terms of hosting for the first time ever and competing anew after 50 long years......»»
Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 1600 GMT, March 25
JAKARTA -- One was killed and nine others, including children, went missing after a landslide struck a village in the Indonesian province of West Java on Sunday, a local official said Monday. The disaster took place in Cibenda village in West Bandung regency on Sunday after torrential rain reportedly poured over the area for around two hours. (Indonesia-Landslide) - - - - SYDNEY -- Local media repo.....»»
Concerns conveyed to China over cyber activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand's concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. "The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New Zealand and the United Ki.....»»