Aquaculture boost needed to fill fish supply gap
An improved local aquaculture sector is seen filling the gap in the country’s fish supply instead of just relying on the importation of the commodity......»»
China Coast Guard water-cannons anew Ayungin-bound civilian Philippine boat
A China Coast Guard vessel again blasted a Filipino supply boat with water cannons during the latter's attempt to bring much needed supplies to soldiers stationed at the Ayungin (Scarborough) Shoal......»»
Department of Agriculture sees spike in fish,vegetables prices this Lent
A spike in the retail prices of fish and vegetables is expected during the Holy Week, Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said yesterday, even as he assured consumers that there will be enough supply of food commodities......»»
Unemployed, underemployed Filipinos down in August — PSA
Employers in the Philippines hired more Filipinos while fewer people looked for additional working hours, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed on Friday. In a press briefing, the PSA said the number of jobless Filipinos reached 2.21 million in August, a decline from 2.27 million unemployed Filipinos last July. The data translated to an unemployment rate of 4.4 percent in August from 4.8 percent last July. PSA added that 5.63 million Filipinos were looking for more hours to increase their income in August, lower than the 7.10 million underemployed persons in July. The underemployment rate fell from 14.7 percent in August 2022 and 15.9 percent in July to 11.7 percent. Underemployed individuals are those who have indicated a wish for more work hours in their current job, a desire to take on a second job, or an interest in finding a new job that offers longer working hours. The rise in the number of people with and without jobs can be attributed to the month-on-month increase in labor force participation. In July, the labor force participation rate increased from 46.90 million to 64.7 percent, up from 60.1 percent in the previous month. "Many people entered the labor force, so unemployment decreased," National Statistician Dennis Claire Mapa said in a press briefing. PSA data mentioned that the majority of employed individuals, 62.6 percent, are wage and salary workers. On the other hand, self-employed individuals make up 27.3 percent, and unpaid family workers constitute 8.0 percent of the employed population. The state-run statistics bureau attributed the surge in employment to specific sectors: fishing and aquaculture with 572,000 new jobs, construction with 534,000, agriculture and forestry with 378,000, human health and social work activities with 153,000, and administrative and support service activities with 143,000. In a separate statement, NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said the government will continue to ramp up efforts to boost economic growth and quality job creation amid economic headwinds. "To raise the quality of employment further, the Marcos administration is committed to exerting all efforts to shape an attractive business climate for investors with the resources needed to bring in high-quality and high-paying jobs," Balisacan said. The post Unemployed, underemployed Filipinos down in August — PSA appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Marcos: No fishing ban, just avoid breeding grounds
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Saturday clarified that the government would not impose a fishing ban on breeding sites, saying he is merely requesting fisherfolk to avoid areas where there is natural propagation. Marcos made the clarification in a chance interview shortly after he led the distribution of rice to 2,000 beneficiaries in Iriga City, Camarines Sur. “Hindi maganda ang pagkapaliwanag ko. Hindi fishing ban ang pinag-usapan ko. Ang sinasabi ko, kung saan 'yung breeding area ng isda, 'wag tayong mangingisda doon para dumami ‘yung isda (I did not explain it well. I was not talking about a fishing ban. What I'm saying is, where the breeding areas of the fish are, let us not fish there so that the fish could multiply),” said Marcos. Marcos stressed the imposition of a fishing ban will be unlikely as the fisherfolk rely on fishing livelihood. But said he wants to restrict fishing in breeding grounds to increase the fish population. “Pero walang fishing ban. Hindi naman makakapaghanapbuhay ang tao. Padadamihin nga natin yung isda. Kausap ko kanina ‘yung mga mangingisda. Sabi nila talagang nabawasan na ‘yung huli nila (But there’s no fishing ban. People could not make a living. We have to increase the fish population. I was talking to the fishermen earlier. They said their catch has really decreased),” he pointed out. He also underscored the importance of protecting fish breeding grounds to ensure an abundant supply of fish in the Philippines and to ensure that fisherfolk’s source of income will not be affected. In a media interview during a rice distribution activity in Zamboanga City last Tuesday, Marcos said he is considering imposing several restrictions to secure the country’s fish supply He said there’s a need to address overfishing and boost the country’s aquaculture, lamenting the sector’s challenges, including low catch, because of the destruction of fish breeding areas. Meanwhile, Marcos assured the government is implementing programs to put up more cold storage facilities to prevent spoilage. Up to 30 percent of fish catch is degraded or damaged, he noted. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources earlier bared its plan to further boost the country's fisheries sector to contribute to economic growth. This is anchored to Marcos’ push for the protection and conservation of the country’s natural resources to achieve food security and sustainability. The post Marcos: No fishing ban, just avoid breeding grounds appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
NFRDI to boost Philippines aquaculture
The National Fisheries Research and Development Institute is implementing two projects to boost the country’s aquaculture sector......»»
PBBM opens Samar Pacific Coastal Road
CATARMAN, Northern Samar — Five years since the start of its construction, the Samar Pacific Coastal Road Project, which completes the circumferential road connecting the three provinces of Samar Island, is finally completed. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. led the inauguration of the 11.6-kilometer SPCR project worth P1.17 billion on Friday in Barangay Simora, Palapag, Northern Samar. The project also included the construction of three bridges that connected Northern Samar’s Pacific towns to the rest of the province. The project, which cost around 1.17 billion pesos, was initiated in 2018 through a collaboration between the local and national governments, as well as the Korea Export-Import Bank Economic Development Cooperation loan. “With the opening of this road and its bridges, the development of Northern Samar’s rich agricultural lands and bountiful fishing grounds will follow suit. It will also expedite the delivery and movement of our basic goods and services, which will hopefully boost our people’s quality of life,” Marcos said. Governor Edwin Ongchuan expressed his gratitude to President Marcos and the Department of Public Works and Highway for their support, highlighting the economic benefits of the project in terms of increased agricultural productivity, improved tourism, and enhanced peace and resiliency efforts in Northern Samar. “The SPCR will greatly impact the economic development of our province, as it will remarkably encourage increased agricultural productivity of the thousands of our farmers and fisherfolks, thereby improving our program for food self-sufficiency. It will also boost our tourism industry and help sustain our peace and resiliency efforts in Northern Samar,” Ongchuan said. Governor Ongchuan also acknowledged the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte for including SPCR 1 in the priority funding of the national government under its “Build Build Build” Program and the Government of Korea for its support to the project. South Korean Ambassador Lee Sang-Hwa said the SPCR project is part of their country’s commitment to helping in the Philippines’ development. “Local communities stand to gain from this grand infrastructure undertaking. SPCR will highlight the beauty of the island, ease the movement of people and goods, improve the delivery of services, and spur economic and business activities,” Lee added. Aside from opening the road project, President Marcos also led in the distribution of P91-worth of assistance to 2,500 vulnerable residents of Northern Samar. The Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, and Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation, among others, distributed material and financial assistance to the beneficiaries. The Provincial Agriculture Office distributed farming equipment, the DA provided tractors, irrigation systems, and seeds, and BFAR distributed fishing boats and aquaculture implements, among other assistance. The event also included a job fair to help jobseekers in the province. Governor Ongchuan emphasized the significance of the program in providing direct access to consumers for farmers and entrepreneurs, contributing to increased income and affordability of basic necessities, and expressed his commitment to working with the national government for the country’s progress. The post PBBM opens Samar Pacific Coastal Road appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PFDA and Garcia push for construction of Cebu fish port
Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) reported Tuesday, that their top management met with Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia to discuss plans for the construction of a Regional Fish Port (RFP) in the province. The meeting, held at the Cebu Provincial Capitol on 6 July 2023, agreed a fish port would help boost the production of commercial fisheries, municipal fisheries, and aquaculture in the province. PFDA Acting General Manager Atty. Glen A. Pangapalan said this proposal can help more fisherfolk in the region and further improve the already robust economy of Cebu. Based on the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data for 2021, Cebu recorded the highest annual increase in the value of production in agriculture and fisheries in Central Visayas at 7.3 percent. Cebu has proven itself to be the economic center of Central Visayas making the province a feasible location for a regional fish port. Garcia expressed her full support for the project. She said the port should be in a strategic place in Cebu, which can be accessible to fishing vessels from neighboring provinces in Central Visayas like Bohol, Siquijor, and Negros Oriental. An estimated eight hectares are required to construct the regional fish port. The PFDA and the Capitol will continue to cooperate to identify which area will give rise to the project. Once approved and completed, this project will be the second RFP in the region after the Iloilo Fish Port Complex (IFPC) in Iloilo City. During the meeting, the PFDA officials were joined by Department of Agriculture-Central Visayas Regional Executive Director Angel Enriquez and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-Central Visayas Director Allan Poquita. The post PFDA and Garcia push for construction of Cebu fish port appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DA’s 3-day expo promotes agri-fishery sector
The Department of Agriculture's three-day expo, the largest international trade fair for the livestock, poultry, and aquaculture industries, culminated Saturday with more than 300 exhibitors and 10,000 farmers, fisherfolk, traders, buyers, experts, policy and decision-makers, and industry stakeholders around the world convened at the Livestock and Aquaculture Philippines 2023 and shared their products, services, and best practices. Organized by international events manager Informa Markets, it was hosted by the Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) through the National Livestock Program (DA-NLP) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) with the goal of promoting the development of the Philippine agri-fishery sector. Informa Markets country general manager for Malaysia and the Philippines Gerard Leeuwenburgh called for every industry player to “step up” by innovating and adapting new technologies, enhancing food production, reducing waste, preventing diseases, and showing genuine concern for the environment “to ensure a sustainable production system” and “to be able to keep up with the competition in the [Asia-Pacific] Region.” Now on its sixth installment, the Livestock and Aquaculture Philippines 2023 formally opened on 5 July at the World Trade Center in Pasay City with Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. personally leading the ceremony. In his speech, the President and also concurrent Secretary of Agriculture acknowledged the vital role of the private sector in “realizing our dreams of progressively expanding and modernizing the poultry and livestock industries in the Philippines.” He also emphasized the need to revitalize Philippine agriculture by addressing key issues such as food inflation, the need to boost food production and mobilization, the importance of enhancing profitability and other opportunities in agri-fishery-based livelihoods, the emergence of agricultural pests and diseases, and more. “We will work to find ways to increase our farmers’ incomes so that they can lead a dignified and comfortable life and return to the profession a sense of pride that has been lost over the years. It is our hope to bring back nobility to a profession that has sacrificed so much to feed and to nourish us for many, many generations. Let us make the most of the knowledge and tools made available at this trade fair so that we can establish a more food-secure, sustainable, and resilient Philippines in the years ahead,” the President concluded. The opening ceremony was also attended by Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform Chairperson Senator Cynthia Villar, House Committee Chairperson on Agriculture and Food Representative Mark Enverga, Agricultural Sector Alliance of the Philippines (AGAP) Partylist Representative Nicanor Briones, Pasay City Mayor Imelda Calixto-Rubiano, and dignitaries from other countries. Members of the DA family—namely the National Livestock Program (NLP), Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS), National Dairy Authority (NDA), Philippine Carabao Center (PCC), International Training Center on Pig Husbandry (ITCPH), Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF), Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards (BAFS), and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)—together with government financial institutions Development Bank of the Philippines and Land Bank of the Philippines, set up their booths at the DA Pavilion and the Aquaculture area of the exhibit to extend services to the general public. The post DA’s 3-day expo promotes agri-fishery sector appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Thai giant eyes $2.5-B project
Agro-industrial and food conglomerate, Charoen Pokphand Group, headquartered in Thailand, is set to pour in $2.5 billion in a project to benefit the agricultural sector. This was confirmed by the company’s officials after paying a courtesy call with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual, House Speaker Martin Romualdez, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Special Assistant to the President Anton Lagdameo, and Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, among others in Malacañang on 30 May. “We welcome this potential investment from CP Group as this will boost our economic recovery initiatives, generating more economic activities and employment opportunities for our people. This is an outcome of the President’s visit to Thailand in November last year. There, they have committed to expanding their operations in the country, and now it’s happening,” Pascual said in the occasion. In 2022, Thailand, where CP Group is based, was the country’s 8th major trading partner, 6th export market, and 7th import supplier. Charoen Pokphand Group Co., Ltd is primarily dedicated to enhancing and developing the quality of life of the people in Thailand and communities around the world. Agro-based operations Their operations in Bangkok involve a wide array of businesses such as agro-industry and food, retail and distribution, telecommunications, e-commerce and digital, pharmaceuticals, finance and investment, automotive and industrial products, and property development. During the meeting, CP executives and public sector representatives discussed business integration, particularly food, aquaculture and livestock activities in the Philippines, anchored on their pledge to invest in and help improve aquaculture, rice, and swine production in the Philippines in order to support the development of the country’s agrifood value chain. The Charoen Pokphand Foods Philippines Corporation, or CPFPC, a subsidiary of Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited is considered as the most significant Thai investment in Philippine Agriculture. In 2022, a memorandum of agreement was signed by CPF in partnership with the Department of Agriculture and Land Bank of the Philippines to support poultry, aquaculture, and hog farming business expansion. Currently, CPFPC has three Board of Investment registrations also focusing on agricultural projects. “With science, technology, and innovation as our core strategy in the country’s industrial transformation, we are excited and optimistic about this investment from CP Group as it will not only bring in new technology in the agricultural sector but at the same time increase the quality of their products and productivity level. We hope that this investment will boost our efforts to integrate the agricultural industry into the global value chain,” Pascual added. The post Thai giant eyes $2.5-B project appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Aquaculture contributes 55% in Q1 fishery output
A Senate panel on Tuesday emphasized the need for the government to provide necessary means to further grow the aquaculture industry in the country as it contributed 54.15 percent to total fishery production of 4.248 million metric tons. During a joint hearing by the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform and Committee in Finance, Senator Cynthia Villar, underscored that the aquaculture sector is vital to ensuring the country’s food security, generating employment opportunities, and contributing to foreign exchange earnings. Villar cited Philippine Statistics Authority 2022 data showing that aquaculture contributed 2.246 million metric tons to total fishery production, from 4.248 MT or 52.9 percent in 2021, and 4.4 MT or 52.8 percent in 2020. Production further grew this year, accounting for 545,640 MT or 55 percent out of the 991,140 MT total fishery production in the first quarter alone. Give importance to the industry “Given this, it is critical for the government to give importance to the industry of aquaculture farming, and the House Bills which propose the establishment of hatcheries in several municipalities and provinces,” Villar said during the hearing. The Senate panel discussed several house bills on establishing multi-species marine hatcheries in various municipalities and other rural areas to cater to small-time fisherfolk nationwide. Villar said these hatcheries are necessary for the propagation of certain marine species to address the country’s dependence on imported fingerlings, like bangus, tilapia, mangrove crabs, pampano, shrimp, lapu-lapu, dangit, and other high-value marine species. These will also provide seeds for the utilization of aquaculture in fish-producing provinces nationwide. Substantial growth “In recent times, aquaculture has experienced substantial growth, surpassing captured fisheries. By providing support to the aquaculture industry, will lead to the development of our fisheries industry in general,” she added. For his part, Senator Robin Padilla stressed that supporting these measures will help the country boost the aquaculture industry while ensuring food security in the Philippines. He also urged the government to prevent importation and expand exportation opportunities instead. “These kinds of measures must be pursued because it will help to reduce importation,” Padilla said, adding that the country, given its geographical location, is abundant in agricultural produces. The post Aquaculture contributes 55% in Q1 fishery output appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Groups urge review of fishpond lease program
Various groups are calling for the review of the Fishpond Lease Agreement to boost the country’s aquaculture production......»»
Group eyes more aquaculture export zones
Food security advocacy group Tugon Kabuhayan is calling for the establishment of more aquaculture export ecozones in the country to boost the output of processed and value-added products both for the domestic and export markets......»»
Aquaculture in dams, protected areas pushed
Allowing aquaculture to flourish in dams and certain protected areas is expected to boost food security and stabilize prices amid rising prices of pork and chicken......»»
Aquaculture boost needed to fill fish supply gap
An improved local aquaculture sector is seen filling the gap in the country’s fish supply instead of just relying on the importation of the commodity......»»
US reaffirms support for Philippines sovereignty amid its tensions with China
Washington, DC [US], March 28 (ANI): US Secretary of Defence Llyod Austin has reaffirmed Washington's commitment to Manila in defending its sovereignty while criticising China's "dangerous" water cannon attack at the Philippine supply mission vessel on Saturday. In a telephonic conversation between Austin and his Philippine counterpart Gilberto Teodoro, the US Secretary reiterated the US-Philippines Mutual Defence Treaty.....»»
Iloilo City fish vendor arrested; P4 Million shabu seized
Iloilo City fish vendor arrested; P4 Million shabu seized.....»»
Unlock business success at Franchise Asia Philippines Expo
The Franchise Asia Philippines Expo 2024 is set to hold a series of dynamic seminars designed to empower entrepreneurs, investors and business enthusiasts with the knowledge and tools needed to thrive in the ever-evolving world of franchising. Slated from April 12 to 14 at the SMX Convention Center Manila, these seminars offer invaluable insights into key aspects of franchising and business growth......»»
Companies State it Takes More Than 6 Months to Fill Cybersecurity Positions
The latest Kaspersky survey found that 48% of companies require over half a year to find a qualified cybersecurity professional. A lack of proven experience was cited as one of the biggest challenges, along with the high cost of hiring and global competition in talent acquisition. With global labor markets continuing to clamor for InfoSec […].....»»
UAAP volleyball enters break amid wide-open semis race
It’s the calm before the storm as teams embark on a much-needed pause ahead of an expected all-out race to the UAAP Season 86 volleyball tournaments Final Four......»»
Fisherfolk group urges gov’t to regulate fish prices amid Lent
Fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas on Wednesday urged the government to address the surge in retail prices of fish during the Holy Week......»»