Bicol agriculture suffers P53.71-M damage due to Quinta
Bicol agriculture suffers P53.71-M damage due to Quinta.....»»
Visayas, Bicol floods agriculture damage hits P202.89 million
Damage to agriculture due to massive flooding following heavy rainfall in Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas and Bicol last week has reached P202.89 million......»»
Visayas, Bicol record rains: Agriculture damage hits P147.3 million
Damage to agriculture due to record-breaking rains in Eastern Visayas, Western Visayas and Bicol early this week has reached P147.3 million......»»
More Filipinos now agri, biosystems engineers: DA
The Department of Agriculture is more hopeful for wider farm mechanization and livelier agribusiness industry in the country as more Filipinos have become agricultural and biosystems engineers or ABEs. In an email to the Daily Tribune, DA reported that 12,551 ABEs obtained their licenses this year, more than the 10,909 in 2021. The DA added 615 ABEs took their professional oath last 20 October. “They are not only responsible for the design of machinery and systems, but are also the pioneers of change, custodians of sustainability, and champions of modern, appropriate, and sustainable mechanization technologies and practices,” DA-Bureau of Agricultural and Fisheries Engineering Director Ariodear Rico said. Graduates from Central Bicol State University of Agriculture-Pili achieved a 100 percent passing rate, followed by the University of the Philippines-Los Baños with 92.86 percent in the ABE Licensure Examination in September. Rico said only 33.41 percent of the total 1,841 examinees passed. ABEs play vital role “The country not only needs agricultural facilities, but an adequate and competent workforce, in which ABE professionals, together with operators and technicians, play a vital role,” he said. Rico said the Marcos administration has created agricultural and fisheries development programs and trade partnerships to provide jobs to highly skilled ABEs and help ensure they stay in the country. He said on top of the list is the National Agricultural and Fishery Mechanization Program which aims to ease exchange of knowledge and drive more collaborations among engineers and the government by streamlining all mechanization policies and programs of local government units. Another is the Renewable Energy Program for Agriculture and Fishery Sector which Rico said aims to maximize the use of solar, wind, hydro, biomass and biogas energy. Through these programs, he said ABEs can further reap the economic and intellectual benefits from the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement or RCEP. Approved by the Senate in February, this trade deal among the ten members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, plus China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand allows stronger intellectual property rights, zero to lower tariffs for Philippine exports, and more financing for small and medium businesses. ROI on farm mechanization A study by the Department of Science and Technology showed the return on investment of farm mechanization can grow by at least 238 percent. Despite this, the country has increased its mechanization level to just 2.679 horsepower per hectare (hp/ha) this year from 2.31 hp/ha. Meanwhile, global revenue from fish and seafood is projected to grow by 7 percent annually, according to global market researcher Statista. It adds China has earned the highest at $88 billion revenue this year. The post More Filipinos now agri, biosystems engineers: DA appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Thousands of rice farmers treated to PhilRice field day
Thousands of farmers across the country had been feted in the traditional Lakbay Palay field festival, where all eight stations of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) opened their doors for farmers to personally view the progress and benefits of the latest palay seeds technologies done in the premier rice research institute of the country. Department of Agriculture Undersecretary for Rice Industry Development Leocadio Sebastian said the dry season Lakbay Palay is held every March or April and the wet season every September or October. Sebastian said the participants toured the 140 hectares of PhilRice field in Science City, Nueva Ecija. The farmers also had the chance to look into the available seeds and soil nutrients of the private sector exhibitors during the two-day festival from 27 to 28 September. Farmers learn PhilRice-developed technologies which include Palayamanan system, a rice-based farming system they can adopt to lessen the economic effects of El Nino, high yielding varieties and farm machinery, according to DA official. He added that about 10 public and private agencies and cooperatives also pledged their support to the “BIDA RiceBIS, Be the rice’s best” movement, which aims to increase farmers’ market opportunities. The regular Lakbay Palay, which started in 1992 as Farmers’ Field Day, was changed into Lakbay Palay in 2012 under the administration of PhilRice Executive Director Eufemio T. Rasco Jr. It held before October each year or the start of the planting season for the dry season crop. The 2023 Lakbay Palay wet season festival was simultaneously held in all eight stations of PhilRice with the biggest festival held at the PhilRice Central Experiment Station in Munoz, Nueva Ecija. The other stations that held simultaneous Lakbay Palay were Batac, Isabela, Los Banos, Bicol, Negros, Agusan and Midsayap. The farmers that attended on both days of the Lakbay Palay in Nueva Ecija were from Zambales, Bulacan, Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Tarlac and Aurora provinces. The farmers were divided into 500 persons a day but the number was exceeded on the second day as many walk-ins showed up. PhilRice Executive Director Dr. John de Leon said farmers are welcome to visit the 140-hectare research and development farm and the new Crop Protection Division for any of their inquiries and concerns. PhilRice Deputy Executive Director for Development Dr. Karen Barroga urged the farmers to work in clusters so they could meet the required rice volumes of potential private sector partners for their produce. She cited the case of Negros Occidental farmer-cooperative who is now selling 500 bags a week to Merzci, a famous palalubong and fastfood chain in the region for its business and corporate social responsibility activities. This was made possible through the Rice BIS (Business Innovation System) of PhilRice, which links farmers to private sector buyers so they can enjoy better market prices for their produce. Another partnership was forged by PhilRice between the farmers of Zambales and Bicol who are now supplying the Kiwanis International for their feeding programs for poor communities, she said. Dr. Val Perdido, who represented Undersecretary Leocadio Sebastian for Rice Industry Development, exhorted the farmers to improve their yields using both new technologies and better farming practices so the country can meet its food sufficiency and nutritional goals and improve the farmers’ incomes. He said Nueva Ecija farmers have proven yields of six tons a hectare but most other areas produce four tons or less. He mentioned that the Department of Agriculture is giving production assistance to farmers (in fertilizers and biofertilizers) in addition to the certified seeds, training and machineries provided under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) program. A farmer cooperative officer, Vincent Gonzales of St. Vincent Parish Multupurpose Cooperative in Dupax del Sur, Nueva Vizcaya narrated to the participants that their coop was founded in 1979 by a Belgian priest to help farmers– who borrow from loan sharks for their daily subsistence with a capital from 400 members of P4,000 has now grown to 5,600 members with a total material asset of P424 million. The coop is now able to support members through loans and social development activity, scholarship grants, medical assistance and food packs (for the disabled and the aged). It had received numerous awards including the Most Outstanding SIPAG award in 2022 from Senator Cynthia Villar. The post Thousands of rice farmers treated to PhilRice field day appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
KWF lauds ‘Pinoy-speaking’ agencies
The Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino on Wednesday honored government agencies and local government units that use Filipino language as medium of communication in delivering public service. At least 24 government agencies and local government units were given recognition by the commission for using the country’s national language in this year’s Seal of Excellence in Public Service. This year’s awardees include Department of Agriculture; Department of Science and Technology-PCIEERD; Department of Education-Bureau of Learning Division; DepEd SDO Ligao; MTRCB; Amang Rodriguez Medical Center; NCDA; Pasig City local government; Bulacan provincial government; Municipality of Pililla, Rizal; Barangay Hagdang Bato, Mandaluyong City; Barangay Lower Bicutan, Taguig City; Department of the Interior and Local Government; Department of Labor and Employment-BWSC; Santa Rosa City Government; Municipality of Marilao, Bulacan; Barangay San Isidro, Iriga City; Department of Environment and Natural Resources; Rizal Medical Center; Pasay City government; DepEd-Region V (Bicol Region); DepEd SDO Iriga; MMDA and Quirino Memorial Medical Center. “The Seal of Excellence is given to government agencies that have trained and reached standard proficiency in the use of the Filipino language in their office in transactions, communications, documents, advertisements, and other activities — either written or orally — in various offices of the government agencies,” KWF president Arthur Casanova said. He added that the event is held annually in response to the Executive Order 335 signed by the late President Corazon Aquino mandating the use of Filipino language in official transactions, communications, and correspondence in every agency of the government. “All government agencies should use the Filipino language so that we can raise the level of our national language,” said Casanova, adding that the national language is the symbol of being Filipinos. The post KWF lauds ‘Pinoy-speaking’ agencies appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bicolanos get Mayon-related assistance
The Department of Social Welfare and Development field office in the Bicol Region has released the fifth wave of food packs to the local government units in aid of those affected by the recent activities of Mayon Volcano. A total of 33,000 family food packs have been distributed to the different LGUs in the region. Each box of FFP consisted of six kilograms of rice, four cans of tuna, four tins of corned beef, two canned sardines, five sachets of coffee, and another five sachets of cereal drink. The DSWD office also facilitated the distribution of the 300 metric tons of rice — equivalent to 10,000 sacks of milled rice — donated by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries of Japan. The donated rice has already been allocated to the respective evacuation centers of the affected LGUs as an augmentation to the food supply for the families and communities affected by the continuous volcanic activities. More than P212.3 million worth of relief items, including financial aid through the Emergency Cash Transfer and Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation programs have been provided to the affected families and individuals. The DSWD assured the Bicolanos that it will continue to closely coordinate with the different LGUs so that it can provide needed relief assistance. The post Bicolanos get Mayon-related assistance appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Managers: Phl remains on track
Despite the lackluster 4.3 percent in the second quarter, growth this year is expected to reach the target range of 6 percent to 7 percent gross domestic product expansion, according to Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno. “To do this, we will expedite the implementation of government programs and projects, to provide fiscal stimulus to increase the productive capacity of the public and private sectors and address the adverse recent impacts of typhoons.” Diokno added. Economic managers gathered in Fort Ilocandia in Laoag City to hold the Post-State of the Nation Economic Briefing that discussed the country’s economic situation and plans on 14 August. Diokno said in 2022, GDP increased 7.6 percent from 5.7 a year ago and a 9.5 percent contraction in 2020. Diokno said the economic team is determined to pick up government expenditure in the third and fourth quarters. Revenue collections remain robust from January to June as these totaled P1.9 trillion up 7.7 percent or P132.6 billion year-on-year which is also higher than the mid-year program by 2.7 percent. Hence, Diokno said they have already pipelined 194 infrastructure flagship projects worth P8.3 trillion of which 132 are located in Luzon that will address irrigation, water supply, flood management, agriculture, digital connectivity, physical connectivity, health, and power and energy. Diokno also highlighted some of the projects like the Laoag International Airport Development Project, the EDSA Greenways, the TPLEX Expressway Expansion Project, the Laguna Lakeshore Road Network Project, the Ilocos Norte-Sur-Abra Irrigation Project, and the Naga Airport Development Project. “The Philippines is determined to be a world leader in the race to net zero and the Ilocos Region will be a strategic partner in this mission. Dubbed to be the renewable energy capital of South East Asia, Ilocos Norte is emerging to be a promising player in the clean energy arena. Being home to the first and largest wind farms in the country,” Diokno stressed. In his address, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Eli Remolona Jr., said from a peak of 8.7 percent in January, headline inflation slowed to 4.7 percent in July due to improving domestic food supply conditions and lower global oil prices. However, he also admitted that core inflation remains high at 6.7 percent although it has already started to decline due to the monetary tightening. The BSP has responded to inflation by aggressively raising its policy rate, as of today, the BSP has raised policy rates by 425 basis points. Prices reined in “The good news is that inflation expectations are still well anchored. The markets continue to believe that we will hit our target range by 2024 and stay there in 2025,” Remolona said. Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman also gave an update on the use pf the budget for 2023. Pangandaman said at the end of July, the total amount of the national budget that has been released already is around 93 percent. “And we expect all our government agencies including all the cabinet members present here, to spend your budget so we can help grow the economy,” Pangandaman said. While for next year, the government budget will amount to 5.768 trillion and it is 21.7 percent of the GDP it has already been submitted to Congress last August 2 and the budget is expected to be passed earlier than expected. The National Economic Development Authority said it wanted to lower the poverty level to single digit. For Socioeconomic Planning Undersecretary Carlos Bernardo Abad Santos, the government has effective regional development plans. In the Ilocos Regional Development Plan from 2023-2028, the NEDA expects the Ilocos region to have a 7 percent to 7.5 percent growth while lowering the poverty incidence by 7.3 percent. ‘Build, Better, More’ under BBM;s watch Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan said the “Build, Better, More” program of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is very much aligned with the medium-term development plan for 2023 to 2028 and is consistent with the 8-point economic agenda of the president. Bonoan said that from July 2022 to May 2023, the DPWH has built, maintained, rehabilitated, widened, and upgraded 4,082 kilometer of roads, 497 bridges, built 2,103 flood control projects, 55 evacuation centers, 216 kms farm to market roads, 8 kilometers of farm to mill roads, 138 kilometers tourism roads, 18 kilometers of roads to seaports, railway stations, and airports, 4,038 classrooms, and 6,002 rainwater collector system. “Because of climate change, we have to address and be building and developing resilient and sustainable communities in the 18 major river basins in the country,” Bonoan said. Some of the major projects that the department would like to continue are converting the Daang Maharlika which is actually now Asian Highway 26 which starts in Laoag City and will go around Cagayan Valley and has extended all the way to Zamboanga City. Bonoan says that they want to convert this backbone of the national highway into seamless travel. “In other words, there should be no major stops along the way, along this Maharlika highway,” Bonoan said. Bonoan said they’re going to build 12 major bridges, and the first bridge is the Cavite-Bataan Interlink bridge with a span of more than 32 km. Should it be completed, this will be the second-longest bay bridge in the world. The department also plans to start the Luzon Spine Expressway which will run from Laoag City to Bicol, Bonoan says that this will be 1,073 kms more. As for Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, major Department of Transportation projects like the New Manila International Airport in Bulacan, Metro Manila Subway, EDSA Greenway Projects, EDSA Busway, MRT-3 Rehabilitation, LRT-1 Cavite, LRT-2 West Extension, MRT-7, and the modernization and capacity expansion of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport are proceeding. For the Department of Information and Communications Technology Ivan John Uy, there is already a cybersecurity plan for 2023 to 2028 which is a consolidated output of all the stakeholders in designing which includes the best practices all over the world. “We’ve ramped up in our cybercrime detection, we are busting cybercrime syndicates all over the country especially those that are dealing with scammers,” Uy said. Uy said agency is also enhancing cybersecurity status by designing courses to upgrade cybersecurity professionals. He admits that worldwide, there is a 3 million job vacancies on cyber security. DICT said by the end of the year, the department will have Two Terabits of capacity from Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan all the way to Manila and we should expect very good Internet connectivity by the start of next year especially on the Luzon area. These structures also open opportunities to data centers and BPOs along the places mentioned which produces employment. DICT expects that foreign investment opportunities and interest in those areas will boom. The post Managers: Phl remains on track appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Japan’s Agri Ministry donates 4k sacks of rice for Mayon evacuees
More than 4,000 sacks of rice, weighing 30 kilos per sack, from Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture-Forestry and Fisheries are being unloaded on Saturday (August 12) by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Bicol Regional Office for distribution to families affected by the Mayon unrest. The initial donation is part of the 10,000 sacks […].....»»
27 deaths logged after combined Egay, habagat onslaught
The number of deaths due to the combined effects of Typhoon Egay and the southwest monsoon or habagat has reached 27, affecting 765,024 families or 2,856,962 persons nationwide. The latest data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council as of Wednesday showed that 52 were reported injured amid the inclement weather while 13 are still missing after the typhoon’s wrath. Some 15,604 families and 57,740 persons are still staying in 677 activated evacuation centers across the country while 57,609 families or 231,973 individuals are being aided outside the temporary shelters. Egay left the country with 68 roads and 4 bridges that remain not passable to motorists, while one town in the Ilocos region still has no water supply. About 52 communities in the Ilocos region and 2 in Cagayan Valley suffer from loss of communication. Some 102 areas in the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, and Cordillera Administrative Region have no power supply up to this press time. The weather disturbance brought 1,876 houses totally destroyed with 48,495 partially damaged nationwide, with an estimated cost of P344,000. The cost of damage to infrastructure was amounting to an estimated P 3,529,972,255.78 and P50,201,787.23 loss to agriculture with P9,977,216.22 worth of damaged assets. The government has already provided at least P187.4 million worth of assistance to the affected regions, according to the NDRRMC. The post 27 deaths logged after combined Egay, habagat onslaught appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Egay’s wrath: P3.5B infra damage, P50M agri losses
The wrath of the recent tropical cyclone ‘Egay’ left the country with an estimated P3, 510,282,156.58 in damage to infrastructure and P50,201,787.23 in losses to agriculture throughout the country. In its situational report on Monday, the National Risk Reduction and Management Council said the number of deaths due to "Egay" has climbed to 25, while 52 individuals were reportedly injured and 20 persons reported missing are still under validation. "Egay" is the fifth storm to hit the country and has affected at least 654,837 families or 2,397,336 individuals residing in 4,111 barangays and 441 towns in 47 provinces across 13 regions nationwide. The NDRRMC reported a total of 849 typhoon-related incidents in the Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Bicol region, Mimaropa, Eastern Visayas, Soccsksargen and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Damaged houses are now at 35,855, of which 34,572 were partially destroyed while 1,283 suffered total destruction. The NDRRMC reported an estimated cost of P9,977,216.22 in other damaged assets. The government has so far provided P146 million in assistance to affected residents. The post Egay’s wrath: P3.5B infra damage, P50M agri losses appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
9.5K Bicol farmers finish on-air training on crop technologies
LEGAZPI CITY – More than 9,000 rice farmers from the six provinces of the Bicol Region were able to graduate from the School-On-Air on Smart Rice Agriculture (SOA-SRA) program handled by the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) of the Department of Agriculture. In an interview on Thursday, Primalou Imperial, ATI-Bicol information service officer, said the latest to graduate […].....»»
‘Falcon’ continues to enhance ‘habagat’
Typhoon "Falcon" (international name: Khanun) continued to enhance the southwest monsoon (habagat) and drench parts of the country as the tropical storm strengthened early on Sunday, the state weather bureau said. According to Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration's (PAGASA) 11:00 a.m. advisory, Falcon's eye was located approximately 1,180 kilometers east of Northern Luzon at 10:00 a.m. The severe tropical storm traveled 15 kilometers per hour in the north-northwesterly direction. Maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour (km/h), gustiness of up to 115 km/h, and a central pressure of 985 hectoPascals (hPa) are present close to the center. Strong to storm-force winds were also present up to 900 kilometers from the core. Falcon threatens further floods and landslides as Typhoon Egay's (international name: Doksuri) effects are still being felt in the provinces it hit. Falcon's distance from the Philippine landmass prevents PAGASA from hoisting wind signals. But PAGASA said the cyclone may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility late Monday or early Tuesday. Casualties Meanwhile, two more people died because of the effects of Super Typhoon "Egay" and the stronger southwest monsoon. This brings the total number of deaths to 16, and the damage to agriculture and infrastructure to P5.8 billion. The latest situation report, which the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) released on Sunday, showed that 11 of the casualties happened in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), two each in Calabarzon (Region 4A) and Western Visayas (Region 6), and one in Ilocos (Region 1). But the NDRRMC said that only one death had been confirmed, that of a 36-year-old man who drowned in Mansilingan, Bacolod. The rest were still being checked. In Cagayan Valley (Region 2) and CAR, 52 people were injured, and 20 were missing. Meanwhile, the damage to farmland has already cost P1,501,183,483.27 and the damage to infrastructure has cost P4,388,703,839.36. The most agricultural losses were in Region 2, which cost P1.02 billion. Central Luzon followed, which lost P253 million; Mimaropa (Region 4B), which lost P119 million; Region 6, which lost P53 million; CAR, which lost P50 million; and Calabarzon, which lost P213,500. CAR, on the other hand, lost P3.1 billion in infrastructure. This was followed by Region 1, which lost P643 million, Region 2, which lost P483 million, Bicol (Region 5), which lost P52 million, Region 4B, which lost P29 million, and Region 6, which lost P1.5 million. A total of 291,262 families or 1,029,724 people in 2,615 barangays in Regions 1, 2, 3, 4A, 4B, 5, 6, Northern Mindanao (Region 10), Davao (Region 11), Soccsksargen (Region 12), Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), Central Autonomous Region (CAR), and National Capital Region (NCR) are affected. There were 15,092 people living in 330 evacuation centers, which were made up of 4,315 families. Assistance All of the storm victims got help worth a total of P64 million, which included food packs, water, blankets, gas and electric transportation, hygiene kits, sleeping kits, cash, and other things. The post ‘Falcon’ continues to enhance ‘habagat’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
2nd State of the Nation Address
Anti-inflation measures Crafting of Medium-Term Fiscal Framework supported by Congress Implementation of strategies to capacitate economic sectors Results (1) 7.6 percent growth in 2022 — highest rate in 46 years. (2) January to March 2023 — 6.4 growth percent (within 6 to 7 percent target) (3) Philippines considered to be among fastest-growing economies in the Asian region and in the world (4) Strong and stable financial system (5) Banks have strong capital and liquidity positions. (6) Digital economy contributed P2 trillion in 2022, the equivalent of 9.4 percent of our GDP. (7) World Bank projects a 6 percent overall growth rate due to strong local demand, consumer spending, strength from the BPO industry, steady flow of remittances, and continuing jobs recovery (8) Inflation rate eased up from 8.7 percent in January to 5.4 percent in June. (9) Bureau of Internal Revenue posted P1.05 trillion collections — an increase of almost 10 percent over the last year (10) Bureau of Customs increased collection by 7.4 percent for the first seven months of 2023, amounting to P476 billion. (11) PAGCOR increased collection by 47.9 percent (12) PCSO increased collection by 20 percent Reduction of prices of commodities like rice, meat, fish, vegetables and sugar Roll out of more than 7,000 KADIWA stores nationwide that link farmers with consumers, benefited 1.8 million families Agriculture Science-based methods toward food security Revision of Fisheries Code Unify 300 farm and fisheries clusters composed of 900 cooperatives Extensive technology training like the use of local bio-fertilizers Distribution of farm machinery, tools and inclement Distribution of more than 5 million rice seedlings and other crops Fuel at fertilizer discount vouchers Geo-Agri map of farm-to-market roads Irrigated 49,000 hectares of farmlands across the country. Constructed 4,000 additional fabrication labs, production at cold storage facilities Built 24 multi-species hatcheries to increase fisheries production Anti-animal pest monitoring, medicines, and vaccines Cloud seeding and buffer stocks in preparation for El Niño 70,000 agrarian land titles distributed Signing of EO No. 4. Or New Agrarian Emancipation Act the condoned P57-billion farmers’ loans Smuggling and hoarding Days of smugglers and hoarders are numbered Water Supply Creation of Water Resources Management Office Working for legislation of Department of Water Resource Management Allocated P14.6 billion for water supply projects Completion of Wawa Bulk Water Supply Project Phase 1 Installed 6,0000 rainwater collection systems across the country Infrastructure 8.3-trillion peso “Build, Better, More” Program in progress 194 flagship projects Continuation of “Build, Build, Build” projects Infrastructure spending stays at 5 to 6 percent of GDP 1,200-kilometer Luzon Spine Expressway Network Program will effectively connect Ilocos to Bicol from 20 hours to just 9 hours of travel Under Mega-Bridge Program, 12 bridges totaling 90 kilometers will be constructed including Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge and the Panay-Guimaras-Negros Island Bridges, and Samal Island-Davao City Connector Bridge As of June 2023, 4,000 kilometers of roads and 500 bridges have been constructed, maintained and upgraded Completed Cebu’s Pier 88 smart port, new passenger terminal buildings of Clark Airport and Port of Calapan. North-South Commuter Railway System now in full swing Strategic financing Enactment into law of Maharlika Investment Fund Social security Funds for the social security and public health insurance intact and separate Energy and Power Generation Price of crude oil stabilized Since last year, gasoline and diesel prices have gone down by 18 to 29 percent, respectively. Built 8 new additional power plants, bringing to 17 the total number of power generation facilities Energy production increased by 1,174 megawatts. Almost half a million homes given access to electricity; 100 percent household electrification by June 2028 Renewable energy is the way forward Promotion of renewables targets 35 percent share in the power mix by 2030, and 50 percent by 2040 Opened renewable energy projects to foreign investments Since last year, an additional 126 renewable energy contracts with potential capacity of 31,000 megawatts awarded. To date, more than 1,000 active projects all over the country — 299 are solar, 187 are wind, 436 are hydroelectric, 58 are biomass, 36 are geothermal, and 9 are ocean-powered. Malampaya project is boon, energizing 20 percent of Luzon; renewal of the contract guarantees continued revenues and energy production for another 15 years Push for more gas exploration in other parts of the country Partnered with the BARMM in regard to energy exploration and development The Philippines now has a Unified National Grid with the interconnection of the Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao grids “One Grid, One Market” will enable more efficient transfers and more competitive pricing of electricity Performance review of National Grid Corporation of the Philippines to complete all of its deliverables, starting with the vital Mindanao-Visayas and Cebu-Negros-Panay interconnections. Social welfare Enough funds for underprivileged DSWD, DoLE, DepEd, TESDA and CHEd involved in providing assistance Programs like AICS, TUPAD, TVET for Social Equity, Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens, Cash-for-Work for PWDs, and Integrated Livelihood Program-Kabuhayan available for indigents Social protection Pension of the military and the uniformed personnel is as important, urgent, and humanitarian as that of all other civilian Filipino employees Working closely with Congress to ease the transition from the old system to the new one, to guarantee that no effects are felt by those in the uniformed services. The post 2nd State of the Nation Address appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Solons hail benefits of new agrarian law
The newly enacted Republic Act 11953 or New Agrarian Emancipation Act, which was signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on 7 July, will not only liberate thousands of farmers from long-standing debts but is also expected to boost rice production in the country. Thus said Speaker Martin Romualdez, one of the principal authors of the House version of the legislation, who has high hopes the new law will significantly contribute to the country’s rice sufficiency. “Now that our farmers will soon be free of debt, I hope they will be able to increase their production to at least 100 50-kilo bags per hectare, from the present 60 to 70 cavans. But, of course, the government will have to help along the way,” Romualdez said yesterday. The enactment of the law, he said, also grants farmers additional resources to spend on essential needs such as food, education, shelter, wellness, and other family expenses that they would have had to skip otherwise due to the high cost of living that coincided with their unpaid debt. RA 11953 wrote off “all principal loans, unpaid amortization, and interest” of 610,054 agrarian reform beneficiaries totaling P57 billion from the time of the President’s father, Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. Farmers who were granted land under Presidential Decree 27, signed by Marcos Sr. in October 1972, were the beneficiaries of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program. Marcos Jr. earlier thanked the 19th Congress for expediting the legislation’s passage, which several administrations had failed to accomplish. With the enactment of the law freeing farmers from debt, Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, among the principal authors of the law, believes that it would likewise pave the way for the estate tax amnesty exemption for agrarian reform beneficiaries who transferred agrarian land to their heirs. “Good policy does not only seek to correct the mistakes of the past,” Salceda said, citing “the imposition of heavy debts and the tying up of agrarian land” as the key issues addressed by the newly enacted law. He added: “One of the reasons productivity from agrarian lands has stagnated is because they cannot be transferred to the younger generation of farmers, because of debts and attached liens, and the estate tax.” Agri boost Echoing Romualdez, Leyte Rep. Richard Gomez said the law would help improve the plight of the farmers, give a needed boost to the agriculture industry and ensure food security for the country. Gomez was also a proponent of the law. He said: “This gives hope to our farmers that soon, they will be the rightful owners of the land they have been tilling for decades, and that they would no longer be bound to serve and kowtow to the demands of wealthy landowners.” Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co also believes the New Agrarian Emancipation Act would give farmers a fresh start and the opportunity to improve their livelihood. “It is a positive move from the government to support and uplift our agricultural sector,” the chairman of the House appropriations panel added. The New Agrarian Emancipation Act is among the 33 measures the House has approved out of the 42 priority measures of the Marcos administration identified through the Legislative-Executive Advisory Council or LEDAC. The post Solons hail benefits of new agrarian law appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
69-M na Abaca Rehab fund, naiturn-over na sa LGU Catnes
Virac, Catanduanes – NAIBIGAY na ng Department of Agriculture (D.A.) Bicol ang P69.9 milyong halaga ng pondo para rehabilitation program ng abaca industry sa lalawigan ng Catanduanes na naapektuhan ng bagyong Rolly. Tinanggap ito ng lokal na pamahalaan sa pamamagitan ni Gobernador Joseph C. Cua, na sinaksihan ng mga opisyal ng iba’t ibang ahensya ng […].....»»
CFIDP Information Caravan
The Agricultural Training Institute, Regional Training, Center (ATI-RTC) V-Bicol, San Agustin, Pili, Camarines Sur, as one of the implementing agencies of the Coconut Farmer’s Industry Development Plan CFIDP), had conducted the Information Caravan on CFIDP on September 7, 2022 at the Provincial Agriculture Multi-Purpose Training Center with the theme aptly dubbed “Masagana, Matatag, At Progresibong […].....»»
Masbate farmers get P3-M corn harvester from DA
LEGAZPI CITY - Farmers in Cawayan, Masbate are the latest recipient of a brand-new PHP3-million corn harvester from the Department of Agriculture in Bicol (DA-5)In an interview on Friday, DA-5 information officer Lovella Guarin said members of the Tuburan United Corn Farmers.....»»
Bicol region to produce Golden Rice seeds, grains
LEGAZPI CITY - The Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute in Bicol (DA-PhilRice-5) will start the production of seeds and grains of "Golden Rice", a palay variety developed by the International Rice Research Institute in the province of Catanduanes.In a press conference.....»»
DA reports downtrend in ASF cases in Bicol
By Connie Calipay LEGAZPI CITY – The Department of Agriculture (DA) regional office in Bicol has noted decreasing cases of African swine fever (ASF) and is set to implement recovery, rehabilitation, and repopulation measures in the region. Emily Bordado, DA-Bicol spokesperson, in an interview on Monday said the report on the decline in cases was from […].....»»
5 bayan sa Catnes, apektado ng African Swine Fever
Kinumpirma ng pamunuan ng Catanduanes Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) ang pagpositibo sa African Swine Fever (ASF) ng umaabot sa tatlumput limang (35) specimens mula sa apat na pung (40) specimens na isinumite sa Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (RADDL) ng Department of Agriculture (DA) sa bayan ng Camalig Albay. Sa panayam ng Bicol Peryodiko […].....»»