Rody yields to Senate call to adjust import cap on pork
President Rodrigo Duterte has adjusted the import ceiling on pork products this year to 250,000 metric tons (MT), lower than what his advisers had proposed, as a “compromise” with lawmakers. Duterte on Monday signed Executive Order No. 133 which increased the minimum access volume (MAV) or import ceiling on pork meat from the existing 54,210 […] The post Rody yields to Senate call to adjust import cap on pork appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PhilRice designs risk maps vs El Niño
The Philippine Rice Research Institute, premier research and development arm of the Department of Agriculture over the weekend said it is now designing El Niño risk maps to mitigate the impact of the coming El Niño episode. On instruction of the Agriculture Undersecretary for Rice Industry Development Leocadio Sebastian, PRRI said since El Niño is a cyclical, recurring weather aberration, the maps would detail which areas would possibly be hit again, thereby determining the planting calendar that could help minimize the adverse effect of the dry spell. PhilRice would map out all areas of the country that could be hit by the dry climate to guide local governments and regional field offices on the kind of interventions that would be needed in areas to be affected by El Niño. PhilRice has been sending out to farm communities around the country its “Be Water Smart” magazine containing information on varieties and ways to optimize water use to mitigate the impact of El Niño. The magazine also contains previous experiences of farmers, particularly on how they coped with calamities and adverse weather conditions, thereby enriching the knowledge of other farmers on what to expect and how to cope with El Niño. In addition, it has information on seed varieties that are heat or drought-tolerant and under what soil conditions they can be planted, including the experience of Vietnam in using climate-smart maps to address its drought problem. PhilRice Deputy Director for Development Dr. Karen Barroga said the agency has also been disseminating satellite-based data on rice area, production and yield to local government units and DA regional field offices so that they can be adequately guided on how to adjust their cropping calendars and on what interventions to give. These data were weather patterns obtained and analyzed by the PRISM — on the Philippine Rice Information System team — to LGUs and their extension workers and DA regional field officers (down to the municipalities) so they can adequately guide farmers on seed varieties to plant based on available water supply. PRISM, a BAR (or Bureau of Agricultural Research) — funded project with IRRI (International Rice Research Institute) and is now managed by PhilRice, is the first rice monitoring system in Southeast Asia that uses satellite imagery and information and communication technology, crop modeling and smart phones. It has a network of focal persons nationwide who are tasked to validate satellite data and help disseminate these to policy and decision-makers, who in turn transmit them to farmers either through extension workers or using call/text digital technology. Through PRISM, the extent of standing crops and the different crop stages all over the country can also be known, she explained. These are the data that inform us how to adjust the schedule of planting so that the crops would not be hit by typhoons, she said citing the previous explanation of DA Undersecretary for Rice Industry Development Leocadio Sebastian. Historical data of PRISM can be analyzed in determining how and when to adjust the planting calendar. The “Be Water Smart” issue of PhilRice magazine, she said, has put together and simplified information based on research and best practices to mitigate the effects of El Niño. “As advised by Usec. Sebastian, we are trying to spread out to mainstream and social media information through this magazine and other science-based materials that we have at PhilRice so that we can help people find solutions rather than sink into inaction over El Niño,” Barroga stressed. An example, she said, is to suggest to farmers in rainfed areas that would be hit by El Niño to plant other crops and raise animals. The post PhilRice designs risk maps vs El Niño appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PhilRice to provide data for better actions on El Niño
The Philippine Rice Research Institute, the premier research and development arm of the Department of Agriculture, over the weekend, said it is now designing El Niño risk maps to mitigate the impact of the coming dry spell. On the instruction of the Agriculture Undersecretary for Rice Industry Development Leocadio Sebastian, PhilRice said since El Niño is a cyclical, recurring weather aberration, the maps would detail which areas would possibly be hit again, thereby determining the planting calendar that could help minimize the adverse effect of the dry spell. PhilRice would map out all areas of the country that could be hit by the dry climate to guide local governments and regional field offices on the kind of interventions that would be needed in areas to be affected by El Niño. PhilRice has been sending out to farm communities around the country its Be Water Smart magazine containing information on varieties and ways to optimize water use to mitigate the impact of El Niño. The magazine also contains previous experiences of farmers, particularly on how they coped with calamities and adverse weather conditions, thereby enriching the knowledge of other farmers on what to expect and how to cope with El Niño. In addition, it has information on seed varieties that are heat- or drought-tolerant and under what soil conditions they can be planted, including the experience of Vietnam in using climate-smart maps to address its drought problem. PhilRice Deputy Director for Development Dr. Karen Barroga said the agency has also been disseminating satellite-based data on rice area, production, and yield to local government units and DA regional field offices so that they can be adequately guided on how to adjust their cropping calendars and on what interventions to give. These data were weather patterns obtained and analyzed by the PRISM– on the Philippine Rice Information System team – to LGUs and their extension workers and DA regional field officers (down to the municipalities) so they can adequately guide farmers on seed varieties to plant based on available water supply. PRISM, a BAR (or Bureau of Agricultural Research)- funded project with IRRI (International Rice Research Institute) and is now managed by PhilRice, is the first rice monitoring system in Southeast Asia that uses satellite imagery and information and communication technology, crop modeling and smartphones. It has a network of focal persons nationwide who are tasked to validate satellite data and help disseminate these to policy- and decision-makers, who in turn transmit them to farmers either through extension workers or using call/text digital technology. Through PRISM, the extent of standing crops and the different crop stages all over the country can also be known, she explained. These are the data that inform us how to adjust the schedule of planting so that the crops would not be hit by typhoons, she said, citing the previous explanation of DA Undersecretary Sebastian. Historical data on PRISM can be analyzed in determining how and when to adjust the planting calendar. The Be Water Smart issue of PhilRice magazine, she said, has put together and simplified information based on research and best practices to mitigate the effects of El Niño. "As advised by Usec. Sebastian, we are trying to spread out to mainstream and social media information through this magazine and other science-based materials that we have at PhilRice so that we can help people find solutions rather than sink into inaction over El El Niño," Barroga stressed. An example, she said, is to suggest to farmers in rainfed areas that would be hit by El Niño to plant other crops and raise animals. The post PhilRice to provide data for better actions on El Niño appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Marita Tan Gaddi: Beautiful, energetic and carefree at 94
An amazing lady! That’s how I would describe the nonagenarian Marita Tan Gaddi whom I recently met when her daughter Susan Gaddi Campos, not surprisingly as gorgeous and svelte as she, invited me to a merienda at the Valle Verde Clubhouse. I first became aware of Marita — if I may dare call her by her first name — when I saw Susan’s post about her mom joining the Zumba session at the Valle Verde Country Club, her stomping ground. Realizing she is “young” at 94 and dancing like anyone from 18 to 28 to 48, I could not help being both bewildered and impressed. I told myself: “I have to meet her.” If anyone had found the fountain of youth, it had to be this lady. Rustan’s Young VIP Our introduction to each other came easy because I had met her daughter Susan more than a year earlier. A columnist in the social set section that I edit, Agile Zamora, and Susan are Facebook friends. When I saw Susan’s name on Agile’s friends list, I sent her a friend request. Hers is a familiar name from the mid-1970s when I often saw her pictures on the covers and inside pages of the iconic Women’s Journal, a lifestyle magazine that was the number one reading fare of Filipino women from the 1950s to the 1980s, among other lifestyle magazines. Susan, during her cover girl days, was a member of the Rustan’s Department Store’s Young VIP Council. These were young ladies who belonged to good families, studied in exclusive schools and typified the image of the trendy and personable young Filipina. They modelled clothes designed by Rustan’s in-house designers and well-known European couturiers. Having come across Susan again via FB, it wasn’t long before I featured her as a well-dressed do-gooding young matron — she being the founder of the Ladies of Manila, a group engaged in philanthropic projects. When I finally met Susan in person, she was, of course, with her mom, the foremost reason for our meeting. With us was Susan’s businessman husband, Bunny Kretzschmar Campos. In our conversation, Marita shared that she enjoys walking and dancing. At home, she exercises by going up and down the stairs by herself. To my surprise, she revealed that she loves crispy pata, lechon kawali, sans rival, bibingka, halo-halo and ice cream. She also drinks Coke every day. Other than dancing, she also loves to sing — both passions dating back to her youth. Daughter’s wedding gown I asked her how she had been able to overcome the challenges that she undoubtedly faced through the years. Her reply? “I just adjust to a situation. If I can do something about it, I will do my part. But if it requires something beyond my capability, I make the most of the situation.” While mother and daughter are both lovely and light in complexion, Susan pointed out, “We’re very different in temperament. She’s feisty and I’m the exact opposite.” Expectedly, their bonding moments have been memorable. “She sewed my wedding gown,” Susan said. They also counsel each other. “Her best advice to me is ‘Use your God-given talents,’” Susan confided. Of her mom’s kindness and generosity, Susan related her unforgettable story. “I was in Grade 4. The day before our class excursion, my mom asked me what I wanted to bring for snacks and, without batting an eyelash, I told her I would love to have pancakes. The following day, I wondered why my lunch and snack bag was heavy. During snack time, I was surprised to see several layers of pancakes. I shared them with some classmates but still had a lot of untouched and uneaten pancakes. While we were enjoying our break, an old woman approached us. She was begging for food so I gave her the remaining pancakes. She looked inside the bag, immediately found a place to sit and started devouring the pancakes. “When I got home, my mom asked me if I shared the pancakes with my classmates. I told her I did but I gave the rest to a pitiful old woman who was begging for food. She smiled at me and said, ‘I did the right thing,’ and that she was so pleased that a small act of kindness could go a long way.” [caption id="attachment_133786" align="aligncenter" width="525"] MARITA Gaddi[/caption] An only child According to Susan, her mom Marita “grew up in Manila. She’s half-Chinese. Her father came from mainland China, while her mother was mestiza Filipina. She was an only child. When her father suddenly passed away in Samar, they moved to Manila.” Susan related: “My mother spent most of her childhood as an intern at Sta Isabel College. She was a consistent honor student and she wrote for their school paper. During her free time, she would practice new dance steps with her friends. She enjoyed singing too. She had a beautiful voice, and they fondly called her the Jo Stafford of the Philippines. After high school, she married a pre-med student, Rodolfo Gaddi, who eventually graduated fourth place in the dental board exam. They had five children, four girls and a boy. It has been years since Marita was widowed. To this day, she has remained physically sound, mentally alert and capable of independent action, whether walking, dancing to the tune of lively music or going up and down the stairs. She also loves doing crossword puzzle. But of her many traits, her being prayerful and grateful tops the reasons for her joyful life. Fortunate woman A living testimony to the positive results of joie de vivre, Marita can openly say that even if she has defied certain rules of healthy living, she has kept her youthful strength and vitality. But on the other hand, she has always been an “action woman” in the literal sense of the word, not one to stay put and let things pass her by. “I have also been always optimistic and grateful for life’s blessings,” Marita told me with her eyes glowing and full of sincerity. If Marita is a fortunate woman, her children and grandchildren are even more fortunate for they continue to enjoy her caring and gentle presence. If at all, she is the best reminder to the younger generations that there is life beyond the usual 60 or 70 or, in this case, even 80 and 90. The Lord, indeed, has blessed her with so much grace. The post Marita Tan Gaddi: Beautiful, energetic and carefree at 94 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Rody yields to Senate call to adjust import cap on pork
President Rodrigo Duterte has adjusted the import ceiling on pork products this year to 250,000 metric tons (MT), lower than what his advisers had proposed, as a “compromise” with lawmakers. Duterte on Monday signed Executive Order No. 133 which increased the minimum access volume (MAV) or import ceiling on pork meat from the existing 54,210 […] The post Rody yields to Senate call to adjust import cap on pork appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PBA return pushed back again as Metro Manila under MECQ anew
Following another late-night announcement Sunday, Metro Manila is once again under a modified enhanced community quarantine. The new quarantine measures will take effect starting August 4 and will last until August 18. The PBA is directly affected, as sports gatherings are not allowed under MECQ, resulting in another speed bump to the league's planned return. "The government knows what is good for us, and we conform with their orders. We will follow the guidelines and will wait for the next word from them with regards to restrictions on whatever quarantine status we're in," PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial said. "As for the 14-day return of Metro Manila to modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ), I look at it as a short detour that we'll pursue in the hope of getting our teams back in the gym at the right time," Marcial added. The PBA earlier received official government approval to start team practices by small batches. [Related: PBA hopeful for 2020 return after getting practice green light] Pending COVID-19 swab testing for all teams, which were scheduled later this week at Makati Med, teams were on track to return to the court by next week. Now, all plans have been pushed back, including the swab testing. "We have no recourse but to adjust the schedule of our activities. The supposed swab testing of the players at the Makati Med on Aug. 6-7 will be pushed back," Commissioner Marcial said. "Ngayon, we'll communicate with them [PBA teams] to inform them that we'll have to hear the next call of the government," he added. As of Sunday, August 2, hours before the MECQ announcement, the Philippines has recorded 103,185 positive COVID-19 cases. — Follow this writer on Twitter, @paullintag8.....»»
Akbayan to Sara: You don’t have to be president to speak vs China
MANILA, Philippines — Party-list group Akbayan said on Thursday that Vice President Sara Duterte does not have to be a president of the country for her to call out China’s intrusive actions over the West Philippine Sea (WPS). Empathy and a moral backbone is just what it takes to stand up with fisherfolk and frontline.....»»
CCLEX safety enhancements pushed after US bridge tragedy
Cebu City, Philippines — In light of recent events, a call for increased CCLEX safety measures has been made to the Cebu Cordova Link Expressway Corporation (CCLEC) by a Cebu City legislator. Councilor Rey Gealon penned a resolution urging CCLEC to implement precautionary measures at the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway to prevent disasters, considering the high.....»»
Survey shows Cha-cha still unpopular with Filipinos — Senate leaders
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said that the findings of the survey by private pollster Pulse Asia, which was released on Wednesday, show that Charter change is an "unpopular move.".....»»
Belmonte, Binay call for climate action funding from development banks
The C40 coalition of cities, a network of nearly 100 mayors, asked MDBs to increase urban climate investment, integrate urban climate action into their strategies, and implement tailored programs to support city projects. .....»»
Pentagon chief reaffirms support after latest China aggression in WPS
Austin emphasized US support for the Philippines in defending its sovereign rights and jurisdiction in a phone call with Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro on Wednesday. .....»»
Oplan Harabas yields 3 drivers positive for drugs
FOLLOWING the surprise drug test conducted by the Land Transportation Office (LTO)-Davao and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on public utility vehicles (PUVs) last March 26, 2024, two taxi drivers in Davao City were found to be positive for drugs......»»
House leaves Quiboloy’s fate to Senate
The House of Representatives will no longer pursue and implement the warrant of arrest it issued against pastor Apollo Quiboloy after it approved on final reading the bill revoking the franchise of the evangelist’s alleged TV network......»»
Go inspects Bacolod Super Health Center
Sen. Bong Go, chairperson of the Senate committee on health and demography, inspected a Super Health Center in Bacolod City on Sunday......»»
EAM Jaishankar visits Indian Coast Guard Ship Samudra Paheredar in Manila
Manila [Philippines], March 27 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited Indian Coast Guard Ship Samudra Paheredar on Tuesday during its port call to Manila and said that India's Act East policy and Indo-Pacific vision will continue to give it a more contemporary form. He presented his remarks at the Indian Coast Guard Ship Samudra Paheredar on Tuesday and said that his visit and the ship's presence signify th.....»»
Jaishankar calls on Singapore PM Lee Hsien Loong, values his perspective on current state of world
Singapore, March 25 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called on Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Monday and conveyed the greetings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Jaishankar valued Lee Hsien Loong's perspectives on the current state of the world. In a post on X, Jaishankar stated, "Honoured to call on Prime Minister @leehsienloongat The Istana. Conveyed the personal greetings of PM @narendramodi. V.....»»
EAM Jaishankar conveys PM Modi s greetings as he calls on Philippine President Marcos
Manila [Philippines], March 26 (ANI): External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar on Tuesday called on Philippine President Bongbong Marcos and conveyed the greetings of President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister NarendraModi to President Marcos. "Honoured to call-on President @bongbongmarcos of the Philippines. Conveyed the personal greetings of President @rashtrapatibhvn and PM @narendramodi. Valued his warm sentiments tow.....»»
‘Senate rules on Cha-cha on the right track’
The Senate rules on amending the 1987 Constitution are “on the right track” and ready even before the sub-committee wraps up its discourse on the Resolution of Both Houses 6 pushing Charter change, a senator said......»»
Aktres pinanggigilan ng mga kasamahan sa pagiging late, ‘di nagbago?
LUKANG-LUKA ang co-actors at buong production people ng isang movie outfit sa aktres dahil 6AM ang call time at dumating sa set ng 6PM. Humingi naman daw ng dispensa ang aktres dahil na-overlook niya ang oras bukod pa sa gumimik siya kinagabihan kaya hindi siya nagising at hindi rin siya ginising ng kanyang kasama sa.....»»
Man shot dead while answering phone call in Minglanilla town
Man shot dead while answering phone call in Minglanilla town.....»»
Davao police clueless on Quiboloy’s whereabouts
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 24 March) — Police authorities in the Davao region claim they are still clueless on the whereabouts of Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy. The Senate had earlier ordered the arrest of Quiboloy for his continued refusal to attend its investigation of alleged human trafficking and child abuse. Police major Catheine Dela Rey, Police […].....»»