by magnolia_eic | Jan 6, 2012 | Headlines, National News
MALACANANG expects to post significant growth in the agriculture sector given the increased budget allotted to the Department of Agriculture this year, which is expected to uplift the national economy as a whole.
In a press conference on Thursday, Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda fended off criticisms that say the country will not experience much economic growth this year due to weak government policies.
Lacierda said the country posted increased agricultural production despite the storms and calamities that hit the Philippines last year.
“Agricultural productivity is growth, is real and equitable growth. So many people would be benefited from increased agricultural productivity,” he said in response to comments claiming that the government hasn’t produced more jobs.
This is growth for the farmers; agricultural productivity will benefit a great number of our people,” he stressed”.
With a bigger budget this year, the DA said it would vigorously pursue initiatives that will ensure sufficiency in major staples by 2013 that include rice, white corn, cassava, and other basic commodities.
In his 2011 year-end report, Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala said a big chunk of the DA’s 2012 budget of P61.73 billion will be spent to implement the Food Staples Sufficiency Program (FSSP), which is the centerpiece program of the Aquino administration.
The program intends to frontload investments, particularly on infrastructure such as irrigation, farm-to-market roads, and postharvest facilities, Alcala said.
With an allocation of P24.5 billion for 2012 for irrigation, Secretary Alcala said the DA will construct new irrigation systems, and restore and rehabilitate existing ones that service a total of 224,850 hectares of farm lands nationwide.
For postharvest and other infrastructures, the DA has alloted P11.28 billion. This will be spent to construct drying, storage, and processing facilities, storage and milling equipment, including dairy equipment and machineries.
The DA said it would also construct major agri-fishery trading centers in many areas throughout the country. (PCOO)
by magnolia_eic | Jan 5, 2012 | Headlines, National News
THE Department of Energy (DoE) is currently forming a team that will scrutinize the books of accounts of the oil companies in support of President Benigno S. Aquino III’s call for transparency, a Palace official said on Wednesday.
“From what I understand from Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, they are close to already forming the team that will scrutinize the books of the oil companies. They already have representation from the sectors,” Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said
during the regular press briefing in Malacanang on Wednesday.
Report said the oil firms are willing to open their books of accounts for government examination in response to a call from the President to face public scrutiny.
On the other hand, various groups expressed concern over reports that oil players will implement upward price adjustments this January, according to news reports.
Valte assured that the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is regularly conducting monitoring of prices to prevent overpricing.
Oil companies are ready to follow the requirements being imposed by the DoE as mandated by appropriate provisions” relevant laws, such as the Downstream Oil Industry Deregulation
Act.
The oil firms are also mandated to comply strictly with the “financial protocols of the Bureau of Customs and Bureau of Internal Revenue, as well as statutory submissions to the Securities and Exchange Commission. (PCOO)
by magnolia_eic | Jan 5, 2012 | Headlines, National News
MALACANANG assured the Filipino people that President Benigno S. Aquino III will continue to focus on programs that will not only uplift their lives but also further improve the country’s economy, stressing the government’s unwavering efforts to curb graft and corruption in the bureaucracy.
During his first media briefing for the New Year 2012 in Malacanang, Monday, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda reassured the President’s commitment to the people as previously stated in his yearend message issued last week.
“The President is continuously focusing on improving the economy as he has stated in his yearend message, we will improve the economy, we will continue to provide service to the poor, our advocacy against graft and corruption will still continue,” Lacierda said.
On concerns that the impeachment proceedings against Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona will affect the Chief Executive’s focus in the performance of his job, Lacierda assured that such Constitutional procedure will not, in any way, impinge on President Aquino’s efforts to serve the country and the people.
“Primarily the impeachment has now been diverted to the Senate… and the Senate will be the main focus of the impeachment trial,” Lacierda said.
On December 12, 2011, a total of 188 members of the House of Representatives signed the impeachment complaint against Chief Justice Corona, which was later transmitted to the Philippine Senate. (PCOO)
by admin | Dec 19, 2011 | Headlines, Sendong
Bohol News Daily (www.boholnewsdaily.com) is dedicating a special section ‘Sendong’ to help spread information about the aftermath of Typhoon Sendong. The cities of Cagayan De Oro and Iligan were devastated in a storm that had similar characteristics of Typhoon Ondoy that devastated Manila and Luzon a few years earlier.
Flood has disabled water supply, power and other basic necessities. Sadly, help is still slow to arrive and Bohol News Daily and Auza.Net hopes this special section will help. Xavier University has organized Operation: Tabang Sendong to help get supplies to where they are needed.
The following information about what and how to donate is taken from Operation: Tabang Sendong website:
EMERGENCY FUND & DONATION:
The University is accepting donations at the Helpdesk set up at the University’s front gate or at the Relief Center at the Satellite Canteen near the College of Agriculture building (beside the gymnasium). Personnel and student volunteers are being deployed to buy, pack and deliver relief goods all over the City, under the direction of the University Chaplain.
Fr. Eric Garcia Velandria S.J.
Coordinator of Sendong Operation,
KKP Office, Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan, Corrales Ave.
9000 Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines.
Cash donations can be deposited at this account:
Account Name: Xavier University
Account Number: 9331-0133-63
Xavier University Relief Center is conducting a relief operation for families affected by Bagyong Sendong.They are asking for donations in
CASH
FOOD (noodles, canned goods, etc.)
BOTTLED WATER and
CLEAN CLOTHES.
You can drop them off at the
Xavier University KKP-SIO.
Volunteers also needed @DSWD (Masterson Rd, Upper Carmen).
Call 09066150095 or 858-8892. Let’s help, please
Other Useful Information:
SMART LIBRENG TAWAG, INTERNET and CELLPHONE CHARGING sa PHILCOM OFFICE, MAX SUNIEL ST. CARMEN (RIGHT BESIDE ACSAT GYM) for those who would like to contact their loved ones who have been affected by the recent FLASHFLOODS. Please tell your friends, family and neighbors!!!! Please repost. – T. Tamayo
For those live in Manila, you can help us
For CASH/ CHEQUE donations…(through Simbahang Lingkod)
Direct deposits may be made online from any BPI branches, pay to:
SIMBAHANG LINGKOD NG BAYAN (Account Name/Payee)
Bank of the Philippine Islands (Loyola-Katipunan Branch)
BPI Peso Checking Account Number: 3081-1111-61
BPI Dollar Savings Account Number: 3084-0420-12
by magnolia_eic | Nov 24, 2011 | Headlines, National News
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Nov. 23 (PIA)–Nakalusot na gahapon sa ikatulo ug katapusang pagbasa ang P1.816 trilyon General Appropriations Act (GAA) alang sa tuig 2012.
Matud pa ni Sen. Franklin Drilon, chairman sa Senate Finance Committee, kini ang pinaka-unang national budget nga napasar ubos sa administrasyong Aquino.
Giingong gipaabot nga masumite sa Malacañang ang national budget sa unang semana sa Disyembre.
Apil sa mga ahensiyang makadawat og taas nga pahat sa budget ang Education, P202.354- bilyon; DPWH, P109.633-bilyon; Defense, P106.880-bilyon; DILG, P92.794-bilyon ug Agriculture, P53.243-bilyon.
Ang Office of the Pre-sident hatagan og P2.595-bilyon samtang P8.961-bilyon sa Kongreso ug P15.075 bilyon ang judiciary. (PIA-Bohol/ecb)
by magnolia_eic | Nov 24, 2011 | Headlines, National News
PRESIDENT Benigno S. Aquino III convened the Climate Change Commission to adopt the National Climate Action Plan in compliance with the country’s international commitments especially to the United Nations Framework for Climate Change Convention.
President Aquino chairs the Climate Change Commission, an independent and autonomous body that has the similar status of a national government agency.
Albay Gov. Joey Salceda, who met President Aquino at the Palace Tuesday, said the plan is about adaptation to climate change and mitigating its impact particularly on the economy.
The action plan will also become the basis of any assistance that will come from industrialized countries in Europe and the US, which are being blamed for global warming because of massive use of fossil fuels in their industries.
The national action plan will be presented to the climate change conference to be held in Durban, South Africa, and it will be the basis of compensatory measures that rich countries have committed to pay.
Included in the national plan are the guidelines and framework on how the country can use the assistance once it is approved in Durban.
The Philippines will join other countries in pushing for financial assistance to fight climate change as the country’s negotiators leave late this month for Durban.
Last December, negotiators agreed to create a green climate fund that could be accessed by vulnerable countries like the Philippines. They are expected to tackle in the Durban meeting the way to get the money once the fund is approved. (PCOO)
