Author: Raffy Rico

PCAARRD Directorate briefed on UK’s Newton Fund briefing

By: Estrella Z. Gallardo   As Acting Executive Director of PCAARRD, Dr. Reynaldo Ebora on his first day promptly went down to business by welcoming Ms. Karen Ann Hipol, Research and Innovation Programme Manager of the British Embassy Manila, on February 16, 2015 at the FP Fellizar Room, PCAARRD Headquarters in connection with a briefing about the United Kingdom’s Newton Fund. The Newton Vision, as Ms. Hipol relates, is grounded on four main objectives: promote the economic development and social welfare of partner countries; build strong, sustainable, systemic relationships; support the continued excellence of the UK research base and innovation ecosystem; and unlock opportunities for wider collaboration and trade. The Newton Fund is UK’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) commitment to promote the economic development and social welfare of partner-countries. UK establishes partners across the globe by implementing bi-lateral and multi-lateral programs with research and innovation focus. 4Ms. Hipol’s visit, aside from the main briefing about the Newton Fund, also seeks to gather initial feedback and/or response of partners, such as PCAARRD, regarding the Newton Fund Regional Research Programmed of the UK Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), a three-year regional research program on rice with Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam. It also aims to achieve agriculture/food security and environmental resilience with the Research Councils UK (RCUK) based on the experiences of its partners The briefing was organized with...

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Argentine experts conduct technical mission to the Philippines propose project for tomato

By: Estrella Z. Gallardo   Three experts from Argentina partnered with their counterparts from the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), in a 10-day technical mission under the Philippines-Argentina Bilateral S&T Cooperation. The visiting experts were Engr. Alejandro Gabriel Fernandez and Engr. Esteban Jose Sampietro from Servicio Nacional de Sanidad y Calidad Agroalimentaria (SENASA) and Engr. Mariel Silvina Mitidieri from Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA) of Argentina. SENASA is an independent Argentine agency in charge of surveillance, regulation and certification of products of animals and plants. INTA, on the other hand, is an Argentine federal agency responsible in generation, adoption and dissemination of information and technologies for the agriculture, forestry and agro-industrial sectors within an ecologically clean environment. The team visited and met experts from the National Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology (BIOTECH), Institute of Plant Breeding-University of the Philippines Los Baños (IPB-UPLB), Crop Protection Cluster-UPLB (CPC-UPLB), Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Product Standards (BAFPS), Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA), Bureau of Plant Industry-National Pesticide Analytical Laboratory (BPI-NPAL), and Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU). The team also visited Northern Foods Corporation (NFC) tomato plantation in Sarrat, Ilocos Norte to closely monitor the production, pest management, and food safety practices in the said areaA At the end of the technical mission, the team identified pest...

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SSS opens new office in Northern Mindanao

Around 7,600 members of the Social Security System (SSS) in Cagayan de Oro City now have easier and more convenient access to SSS services with the opening of the new SSS Lapasan office, the 30th full-service SSS branch in Mindanao. Located at the ground floor of the Market City building in Agora Complex, SSS Lapasan branch is expected to attract 50-percent more potential members in the Eastern part of Cagayan de Oro City. Photo above shows SSS top officials and local government executives during the branch inauguration and blessing on February 12. In photo are: (foreground, L-R) SSS Lapasan Branch Head Valentine Q. Viajar-Aunzo, SSS Senior Vice President for Visayas-Mindanao Group Eddie Jara, Cagayan De Oro City Hon. Mayor Oscar Moreno, SSS Assistant Vice President and Officer in Charge for Northern Mindanao Division Atty. Edwin Alo, and SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Emilio de Quiros Jr. Seen partly behind them (from L-R) are Barangay Lapasan Chairman Omar Labuntog, SSS Senior Vice President for Administration Group May Catherince Ciriaco, and SSS Northern Mindanao Cluster Legal Unit Head Atty. Raul...

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DA rolls out High Yielding Technology for another record harvest year

In efforts to continue the historical record palay harvest every year and to move closer to rice self-sufficiency, the Department of Agriculture is rolling out the High Yielding Technology Adoption (HYTA) program this year. Under the HYTA program, higher rice production targets can be achieved by planting high yielding varieties such as hybrid rice, certified inbred seeds, and Green Super Rice (GSR), said DA Undersecretary Antonio Fleta who represented Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala in the 2014 Rice Achievers Awards. The program expects “high-yielding seeds” to be planted in more than 560,000 hectares of rice fields all over the country. “The HYTA program will help the country attain the  1 million metric ton (MT) palay production target increment for 2015, and 0.5 million MT palay production increment for 2016,” said Usec. Fleta “The HYTA program, to be spearheaded by the DA-National Rice Program and implemented by DA Regional Field Offices (RFOs), will be implemented in areas with good irrigation and where farmers’ organizations are ready to adopt “high-yield rice technology” like hybrid and certified seeds,” he added. DA-RFOs are in-charge of distributing hybrid or certified seeds to farmers’ groups, along with fertilizers and soil ameliorants, under a roll-over or conditional assistance scheme. Each region can craft their own reward system to guarantee high repayment of inputs given to farmers or increase yields resulting from the distributed seeds. Farmer groups that...

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Dagupan jeepney drivers get social protection subsidy

Some 73 jeepney drivers and operators in Dagupan City will each receive a P200 subsidy from Colegio de Dagupan (CdD) to pay their Social Security System (SSS) contributions after the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement among SSS-Dagupan Branch, Downtown Loop Utility Express (DOLUJEX), Bonuan Binloc Operators/Drivers Association (BINODA) and CdD. Under the agreement, signed last March 9, 2015, the CdD will shoulder the amount of P200 for every member of the association, while the remaining P130 will be shouldered by the members of DOLUJEX and BINODA. “We decided to help our operators and drivers in paying their SSS contributions because we know how important contributions are for them to avail of SSS benefits. Also, this is our way of thanking the DOLUJEX and BINODA which have serviced the transportation needs of both our students and faculty,” Dr Arzadon said. The DOJULEX and BINODA initially forged an agreement with the SSS to become members of the Alkanssya program in March 2014 through the prodding of CdD President Dr Voltaire P Arzadon and the officers of the student council. However, when CdD President Arzadon learned that the members of the associations were having a hard time setting aside money for their SSS contributions, they decided to extend their assistance by subsidizing a portion of the monthly contribution. “We consider the commitment of Colegio de Dagupan to subsidize part of the...

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SSS warns against fraudulent claimants

The Social Security System (SSS) warns the public against filing fraudulent claims following the decision of La Union Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC), Branch II to sentence an SSS claimant found guilty of falsification of public documents. MTCC Branch II Presiding Judge Edilberta O. Casiano convicted Noel Laconsay, SSS claimant, to a maximum imprisonment of four years and nine months for purporting to be the surviving spouse and beneficiary of a deceased SSS member who turned out to be alive. Laconsay, a resident of Gonzales, Tubao, La Union was found guilty of Falsification of Public Documents for submitting spurious documents to support his SSS Funeral and Death Claim for a certain Maura Apurado, whom he claimed as his deceased wife. Representing himself as the widower, Laconsay personally filed claims by producing a fake funeral receipt, a falsified death certificate and true copies of the marriage certificate and birth certificate of the minor child of Maura. He also presented fake identification cards. However, Laconsay’s unlawful acts were discovered by SSS under its anti-fraud program. “The timely discovery of the spurious claim prevented us from issuing the check. But even without financial damage, we pursued the case against Mr. Laconsay. May his conviction be a strong warning we have strengthened our anti-fraud programs”, said Atty. Rogelio Atos, Cluster Legal Head of SSS Luzon North. Aside from imprisonment, Laconsay was also...

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Cigarettes: Targeting Minors and More Lethal Than Ever

We often hear a well-known adage, “looks can be deceiving”. Such is the case with cigarette packaging as tobacco companies now use every strategy to draw consumers into cigarette addiction. A quick glance at cigarettes displayed on counters show attractive packaging geared into luring new customers from the youth and women. Aside from the attractive packaging, in a report released by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK) shows that ingredients are added to cigarettes to make nicotine reach the brain faster to enhance its effect. Nicotine is identified to make tobacco products addictive. Ammonia compounds and sugars found in cigarettes make it taste better and hasten the delivery of nicotine to the brain. Tobacco companies target the youth since they are more vulnerable and would sustain their market longer. They also are more likely to get dependent on tobacco quicker than adults. According to the report, 90% of adult smokers began smoking at or before the age of 18. The Global Youth Tobacco Survey shows that an estimated 27.5% of Filipino youth aged 13 to 15 are smokers. Of this age group, 17.5% are girls while 28.3% are boys. Some cigarettes now come with flavors like chocolate, menthol, or licorice to entice the young consumer. Chemicals such as levulinic acid are also added to lessen the irritation and smoothen out smoke inhaling. “Tobacco is the only legal product that...

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Tradisyon sa Semana Santa

Tradisyon: Kinaugalian na ng iba nating kababayang Pilipino ang mag Penitensiya  sa tuwing sasapit ang mahal na araw, partikular sa mga lugar na dinarayo ng mga turista at iba nating kababayang deboto. Sa pamamagitan ng pagpasan ng Krus, paghagupit sa kanilang likod habang naglalakad at nakabilad sa init ng araw, ang iba naman ay nagpapapako pa sa krus, marami ang mga pansarili nilang dahilan kung bakit nila ito ginagawa. Ang mga dahilan ng kanilang panata ay ang kahilingan na mapagaling ang mga mahal nila sa  buhay na may sakit, kagalingan sa mga kapansanan na matagal ng nilang iniinda, ang maka-ahon sa kanilang kahirapan, marami...

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BSWM, Inang Lupa to push sustainable farming advocacies in Congress

The Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) and the Inanglupa Movement will cooperate in enacting policy changes in the Philippines that will help protect the country’s precious soil and water resources with the aim of improving sustainable agriculture production. BSWM Director Dr. Silvino Tejada Jr. and Inang Lupa Dr. William Dar signed a memorandum of agreement for the two entities that also stipulates, among others, the conduct of soil mapping activities for small farmers. “The agreement between BSWM and Inang Lupa will have a high impact in making farming more sustainable in the Philippines, and preserving the country’s precious water and soil resources,” said Dr. William Dar, President Inanglupa Movement. The head of Inanglupa, Dr. William Dar, brings to the Philippines a wealth of knowledge in soil and water conservation because he headed the ICRISAT for a number of terms. ICRISAT is the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid-Tropics. The agreement was signed in time for the observation of International Year of Soils (IYS) this year. Under the agreement, the BWSM shall: implement the Yamang Lupa Program activities on soil health mapping and development of soil health cards; spearhead the preparation and coordination of meetings, seminars and workshops on the preparation of policy papers relevant to soil and water resources conservation and management; and coordinate with Inanglupa regarding the conduct of activities for the IYS celebration, particularly...

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Nueva Ecija NGO opens training hub for MSMEs, farmers

TALAVERA, NUEVA ECIJA- Micro, small and medium entrepreneurs (MSMEs) and small farmers in Nueva Ecija and nearby provinces will soon benefit from a modern training center inaugurated in this town. Dubbed as the Talavera Agricultural and Social Enterprise Training Center, it was established by the Alalay Sa Kaunlaran Inc., or ASKI a non-government organization based in Cabanatuan City promoting socio-economic development through its various financial and non-financial programs and services in the last 28 years. TASEC is housed in a 2.8-hectare property with 12 rooms and managed by the ASKI Skills and Knowledge Institute, Inc., the capacity building arm of ASKI catering the training needs of its clients, non-clients and staff. ASKI is serving more than 130,000 clients in Regions 1, 2 and 3 and more than 23,000 of them are farmers and hoped to benefit from the training courses being offered by the institute. The center will serve as a training venue for trainings in microfinance management, cooperative development, and business development services comprising financial education and entrepreneurship trainings for MSMEs and will provide event management, team-building and values transformation activities. Rolando B. Victoria, executive director of ASKI said that “the center will be alearning and technology hub empowering MSMEs and small farmers with modernized and experienced-based agricultural practices aside from micro-agriculture financial program to cope up with different farming challenges.” To maximize the innovations on farming technologies,...

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