Author: Raffy Rico

Ten-year prescriptive period set for re-adjudicating retirement, disability and death claims

Members seeking to have their settled retirement, death or disability claims with the Social Secuirty System (SSS) re-adjudicated or re-evaluated have up to ten (10) years to file their requests. This prescriptive period also applies for petitions contesting settled claims before the Social Security Commission (SSC). This 10-year prescriptive period, detailed in the new SSS Office Order Number 2015-005, aims to eliminate problems in the validation of submitted documents, since the retention period of claim records is limited to 10 years only, per Article 1144 of the New Civil Code of the Philippines. Pursuant to SSC Resolution Number 10-19279-10, the reckoning point for the 10-year prescriptive period depends on when the claim was originally settled. For claims settled before March 1, 2006, the 10-year prescriptive period will start on the said date. For claims settled on or after March 1, 2006, the prescriptive period will start on the initial settlement date of the retirement, disability or death claim. March 1, 2006 was the effectivity date of SSS Office Order Number 208-P, which first set a 10-year prescriptive period for the re-adjudication of settled retirement, death or disability claims. Office Order 208-P has since been superseded by newer guidelines to clarify the reckoning point of the ten-year prescriptive period. There are exceptions to the 10-year prescriptive period, however, primarily for cases wherein the reason for benefit adjustment is not due...

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Science community marks good harvest

Science City of Munoz, Nueva Ecija – The science community here celebrated the county’s sustained good harvest in an exhibit dubbed as “Bountiful Harvest,” at the Rice Science Museum, Feb. 23. Early this month, Sec. Proceso J. Alcala of the Department of Agriculture announced that the Philippine agriculture in 2014 has achieved growth despite “strong typhoons that battered some key production areas.” Palay output reached 19 million metric tons or 2.87 percent more than last year’s harvest. Located at the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), the museum showcased farm implements from the colonial to modern era of Nueva Ecija, one of the country’s top producing rice provinces. A gallery on women’s contributions to good harvest was also displayed. “One of the sections here features traditional postharvest materials from the farmers of Nueva Ecija that the Central Luzon State University collected. By viewing these artifacts, the visitor is given a glimpse of the past, when technology was simple and life was different,” Diadem Esmero, museum curator said. Visitors from the science community such as the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization and the Philippine Carabao Center learned more about the intricacies of farm implements including rakem, lingkaw, and bangkang pangpinawa. “Photographs on the ‘Woman of Rice’ also humble us with the strength and sacrifice that women give to agriculture,” she said. In a study by Maria Daryl Leyesa in...

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WB commends DA implementation on PRDP

Manila, Philippines—The World Bank (WB) has commended the Department of Agriculture (DA) for the successful kick-off of the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP), which has already allotted at least P11.4 billion (B) for sub-projects by early January. WB Task Team Leader Carolina Geron lauded the partnership of the DA and the Local Government Units (LGUs) in implementing PRDP, during a meeting with Secretary Proceso J. Alcala and other DA and WB officials on February 13, 2015 in Quezon City. “With just two months, the project has already mobilized implementing units which resulted in a substantial pipeline,” Geron continued. PRDP was declared effective on December 3, 2014. She added that representatives from other countries including Mongolia are interested to visit the Philippines to see the good strides of what the DA is doing in PRDP. “In a way, you are already giving back to the global community with what you are doing,” Geron continued. The WB team has recently completed a series of reviews in four clusters namely—North Luzon, South Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao to check the on-going preparation of sub-projects under the PRDP and assess the readiness of both the DA and the LGUs in executing the project. Alcala likened PRDP’s conception into a “healthy baby” who has grown so fast, adding that the national government has a good projection of the project. The Agri chief also recognized the...

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Gawad Sulo ng Bayan Kicks Off Tomorrow

Who among our public servants will emit the brightest light and shine on Saturday night, February 28 at University of the Philippines Theater, Diliman, Quezon City? This is the big question as outstanding local government officials and employees from different branches of the government will be honored and dignified on the very first “GAWAD SULO NG BAYAN 2015 SA KALAKHANG MAYNILA-SEKTOR NG PAMAHALAAN”. The GAWAD SULO NG BAYAN is an award-giving activity that aims to dignify individuals and organizations whose contributions made a tremendous positive impact to the society and helped improve the lives of many thru education, livelihood, health, social and humanitarian services, and people empowerment. Organized by a group of professionals from the creative industry known as Golden Torch Creative Consultants Association, Inc. (Golden Torch CCA, Inc.), GAWAD SULO NG BAYAN is a one of a kind search for individuals, institutions and organizations that serve as “lights in the darkness”. “The mission of Golden Torch is to search for role models who will inspire others to serve the people more. Just like a ‘sulo’ which is normally being used in dark farthest mountains, forests and islands, the GAWAD SULO NG BAYAN awardees must provide brightness and bring hope, especially during times of calamities, disasters, crises and struggles when darkness and hopelessness embed among the people and the society,” said Mr. Danny B. Mangahas, chairman/president of the Golden...

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DA Chief celebrates milestone in coco-levy fund with KM71 marchers

Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala recognized and acknowledged the contribution of the KM71 marchers in the establishment of a coconut farmers’ trust fund from the P71 billion (B) coco levy fund. “Let us acknowledge all those who represent and joined the 71 heroic coconut farmers who walked 71 days to rouse the concerned government officials, and act on their longtime plea,” Alcala announced during the 3rd National Coconut Farmers’ Conference held in Quezon City on February 25, 2015. The event coincided with the 28th anniversary of EDSA People Power revolution. The 71-day march is symbolic of the coconut farmers’ push for the accessibility of the P71-billion coconut levy fund, formed during the Marcos regime from taxes collected from coconut farmers, and the establishment of a trust fund which can protect the money from misuse. The KM71 marchers consist of 71 coconut farmers who embarked on a 71-day cross-country journey covering 1,750 km by foot, leaving their homes in Davao on September 21, 2014 until they reach Malacañang on November 26 where they had a meeting with President Benigno S. Aquino and some department secretaries of the executive branch among other government officials. During the dialogue, Aquino agreed to push the creation of a trust fund that will protect the P71 billion. He also agreed to issue an Executive Order (E.O.) that will provide P3B for coconut farmers every year...

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Renewable energy facility in Calabarzon

An alternative source that does not rely on fossil fuels was established in Infanta, Quezon to help supply the energy demand in rice and rice-based communities, Jan. 29. Located in Brgy. Binonoan, the bioethanol distillation facility produces energy without negative impact on environment as nipa sap is processed into biofuel for spark-ignition engines that farmers commonly use. Nipa is an indigenous product of Infanta. “This facility built basically produces hydrous bioethanol (95% alcohol) fuel to be used for small farm machines,” Engr. Alexis T. Belonio, lead inventor of the technology, said. According to Belonio, hydrous bioethanol, which can be produced from the farm like nipa sap, sugar molasses, and sweet sorghum, is a good alternative for fueling pumps, threshers, dryers and small rice mills. “We need to increase rice production. One way to do this is to improve [farm practices from land preparation to post-harvest], and by [doing this], we need mechanization. In mechanization, we need fuel, so what is mechanization without the gasoline? [With this facility], we have an option [on what energy type to use],” said Belonio, the first Filipino to win the Rolex Award for Enterprise in 2008 for his breakthrough creation of a simple rice hull-powered stove. “We are aware of the pressing need for alternative fuel to run farm engines. We want to manufacture machines for farming that do not depend on fossil fuel,”...

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Proyekto Laban sa Kahirapan at gutom, tinututukan ng DAR sa Lalawigan ng Zamboanga del Sur

Proyekto laban sa gutom at kahirapan sa bansa, itinutulak ngayon ng Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR),sa pakikipagtulungan ng Department of Social Welfare and Development  (DSWD), at ng Department of Agriculture (DA), kasama ang lokal na pamahalaan ng San Miguel, Molave, Midsalip at lungsod ng Pagadian sa Zamboanga del Sur. Ayon kay Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer 2 (PARPO 2) Arturo Soria, apatnaput-dalawang mga opisyal at kinatawan ng naturang mga ahensiya ang naatasang magpatupad ng proyekto, sa ilalim ng Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (PAHAP) ng pamahalaan. Ang DSWD at DepEd ang mangangasiwa sa mga Local Day Care Centers (LDCC) sa lugar. Tututukan naman ng DAR, DA at DSWD ang pangangailangan ng mga magsasaka, mangingisda at nag-aalaga ng hayop. Sinabi pa ni PARPO 2 Soria na kaagapay rin sa nasabing programa ang pamahalaan ng Brazil sa pamamagitan ng Zero Hunger Program (ZHP), sa ilalim ng Center for Excellence Against Poverty (CEAP) nito. Ayon pa kay PARPO 2 Soria, kabilang din sa mga tutulong na malalaking grupo ay ang  Food and Agriculture Organizations(FAO), World Food Program (WFP) at ang Asian Development Bank...

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Farmgate price of hogs down-DA

The Department of Agriculture said today that farmgate prices of live hogs have gone down recently. Agriculture Undersecretary for Livestock Jose Reaño said, from P115 per kilo, the price has gone down to P113 in Rizal to as low as P97 in Mindanao. He added, the said prices are still profitable for the hog raisers, since the price of feeds these days is also low. According to Reaño, pork kasim and other parts, except liempo, have gone down in public markets but for unknown reasons some private markets, prices still go up. The suggested retail price for liempo is still P185 per kilo but high demand pushes up its price in markets.  “Ang liempo kung talagang sa suki mo ka pupunta, mabibili mo ng 180, pero sa retail, naroon pa din sa P190 hanggang P210.  Kasi nga in demand, Reaño said”.  He added, the suggested retail price for chicken remains at P135 per kilo, but in some markets, chicken is sold for as low as P120 per kilo. Earlier, the DA said it targets to lessen pork imports by 20 million kilos in 2015....

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Monsanto Addresses Role of Modern Agriculture in Maximizing Nutrition

MANILA — Global sustainable agriculture company Monsanto, in coordination with the US-ASEAN Business Council, today spearheaded a forum themed “Maximizing Nutrition with Modern Agriculture” at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati City. Dr. Milton Stokes, director of Global Health and Nutrition Outreach for Monsanto, discussed innovative means of safe and sustainable food production through traditional breeding, biotechnology, crop protection and precision agriculture. Based on the company’s extensive Centers on breeding research, Milton explained that taste, texture and convenience all make up for an increasing vegetable consumption. Stokes furthered that, “traits of a wild tomato are bred into commercial varieties for sweeter taste and more appealing color; extended quality watermelons lose much less juice that is less messy when sliced, eaten and stored; mini bell peppers present better value at an affordable price point”. “These agricultural innovations present safe and nutritious alternatives to our conventional crops for our family’s consumption,” he added. The World Health Organization in the past decade has noted that, “GM foods currently available in the international market have passed risk assessments and are not likely to present risks for human health. In addition, no effects on human health have been shown as a result of the consumption of such foods by the general population in the countries where they have been approved”. Moreover, Stokes relates massive increased crop production with modern agriculture. Between 1996 and 2011,...

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NAST PHL nagsagawa ng RTD hinggil sa Molecular Pathogenesis of Infectious Diseases

Ang National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines (NAST, PHL) kasama ang University of the Philippines Manila (UP, Mla), at ang Case Western Reserve University, ay nagsagawa ng isang Roundtable Dis cussion, hinggil sa Molecular Pathogenesis of Infectious Diseases, nitong Nakaraang Pebrero 20, 2015, na ginanap sa isang Hotel sa Pasay City. Ang aktibidad ay inorganisa ng Health Sciences Division(HSD) ng NAST PHL sa pangunguna ni Academician (Acd.) Jaime C. Montoya, Executive Director, Philippine Council for Health Research and Development, and Chair, Health Sciences Division NAST Philippines, kasama si Dr. Edsel Maurice T. Salvaña, Outstanding Young Scientist 2010 bilang tagapagsalita. Mula sa Case Western Reserve University ang naging speaker at resource person sa nabangit na RTD., ay sina: Dr. Robert Salata, Professor at Executive Vice Chair ng Department of Medicine, at Chief Division ng Infectious Diseases at ng HIV Medicine, na kung saan tinalakay niya ang interactions ng ibat-ibang sexually transmitted diseases. Si Dr. Federico Perez, Assistant Proffesor at research faculty ng Department of Medicine, ang nagpaliwanag tungkol sa molecular pathogenesis of gram-negative bacteria at ang antibiotic resistance. Samantalang si Dr. Blanton naman, na professor ng International Health Center for Global Health and Diseases, ang tumalakay sa genetic epedemology of Schistosomiasis, its control, and an effective human...

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