(Photo grabbed from RCEP website) MANILA-Concerns of various agriculture groups on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) were answered on Tuesday by representatives coming from different government agencies during a public hearing of the Senate subcommittee on RCEP presided by Senate Pro Tempore Loren Legarda. RCEP, which was recently endorsed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., is expected to be ratified by the Senate within the first quarter of this year. During the hearing attended by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, agricultural groups asked for assurance from the government that farmers should be protected and implementation of programs to improve productivity and enhance competitiveness of agricultural products. Based on RCEP, 15 agricultural commodities representing 33 tariff lines will see lower tariff rates which account for 1.9 percent of total tariff lines and only USD132 million or 0.8 percent of total agricultural imports. These commodities will be a
House committee on appropriations chair Elizaldy Co (File photo courtesy of House Press and Public Affairs Bureau) MANILA - House committee on appropriations chairperson Elizaldy Co on Tuesday vowed the timely passage of the PHP5.268-trillion national budget for 2023, as it would ensure the fulfillment of the Marcos administration's agenda for prosperity and economic transformation and address the effects brought about by the pandemic and inflation. During the start of the plenary deliberations on the General Appropriations Bill, Co said the proposed 2023 budget is anchored on the budget theme "Agenda for Prosperity: Economic Transformation Towards Inclusivity and Sustainability", with an overarching objective of economic transformation. Co further noted that the spending measure has three main pillars focused on strengthening the purchasing power of Filipinos; reducing vulnerability and mitigating scarring from the Covid-19 pandemic; and enhancing bureaucratic efficiency
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (Photo from BBM Facebook page) MANILA - Government officials joined scores of supporters across the country in greeting President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. a happy birthday on Tuesday. Among them was Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles who took her greeting to Facebook, wishing the President good health. "Sa ating butihin at mapagmahal na Pangulong Bongbong Marcos, isang maligaya at makabuluhang ika-65 na kaarawan po sa inyo! Hangad po namin ang inyong mabuting kalusugan upang patuloy ninyong magampanan ang ating tungkulin sa bansa at sa milyon-milyong mga Pilipino (To our good and loving President Bongbong Marcos, a happy and meaningful 65th birthday to you! We wish you good health so that you can continue to fulfill our duty to the country and to millions of Filipinos)," she said. Cruz-Angeles assured the President that she would stand by his efforts to improve the lives of every Filipino and the living condition of the nation.
SISTERHOOD AGREEMENT. Bataan Governor Jose Enrique Garcia III (right) and General Santos City Mayor Lorelie Pacquiao (left) sign a sisterhood agreement on Thursday (Aug. 25, 2022) to advance cultural and trade linkages between the two localities. Garcia mentioned the similarity between Bataan and General Santos City in the aspects of agriculture, tourism, and natural resources that may contribute to sharing of unique strategies toward advancement and progress. (Photo courtesy of the provincial government of Bataan) BALANGA CITY, Bataan - The provincial government of Bataan and the city government of General Santos on Thursday entered a sisterhood agreement in advancing cultural and trade linkages. Governor Jose Enrique Garcia III signed on behalf of the Bataan provincial government while Mayor Lorelie Pacquiao affixed her signature for General Santos City. "Ikinalulugod ko pong ibahagi na magkatuwang na lumagda sa isang sisterhood agreement ang ating lalawigan ng Bataan at General