(File photo) MANILA - The Philippines can be rice self-sufficient in two years if the government succeeds in "reorganizing" the Department of Agriculture (DA) and its attached agencies, President Ferdinand R. Marcos said Wednesday. During a meeting with officials of the DA and the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) in Malacanang, Marcos said he was briefed about the state of the country's irrigation system. He said it was during the meeting that he and DA and NIA officials agreed on a "timeline" of steps that need to be taken to achieve their goal of self-sufficiency. "Sa aming calculation, kung magawa natin lahat ng kailangang gawin kasi marami tayong kailangan ayusin, marami tayong ire-reorganize pero kung magawa natin lahat 'yan (Based on our calculations, if we can do everything we need to do, because there's a lot that needs to be fixed, there's a lot to reorganize but if we accomplish them all), we will be close to self-sufficien
NO TO POLLS DEFERMENT. Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman opposes the proposed deferment of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections set on Dec. 5 this year. He said on Tuesday (Sept. 20, 2022) such a moveis unconstitutional. (File photo courtesy of PTV) LEGAZPI CITY - Albay First District Rep. Edcel Lagman is not in favor of postponing the Dec. 5, 2022 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE). In a statement on Tuesday, Lagman said he cast a negative vote on the deferment, believing that elections are the bedrock of democratic governments and democracy at the grassroots must be assured by holding regular elections. "The reason invariably invoked by the authors of the postponement that the savings of PHP7 to PHP8 billion, if the elections are postponed, can be realigned to finance the pandemic response and the stimulus package for economic recovery is not legally feasible and is utterly unconstitutional because the Commission on Elections (Comelec) enjoys fiscal
ADVISORY PANEL. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Raphael Lotilla announces that the agency has formed a law and energy advisory panel that will iron out policies in the country's energy sector. Lotilla made the announcement on Thursday (Aug. 25, 2022). (Screenshot during the DOE virtual press conference) MANILA - Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Raphael Lotilla announced Thursday that the agency has formed a law and energy advisory panel that will address the challenges and bottlenecks in the regulatory framework in the energy sector. In a virtual press conference, Lotilla said DOE has pooled senior legal advisers, which include retired Chief Justices Artemio Panganiban and Reynato Puno who will serve as private citizens and will not assume any public office. Legal advisors from the private sector are also joining the advisory group, he added. "The functions of the law and energy advisory panel include advising the department on various energy-related reform initiative
SUGAR IMPORT PLAN. Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion (left) and President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. (right) in a meeting on June 2022. Concepcion backs the decision of Marcos to import up to 150,000 metric tons (MT) of sugar only if the supply is depleted by October. (Photo courtesy of Go Negosyo) MANILA - Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion supports the plan of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. to import up to 150,000 metric tons (MT) of sugar only if the supply is depleted by October. Concepcion also backed the President's decision to block the 300,000 MT sugar importation but instead limiting the volume and timing of importing the commodity. "The President's approach will protect both the consumer and the farmer," he said. Concepcion said calibrated importation will allow the market "to see if the price levels start to go down" as harvest and milling season is approaching. "There is never a perfect solution, but what
(File photo) MANILA - The parts and components needed for the repairs of the damaged Embraer A-29B "Super Tucano" attack aircraft are now being manufactured and will be shipped to the country to expedite its repair, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) said on Tuesday. "They are being manufactured as we speak, but all these are close to delivery, this is the commitment of the manufacturer of the 'Super Tucano'," Air Force spokesperson Col. Maynard Mariano said in a message to the Philippine News Agency when asked on updates on the repair of the aircraft. He added that the costs of the delivery of the spare parts are covered by the manufacturer's warranty. "What was not anticipated was the delivery of the parts and components coming from different manufacturers. This is covered by the manufacturer's warranty, the government and the PAF will not be paying anything for this repair," he added. Earlier, the PAF said the A-29B, which was damaged on a &