Day: May 14, 2023

Municipal fisherfolk will receive a monthly fuel subsidy of not less than PHP1,000 under House Bill No. 8007 or the ‘Pantawid Pambangka Act of 2023’. The Department of Agriculture (DA) will administer the monthly subsidy program, with the amount subject to revision yearly to account for inflation. ‘Despite the fishing sector’s major contribution, our fishermen continue to be among the fundamental sectors’ poorest people. Hindi po makatarungan na kung sino pa ang producer ng pagkain, sila pa ang napapabayaan at pinaka-naghihirap (It is not fair that they produce food but they are neglected and suffering the most,’ AGRI Partylist Rep. Wilbert Lee, the bill author, said in a news release on Sunday. The beneficiaries of the bill shall be municipal fisherfolk within municipal waters, whether coastal or inland, and who use motorized fishing vessels of three gross tons or less provided they are registered under BFAR’s National Program for Municipal Fisherfolk Registration. If passed into law, beneficiaries of the program will be automatically covered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation. The Social Security System shall also provide microinsurance mechanisms to beneficiaries. The equivalent of 10 percent of any increase in the collections in the excise tax on fuel shall be earmarked for the implementation for this Act, which shall be indicated as a separate line item under the annual appropriations of the DA under the General Appropriations Act. According to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), the municipal and aquaculture sub-sectors contributed 73 percent to the total production of the fisheries sector from 2011 to 2020. Based on the preliminary estimates of the Philippine Statistics Authority’s 2021 poverty data, fisherfolk registered the highest poverty incidence rate of 30.6 percent, higher than the 26.2 percent recorded in 2018. ‘We are not only showing the importance of their valuable contribution, this (subsidy) could also enhance their production which is beneficial also to the consumers,’ Lee said

Source: Philippines News Agency

The growth of the manufacturing sector will likely pick up in the second quarter of the year due to increase in demand, an economist said Sunday. “Seasonal increase in demand towards April-May 2023 in view of the Holy Week holidays, vacation season amid the further pick up in both local and foreign tourism, fiestas, Mother’s Day, reunions, and other celebrations during the summer season would lead to some pick up in manufacturing activities and other business activities,” Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation chief economist Michael Ricafort told the Philippine News Agency. Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority earlier showed that the growth of volume and value of production eased in March. The Value of Production Index grew by 4.9 percent in March, slower than the 9 percent in February, while the growth of the volume of production eased to 2.2 percent from 5.2 percent. However, Ricafort said the increase in foreign direct investments (FDIs) could help the manufacturing sector grow at a faster pace. FDIs posted net inflows of PHP1.05 billion in February this year. “Foreign direct investments already back to pre-pandemic highs recently could eventually lead to increased manufacturing activities in the country,” he said. “Another source of growth for the economy, as well as in the manufacturing sector, would be the country’s inclusion into the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which is the world’s biggest free trade agreement, led by China, that would help entice more foreign direct investments into the country, as a production or marketing base, or as access point to bigger export market with other RCEP member countries,” he added. Ricafort said the easing year-on-year inflation would also lead to lower interest rates, thus easing inflationary pressures and lower financing costs that would support faster growth in manufacturing.

Source: Philippines News Agency

House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Sunday joined the nation in paying tribute to Filipino mothers whom he described as very special persons who have sacrificed a lot. ‘I join the whole world in celebrating the life of that very, very special person who has sacrificed a lot to see us all succeed, put our needs first before their own, and seek our highest good no matter the costs for them,’ the House leader said in his message. He said his mom, Juliette made him and his siblings and her grandchildren the center of her universe. ‘I am speaking about our mothers – mama, mom, inay, ina – who we dearly love for giving us the best of their love and lives. My own mother, Mama Juliette has made us her children and her apos (grandchildren) the center of her universe,’ he continued. The Speaker also paid tribute to his wife, Tingog Partylist Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez, a devoted mother to their four children. ‘To all mothers of the world, one day is not enough to recognize your contributions to nation-building and making our world a better place. We appreciate your loving and gracious efforts to bring out the best in your children and lift them up to the greatest heights,’ Speaker Romualdez remarked. ‘We thank you for everything! Today and every day is Mother’s Day! Happy Mother’s Day sa inyong lahat (to all of you),’ greeted Romualdez. Davao del Norte 1st District Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez also paid tribute to all mothers who he described as ‘the backbone of every household’ and who ‘selflessly provide for their families, instill values, and serve as role models for their children.’ ‘We owe them our gratitude for their unwavering love and dedication,’ Alvarez said. During his term as Speaker, Alvarez championed the passage of the bills that seek to advance the welfare of women and their families, including the Expanded Maternity Leave law. This law grants new mothers 105 days of paid maternity leave, up by 55 from the previous 60 days, to provide them ample time to recover from childbirth and bond with their babies. The law also allows fathers to take a 7-day paid paternity leave, recognizing their critical role in supporting their partners and families. ‘Ang batas na ito ay tagumpay para sa bawat ina, dahil nabigyan natin sila ng mas mahabang oras para magpahinga, magpalakas, at makapiling ang kanilang bagong silang na anak ng hindi nag-aalala kung mawawalan ba sila ng trabaho o pagkukuhaan ng pera (This law is a victory for every mother, because they are given more time to rest, reenvigorate, and be with her newly born child without worrying about losing her job or where to get money),’ Alvarez noted. According to the Department of Labor and Employment, more than 200,000 women have benefited from the law since its implementation in 2019.

Source: Philippines News Agency

State workers will receive their midyear bonus starting May 15, confirmed Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman on Sunday. “I am happy to announce that our civil servants will be receiving their midyear bonus this year, as provided in the agency-specific allocation under the 2023 General Appropriations Act or GAA. Alam naman po natin na isa ito sa mga inaabangan ng ating mga kapwa kawani ng gobyerno na talagang makatutulong sa kanilang araw-araw na pangangailangan (We know that fellow government employees look forward to receiving this bonus which can really help in their everyday needs),’ she said in a news release Sunday. “So, we are reminding all government agencies and offices to ensure the timely release of bonuses to their employees or as stipulated in our existing rules and regulations, simula (starting) May 15 po ‘yan.” The midyear bonus is equivalent to one month basic pay as of May 15 and shall be given to entitled personnel who have rendered at least a total or aggregate of four months of service from July 1 of the immediately preceding year to May 15 of the current year. The employee shall also remain in the government service as of May 15 of the current year and have obtained at least a satisfactory performance rating in the immediately preceding rating period or the applicable performance appraisal period. The midyear bonus will be given to all positions for civilian personnel, whether regular, casual, or contractual, appointive or elective, full-time or part-time, now existing or hereafter created in the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches, Constitutional Commissions and other Constitutional offices, state universities and colleges, and government-owned or -controlled corporations (GOCCs) covered by the Compensation and Position Classification System, and in local government units. Entitled personnel to receive the mid-year bonus also include the military personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines under the Department of National Defense; uniformed personnel of the Philippine National Police, Philippine Public Safety College, Bureau of Fire Protection, and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology of the Department of the Interior and Local Government; Bureau of Corrections of the Department of Justice; Philippine Coast Guard of the Department of Transportation; and National Mapping and Resource Information Authority of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The grant of midyear bonuses for personnel of covered GOCCs shall be determined by their respective governing boards while those of provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays shall be determined by their sanggunian (council).

Source: Philippines News Agency

A vehicle accident left 24 church members dead Saturday in southern Zambia, with 12 wounded. Deputy police spokesman Danny Mwale announced in the national capital of Lusaka that the victims were believed to be members of the New Apostolic Church in Chongwe District on the outskirts of Lusaka who were traveling to Siavonga in the south for a church meeting. “The deceased have only been identified as 23 female adults and one male adult, while those injured are eight females and four males. The driver of the bus (on which the victims were) is among the injured victims,” said Mwale. He said the accident occurred when the Mitsubishi Rosa hit a Freightliner Truck in the Kapiringozi area along Chirundu-Kafue Road, south of Lusaka. “Police preliminary investigations indicate that the bus with 35 passengers on board hit behind the truck and trailer. The bus driver then lost control of the vehicle and overturned, falling on the left side of the road into a ditch,” he said. Mwale said the bus was extensively damaged while the truck had its rear bumper damaged. Chongwe District Commissioner Evans Lupiah conveyed the government’s sympathies to the families of the deceased, adding that nine bodies have been transported to Lusaka

Source: Philippines News Agency

The Republic of Korean firm Greengoods Co., Ltd has provided through the Korea Trade Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) in Vientiane poultry slaughter equipment and poultry processing equipment worth US$88,308 to the Paksab Mai Farmers’ Group.

The handover was held at the Faculty of Agriculture, National University of Laos on May 10 with the participation of President of KOTRA Southeast Asia and Oceania Mr. Lee Jong Seob, Director of KOTRA Vientiane Mr. Kim Pilseong, Head of Paksab Mai Farmers’ Group Ms. Nalin Thammavong, President of Greengoods Co., Ltd Mr. Lee Jaewon.

The donation aims to promote the development of poultry processing infrastructure, and technology transfer from Korea to Laos.

The equipment is expected to assist local farmers in increasing poultry production and income generation of the farmers’ group.

In 2019, Greengoods signed a memorandum of understanding with the Faculty of Agriculture, NOUL on agricultural promotion, student exchange, technology support and R&D.

“The Republic of Korea has modern farming and animal husbandry technology meanwhile the Lao PDR has suitable climate. Therefore, farming and animal husbandry is a win-win sector and both sides should strengthen cooperation especially through organizing training,” said Lee Jongseob.

“We have developed broiler breeds suitable to climate in Laos and with this project we are advancing together to handing over poultry, safe poultry feed to consumers. We hope to use this opportunity to equip 40 members of the cooperative from 23 farms and students of the faculty of agriculture of the University of Laos with knowledge of hygiene practices,” Lee Jaewon.

Source: Lao News Agency