Day: April 6, 2024

MANILA: The government is exploring ways to integrate more water management innovations in its mitigation efforts against the effects of El Niño on agriculture.

At the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City, Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa said the Department of Agriculture (DA) is already using foreign and local technologies to ensure that crops are well-maintained even during El Niño-induced droughts.

‘There will always be room for improvement with regard to response. Kapag El Niño, it’s all about water management interventions. So, ano pa ang mga bagong (When it’s El Niño, it’s all about water management interventions. So, what are the other) innovations, technologies?’ he said.

He said the DA is looking into sharing the alternate wetting and drying technology to more Filipino farmers, while considering other innovations such as fertigation (fertilizer integrated into irrigation) and drip technology for rice.

‘Isa ito sa mga puwede nating ikonsidera sa mga susunod na panahon. Some are Israeli (innovation
), some are other technologies, so, tinitignan ng DA ang lahat ng available technologies (These are just among what we are considering for the next coming years. Some of these technologies are Israeli, some are not. The DA is considering all available technologies),’ he said.

‘Marami rin namang local technology na available (We also have many available local technologies).’

The effects of the El Niño phenomenon is expected to linger until June.

Ready to assist

At a business forum in Makati City on April 4, Israel Ambassador Ilan Fluss said Israel is ready to cooperate with the country in its need to source more water solution technologies.

‘Water is very high on the priority of the Israeli Embassy in Manila,’ he said. ‘Of course, the two countries are so different from each other, with different water infrastructures and different solutions but still the process and approach are quite similar. We’d like to share those best practices.’

During a previous meeting, Fluss shared that that no less than Presid
ent Ferdinand Marcos Jr. identified agriculture, water, and defense as priority areas for Philippines-Israel relations.

The Israel Embassy gathered nine Israeli firms during the forum to share modern water solutions to public and private stakeholders.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: The government is exploring ways to integrate more water management innovations in its mitigation efforts against the effects of El Niño on agriculture.

At the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City, Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa said the Department of Agriculture (DA) is already using foreign and local technologies to ensure that crops are well-maintained even during El Niño-induced droughts.

‘There will always be room for improvement with regard to response. Kapag El Niño, it’s all about water management interventions. So, ano pa ang mga bagong (When it’s El Niño, it’s all about water management interventions. So, what are the other) innovations, technologies?’ he said.

He said the DA is looking into sharing the alternate wetting and drying technology to more Filipino farmers, while considering other innovations such as fertigation (fertilizer integrated into irrigation) and drip technology for rice.

‘Isa ito sa mga puwede nating ikonsidera sa mga susunod na panahon. Some are Israeli (innovation
), some are other technologies, so, tinitignan ng DA ang lahat ng available technologies (These are just among what we are considering for the next coming years. Some of these technologies are Israeli, some are not. The DA is considering all available technologies),’ he said.

‘Marami rin namang local technology na available (We also have many available local technologies).’

The effects of the El Niño phenomenon is expected to linger until June.

Ready to assist

At a business forum in Makati City on April 4, Israel Ambassador Ilan Fluss said Israel is ready to cooperate with the country in its need to source more water solution technologies.

‘Water is very high on the priority of the Israeli Embassy in Manila,’ he said. ‘Of course, the two countries are so different from each other, with different water infrastructures and different solutions but still the process and approach are quite similar. We’d like to share those best practices.’

During a previous meeting, Fluss shared that that no less than Presid
ent Ferdinand Marcos Jr. identified agriculture, water, and defense as priority areas for Philippines-Israel relations.

The Israel Embassy gathered nine Israeli firms during the forum to share modern water solutions to public and private stakeholders.

Source: Philippines News Agency

ISTANBUL: Fast food giant McDonald’s said Thursday it will buy all of its 225 restaurants in Israel after an agreement with franchise Alonyal Ltd., which has operated the business for 30 years.

The US fast-food chain faces calls for a boycott since Alonyal gave away thousands of free meals to Israeli forces following Israeli attacks, which have killed more than 33,000 people, mostly women and children, so far.

In a statement, the fast food giant said Alonyal employs 5,000 people across the country, all of whom will be retained, after the completion of the transaction in the coming months.

“Upon completion of the transaction, McDonald’s Corp. will own Alonyal Ltd.’s restaurants and operations, and employees will be retained on equivalent terms,” it said.

‘McDonald’s remains committed to the Israeli market and to ensuring a positive employee and customer experience in the market going forward,’ said Jo Sempels, president of International Developmental Licensed Markets at McDonald’s Corp.

McDonald’s franchi
ses are often owned and operated locally.

Its CEO Chris Kempczinski earlier said the conflict in Gaza was hurting its business.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: The Department of Agriculture (DA) said Saturday there are no plans to recommend a price ceiling or suggested retail price (SRP) on rice amid its inflation uptick of 24.4 percent in March.

‘Wala kaming plano na magkaroon ng price cap or SRP kasi medyo may mga mabigat din na epekto iyan pagdating ng panahon (We don’t plan to have a price cap or SRP because it could have a huge impact in the future),’ Department of Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa said at the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City.

The rice inflation in March eclipsed February’s 23.7 percent and is the highest since 2009.

De Mesa explained that the increase was due to the low base effect for the same period in 2023, when rice was sold at PHP39 to PHP40 per kg.

He said the elevated rice inflation would likely stay until July but would ease by August or September as prices in the same period last year were already close to PHP49.50.

Meanwhile, he noted that retail prices for rice have decreased from PHP52 last month to about
PHP50 to PHP49 at present.

‘So iyong presyo ng bigas ay bumababa versus last month pero versus last year ay tumaas (The price of rice is going down versus last month, but against last year, it increased),’ he said.

‘Lowering costs of production’

De Mesa said the DA is currently focused on increasing the level of rice production, lowering the production cost, and reducing post-harvest losses.

‘In terms of productivity or yield per unit hectare, we are at par actually with Vietnam at (and) Thailand because we also use the same variety that they have. Our technology is also the same. The only issue is our competitiveness in terms of cost to produce,’ he explained.

Vietnam is producing at PHP6 per kg. while the cost per kg. in the Philippines goes as high as PHP12 to PHP14.

Under the Rice Tariffication Law, De Mesa said, PHP5 billion is allocated for mechanization annually to reduce the labor cost component of production.

The DA also makes sure that the variety of rice per cluster or region is at a maximum
of three for efficient milling and higher head rice recovery.

‘Sa milling natin, sa kiskisan – malaki na sa atin iyong 65 percent na milling recovery pero marami pa rin sa kiskisan nasa 50 to 55 percent ang milling recovery (In terms of our milling, 65 percent of rice milling recovery is already high for us but there are some mills that still post 50 to 55 percent recovery),’ he said.

In addition, the DA is working on a logistics chain modernization program, among the priorities of which is to develop the bridge component of farm-to-market roads.

‘Maraming mga maliliit na tulay na nagdudugtong sa mga key production area na hindi masyadong napopondohan dahil nga nasa mga liblib na lugar, hindi masyadong prayoridad. So, iyan iyong mga priority ngayon (We have small bridges that connect key productions areas but don’t get enough funding because they are in remote areas. So, this is our priority now),’ De Mesa said.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: The Department of Agriculture (DA) said Saturday there are no plans to recommend a price ceiling or suggested retail price (SRP) on rice amid its inflation uptick of 24.4 percent in March.

‘Wala kaming plano na magkaroon ng price cap or SRP kasi medyo may mga mabigat din na epekto iyan pagdating ng panahon (We don’t plan to have a price cap or SRP because it could have a huge impact in the future),’ Department of Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa said at the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City.

The rice inflation in March eclipsed February’s 23.7 percent and is the highest since 2009.

De Mesa explained that the increase was due to the low base effect for the same period in 2023, when rice was sold at PHP39 to PHP40 per kg.

He said the elevated rice inflation would likely stay until July but would ease by August or September as prices in the same period last year were already close to PHP49.50.

Meanwhile, he noted that retail prices for rice have decreased from PHP52 last month to about
PHP50 to PHP49 at present.

‘So iyong presyo ng bigas ay bumababa versus last month pero versus last year ay tumaas (The price of rice is going down versus last month, but against last year, it increased),’ he said.

‘Lowering costs of production’

De Mesa said the DA is currently focused on increasing the level of rice production, lowering the production cost, and reducing post-harvest losses.

‘In terms of productivity or yield per unit hectare, we are at par actually with Vietnam at (and) Thailand because we also use the same variety that they have. Our technology is also the same. The only issue is our competitiveness in terms of cost to produce,’ he explained.

Vietnam is producing at PHP6 per kg. while the cost per kg. in the Philippines goes as high as PHP12 to PHP14.

Under the Rice Tariffication Law, De Mesa said, PHP5 billion is allocated for mechanization annually to reduce the labor cost component of production.

The DA also makes sure that the variety of rice per cluster or region is at a maximum
of three for efficient milling and higher head rice recovery.

‘Sa milling natin, sa kiskisan – malaki na sa atin iyong 65 percent na milling recovery pero marami pa rin sa kiskisan nasa 50 to 55 percent ang milling recovery (In terms of our milling, 65 percent of rice milling recovery is already high for us but there are some mills that still post 50 to 55 percent recovery),’ he said.

In addition, the DA is working on a logistics chain modernization program, among the priorities of which is to develop the bridge component of farm-to-market roads.

‘Maraming mga maliliit na tulay na nagdudugtong sa mga key production area na hindi masyadong napopondohan dahil nga nasa mga liblib na lugar, hindi masyadong prayoridad. So, iyan iyong mga priority ngayon (We have small bridges that connect key productions areas but don’t get enough funding because they are in remote areas. So, this is our priority now),’ De Mesa said.

Source: Philippines News Agency

DARAGA: If you’re still stuck with the idea that old age means being frail, wrinkled, and confined to a walker or a weathered rocking chair, then you have to meet the trio of sprightly Bicolano travelers!

They are savvy, adventurous, and full of zest that it’s hard to imagine they are knocking on the door of their 70s.

Say hello to these wanderlusts, who are redefining old age as they cash in on their 20-percent senior citizen discounts, one trip at a time.

The adventurous explorer

Emerita Parayno has always loved traveling.

The charming grandmother, who does not look a day over 68, has no qualms about sitting in a bus or plane for hours or walking around unfamiliar terrain, all in the name of adventure.

A confessed nature lover, Parayno said she has checked off most of her travel bucket lists.

From her exhilarating zipline adventures at Lake Sebu Seven Falls in the province of South Cotabato to the stunning white sand beaches of Moalboal town in Cebu and the jaw-dropping natural beauty of the Enchante
d Cave in Bolinao, Pangasinan, no place is too far for this intrepid soul who has an insatiable passion for exploration.

“Travel widens your horizons. It also tests your mobility and endurance,” the native of Daraga town in Albay province said.

To make sure she is up for the challenges of her daring escapades, a pit stop at her doctor’s office remains on top of her to-do list.

“I usually go for my routine check-up, do laboratory tests when my doctor orders them, and bring all my maintenance medicine and other necessary medications before I go on a trip,” Parayno said.

“You have to ensure that your body is in the right condition before you travel,” she added.

Her other tip for her silver-haired squad? Choose destinations that allow for physical activity to stay healthy and energized.

The solo traveler

Evelyn Po, 68, from the city of Ligao, also in Albay, is the travel guru of solo trips.

“My husband would often tease me that I would get sick if I stayed at home for long,” she said in the vernacular.

P
o has scoured the cobbled streets of Vigan in Ilocos Sur, the scenic spots of Baguio City, the majestic waves of La Union, and the rugged terrain of Apayao province on her own, without the need for GPS.

For senior travelers wanting to embark on solitary soul-searching, her advice is simple: Plan ahead.

“Research everything. Plan your destinations and activities, book your accommodations, and work on your budget,” she said.

“But most importantly, inform your loved ones about your itinerary so they can track you throughout your trip. They need to know your whereabouts so they can help you in case of emergencies or unexpected circumstances,” she added.

As securing safety and well-being should be on top of every elderly person’s travel goals, the vibrant grandmother said staying connected with family members while on travel brings peace of mind to all.

The social sightseer

“The more, the merrier” is the adage that Jocelyn Llarena, 67, lives by.

As someone who revels in traveling with family and friends, th
e retired government employee from Pilar town in Sorsogon said group trips are the best because of memories shared.

She also candidly said that it does not hurt that group travel allows seniors like her to sit back and relax, as planning the logistics and itinerary is already taken care of by her younger companions.

She advised elderly wanderlusts to prioritize quality over quantity.

“Don’t be so obsessed with rushing from one attraction to the next that you sacrifice your physical well-being,” she cautioned in the vernacular.

For Llarena, who has toured most of the scenic spots of the three major islands of the Philippines, the best kind of senior travel is one that allows for plenty of downtime to soak in the beauty of the destination.

“Enjoy your travel while you still can. Explore new destinations before it is too late,” she added.

Source: Philippines News Agency