Day: April 26, 2024

MANILA: The country will continue to experience fair and humid weather, with high temperatures forecast in several areas on Friday.

“Aside from humid weather, isolated rain showers are also likely in the afternoon or evening,” Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) forecaster Aldczar Aurelio said.

The easterlies and localized thunderstorms will cause isolated rain showers across the archipelago.

Temperatures could reach 38°C in Tuguegarao; 37°C in Metro Manila; and 35°C in Zamboanga and Davao.

Heat indices, or what the temperature feels like to the human body when relative humidity is combined with the air, ranging from 42°C to 45°C are forecast in the following areas:

Science Garden, Quezon City

Tayabas City, Quezon

Virac (Synop), Catanduanes

Alabat, Quezon

Roxas City, Capiz

Malaybalay, Bukidnon

Cotabato City, Maguindanao del Norte

NAIA

Sinait, Ilocos Sur

MMSU, Batac, Ilocos Norte

ISU Echague, Isabela

Iba, Zambales

CLSU Muñoz, Nueva Ecija

Ambul
ong, Tanauan, Batangas

San Jose, Occidental Mindoro

Puerto Princesa, Palawan

CBSUA-Pili, Camarines Sur

Dumangas, Iloilo

La Granja, La Carlota, Negros Occidental

Dipolog, Zamboanga del Norte

Laoag City, Ilocos Norte

Tuguegarao City, Cagayan

Coron, Palawan

Legazpi City, Albay

Bacnotan, La Union

Cubi Point, Subic Bay, Olongapo City

Sangley Point, Cavite

A heat index of 46°C is expected in Aparri, Cagayan and Aborlan, Palawan, and 47°C in Dagupan City, Pangasinan.

Under heat index danger levels of 41°C to 51°C, heat cramps and heat exhaustion are likely.

Meanwhile, light to moderate winds and slight to moderate seas will continue to prevail across the country.

Source: Philippines News Agency

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY: Northern Mindanao accounted for 4.7 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) at 5.5 percent last year, a point less compared to the 5.6 percent in 2022, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) report on Friday.

It ranked seventh among all regions in terms of GDP contribution, which the National Capital Region topped at 31.2 percent.

In terms of growth, Northern Mindanao ranked ninth nationwide and second among the regions in Mindanao, following Davao.

Central Visayas posted the fastest growth at 7.3 percent in 2023; Western Visayas ranked second at 7.2 percent; and Ilocos Region third at 7.1 percent.

“Region 10 expanded by 5.3 percent in 2023 with a 55.8 percent share of the GDP and the highest growth of 7.8 percent,” Dr. Janith Aves, PSA Region 10 Officer-in-Charge, said in a statement Friday.

The PSA report also said the Region 10 industry sector grew by 3.8 percent in 2023 from the 6.6 percent growth in the previous year; services recorded a growth of 7
.8 percent in 2023 from 10.1 percent in the previous year; and agriculture, forestry, and fishing grew by 0.3 percent from a 0.5 percent in 2022.

Source: Philippines News Agency

TALAYAN: Police authorities in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) neutralized a Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) field commander and arrested four others during an anti-gunrunning operation here on Thursday afternoon.

In a report Friday, Lt. Col. Ariel Huesca, regional chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG-BARMM), identified the slain suspected gunrunner as Zaldy Usman of Barangay Tambunan in this town.

‘Usman’s group (was) about to deal high-powered firearms to a poseur-buyer when (one) of them sensed they were being watched and opened fire on lawmen nearby, triggering a brief firefight near a gasoline station,’ he said.

Huesca said Usman, 52, is a battalion commander of the Inner Armed Based Command of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces, the armed wing of the MILF.

Arrested were the injured Ibrahim Temanong Satogan, 26, a member of MILF 28th brigade; Basir Baliwan, 37; Ismael Cabagani, an MILF training instructor; and Ari Butuan, 43, all from Talitay
town, Maguindanao del Sur.

CIDG operatives, backed by military and local police personnel, also seized four firearms, comprising two M16 rifles, a .45-caliber pistol, and a .30-caliber light machinegun, as well as ammunition, mobile phones, and boodle money.

Currently detained at the CIDG detention facility, the suspects are facing charges of violation of RA 10591 or illegal possession of firearms and explosives.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MALASIQUI: The provincial government of La Union has distributed PHP1.7 million worth of agricultural inputs to 40 farmer groups in preparation for the upcoming wet cropping season.

Since April 18, the groups have been given 15 bags of urea (fertilizers), 20 bags of fertilizer called Complete, 10 bags of ammonium phosphate, five bags of muriate of potash, 50 bags of organic fertilizers, and five bottles each of insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides, the La Union Provincial Information Office said Friday.

The beneficiaries are from Bacnotan, Bangar, Luna, San Juan, Agoo, Bauang, Rosario, and Naguilian towns.

Aside from the farm input distribution, La Union Governor Raphaelle Veronica Ortega-David, in a statement Friday, said the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAG) also conducted the La Union Clustered Hybrid Advocacy Mentoring Partnership (LU-CHAMP) Technology Demonstration, which aims to maximize the potential of different hybrid rice varieties and capacitate farmers as they foster innovation
in their practices.

“We promised the farmers that the provincial government will continue to initiate programs to boost agriculture in the province and uplift the livelihood of the farmers,” she said in Filipino.

For one, the provincial government has a PHP3 million emergency trust fund that El Niño-affected registered farmers and fisherfolk can tap into.

“We have seen that first to be affected (by the dry spell) are farmers and fisherfolk so we have allocated funds for their insurance and farm equipment and vegetable seeds that are drought-resistant,” Ortega-David said.

These measures are aimed to bolster agricultural productivity and promote food sufficiency in the province and are aligned with La Union’s vision to be the Heart of Agri-Tourism in Northern Luzon by 2025, she added.

Source: Philippines News Agency

BAYBAY CITY: Officials are optimistic that the availability of production technologies will encourage more farmers in Eastern Visayas to plant root crops given their suitability to the region’s soil and growing market demand.

Philippine Root Crops Research and Training Center (PhilRootcrops) Director Edgardo Tulin, former president of Visayas State University (VSU), said Friday that he has seen the growth of root crops in the past 40 years as the school embarked on various research projects.

‘Root crops play a major role in our industry, and they have become frontliners for research at VSU. The university has dedicated our efforts to elevating the root crop industry,’ Tulin said who was present during a two-day Root Crops Farms and Industry Encounters through the Science and Technology Agenda (FIESTA) held at the Visayas State University (VSU) here that started Wednesday.

During the event, the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research a
nd Development (DOST-PCAARRD) applied communications division director Marita Carlos was hopeful that the interest of more farmers to venture into root crop cultivation will increase as soon as they see the collaboration of technology generators, farmers, investors, and entrepreneurs.

‘As more technologies have matured, FIESTA has become a venue to facilitate the commercialization of technologies to inspire entrepreneurs in building enterprises from technologies intended for extension and for investors in technologies for commercialization,’ Carlos said.

PhilRootcrops assistant director Marlon Tambis said there are about 1,000 hectares of cassava in Leyte meant to support the local production of cassava chips, flour, and animal feeds.

‘We expect more farmers to plant cassava in the future since a starch factory will need the yield from 5,000 hectares to support its operations,’ Tambis told the Philippine News Agency in a separate interview.

Cassava is one of the most important root crops in the Philippine
s because of its many uses. Aside from being used as food, cassava is also used in the manufacture of industrial products like chips, flour, starch, glucose, and ethanol.

It is also used in the production of animal feeds. Cassava can be processed into different food products with higher economic and nutritive value.

For sweet potato or camote, Tambis said the crop thrives well in different areas of the region, but the most notable are farms in Dulag and Leyte with a combined area of 200 hectares.

Sweet potatoes are one of the most important food sources in the Philippines. It is also used in the manufacture of industrial products like flour and starch and the commercial production of animal feeds.

The Sweet Potato Processing Center in this city has been producing camote ice cream, the first of its kind to be commercialized in the Philippines, and is one of the many new products made from root crops that will be manufactured and distributed by the local government-run facility.

Established in 1977 inside
the VSU campus, PhilRootcrops also promotes the production of gabi or taro, which can grow in marginal areas, but its production could be many times greater if the crop is planted and cultivated in suitable locations with the right soil and amount of water.

Another priority is ubi or yam. The ubi tuber, which is often priced high because it is very expensive to produce apart from being perennially in short supply, is used mainly in the preparation of a variety of sweet food delicacies.

The Root Crops FIESTA, meant to inspire participation from local government units, investors, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and other stakeholders, is one of the 100th-anniversary activities of VSU.

The event showcased innovative root crop products and technologies developed by the Visayas Consortium for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Resources Program; the Western Visayas Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development Consortium; and the Central Visayas Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research an
d Development Consortium.

Source: Philippines News Agency

Dubai: The highly anticipated 10th Philippine Property and Investment Exhibition (PPIE), the Philippines’ largest international property and investment show, is set to return to Dubai on May 11-12, 2024.

This year’s annual event will take place at The Bristol Hotel, Deira, Dubai, aiming to spotlight the Philippines’ robust economic performance, positioning the country as a premier investment hub in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region.

In 2023, the Philippines achieved remarkable economic growth, surpassing key Asian economies with a 5.6 percent Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate. Overseas remittances also hit a record high of AED136.5 billion, driving positive momentum for the real estate market.

The surge in demand for real properties in the Philippines, especially from overseas Filipinos and foreign investors, reflects the country’s attractiveness as an investment hub.

The participation of leading real estate investment firms in the Philippines like Ayala Land, Hotel 101, RLC
Residences, and Rockwell Land, as recurring major exhibitors in this year’s highly anticipated event not only meets this demand but also highlights PPIE’s enduring legacy and significance in the investment landscape.

In a statement, Alfonso Ver, Philippine Ambassador to the UAE, commended the event, stating: ‘The return of the Philippine Property and Investment Exhibition this year highlights the robust growth of the Philippines’ investment and real estate sectors, particularly in the UAE. This growth signifies the increasing confidence in the Philippine economy. I commend the NPM Group for organizing this event, which brings together leading developers from the Philippines to encourage investment from Filipino and foreign investors.’

Marford Angeles, Philippine Consul General in Dubai, underscored the exhibition’s contribution to showcasing investment opportunities and empowering Filipino professionals and entrepreneurs, stating: ‘This year, as we celebrate a decade of the largest Philippine real estate ev
ent in the UAE, with an inspiring community nearing one million strong Filipinos, we also mark half a century of fruitful relations between our two nations.The exhibition, a pivotal platform, has not only showcased the best investment opportunities to our kababayans but also played a crucial role in shifting the narrative of migrant Filipinos from one of low-skilled workers to one of empowered professionals and successful entrepreneurs.’

Karen Remo, CEO and founder of New Perspective Media Group, organizer of PPIE, expressed confidence in the Philippines as an economic powerhouse, reaffirming PPIE’s commitment to promoting it as a top investment event, stating: ‘The 6.4 percent projected growth rate this year makes the Philippines an economic powerhouse in the ASEAN region. This fills us at NPM with an even greater sense of confidence as we showcase our country as a premier investment hub and be a one-stop-shop for all savings and investments needs for Filipinos and non-Filipinos wanting to invest in the Phi
lippines.’

‘From its very inception in 2014, PPIE has served as a conduit of progress for our nation, and the return of our annual international exhibition underscores our unwavering commitment to this cause. Through our ongoing efforts to promote financial literacy among overseas Filipinos, such as through our signature event like the PPIE, we’ve fostered a culture of saving and investment that will positively impact lives for generations to come,’ she added.

Vince Ang, chief operating officer of NPM Group, said ‘PPIE was born from NPM’s desire to see every overseas Filipino thrive, even after retirement. This vision remains strong. We invite Filipinos and other UAE-based investors to join us for the 10th edition of PPIE. Together, we’ll learn how to manage finances, invest smartly, and gain new skills for the future. This free, two-day event is all about making informed choices today for a brighter tomorrow.’

PPIE will feature a diverse range of real estate, financial and business solutions and services,
along with more than 50 keynotes and forums from over 50 industry experts and corporate leaders from top property developers in the Philippines, as well as UAE-based businesses and organizations.

Aligned with this year’s theme, ‘Discover, Invest and Thrive: Revealing the Beauty of Philippine Investments,’ PPIE will promote investment opportunities including those in the growing tourism sector – showing how investing in the Philippines provides both financial benefits and promoting the country’s natural and cultural heritage.

By showcasing these aspects, the event aims to highlight the attractiveness and potential of investing in the Philippines, welcoming overseas Filipinos and foreign investors to participate in the investment event.

PPIE continues to make history in the Gulf region by attracting high-level delegations from the Philippines and the UAE, featuring the Philippine Economic and Investment Summit (PEIS), and welcoming over 2,500 quality visitors every year for the past nine editions.

Source
: Philippines News Agency