Month: May 2024

DUMAGUETE CITY: The Department of Agriculture (DA) has released over PHP4.8 million to 968 farmers in Bayawan City, Negros Oriental as part of the government’s regular financial assistance to the sector, an official said Friday.

The 968 recipients were part of the 5,662 farmers in the town identified to get the regular cash assistance from DA for 2023, Alejandro Rafal, DA Provincial Agriculture Technology Coordinating Officer told the Philippine News Agency.

‘I would like to clarify that this assistance is not yet for El Niño damages and losses but a regular yearly assistance given to farmers from funds taken out of the rice tariffication law,’ he said.

Rafal led the distribution of the cash assistance to farmers on Thursday, together with Gov. Manuel Sagarbarria and Mayor Jack Raymond.

PHP28.3 million has been allocated for all the identified farmers in the city. The money will be released in batches with each beneficiary getting PHP5,000.

Last week, PHP7.7 million in cash aid was released to 1,555 farm
ers in Tanjay City.

The DA had calendared more than PHP161 million in aid for all the farmers in Negros Oriental in 2023 and only released this year.

Source: Philippines News Agency

BUTUAN CITY: Recipients of the Assistance for Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development- Caraga Region (DSWD-13) in Siargao Island are thankful that the government cares about their plight.

‘The AICS assistance is a big relief for us as we encounter daily difficulties,” Marcial Billona, a 50-year-old beneficiary, said in the vernacular during a phone interview on Friday.

A total of 764 residents in the Surigao del Norte town of San Isidro received PHP3,000 in cash each on Thursday.

‘This AICS assistance can provide support as we continue our daily living. The government is always looking for the welfare of the people, especially those who experience difficulties due to some circumstances,’ Ocon said in another interview.

Rey Ocon, 53, also thanked the DSWD for the assistance that can augment the daily needs of his family.

Siargao Island has been receiving AICS assistance for several months now, according to the local government.

Source: Philippin
es News Agency

MANILA: Queen Máxima of the Netherlands is set to visit the Philippines next week to help advance financial inclusion.

The Dutch royalty will travel to the country in her capacity as the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development (UNSGSA) from May 21-23.

Her visit will focus on advancing key foundational building blocks for financial inclusion — including connectivity, digital identification, and digital payments — as well as enhancing financial health and resilience against economic and climate-related challenges for Filipinos.

‘By sharing insights and forging connections between global financial initiatives and local realities, the UNSGSA visit aims to inspire continued progress and innovation in the Philippines’ financial sector,’ her office said.

The special advocate will meet with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., Finance Secretary Ralph Recto, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Dr. Eli Remolona Jr., other key policymakers and leaders in the c
ountry as well as Asian Development Bank (ADB) president Masatsugu Asakawa to explore collaborative opportunities at a regional level.

Queen Máxima’s office has highlighted the Philippines’ ‘considerable progress’ in financial access in recent years, with the proportion of adults owning a bank account rising from 26.6 percent in 2011 to 51.4 percent in 2021, as reported by the World Bank Global Findex.

‘However, despite these gains, the Philippines remains among the world’s top 10 countries with the highest number of unbanked adults at approximately 37.6 million,’ it said.

It also noted the ‘significant concerns’ highlighted by Findex data about financial resilience among Filipinos.

The data showed that primary financial worry for 42 percent of adults is covering medical costs in the event of a serious illness or accident, followed by concerns over managing monthly expenses (24 percent) and securing funds for old age (17 percent).

During her Philippine trip, Queen Máxima will hold field visits in Manila
and its surrounding areas to hear firsthand from financial services users about innovations that significantly impact their lives, especially those enhancing financial health.

She will engage with public and private sector leaders to discuss support for their expansion.

She will also make a stop at a fisherfolk community to explore last-mile financial solutions that address the unique challenges present in remote island settings.

The UNSGSA previously visited the Philippines from June 29 to July 1 in 2015.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: The Japanese government has earmarked PHP121 million to finance postgraduate scholarships of young Filipino civil servants as part of its ongoing support to Philippine development priorities.

In a ceremony at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Friday, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and Japanese Ambassador Endo Kazuya signed the exchange of notes for the Japanese Grant Aid for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS) covering academic year 2025-2026.

The JDS will allow 20 young Philippine government officials to pursue their graduate studies at leading universities in Japan.

‘Upon their return, they are hoped to become future leaders helping lead social and economic development policies for the Philippines, and serve as a bridge to Japan and other nations,’ Kazuya said.

‘We are optimistic that this signing will sustain and further strengthen the bilateral relations between our two countries,’ he added.

The JDS is a component of Japan’s support for the human resource developme
nt initiatives of the Philippines, aiming to enhance the expertise of the JDS Fellows in their respective fields, thereby contributing to the development of their country.

Since 2002, Japan has already supported 439 JDS Fellows from the Philippines.

Source: Philippines News Agency

LEGAZPI CITY: The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Bicol (BFAR-5), through the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) program, is empowering fisherfolk organizations in the region in food processing and marketing to improve their livelihood.

In an interview on Friday, BFAR-Bicol spokesperson Rowena Briones said members of the Poblacion Fisherfolk Association in Sorsogon and other fishers’ groups learned sustainable practices on fish processing and producing high-quality products.

“The fish processing training is part of our region-wide innovative technology training for the beneficiaries of the SAAD program,’ she said.

The Poblacion Fisherfolk Association from Barcelona town were trained in making smoked fish (tinapa), the same training conducted for the San Vicente Tilapia Growers Association from San Lorenzo Ruiz, Camarines Norte province.

The series of training focused on proper fish handling, hygiene practices, food safety standards, and step-by-step procedures in smoked fish pro
cessing.

There is ongoing training for a fisherfolk organization in Sta. Magdalena, Sorsogon; while upcoming are in the towns of Gigmoto (May 21 to 23) and Panganiban (May 28 to 30), both in Catanduanes; Sta. Elena, Camarines Norte (May 28 to 30); and Castilla, Sorsogon (May 30 and 31).

“With the right knowledge and training, our fisherfolk organizations can obtain a sustainable source of livelihood and produce high-quality fish products ready for the market,” Briones said.

Meanwhile, Briones said they are now enlisting students who can be potential scholars under BFAR’s Fisheries Scholarship Program.

“Successful candidates will have the opportunity to become scholars who will take up a Bachelor of Science in Fisheries course for school year 2025-2029. There will be a total of 26 scholarship slots for the Bicol Region,” she said.

Application deadline is on Aug. 15, 2024, with the nationwide qualifying examination scheduled October in various testing sites across the region.

Source: Philippines News Age
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