Author: ltadmin

MANILA: San Sebastian College rallied past stubborn Jose Rizal University, 23-25, 25-18, 25-23, 25-19, in a no-bearing match of the NCAA Season 99 women’s volleyball at Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan on Saturday.

Katherine Santos finished with 22 points, while four others scored in double figures as the Lady Stags notched back-to-back wins for a 2-6 card.

Both teams are already out of contention.

Christina Marasigan contributed 16 attacks and two aces, while Kristine Joy Dionisio and Juna May Gonzales scored 13 points each for San Sebastian.

‘Gusto ko lang manalo para magkaroon ng confidence ang mga bata. Natuwa ako, from 11-17 [in the third set], nahabol namin. Kaya pala nila (I just want to win so the players will gain confidence. I’m happy that from 11-17, we were able to catch up. They can do it after all),” San Sebastian coach Roger Gorayeb said after the one hour and 50-minute match.

‘Ganyan nangyayari sa previous games. Mananalo na kami, bigla magco-collapse (That’s what happened in our previous
games. We were about to win, then we suddenly collapse),” he added.

Gorayeb also praised Gonzales, one of the eight rookies this season.

‘Sa NCAA, eight lahat greenhorns ko. Si Gonzales napakalaki ng potential (In the NCAA, I have eight greenhorns. Gonzales has great potentials),” he said.

Von Dimaculangan produced 17 excellent sets while Chloi Florenci Lazarte made 12 excellent digs and 10 receptions.

Meanwhile, Karyla Rafaela Jasareno had 14 attacks and four aces for JRU, which absorbed its seventh loss in eight outings.

Khreiszantha Gayle Batara scored 12 points, including three blocks, while Shanine Pretta added 10 points, nine on attacks.

San Sebastian’s last match will be against Letran on Wednesday while JRU will end its season against Arellano.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) on Friday highlighted the benefits of providing free licensure review for agriculture students in boosting the landscape of Philippine agriculture.

“This is very crucial under the (President Ferdinand) Marcos Jr. administration because as you know, food security is a centerpiece initiative of this administration,” CHED Chairperson J. Prospero De Vera III said in a press conference.

De Vera made the remark after the signing of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) and 15 select state universities and colleges (SUCs) for the conduct of free online licensure examination review for agriculturists.

He said the ‘Review and Strategy Program to Empower Students for Licensure Examination for Agriculturists’ intends not only to encourage more enrollees to join the agricultural sector but also to help them pass the licensure examination.

De Vera added that this would also produce the next generation of farmers, with
the current average age of farmers getting older.

“We have to make sure all of them become agriculturists. Because even if the enrollment goes up, and the passing rate goes down, then we cannot produce (agriculturists),” he said.

The country’s average passing rate for the Licensure Examination for Agriculturists (LEA) is only 35.56 percent from 2019 to 2023.

De Vera said the initiative would also provide a “cost-effective” opportunity for students, considering their typical high expenses and proximity challenges for licensure reviews.

“We are committed to this very significant activity, parang maliit lang pero napakalalim (It seems small, but it’s far-reaching). We are committed to this because it’s a matter of national survival,” UP System President Angelo Jimenez said in a separate speech.

Under the MOA, the UPLB, being a top-performing university in LEA, shall conduct the review of other SUCs via online setup.

The review shall cover examination topics, such as soil science, agricultural economics, an
imal science, crop protection, crop science, and agricultural extension.

About 500 students are expected to benefit from the 340-hour review program from June 1 to Oct. 20.

Among the select SUCs are Basilan State College, Batanes State College, Capiz State University – Tapaz Campus, Isabela State University – Palanan Campus, Kalinga State University, Mindanao State University – Sulu Campus, North Eastern Mindanao State University – San Miguel Campus, Northwest Samar State University – San Jorge Campus, Quirino State University, Romblon State University – Cajidiocan Campus, Southern Luzon State University – Tayabas Campus, Sulu State College Tawi-Tawi Regional Agricultural College, University of Eastern Philippines – Catubig Campus, and the University of Rizal System – Tanay Campus.

These SUCs were chosen based on their performance in LEA, geographical location, and availability of computer laboratories with strong Internet connectivity.

Moving forward, the UP also expressed its willingness to help SUCs co
nduct reviews for students for the fisheries and forestry licensure examinations.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: Several countries are investing in the Luzon Economic Corridor project, which can elevate the global status of the Philippines, according to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

In an interview with Chang Dae-hwan, chair of South Korea’s Maekyung Media Group, in Malacañang, Manila on Thursday, Marcos said the project will intensively focus on key infrastructure such as ports, railways, clean energy, and semiconductor supply chain connecting Subic Bay in Zambales, Clark in Pampanga, Manila, and Batangas.

He particularly noted that the ongoing development in Clark City, which is a vital part of the Luzon Economic Corridor, has become an attractive destination for foreign investments due to the establishment of the Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone.

‘I expect it to be mostly American companies,’ President Marcos said. ‘They have come in, and I like to think that the reason for that is because we have set up the system that’s attractive for their investment. And so, we’ll continue to [do] that and
will be able to do even better if the [Luzon Economic] corridor is completed, and the travel times and the cost of travel of transport will be brought down.”

He pointed out that the ecozones offer one common tax code and incentive scheme and locator companies do not have to deal with every local government unit.

The President said the ecozones are open to all investors looking for special incentives and special tax breaks.

“We have right now economic zones where anyone can participate,’ Marcos said. ‘It’s not specifically only for Korea, only for one industry… but it’s open for everyone and what it provides. It provides a place where there are special incentives, special tax breaks specially tariffs on importation, sales tax because they don’t sell into the country.”

President Marcos noted that Philippine special zones have been successful, adding that the government is counting on them to bring more success in the country.

The Bases Conversion and Development Authority earlier said the Subic-Clark Railw
ay Project, expansion of the Clark International Airport, and the Clark National Food Hub are pitched to American and Japanese investors under the USD600-billion Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment of the G7 countries.

BCDA said the three projects are being endorsed for the proposed Luzon Economic Corridor.

Maekyung Media Group includes the Maeil Business Newspaper and Maeil Broadcasting Network in Korea. Its printed copies have a circulation of one million while subsidiary companies have monthly magazines and Internet.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: A total of 145 employees of the state-owned Intercontinental Broadcasting Corp. (IBC-13) have received their retirement pay, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said on Saturday.

In a news release, the PCO said the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. released the long-overdue benefits to the broadcast network’s retired employees, who had been waiting for a payout for more than two decades.

The PCO said at least 25 former IBC-13 workers have died without receiving their retirement pay.

In her speech during the awarding ceremony on Friday, PCO Secretary Cheloy Garafil said the President made a marching order to settle the claims of IBC retirees.

‘The President gave the instruction to help resolve their claims as addressing the welfare of media workers is one of the cornerstones of his administration and of the PCO. So, it is a great honor for me to be able to be part of this much-awaited and much-deserved awarding of benefits to our colleagues in the media,’ Garafil said.

IBC-
13 President and CEO Jimmie Policarpio said about 200 families benefitted from the settlement of the retirement benefits, noting that most of the remaining retirees are already on maintenance medicines or facing a host of medical problems while some are ‘gravely ill.’

‘With spirits of thanksgiving, they can now look forward to enjoying their waning years with dignity and pride in having served God, country, and people,’ Policarpio said.

He thanked the Marcos administration for providing the environment that helped facilitate the release of the retirement pay.

Previous administrations said since 2004, the network lost most of its income from primetime blocktime shows, or those that pay the station for air time.

It subsisted on funds released by the Department of Budget and Management and in recent years, from senators.

There were plans for the network’s privatization but they were shelved because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: In celebrating World Press Freedom Day on Friday, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. lauded journalists for their courage in delivering unbiased reporting, calling them “stalwarts of truth and transparency.”

In an X post, Marcos said that journalists’ commitment to their work is vital, especially amid the prevalence of fake news, misinformation, and disinformation.

‘As the fourth pillar of our democracy, their words serve as our strongest defense against misinformation and fake news. Now, more than ever, their commitment to their work is crucial,’ he said.

The Presidential Communications Office (PCO), in a separate statement, reaffirmed its resolute commitment to upholding the freedom and independence of the press, ensuring respect for and the protection of their rights, and securing their welfare.

‘We recognize the myriad challenges journalists and media organizations confront as they carry out their vital duties. The PBBM administration remains steadfast in its endeavor to foster an environment w
here journalists can practice their profession free from fear of threats, reprisals, and violence,’ it said.

The PCO also vowed to help fulfill the President’s commitment to defend press freedom, protect media workers, and support journalists in their mission to fight misinformation, disinformation, and malign influence.

‘PCO shall be a partner to a free, independent, and responsible press in ensuring that these commitments are delivered and sustained,’ it said.

Source: Philippines News Agency

KIDAPAWAN: The Department of Agriculture in the Soccsksargen Region (DA-12) has completed the distribution of over PHP187.7 million worth of unconditional cash aid to over 37,000 rice farmers in North Cotabato province, an official said Saturday.

Alan Coronado, provincial rice program coordinator, said the series of payouts that started in March and carried out under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund-Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RCEF-RFFA) was accomplished on Friday.

“The list of qualified recipients was based on the DA’s Registry System on Basic Sector in Agriculture,” he said, adding that the distribution chain was coordinated with the beneficiaries’ municipal and city agriculturist offices.

At least 37,552 qualified farmers received PHP5,000 each under the program for a total of PHP187,760,000.

The beneficiaries included Alamada town with 2,450; Aleosan, 2,089; Libungan 1,207; Midsayap 1,214; Pigcawayan, 3,153; Pikit, 4,371; Antipas, 354; Arakan, 552; President Roxas, 1,593; Magpet, 481;
Makilala, 272; Banisilan, 1,037; Carmen, 758; Kabacan, 4,525; Matalam, 3,027; M’lang, 6,109; Tulunan, 3,490; and Kidapawan City, 870.

The RCEF-RFFA provides financial assistance to rice farmers to help them cope with the increasing cost of production and sustain their productivity, especially during the prevailing El Niño phenomenon.

The Provincial Agriculturist Office (OPAg) validated the beneficiaries in coordination with farmers’ organizations, irrigators’ associations, and local government units.

Governor Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza urged recipients to utilize the given fund for essential interventions in their farms and households amid the dry spell.

Source: Philippines News Agency