By Rose de la Cruz Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez has issued a  stern warning against price manipulators and cartels engaged in large scale agricultural smuggling of stiff jail terms.  On Friday, Romualdez warned agricultural cartels, vowing that those involved in price manipulation and the smuggling of essential goods — acts considered economic sabotage (which could qualify as heinous crime as …

AFRAID of losing the South Korean  market, the Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association Inc. (PBGEA Inc.) is urging the Senate to ratify the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with  SoKor.  The FTA removes tariffs on bananas to boost exports and to compensate for losses caused by the Panama disease that has been dampening production. “If we are not able to …

Senator Cynthia Villar lashed out  on  the limited supplier of vaccines against the African Swine Fever (ASF), which led to the slow inoculation of hogs and  caused huge losses for the industry and skyrocketing pork retail prices. Sen. Villar, who heads the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food,  also urged President Marcos to declare a state of national calamity of …

The Philippines is one of the top 10 countries in the world that accounted for a chunk of the global aquaculture production in 2022, according to a new report from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).  In the 2024 edition of The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture (Sofia), FAO said global fisheries and aquaculture production …

PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco announced recently that nearly 2,000 units of new and modern slot machines for Casino Filipino gaming venues will be delivered mid-September as part of the agency’s modernization program.  During the opening of the IAG Academy Summit at the Hilton Manila, Mr. Tengco said the delivery of the new machines will level up the …

The Philippines is committed to bolstering its role in ensuring global trade security and preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), according to Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Cristina A. Roque. This commitment was reaffirmed during the Philippine Strategic Trade Management Summit held on September 9.  “As our bid for a non-permanent seat in the UN …

The Catalyzing Inclusive, Resilient, and Circular Local Economies (CIRCLE) Alliance has opened grant for organizations with programs and solutions in combatting plastic waste in the country. Founded by Unilever, the United States Agency for International Aid and Ernst and Young Global Ltd., CIRCLE Alliance is also extending the funding to organizations in other countries in South Asia and Southeast Asia …

Converge ICT Solutions Inc., the Philippines’ leading fiber broadband and business solutions provider, unveiled its groundbreaking product, Converge Concierge with SkyTV, set to transform the Philippine hospitality sector. This innovative all-in-one smart tv solution promises to streamline hotel operations and to elevate guests’ experiences, marking a new era in hospitality technology. Converge Concierge with SkyTV integrates world-class cutting-edge technology with …

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. plans to use funds from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to improve social services and infrastructure in the country. Speaking at the launch of the ADB Philippines Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) 2024-2029 in Malacañang on Thursday, President Marcos emphasized the importance of turning ADB’s multi-billion funding commitment into concrete outcomes. “The task before us is …

Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) has partnered with SariSuki, a leading Philippine agritech startup, which aims to revolutionize the agricultural supply chain through the Bank’s AGRISENSO Lending Program. This strategic alliance aims to support over 300 small farmers and Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) by providing accessible financing, hands-on guidance, and a reliable market for their produce, aiming to enhance …