Agriculture

By Rose de la Cruz What else is new? We’ve known it all along– the  agriculture, forestry and fishery sectors– are now haunted by lack of skilled workers. The Philippine Statistics Authority said majority of job vacancies in these sectors are considered hard-to-fill jobs based on the latest Integrated Survey on Labor and Employment (ISLE), which shows that 78.4 percent …

By Rose de la Cruz Today, (May 22) is the 24th celebration of the International Day for Biological Diversity (IDBD) which highlights the importance of biodiversity. To celebrate, a small community iin Panay Island– members of the Imparayan Bantay Gubat Association– launched a new type of eco-tour that they designed. The tour teaks visitors around the Sibalom Natural Park, which …

By Rose de la Cruz With low inventory during the first quarter this year because of the African Swine Fever that forced many hog farmers to cull their pigs, it is expected that pork prices in the coming days would rise substantially. Already the National Meat Inspection Service reported a sharp drop in the inventory of pork by nearly a …

By Rose de la Cruz Farmers’ group SINAG (or the Samahang Industrya ng Agrikultural) is opposing efforts to revive the import powers of the National Food Authority but for government to just allow the agency to use its P17 billion (from last year’s unused procurement budget of P8 billion plus P9 billion this year) for palay procurement from local farmers …

By Rose de la Cruz Economists are asking the House not to rush the amendments to the Rice Tariffication Law and the charter of the National Food Authority and instead study the numerous hearings conducted by the upper chamber on this issue. This in order to not further the complications involving the rice supply and pricing situation just to please …

The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) has allocated P1.7 billion in emergency loans to provide assistance to its members and pensioners affected by rabies and El Niño in 13 areas nationwide. Over 77,000 affected members and old-age and disability pensioners are expected to benefit from the program. Members and pensioners with an existing emergency loan balance may  borrow up to …

The country’s rice inventory in April dipped by 11 percent to 1.64 million metric tons (MMT) because of lower rice stocks held by households, commercial traders and the National Food Authority.  Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority said the inventory posted annual decreases from the NFA depositories by 58 percent, from the commercial sector by 9.1 percent and from households …

By Rose de la Cruz President Marcos is certifying as urgent a bill that would amend the Rice Tariffication Law – which is due for review this year – and the charter of the National Food Authority to return the government’s influence in the local rice market, esp. when prices go berserk Five years ago, Congress passed the Rice Tariffication …

Biologist and Balik Scientist Dr. Nikki Heherson Dagamac is on a mission to assess and monitor the elusive tamaraw (Bubalus mindorensis) in Mindoro to protect it from extinction. Through Project MATAPAT (or Multidisciplinary Approaches for Tamaraw Protection against Threats), he seeks to assess the current status of tamaraw in Mt. Calavite Wildlife Sanctuary (MCWS) and identify priority areas of conservation …

By Rose de la Cruz With damage to rice from El Nino placed at P1.72 billion of 72,733 metric tons planted in 34,264 hectares as of April 1 and water resources practically drying up, The Department of Agriculture is saying its wishful thought about reduced rice imports this year, when historically even during abundant harvest, the DA has been increasing …