DA Sec cites agri, fishery agenda for the country

By Julius B. Embile

POLANGUI, ALBAY Sept. 30 (PIA) – To address the recent agricultural decline this year, Department of Agriculture (DA) secretary Emmanuel “Manny” Piñol has bared the administration’s plans in resolving the drop of the agriculture industry.

During the opening National Rice Technology Forum 2016 held in Polangui Albay last September 27, the secretary conveyed in a message relayed by Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) acting executive director Sailila Abdula that the department’s concern on the reduction of the country’s agricultural performance by 4.4 percent between January and March of this year.

Citing the data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), secretary Piñol said that this is already the agricultural sector’s fourth consecutive quarterly decline since the second quarter of 2016. He further stated that this has raised the administration’s concern, considering that the agriculture is one of the keys in realizing the Philippines’ economic goals.

“What are we doing to arrest this decline? We, and President Duterte, came up with a simple solution. Agriculture and fisheries must go back to the basics, which are to produce food and address poverty,” the statement cited.

Specifically, according to the secretary, the DA would be focusing its efforts on food sustainability by improved production of staple food commodities, and generate jobs and foreign earnings by developed high value crops production.

This plan, as per the secretary, will be implemented in accordance to the DA’s 10-point agricultural agenda, which includes agricultural and fisheries mapping and food consumption quantification study, a massive institutional restructuring of the DA, intensive technology updating and agricultural credit review for lower interest rates.

The goal of the 10-point agenda is to forge a more forceful, comprehensive, efficient and transparent management and delivery of services to farmers, specially the poor smallholders.

To address food sufficiency, DA looks to initiate a comprehensive technological upgrade for staple food farming, like that of rice and corn.

By the orders of President Rodrigo Duterte to free the farmers of irrigation fees, the department is now thoroughly study of the country’s water management, irrigation and soil analysis. DA, as well, reviewing the adoption of solar irrigation technologies, in order to sustain water systems and preserve watersheds.

The DA also  envisions a more productive land-use policy, due to the declared two-year moratorium on land conversion. He added that agricultural losses is also expected to be minimized through effective soil rehabilitation and fertilizer programs, coupled with modern post-harvest facilities.

To improve on high value crop production, like that of coconut and livestock farming, the DA promises to give focus on the elimination of pestilence that has caused considerable agricultural damage.

Regarding the directive of President Duterte concerning the Coco Levy Fund distribution, Piñol expressed the DA’s full support on the president’s decision as the funding is to be utilized in extending assistance to coconut farmers by giving scholarships to their children, elimination of coconut pests, and replacement of old coconut trees.

The department also aims to promote urban farming in cities, in order to provide sustained vegetable production, through modern green house technology.

DA also plans to cleanse itself internally and ensure that there is no corruption within their ranks, in accordance to the orders of the president. In close cooperation with the Bureau of Customs and other line agencies, the department is also eyes putting an end to illegal trade and smuggling of agricultural products. (MAL/JBE-PIA5)

- See more at: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/3301475048597/da-sec-cites-agri-fishery-agenda-for-the-country#sthash.vUkk6BpL.dpuf

Bicol Medical Center, LGUs to ink agreement over adolescent care

By Ana-Liza S. Macatangay

NAGA CITY, Sept. 30 (PIA)—The 2012 Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Survey reveals that one in 3 Filipino youth aged 15 to 24 has engaged in premarital sex. Meanwhile, more boys engage in sex before marriage (37%) than girls (29%).

This suggests that more and more adolescents are in need of quality friendly facilities that will encourage them to open up sensitive concerns related to teen pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, substance abuse, anxiety/depression among others.

Joannah B. Ramores, Center for Research Training and Development Naga College Foundation (CRTD-NCF) director, underscored the role of LGUs in helping the adolescent or the teenagers,    saying it was “considerably vital” in encouraging the youth to look after their welfare and seek medical attention concerning the various health dilemmas that confront them.

NCF was commissioned by Bicol Medical Center to help it in implementing the project “Design Implementation of the BMC Adolescent Youth Reproductive Health (AYRH) Wellness Center. As part of its task, NCF drafted agreements that would encourage the chief executives of LGUs in the province and the heads of various government agencies to formalize their commitment to help the adolescent or the teenagers in prioritizing their health concerns that have been neglected for so long or were left unattended for fear of rejection or uncalled judgment.

 “We recognize that it would entail a holistic approach to address adolescent issues and engaging various stakeholders that’s why we really need the help and assistance that an LGU can extend to effectively respond to the needs of the adolescents,” Ramores added.

Aside from the LGU partnership, Ramores expressed belief that the health professionals should also have enough understanding of the adolescent issues for them to better respond to it.

Just recently, the BMC along with the Naga College Foundation (NCF) organized  a two-day training on “adolescent friendly services” held at Villa Caceres Hotel here to increase capacity of health personnel in providing services to adolescent youth in Bicol.

Held last Sept. 13 to 14 and taken part by around 30 health workers, was part of the project design and pilot implementation of Bicol Medical Center Adolescent Youth and Reproductive Wellness Center Project.

This was geared towards the founding of the BMC Teen Wellness Center that shall cater to adolescent health concern with special focus on teenage pregnancy in Bicol.

The discussions sought to equip the BMC personnel with a “deeper understanding” on the special needs and concern of adolescent and to identify appropriate approaches to effectively address these concerns.

This was also to familiarize the participants on the basic concepts of adolescent care and adolescent friendly services.

Aside from providing BMC health personnel with a quick guide on how to handle some adolescent health problems and risk behaviors, the training will eventually contribute to the improvement of health care delivery among adolescents in Bicol region.

Resource speakers were Dr. Rosa Nancho, SAMPI, Philippines Children Medical Center; Stanley Dy, dean, NCF College of Nursing; Ma. Concepcion Aslor, dean, NCF College of Midwifery; Imelda Dacanay of the Department of Health Region V and lawyer Girlie Prado.

The BMC Teen Wellness Center is said to be the first in the region under the full support of Medical Center chief  Dr. Ma. Estrella Litam and Dr. Mary Jane Uy. (EAD/LSMacatangay-PIA5/Camarines Sur)

- See more at: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/861475724448/bicol-medical-center-lgus-to-ink-agreement-over-adolescent-care#sthash.52DweGDd.dpuf

PHL remains with "very strong economic fundamental” -- BSP official

By Ana-Liza S. Macatangay

NAGA CITY, Sept. 28 (PIA) --- Speaking before the 2016 Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) awardees  from various private institutions, government sectors, academe and other stakeholders, BSP Monetary Board member Juan D. De Zuniga, Jr. has assured the country is still enjoying a very strong economic fundamental.

Zuñiga, in response to a query of a reporter on the implication  of the current P48-$1 dollar exchange, said, "the BSP governor has made a statement that this is more due to external factors. We have analyzed this is more externally induced because the investors are positioning themselves to a possible upgrade in the interest rates in the US government."

He added that the Philippines still have a very strong economic fundamental, growth is still positive, inflation is within target and the international reserves being held by the Bangko Sentral is at a record high of about $85B.

“That is a record high in international reserves for the Bangko Sentral. We have a strong and stable banking system,” Zuñiga expounded.  

Zuniga, who was also invited as keynote speaker of the 2016 Awards Ceremony and Appreciation Lunch for BSP Stakeholders in Bicol, clarified that the pronouncements of President Duterte were mainly directed towards his campaign against crime, corruption and drugs.

“That is the target of all his pronouncements and if there will be some foreign policy implications arising from these statements, this are also arising from the same issues. The foreign policy pronouncements are related to the same issues on his campaign against criminality and drugs.”

He also noted that in spite of the past pronouncements made by The President against EU and US, the president still enjoys huge political capital.

Zuñiga also lauded President Duterte for allowing BSP the independence it always enjoys.

“To the credit of the Presidents and all the presidents before him, they have all respected the independence and autonomy which the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas enjoys under the constitution and under our charter. We have not lost our independence.

Before ending his speech, Zuñiga encouraged everyone to support the president’s policies to realize a more robust economy in the future.

“In the domestic sphere, the assumption of the new political administration invites us to give our all-out support and align our vision of writing a new and more prosperous chapter for the Philippines.”   (MAL/LSM-PIA5/Camarines Sur)

- See more at: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/861475050692/phl-remains-with-very-strong-economic-fundamental----bsp-official#sthash.hCyQeyg1.dpuf

BSP honors outstanding stakeholders, partners in Bicol

By Ana-Liza S. Macatangay

NAGA CITY, Sept. 28 (PIA) ---  In recognition of their invaluable contribution in nation building and support of its advocacy programs, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) conferred accolades to their deserving institutional partners and stakeholders on Tuesday at the BSP Assembly Hall here.

Now on its 23rd year, BSP honored organizations and institutions that have provided exemplary support to the BSP’s statistical undertakings, especially in disseminating vital information regarding the BSP’s programs and advocacy in its 2016 Awards Ceremony and Appreciation Lunch for their stakeholders in Bicol region.

With the theme “sustained partnership, sustained economic growth,” BSP took cognizant of the successful alliance that they have built with their partners through the years, highlighting their assistance in delivering the BSP’s primary mandate of promoting price stability and ensuring financial stability.

Ngo & Sons Trading and Industries, Inc. was this year’s Outstanding Respondent among Large and Medium Firms while Ramarplus Incorporated was recognized as the Outstanding Respondent among small firms for the Business Expectation Survey (BES) in Region V.

The award is given to respondents who have regularly submitted their responses to the quarterly BES on time.

This year’s Outstanding Partner for the report on regional economic developments award went to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)-Region V.  Also awarded as Outstanding Regional Partners in currency programs of BSP were the Diocese of Legazpi for coin recirculation and Albay Bankers Association and Camarines Sur Chamber of Commerce and Industry for the Demonetization of the New Design (NDS) series.

The award given to the outstanding regional partner in currency program of the BSP for the demonetization of the NDS reconizes stakeholder’s efforts in providing exemplary support in the promotion, coordination and implementation of the demonetization of the NDS banknotes of the BSP.  Recipients may come from partners coming from the private, public, non-government organizations, groups or individuals.

This year’s Outstanding regional partners for implementing BSP advocacy on the conduct of Public Information Campaigns was awarded to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Bicol regional office and Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (CBSUA) (Naga Branch).

DSWD and CBSUA were cited in terms of their responsiveness to requests, logistics support and invitation of participants to ensure the smooth conduct of PICs in their respective localities. (MAL/LSM-PIA5/Camarines Sur)

- See more at: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/861475044516/bsp-honors-outstanding-stakeholders-partners-in-bicol-#sthash.3vswYEtm.dpuf

DOLE on ENDO: 285 contract workers in Bicol are now regular employees

LEGAZPI CITY, Sept. 28 (PIA) – The number of contract workers being absorbed as regular employees by their companies has been increasing since, according to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Bicol.

DOLE Bicol officer in charge Atty. Ma Karina Perida-Trayvilla stated that more local firms in the region have voluntarily absorb their contract workers fourteen days after attending the End of Contractualization  (ENDO) Regional Consultation conducted by DOLE Bicol on September 1.

“Actually we were expecting this to happen. We know that our local firms would understand the context of ENDO and will positively react about it,” Trayvilla said.

She furthered that the increase in the number of local companies voluntarily absorbing their contract employees has at least doubled after DOLE Bicol publicly announced the first three companies which voluntarily absorbed employees right after said regional consultation.

Based on recent records, some 285 contract workers were absorbed as regular employees by 24 local firms or principals, referring  to the main business firm or establishment that hired the services of a manpower agency, from all over the region.

The absorbed contract workers were from shopping malls, restaurant, manufacturing, distribution, Electric Cooperative, sales and even from a national government agency.

“This is a very positive development at least the absorption of the workers were voluntary. We hope that other establishments would follow. As I always say, we are all Bicolanos and I am appealing to the principals as a Bicolano so that they would absorb workers voluntarily,” the DOLE chief said.

During the regional consultation, Trayvilla reiterated that it will be more beneficial to both the manpower agency and the principal to voluntarily absorb workers rather than wait for DOLE Bicol to rule a Labor-Only-Contracting (LOC) order as the office may even give some sort of a lee-way, in terms of the monetary benefits, which is better compared to issuing a Compliance Order.

“If we issue a compliance order then there the process would have to be followed. What the order says then it shall be upheld. So we really suggest that we do it the voluntary way,” she said.

Furthermore, some ten manpower agencies have set meeting with DOLE to clarify ENDO issues and concerns.

“Again we welcome this development. At least they (agencies) are the ones coming to us already. “  Trayvilla noted.

DOLE Bicol has publicly announced that at least 50% of the recorded contract workers must be absorbed by the principals before the end of 2016 in adherence to the directives of President Rodrigo Duterte and DOLE Secretary Silvestre H. Bello, III.(MAL/SAA/DOLE5-PIA5/Albay)

- See more at: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/2571475045541/dole-on-endo-285-contract-workers-in-bicol-are-now-regular-employees#sthash.fEqFQriq.dpuf