PGMA KICKS OFF TOUR OF CEN. PHIL. SUPER REGIONS IN BICOL
… showcases whalesharks, world-classs Misibis resort, eco tourism

LEGAZPI CITY — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo visited Monday, February 22, Bicol to kick-off the tour on Central Philippines of Super Region on Tourism showcasing Bicol’s tourist destinations the likes of the whaleshark interaction in Dosol, Sorsogon and world-class Misibis Bay Raintree resort and spa in Cagraray Island in Albay.

President Arroyo arrived at 1:00 PM at the Legazpi City Airport, proceeded to Donsol town in Sorsogon, known as “whaleshark capital of the world”, for the media interaction activities citing the administration’s milestone legacies on tourism development, especially in the Bicol region.

Donsol has been cashing in on the development of the town’s world-class tourist destination, wherein it used to be a sixth-class, sleepy, remote fishing village in the northwestern part of Sorsogon, but now a first-class municipality that derives the bulk of its revenues from eco-tourism.

Its major eco-tourism activity is whale shark watching and interaction that was already featured in Time Magazine in 2004 as ''Best Animal Encounter in Asia''

''The whale shark interaction has changed the lives of the people here,'' the President said.

In Donsol, the President also cited local government unit (LGU) officials, including Sorsogon Gov. Sally Lee, Donsol Mayor Jerome Alcantara, and Department of Tourism (DOT) Bicol Director Maria Ravanilla, for their continued support and contributions in pursuit of her vision to turn Central Philippines into a globally competitive tourism destination.

The President also met with Allan Amanse, one of the beneficiaries of the development of eco-tourism in this municipality, citing that “this local used to earn a measly P100 a day as a fisherman and tricycle driver, but now he earns ten times what he used to earn or about P1,000 a day by being a whale shark or ‘butanding' interaction guide.

The President also noted the increase in the number of beach resorts in the area.

At night time, President Arroyo hosted a dinner for the media at the world-class Misibis Bay Raintree resort and spa, and during conversation at the President’s table, affirmed that Bicol has rich natural wonders, long beaches and eco-tourism sites

“The government's task is to provide more roads, airports, and bridges to make these tourists’ destinations more readily accessible to tourists,” she pointed out.

The President said government plans to build an international airport in Daraga, Albay so tourists need not come from Manila to visit Donsol. Instead, foreigner tourists from Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, among others can fly directly to Albay.

Bicol is part of Tourism Central Philippines super region, one of the five growth corridors identified in President Arroyo’s super region development strategy that is known for its natural wonders and rich cultural heritage.

The Present spent the night at the resort, and left the next day around 8:00 PM for Palawan. (MALoterte, PIA V)

DENR APPEALS TO CANDIDATES TO ADOPT ‘’NO NAILS, NO STAPLE WIRE’ POLICY TO PROTECT TREES

LEGAZPI CITY – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is appealing to those running for public office in this coming May 2010 elections to observe the law covering the posting of campaign materials.

Joselin Marcus Fragada, DENR Bicol regional executive director, recently issued the appeal upon noticing the widespread posting of campaign propaganda materials many of which are mounted, posted, nailed or stapled wire on trees along roadsides.

“Spare our trees from harm! Let’s not nail propaganda materials on them!” Fragada said.

Foresters have observed a sudden increase in infection of trees five to six months after election due to wounds inflicted by the nails and staple wires used to post campaign materials on them, the DENR official said.

The DENR’s involvement in the tearing down and removing of campaign materials in public places outside the common poster areas started when the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) issued Resolution No. 6616 dated February 12, 2004 entitled “In the Matter of Deputizing the Metro Manila Development Authority and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for the purpose of implementing COMELEC Resolution No. 6520.”

The said Resolution deputized the MMDA and DENR to perform the following specific duties:

1) to tear down and remove campaign propaganda materials posted in public places outside the common poster areas,
2) To tear down and remove illegal campaign materials wherever posted and displayed,
3) To make report of said activities done by then, and
4) To monitor and watch out for persons posting and distributing said unlawful election paraphernalia and to arrest said persons caught in flagrante delicto.

The then DENR Secretary, it will be recalled, wrote a letter to the then COMELEC Chairman requesting him to deputize employees and officials of the DENR to remove illegally placed campaign materials, the department being “the primary government agency responsible for the protection, conservation, management and development and proper use of the country’s environment and natural resources”.

The request was made in line with Section 24 of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act No. 9006 (Fair Election Practices Act) promulgated by the COMELEC in January 6, 2003 prohibiting the posting of campaign materials in public places outside the designated common poster areas such as streets, bridges, public structures or building, trees, electric posts or wires, schools, shrines, main thoroughfares and the like.

Fragada said he will issue an instruction to DENR field offices to coordinate with COMELEC officials and concerned law enforcement agencies on the removal of campaign propaganda materials posted on trees in their area of jurisdiction.

Per Section 21b of COMELEC Resolution No. 8758 pertaining to the Rules and Regulations Implementing Republic Act No. 9006, otherwise known as the Fair Election Practices Act, in relation to the May 10, 2010 Synchronized National and Local Elections, and Subsequent Elections,” promulgated on February 4, 2010, “The posting of campaign materials in public places outside of the designated common poster areas such as streets, bridges, public structures or buildings, trees, electric posts or wires, schools, shrines, main thoroughfares and the like is prohibited.”

“Members of the PNP and other law enforcement agencies called upon by the Election Officers or other officials of the COMELEC shall apprehend the violators caught in the act, and file the appropriate charges against,” the same Resolution further states.

The said Resolution states that a common poster area does not refer to a post, a tree, the wall of a building or an existing public structure that is in active use, but a structure, location and number of which are determined (in the following Sec 22b) that is temporarily set-up by the candidates or political parties for the exclusive purpose of displaying their campaign posters.

It may also be recalled that the COMELEC promulgated Resolution 7623 on February 14, 2007 deputizing barangay officials and barangay tanods of all cities and municipalities through the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), with the authority and duties to tear down and remove campaign materials posted in public places outside the common poster areas.

Fragada said that in removing campaign materials posted on trees, the DENR is also guided by Section 3 of Republic Act No. 3571, otherwise known as “An Act to Prohibit the Cutting, Destroying or Injuring of Planted or Growing Trees, Flowering Plants and Shrubs or Plants of Scenic Value Along Public Roads, in Places, Parks, School Premises or in any Other Public Grounds.”

Even as Fragada appeals for the proper posting of election campaign materials here urged the public anew to take care for the trees and nurture them well as trees help us contain greenhouse gases emission like carbon dioxide that cause global warming and climate change. (ASAraya, DENR V/PIA)

MASBATE DAD SEEKS CLOUD SEEDING AS DROUGHT FELT

MASBATE CITY—The Provincial Agriculture Office disclosed on Friday (February 19) the island-province of Masbate will require artificial method to induce rainfall immediately because the island’s soil has started drying up and the supply of water has become scarce.

Provincial Agriculturist Orlando D. Esparraguerra said his office has been monitoring the situation in the province particularly its main island because the supply of water in the area was dropping fast.

Advisories of Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) stated that Masbate’s closest neighbors, including Capiz and Sorsogon, were already in drought as they suffered from lack of rainfall in the last few months of 2009.

The El Niño is a periodic atmospheric disturbance characterized by deficient rainfall and prolonged drought in some areas. This results in severe damage to crops, livestock, property and even human lives.

Esparraguerra said most farms that are feeling the effects of El Niño are planted to rice and corn.

He reported that about 121,000 cavans of palay and 32,120 cavans of corn in expected crop harvest may be lost this year because of the drought caused by El Niño.

On Esparraguerra’s advice, Governor Elisa Kho asked the Department of Agriculture to conduct cloud seeding in Masbate.

In a Feb. 9 letter to Marilyn Sta. Catalina, DA acting regional executive director, the governor said cloud seeding, in addition to other measures, is direly needed in Masbate to cope with the impact of the dry spell.

An aircraft is used in cloud seeding in which each cloud seeding operation, aviation authorities said, would require one flying hour and cost about P50,000.
(EADelgado, PIA Masbate)

CAWAYAN EXEC ASSURES COUNTERPART FUNDING FOR KALAHI-CIDSS

CAWAYAN, Masbate — Mayor Edgar S. Condor of this town has affirmed his commitment to allot a counterpart funding for the implementation of the Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Community Integrated Development and Social Service (KALAHI-CIDSS) project here.

In a brief talk with Assistant Regional Director Evelyn M. Lontok of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Bicol, Condor has assured the municipal government will shell out the P8.1 million counterpart for the entire cycle (one year) of the KALAHI-CIDSS regardless of the 2010 election.

“I am positive and excited about this project,” Condor said, adding that during the initial negotiation, he did not even think of implementing other special projects but allocated the full counterpart for KALAHI-CIDSS.

In fact, the mayor conducted a municipal assembly to make sure that the 37 barangays are also ready to allocate their counterpart.

“We want everything in place for the smooth implementation of the KALAHI-CIDSS, DSWD has programs and projects proven to help the poor—we have 4Ps or the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program and now we have KALAHI-CIDSS. We are lucky because the government has not forsaken us,” Condor remarked.

Lontok, meanwhile, said that Cawayan town is indeed lucky because it is the only municipality in Bicol chosen for the additional 16 municipalities to implement KALAHI-CIDSS nationwide.

She bared KALAHI will pour P16.6 million grant fund for Cawayan.

Lontok said initially two other municipalities – Dimasalang and Mobo enrolled in KALAHI-CIDSS but has only 59 and 57 percentage of poverty incidence, as compared to Cawayan with 74 per cent poverty incidence.

“We are fast tracking hiring members of the Area Coordinating Team so that we could proceed to the municipal orientation this March. We are also positive that the LGU officials headed by mayor Condor will sustain their support even after the project ends in March 2011,” sheadded.

Meanwhile, the KALAHI-CIDSS project in Bicol region has funded a total of 667 community infrastructures and interventions that responded to the people’s prioritized problems from 2003-1009 in the amount of P779,668,600.26. Over 160,065 household beneficiaries presently reap benefits from the project.

KALAHI-CIDSS is the largest poverty alleviation portfolio of the World Bank in the Philippines. (CLMartinez, KCRSMO-DSWD/PIA)

87 BICOLANOS QUALIFY TO DOST-PSHS SCHOLARSHIP

LEGAZPI CITY — 87 Bicolano elementary graduates have qualified as scholars of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Philippine Science High School (PSHS) based on the Freshmen Admission Processing System.

DOST Bicol Regional Director Tomas B. Briñas explained that the passers of the DOST-PSHS examination given last November 7, 2009 in six testing centers in Bicol, are qualified to enter PSHS for school year 2010-2011.

Of the 87 successful examinees, eight may opt to enroll in PSHS Main Campus in Diliman, Quezon City or Goa Campus in Camarines Sur, together with 79 qualifiers.

The PSHS scholars for SY 2010-2011 include 25 in Albay, 10 in Camarines Norte, 35 in Camarines Sur, 6 in Catanduanes, 3 in Masbate, and 8 in Sorsogon.

The eight qualifiers at PSHS Main Campus are Candano, Danielle Bea Cortez (Legazpi City); Lagrito, Christian Kent Manila (Legazpi City); Mallapre, Owen Tito Orbase (Camarines Sur); Parañal, Vince Christian Lavilla (Iriga City); Roco Russel Avery Imperial (Naga City); Salceda, Trisha Montais (Iriga City); Tatel, Nonito John Liguid (Catanduanes), and Villareal, Kristen Leanne Emberga (Sorsogon City).

The institution has already notified the qualifiers and their parents through individual notices by mail.

For more inquiries and further details, the qualifiers can visit or call PSHS-Bicol Region Campus at telephone nos. (054) 453-2048/453-1463 or PSHS Main Campus at telephone no. (02) 924-0614. (POLucena/CLGillego, DOST V/PIA)

OWWA PICKS NINE BICOLANOS FOR ITS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

LEGAZPI CITY – Nine graduating high school students from across the Bicol region are among the top 150 passers out of 2,363 national examinees for the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP) for the school year 2010-2011.

OWWA Bicol Regional Director Jocelyn O. Hapal disclosed that the nine successful examinees are: Kristin E. Antivola (Gubat, Sorsogon), Carina O. Capsa (Gubat, Sorsogon), Jerome D. Balanoyos (Bulan, Sorsogon), Carlo B. Ditan (Sorsogon City, Sorsogon), Ralph Christian G. Bodollo (Pili, Camarines Sur), Peter Paul Victor J. Canada (Naga City, Camarines Sur), Elsie R. Delfin (Tabaco City, Albay), Loren A. Bolilan (Tabaco City, Albay), and Anna Trisha A. Olivera (Ligao City, Albay).

EDSP is a scholarship grant offered to qualified beneficiaries/dependents of OWWA member-OFWs who intend to enroll in any 4- to 5- year baccalaureate course, with financial assistance amounting to P30,000) per semester, or a maximum of P60,000 per school year covering the tuition fees and allowances.

“We are very proud of these young Bicolanos who bring pride and source of inspiration and hope for their parent-OFWs.” Hapal said.

The nine successful examinees, together with their parents or guardians will be awarded with the certificates of scholarship on March 9, 2010 at the OWWA regional office here.
The qualifying exam was administered throughout the country by OWWA in coordination with the Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) last November 15, 2009. Bicol region had a total of 133 EDSP applicant-examinees. (OWWA V/PIA)

4Ps TO BENEFIT ADDITIONAL 32,325 HOUSEHOLDS IN BICOL

LEGAZPI CITY — Some 32,325 new household beneficiaries covering 46 municipalities in all provinces of the Bicol region will benefit from the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), according to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) regional office here.

Remia Tapispisan, DSWD Bicol director, elaborated that for Set 3 areas, the validation and registration for the first seven new municipalities were conducted last January 17-28, this year

“An estimated 7,643 potential household beneficiaries registered in Dimasalang, Mobo, Palanas, and Cataingan towns in Masbate; Pilar and Castilla in Sorsogon and Balatan, Camarines Sur,” she added.

Registration for Bacacay, Malilipot, Manito, Pioduran, Rapu-Rapu and Sto. Domingo of Albay province; Garchitorena, Camarines Sur and Matnog, Sorsogon will be conducted this month, while the registration for the remaining municipalities are still to be set.

Selection of Set 3 areas of the program is based on the 2003 Small Area Estimates, poverty incidence, and pockets of poverty of the municipality.

Poverty incidence refers to the proportion of families/individuals with per capita income/expenditure less than the per capita poverty threshold to the total number of families/individuals.

Pockets of poverty refer to the geographical area/s in the barangay or municipality/city where clusters of poor households reside. These areas are characterized by pre-determined indicator.

The other set of 3 areas are Mercedes, San Lorenzo Ruiz, Paracale, Sta. Elena and Capalonga in Camarines Norte; Bagamanoc, Caramoran, Pandan in Catanduanes; Ligao City, Tabaco City, Legazpi City, Polangui, Jovellar, Pioduran, Bacacay, Daraga in Albay; Naga City, Cabusao, Siruma, Tinambac, Caramoan, Presentacion, Sagnay, San Jose, Bula, Ragay, Del Gallego, Libmanan, Lupi, Pasacao, Minalabac and Pamplona in Camarines Sur.

4Ps is a poverty alleviation program of the government under President Gloria Arroyo that aims to help the poorest of the poor by extending conditional cash grants to household beneficiaries by complying to verifiable conditions set by the program.

Bicol has 56,124 household beneficiaries from its Set 1 and 2 areas namely: Cawayan, Esperanza, Placer, Uson, Balud, San Pascual, Claveria, Monreal, Mandaon, Milagros and Aroroy in Masbate; Libon, Albay; and Donsol, Sorsogon. (MZVillagomez, 4Ps IO DSWD V/PIA)

PGMA transfers water board supervision to DENR

MANILA — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has transferred the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) Secretariat from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

In Executive Order 860 dated last February 8, the President also ordered NWRB to “desist from regulating the water tariffs of water districts”, which will now be undertaken by the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA).

LWUA currently supervises the bulk of water districts in the country, which has resulted in the government bringing potable water to most Filipinos in the last nine years.

The NWRB Secretariat will be chaired by the DENR Secretary and co-chaired by the Socio-Economic Planning Secretary/director general of the National Economic and Development Authority. Members of the Secretariat are the Department of Justice Secretary, the Science and Technology Secretary, the National Hydraulic Research Center director, and a representative from the University of the Philippines.

“The primary function of the NWRB shall be to control and regulate the utilization, exploitation, conservation, and protection of water resources in accordance with the specific provisions of the Water Code,” the EO noted.

The Philippines is currently experiencing a moderate El Nino phenomenon, which means the rainy season will start late this year.

As a result, the critical level in dams as well as drought in several farming areas has destroyed thousands of hectares of corn and rice, mostly in northern Luzon. The lack of water has also worsened the power crisis, particularly in Mindanao, which is dependent on hydropower. (PIA V Release)

PGMA rides MRT-LRT loop train in EDSA Day “dry run”; then meets billion-peso taxpayers

MANILA — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will lead a flag-raising tomorrow (February 25) at the People Power Monument at EDSA in Quezon City to commemorate the 24th year of the 1986 EDSA Revolution.

She will also observe EDSA Day with two other events: test ride of the near-complete LRT-MRT loop project also in Quezon City and the launch in Makati of the large taxpayers campaign of the Bureau of Internal Revenue which will feature the Billionaires Club awards to four biggest corporate taxpayers in the country.

Vice President Noli de Castro and several cabinet members will join her in the MRT-LRT dry run.

As of December 2009, physical interconnection of the MRT3-LRT1 loop has been completed although the 5.7 kilometer stretch of the LRT 1 North Extension project has been 80.9% complete.

The project, which costs about P7.5 billion has four stations: Monumento, Balintawak and Roosevelt including the common one at North Avenue. This will close the EDSA Loop as this would be connected to the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 3 in North Avenue Station. The Balintawak station will provide modal interchange for bus and jeepney services entering Metro Manila from the north via the North Luzon Expressway.

The project also involved the construction of a P777-million Grand Central Terminal, which will connect the existing MRT Line 3 to the future lines as MRT 7.

LRT Line 1 currently runs from Baclaran in Pasay City to Monumento in Caloocan City. Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 3 runs from the intersection of Edsa and Taft Avenue in Pasay City up to the North Avenue in Quezon City.

The integrated terminal provides for seamless rail operation of Lines 1 and 3. Upon completion, the LRT 1 and the loop is expected to serve about 800,000 to one million passengers .

In the afternoon, the President will launch the Large Taxpayers Service (LTS) campaign of the BIR at the NBC Tent in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, to help raise awareness on the importance of paying the proper tax obligations.

Included in the event is a video presentation of the BIR’s Large Taxpayer System (LTS), a computerized accounting system particularly for the estimated 1,500 firms in the country which are classified as large taxpayers.

During the BIR launching, the President will also award the Billionaires’ Club to the country’s largest taxpayers that include the Manila Electric Company (MERALCO), San Miguel Corporation (SMC), Nestle Philippines Incorporated and Holcim Philippines Incorporated. (PIA V Release)

PGMA orders CAAP to resolve US-FAA downgrade of RP’s aviation ratings

MANILA — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has directed the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) to immediately resolve the civil aviation ratings downgrade of the Philippines by the US Federal Aviation Authority (US-FAA) so that the country can capitalize on the rebound of international travel and the corresponding global tourism boom.

Talking to reporters covering President Arroyo’s inspection of the tourism-related projects in the Central Philippines Super Region, Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano said the President wants the FAA ratings downgrade issue to be resolved at once.

“Her guidance to the CAAP is that the sooner the issue is resolved, the better for us so we can take advantage of the rebounding international routes,” Durano added.
Durano said the President wanted CAAP (headed by Ruben Ciron) to infuse more technical experts in the agency to overcome the concerns on aviation safety standards in the country

FAA, the US aviation watchdog, downgraded in 2007 the Philippine aviation ratings from Category I to Category 2 along with countries like Bangladesh, Ivory Coast, Ghana and Indonesia due to concerns” about air safety operations which, it said, were not compliant with International Civil Aviation Organization standards.
Durano said the President took note of the rebounding global economies, which means more travel by citizens of countries whose economic conditions are improving.

He added that national carrier Philippine Air Lines’ planned expansion of flights to and from North America through its Boeing-777 jumbo jet, the world’s largest twin jet, fleet has been stunted due to the downgrade.

“The FAA downgraded us to Category 2 and because of that, we cannot maximize our opportunities coming from North America, especially now that Philippine Air Lines has new 777 and we cannot use it for this route,” Durano said.

Durano stressed that a contributing factor to the FAA downgrade was the lack of the technical personnel for specific CAAP functions. (PIA V Release)

Palace happy with $1.1B raised via samurai bonds

MANILA — Malacanang expressed satisfaction at the pricing of the 100-billion yen ($1.1 billion) samurai bonds, which showed the foreign markets’ confidence in the Philippines.

“We congratulate Secretary Margarito Teves and his team at the Department of Finance for a successful offering of 10-year samurai yen bonds today. This landmark issue, which realized substantial savings on both credit and currency costs, reconfirmed our credit strength relative to benchmark sovereign borrowers like Indonesia and improved liquidity by widening our market presence abroad. The market is always the best judge of fundamentals and the success of this issue is a clear vote of approval over and above the campaign noise for the economic record of this presidency,” said Deputy Presidential Spokesman Gary Olivar.

The country’s 2.32 percent 10-year notes compares favorably with the 2.73 percent that Indonesia paid in July last year on 35-billion yen bonds. In November, Colombia paid a 2.42 percent coupon on a similar-maturity debt. Mexico paid a lower 2.22 percent for its samurai bonds in December but its foreign currency long-term rating by Standard and Poor’s was four levels higher than the Philippines’ BB minus.

The samurai bonds, which were 95 percent guaranteed by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, completes the country’s plan to raise $2.5 billion overseas this year. Early in January this year, the country raised $1.5 billion in dollar-denominated bonds, also at better than expected market rates.

Borrowings raised from abroad will help narrow the country’s budget deficit, which stood at P293 billion ($6.3 billion) last year. (PIA V Release)

DA to farmers: Grow veggies, other cash crops while El Nino dries up rice, corn lands

MANILA — The Department of Agriculture (DA) urged Tuesday (February 23) rice and corn farmers all over the country to shift to vegetables and other cash crops to cushion the impact of the El Nino weather phenomenon on their livelihood.

Agriculture Undersecretary Bernie Fondevilla hinted that vegetable cultivation could be a lucrative endeavor for farmers who might be affected by the protracted dry spell called El Nino.

“Our country’s consumption of vegetables is still very low,” Fondevilla told reporters covering President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s visit here to a major tourist site, adding there is much room for expansion.

Emerging from a Cabinet meeting being held at a beach resort in Barangay Sabang in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Fondevilla said “there is enough room for expansion for farmers likely to be hit by the drought.”

President Arroyo presided at the Cabinet meeting after touring the world-renowned St. Paul Subterranean River National Park on a canoe, escorted by local government officials and Palawan-based journalists. The meeting tackled the Arroyo administration’s economic and anti-poverty policies.

The DA official disclosed that the government, for its part, has mapped out a contingency plan that includes subsidies to the farmers in terms of seeds and other farming inputs.

As early as July last year, Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap directed all DA officials in charge of various commodities like palay and corn to draw up their respective contingency plans in preparation for El Niño.

The order was given to the heads of the different Ginintuang Masaganang Ani (GMA) programs.

The heads of the various commodity groups were instructed to craft their respective contingency plans designed to mitigate the adverse impact of El Nino on the farmers.

The DA official also said his department would streamline its budget program to ensure that a lion’s share of DA funds go to funding programs meant for the country to attain food security and sufficiency in the medium term despite challenges such as climate change and globalize trade. (PIA V Release)