PGMA ACCENTUATES IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION AND IT IN NATION-BUILDING

SIRUMA, Camarines Sur--- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has received warm applause and loud cheers from the constituents of this coastal town following her announcement that a satellite broadband will be installed in this municipality as part of her legacy program in modernizing the educational system.

The President made the statement before a jam-packed crowd at Siruma High School Sports Complex here Thursday (May 13), barely three days after the successful conduct of the first automated election in the country.

The visit was part of the President’s legacy tour in various learning institutions, particularly those located in the countryside.

Siruma Mayor Nonito Vier said that President Arroyo’s visit came as a surprise adding that “for a small, coastal town to be visited for the first time by the highest official of the land, is indeed one of the greatest honor for all of us—and to think that a few days from now, her term of office as our president will already expire.”

The President in her speech said that the her administration have already done so much to improve the educational system yet thinks that more is still to be done.

“We already have a lot of gains in education, we have constructed classrooms and we have provided our teachers with trainings but I would like to reiterate the need to modernize our educational system by having available internet access to all our teachers, particularly our students.”

This town, dubbed as Camarines Sur’s hidden paradise, still lags behind when it comes to modernization. Located at the northern portion of the province some 85 kilometers away from Naga City, this little coastal town is hardly reached by investors due to the bad road network that connects its constituents to the nearest city.

Apparently, the President was able to learn about the woes of frequent travelers, and have promised that a separate budget will be allocated for the re-blocking and maintenance of the Siruma road.

The President also scored on her advocacy to lower the cost of medicine and make them affordable by establishing Botika ng Barangays in various municipalities all over the country. In Siruma alone, there are already nine (9) botika ng barangays since 2005. They are situated at Barangays Poblacion, Pamintan, Salvacion, Nalayahan, Tandoc, San Ramon, Vito , Fundado and at Matandang Siruma.

After her speech, the President visited several stalls tagged as “Tindahan ng Palengke, formerly referred to as “Tindahan ni Gloria” and Botika ng Barangays situated at Siruma’s Poblacion Area. (LSMacatangay, PIA CamSur)

ALBAY MULLING TO USE SIMCLIM TO EXAMINE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE

LEGAZPI CITY— The Provincial Government of Albay is mulling to utilize the customized SimCLIM software, a computer model system for examining the effects of climate variability and change over time and space, according to the chief of the Center for Initiative and Research Center for climate Adaptation (CIRCA).

CIRCA Executive Director Nhong Rangasa averred Albay would be the first local government unit (LGU) in the country to use the SimCLIM in the province’s program on climate change adaptation and mitigation, disaster risk management and other development applications.

Rangasa explained that SimCLIM is an open framework modeling system which allows user to customize the model for geographical area and spatial resolution and to attach models.

The software has the capacity to assess baseline climate and current variability and extremes, present and future risks, investigate present and future adaptation, create scenarios of climate and sea level change, conduct sensitivity analyses, impact and others.

CIRCA in Albay is proposing to the national government to create a customized SimCLIM software modeling system for the Philippines.

Rangasa said that it could be applied in the work programs of several agencies in the country.

Albay is the only province in the country using the SimCLIM software for revisiting the Comprehensive Land Use Plan.

A version of SimCLIM customized for the Philippines will include the statistical downscaled Global Climate Monitoring (GCM) patterns, rather than directly bilinear interpolated GCM patterns in that characterized earlier version of the software.

Rangasa further said that SimCLIM outputs are multifaceted and applicable to a wide range of planning and sustainable development application and sustainable development applications.

“It is perhaps the first and foremost a tool for creating possible scenarios of climate change that are then linked with various sectors, such as coastal, agriculture, water, health and the planning required to reduce the risk borne by societies and environments as a result in shifts in climate,” he noted.

Rangasa said Albay is moving advance in terms of climate change adaptation response.

Albay is the first province in the country to institutionalize CIRCA and declared as Global LGU model for Climate Change Adaptation by United Nation International Strategy Disaster Reduction Report 2008 and World Bank.

The province, through CIRCA, develops climate change integration in curriculum in all learning area, hosted two separate national conferences that resulted to the Manila Declaration as a tool for the early passage of disaster management bill and creation of the Climate Change Commission. (MALoterte, PIA V)

SORSOGON 2010 ELECTION WINNERS PROCLAIMED
… LGUs back to business as usual

SORSOGON Province — Following the rush last week due to the Philippines’ first ever national and local automated polls and the proclamation of winning candidates, local government units (LGUs) across the province are back to business as usual.

“We thank those who pushed the country’s automated election, the counting and canvassing done manually in the past stretching the proclamation process for week were now reduced to 24 to 48-hr period,” the Boards of Election Inspectors and Canvassers here stated.

It can be noted that the Provincial Comelec here on Wednesday afternoon (May 12), proclaimed Raul Lee (Lakas-Kampi-CMD), ex-governor and husband of incumbent governor, as the winning governor garnering a landslide victory of 160,251 votes as against Jose Solis (Kampi) who only got 60,830 votes.

Former Vice-Governor Antonio “Kruni” Escudero (Independent) succeeded his comeback bid as vice-governor by winning 115,946 votes as against his four opponents.

For the 1st district congressional seat, Jose Edwin Hamor (NP) who got 63,287 votes loses to incumbent Congressman Salvador Escudero III (NPC) who got 89,512 votes.

Incumbent Gubat Mayor Deogracias Ramos, Jr. (LP) topped the congressional seat in the second district edging a slim margin against Ricardo Golpeo (NPC), his closest opponent.

The province of Sorsogon has 397,419 total registered voters in 692 clustered precincts. Of the total number of registered voters, 323,191 have actually voted.

Meanwhile, Irosin town was the first to proclaim their winning candidates on May 11, 7:36 A.M., while Donsol town was the last to proclaim on the afternoon of May 12.

In Sorsogon City, Leovic Dioneda (LP) holds on to his post as the city mayor by winning a gap of 11,037 votes against his lone opponent, incumbent City Vice-Mayor Edmundo Atutubo (Kampi).

Robert Rodrigueza (Lakas-Kampi-CMD), son of incumbent governor Sally Lee and governor-elect Raul Lee won a big margin as Sorsogon City vice-mayor against his lone opponent incumbent city councilor Roel Sta. Ana.

The following municipal mayors were also proclaimed winners in their respective towns,
Barcelona – current provincial administrator Atty. Manuel Fortes, Jr. (LP); Bulan – incumbent Mayor Helen Rose de Castro (Lakas-Kampi-CMD; Bulusan – Michael Guysayko (NP), son of incumbent Bulusan Mayor and League of Municipalities Sorsogon chapter president Juan Guysayko who did not make it in the second district congressional race; Castilla – incumbent Mayor Olive Bermillo (LP); Casiguran – incumbent Mayor Ester Hamor (NP); Donsol – incumbent Mayor Jerome Alcantara (LP); Gubat – 29 yr-old Ronnel Lim (NP); Irosin – Eduardo Ong (PDP-Laban); Juban – Jimmy Fragata (Lakas-Kampi-CMD) and husband of three-termer and incumbent Mayor Tess Fragata; Magallanes – former mayor of the same town Roque Carranza (Lakas-Kampi-CMD); Matnog – former Matnog mayor Emilio Ubaldo (Kampi);
Pilar – incumbent Mayor Dennis Sy-Reyes (NPC); and, Prieto Diaz –incumbent Provincial Board Member Jocelyn Lelis (Lakas-Kampi-CMD).

Meanwhile, both the defeated and proclaimed winners vowed to set aside politics after the election and start to work on genuine public service to help make Sorsogon move forward.

Sorsoganons, meanwhile, anticipate that the newly elected leaders will vouch to what they have promised. (BARecebido, PIA Sorsogon)

DOST LAUDS PASSAGE OF TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER LAW
By Danny O. Calleja

LEGAZPI CITY — The whole science community has hailed the enactment of the Philippine Technology Transfer Act of 2009 which would serve as the blueprint for nationally coordinated technology transfer framework of government-funded researches, the regional office for Bicol of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) here said.

Republic Act No. 10055, otherwise known as “An Act Providing the Framework and Support System for the Ownership, Management, Use and Commercialization of Intellectual Property Generated from Research and Development Funded by Government and for Other Purposes,” was signed into law by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo last March 23.

Quoting a statement of DOST Secretary Estrella Alabastro, DOST Regional Director Tomas Briñas said, “We are optimistic that this new law, a landmark policy on technology transfer, will revolutionize the commercialization of technologies generated by researches funded by taxpayers’ money.”

Briñas also echoed Albastro’s optimism of the new law’s merit in promoting technologies to the market as well as preventing brain drain and out-migration of science and technology (S&T) professionals and encouraging students to pursue research and development (R&D) studies.

Albastro also lauded President Arroyo and Congress for taking into account such a much-needed legislation for the science and technology sector, Briñas said.

A key provision in the law provides for incentives to researchers by providing them share in the royalties as well as allowing them put up their own start-up companies, Briñas said.

The law was Alabastro’s brainchild, having recognized the need for a national backbone and framework that would push technology generation and application to its maximum potential through efficient and coordinated transfer capability and intellectual property assertions around the country, similar to the Bayh-Dole Act in the United States, he said.

Briñas explained that taking advantage of the new law would hasten the process of technology commercialization and broadens the scope of protection of intellectual property rights in government research and development institutions.

“For the longest time, we rely mostly on breakthroughs from outside, while our local technologies generated through public funds remain untapped or archived in laboratories around the country. Hence, this is a significant break for us to roll this out to the market and be availed by the public,” he added.
Once fully in place, the new law is expected to provide the mechanism to allow important technologies to be commercialized and be made available to the public, Briñas explained.
Dr. Patricio Faylon, Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD) executive director, in a statement, meanwhile, expressed elation with the enactment of R.A. 10055.

He described it as a leap for the inter-agency policy advocacy collaboration and a feat in the Council’s policy development and advocacy mandate relating to S&T development.

PCARRD, the central planning council of DOST in the agriculture, forestry and natural resources, has led the department’s efforts in the bill’s legislative advocacy and public awareness activities since 2006.

Faylon said the enactment of the law came after three years into legislation. It was principally sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Edgardo Angara and co-authored by Senators Manuel Roxas II and Loren Legarda. Senators Pia Cayetano, Gregorio Honasan, Panfilo Lacson, Aquilino Pimentel Jr., Jinggoy Estrada and Juan Zubiri served as co-sponsors.

In the House of Representatives, Cavite 1st district Rep. Joseph Abaya was at the forefront of the bill’s passage serving as its principal author. Angara and Abaya are chairs of the Committees on Science and Technology at the Senate and House of Representatives, respectively.

Meanwhile, the technical and financial support given by the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) of the Philippines, DOST Planning and Evaluation Service, and DOST councils and institutes were instrumental in the legislative advocacy of the law. Currently, DOST and IPO are preparing the basis for the Act’s implementing rules and regulation (IRR). (PNA Bicol)

DA GRANTS CAPITAL ASSISTANCE TO BAGSAKAN CENTERS IN CAMARINES NORTE

DAET, Camarines Norte — The National Food Authority (NFA) provincial office and Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO) here has distributed some 120 bags of rice to the three barangay food terminals or ‘bagsakan’ centers in three towns of the province.

Dr. Helen Abordo, Camarines Norte provincial agriculturist, disclosed that each barangay terminal has received as grant of 40 bags of rice amounting to P50,000 funded by the Department of Agriculture (DA).

Abordo said that identified food terminals in the province include Barangays Canapawan, Labo; Batobalani, Paracale and Pambuhan, Mercedes.

Respective barangay councils will manage and sell the allotment of 40 bags of rice and the sales will become their capital for the next purchases of rice.

She explained that ‘bagsakan’ center serve as venue for selling of agricultural and marine products, among others of locals.

It can be recalled that the ‘bagsakan’ centers were provided recently each with a freezer, weighing scale, grinder and crates as their equipments for the selling of their products.

PAO, on the other hand, is tasked to monitor the operations of the center, furthermore, has urged local producers and suppliers to trade their yields or products at the centers. (RBManlangit, PIA CamNorte)

MGB BICOL, 3 MINING FIRMS SLATE INFO DRIVE ON PPAs

LEGAZPIO CITY — The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) in Bicol and the three large scale mining firms operating in the region recently agreed to stage a joint information campaign on the state mining industry in Bicol.

MGB Bicol Regional Director Reynulfo A. Juan said the campaign will basically focus on the programs, projects, and related activities of the government mining regulatory office, on the other hand, of the three big mining firms to ensure environmental law compliance and sustainable development of the mining industry.

The information drive, according to Juan, will commence on June and end in December, this year, to utilize all forms of media in order to completely reach out the target audience.

“The Rapu-Rapu Polymetallic Project in Rapu-rapu, Ibalong Resources and Development Corporation/Goodfound Cement Corporation in Camalig, both in Albay province, and the Filminera Resources Corporation in Aroroy, Masbate will be be joiing EMB in these worthwhile endeavor addressing several pressing issues in order to protect the environment,” he elaborated.

“The campaign is specifically targeting pre-selected audiences or covered communities in order for them to better know what our office and these three mining companies are doing,” Juan further said.

Juan pointed out that the joint information campaign will also focus on the importance, benefits and contributions of mining in the local communities and to the country’s economy; roles of MGB in regulating the mining industry and of enforcing mining laws against erring mining companies; responsible mining; mining and geosciences; the Social Development and Management Program; protection of the environment in every stage of mining operation; equitable sharing or economic benefits derived from mining among various units of the government as well as the affected communities – taxes paid; and nature and operations of mining project.

He explained that this effort is carried out in lieu of the Philippine Mining Law of 1995 and its implementing rules and regulations which requires mining companies to inform the public about its operations and benefits through information and activity centers; information dissemination, consultation and media; research, scholarships and trainings; and other activities approved by the MGB chief. (MGB V/PIA)

PGMA'S BREASTFEEDING PROGRAM USHERS NEW DIRECTION

MANILA — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s policies and programs increased the exclusive breastfeeding rate almost four times and ushered in a new direction for breastfeeding as an important part of public healthcare and national development.

Dra. Elvira Henares-Esguerra, founding president of Children for Breastfeeding Inc. (CfB), said the President’s compassion and political will saved breastfeeding from the brink of extinction, reversing 20 years of frustration from among its advocates.

The Chief Executive received this morning a copy of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) promoting the importance of breastfeeding between the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) of the Department of Science and technology (DOST) and the Children for Breastfeeding Inc. (CfB). The MOU was presented to her by Esguerra and PCHRD Executive Director Dr. Jaime Montoya in simple ceremonies this morning at Malacanang’s Rizal Hall.

Esguerra said the MOU further promotes researches in breastfeeding that include the intake of virgin coconut oil for breastfeeding mothers to increase the anti-microbial properties of human breast milk.

Esguerra said the President emphasized the importance of infant and young child feeding practices and its crucial role in national development as a means to reach the country’s Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of significantly reducing maternal mortality and deaths among children under the age of five.

In 2005, Esguerra said the President issued Presidential Proclamation No. 1113 promulgating the yearly celebration of World Breastfeeding Week every August 1-7.

Esguerra said the President also launched the National Plan of Action on Infant and Young Child Feeding 2005-2010; and made available a bigger budget for the hunger mitigation program which provided funds for training and education materials on breastfeeding.

Esgeurra said the President’s program and policies have averted the rapid decline of breastfeeding rates among mothers.

“Thanks to your support Madame President, the number of children who were never breastfed decreased from 13.2 percent in 2003 to only eight percent by 2008 and the duration of exclusive breastfeeding increased almost four times, from 24 days to almost 90 days,” Esguerra said.

Also presented to the President this morning was the Department of Health (DOH) Guidelines for Physicians on the Promotion, Protection and Support of Breastfeeding.

Esguerra noted that the DOH guidelines allow no exemptions to the national policy of regulating milk advertisements for children up to three years of age and forbidding nutritional claims that undermine breastfeeding.

Researches have pointed out the importance breastfeeding in reducing the prevalence of diarrhea, infections, allergies and other diseases among infants.

As part of a global public health recommendation, Esguerra said infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months up to two years to achieve optimal growth and development.

Among those present in Malacanang were other breastfeeding advocates, DOST Secretary Estrella Alabastro, and DOH Undersecretary Alexander Padilla. (PIA V Release)

PGMA OPENS FIRST GERIATRIC CARE HOSPITAL IN MANILA

MANILA — Senior citizens of Manila and nearby areas are now assured of quality and affordable healthcare after the first ever hospital to cater to the specific needs of aging citizens opened its doors to the public this morning (Sunday, May 16).

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo led the blessing and soft launching of the Dr. Eva Macaraeg-Macapagal National Center for Geriatric Health (NCGH) located along General Solano Street in Malacañang, Manila.

The geriatric health center will serve as the country’s premier specialty center for providing better healthcare for senior citizens who comprise 8.7 million of all Filipinos in the 60 year old and above age bracket.

Statistics reveal this number, recorded as of 2007, is steadily increasing at a rate of 2.3% per year.

Formerly called the Singian Hospital, a Chinese-run hospital which was later converted into Tahanan ng Masa by former President Joseph Estrada, the Dr. Eva Macaraeg-Macapagal National Center for Geriatric Health is a 50-bed hospital facility housed in a four-storey building with a total floor area of 5,477 square meters.

The building will also house other important hospital facilities and rooms such as a pharmacy, a business office, emergency assessment room, out-patient clinics and a physical therapy room.

The second and third floors will contain the hospital’s clinical laboratory, x-ray and dialysis rooms as well as a research, medical records and training center on the fourth floor.

Built at a cost of P200-million, the hospital will be under the management of the Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center, pending the enactment of House Bill No. 6245 entitled An Act Establishing the Dr. Eva Macaraeg-Macapagal National Center for Geriatric Health (NCGH) into law.

Prior to the blessing and soft opening ceremonies of the geriatric center, President Arroyo and the First Family attended a Eucharistic celebration, officiated by Bishop Emeritus Federico Escaler S.J., at the nearby San Miguel church in commemoration of the 11th death anniversary of Doña Eva Macaraeg-Macapagal. (PIA V Release)

PALACE URGES NEXT PRESIDENT TO ACCEPT CORONA AS CJ

MANILA — Presidential Spokesperson Ricardo L. Saludo issued Saturday (May 15) this statement, urging the incoming president to accept Justice Renato Corona as the duly appointed next Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, effective next week:

“We echo the call of our esteemed Chief Justice (Reynato) Puno for the next president to respect the rule of law and accept Justice Corona as the duly appointed next CJ.

“Justice Puno is right in saying: ‘Without the rule of law, our society will disintegrate. All of us should observe the rule of law. No one can excuse himself and say he is not covered by the rule of law. The higher you are in the government, the more you should respect the rule of law.‘

The next president should also heed CJ Puno's urging to lead in healing the many wounds of society.” (PIA V Release)

CORONA'S ASSUMPTION AS CHIEF JUSTICE ENDS SUCCESSION ISSUE, SAYS AGRA

MANILA — The assumption of Justice Renato Corona today as Chief Justice closes the long-winding succession issue touched off by the retirement of Chief Justice Reynato Puno, according to Justice Secretary Alberto Agra said.

Agra, who is also Solicitor General, said that Puno himself helped settled such issue when the latter recognized Corona as the country's 23rd Chief Justice during his retirement speech at the Supreme Court last Friday.

Earlier, Puno, ex-officio chairman of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC), nominated Corona as the next Chief Justice.

"What is clear is that it is settled that the incumbent President can make the appointment which can be effective on the first day of the vacancy. No one can diminish this prerogative and right by President Arroyo," Agra said.

Agra said that the appointment by President Arroyo was now complete and final, adding that, SC Justices may only be removed by impeachment.

However, Agra said that the acceptance by Chief Justice Corona of his appointment cannot subject him to impeachment such that none of the grounds exist.

Agra said that there was no culpable violation of the Constitution, treason, bribery, graft and corruption, other high crimes, or betrayal of public trust in the sense that the SC already 'wrote finis' to this issue.

"This is already settled and the appointment cannot be recalled," Agra said, adding that, "The constitutional provision on revocations by the succeeding President refers only to an Acting President's appointments to the Executive Department."

The other nominees were SC Associate Justices Arturo Brion and Teresita Leonardo-de Castro and Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Edilberto Sandoval. The nomination was submitted by JBC to the Office of the President for her consideration.

In turn, the President has a period of 90 days within which to make such appointment to fill up such vacancy in the Judiciary.

"The incumbent President exercised her constitutional duty and made the appointment from that list within the prescribed time," Agra said. (PIA V Release)

LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY POST GAINS IN Q1 AMID EL NINO

MANILA — The livestock and poultry subsectors managed to post modest gains in the first quarter of the year despite the onslaught of El Niño on key food-producing areas in the country, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said yesterday.

Crops like coconut, mango, tobacco, cabbage, cassava and onion also registered positive growth rates but their gains were not enough to offset the significant production losses from palay and corn, according to the first-quarter official report of the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS).

In general, Philippine agriculture contracted by 2.84%, along with its primary growth driver—the fisheries subsector—owing to the impact of the El Nino phenomenon on this sector, the same BAS quarterly report said.

Production losses in palay and corn for the first quarter were estimated at 300 thousand MT and 175 thousand MT, respectively.

Agriculture Secretary Bernie Fondevilla said “the Department is now reviewing protocols on water management in dams and irrigation systems nationwide, along with an array of other measures, to mitigate the adverse effects of future dry spells on Philippine agriculture and fisheries.”

“Alongside revisiting protocols on water releases from dams, the Department is also planning to expand its programs on small water impounding projects and communal irrigation systems, he said, to help mitigate the adverse impact of future El Niño attacks on farm yields.

Installing more water impounding and communal irrigation facilities, Fondevilla said, will allow farms to tap alternative water sources in case big dams dry up during El Niño-induced dry spells.

The DA will likewise stock up on drought-resistant seeds and will spearhead programs to either protect watersheds or reforest denuded ones, he said.

"So these are the things we can prepare for the future. Of course the other things are, we look at the way we are using up water as well. We need to look at our water sheds to make sure that they are either protected, and those that are already denuded, maybe we can embark with other agencies of the government to reforest them and renew them," Fondevilla said.

In its report, BAS said the livestock subsector grew by a modest 0.51% in the first three months of 2010, as production increases were recorded for hog, goat and cattle, while dairy posted a hefty 17.22% output gain.

The poultry subsector expanded 2.02% on the back of increases in chicken and chicken egg production of 1.81% and 4.43%, respectively.

These two subsectors accounted for close to 30% of the total agricultural output for the first quarter, BAS said.

It said the growth of the crops subsector, which shared 47.75% of the total agricultural production, dropped by 6.15% as palay posted production losses of 11.41% with 3.49 million metric tons and corn output at 1.6 million MT declined by 16.76% as compared to the same period last year.

"The dry spell caused by the El Niño pulled down area harvested and yield in the major palay producing regions of Cagayan Valley, Western Visayas, Northern Mindanao and SOCCSKSARGEN, " the BAS said in its report.

Meanwhile, "yellow corn production was adversely affected by hot weather as area harvested in Cagayan Valley , SOCCSKSARGEN, Western Visayas, Northern Mindanao and Cordillera Administrative Region contracted in the first quarter of the year," BAS likewise noted.

The biggest gainer in the crops subsector was onion with an output increase of 11.22%. Coconut grew by 1.75%; banana by 1.26%; mango, 3.10%; tobacco, 9.66%; cassava, 6.99%; tomato, 7,05%; eggplant, 1.21%; and cabbage, 3.55%.

However, sugarcane, mongo and rubber posted big production cuts.

Total fisheries production, which accounted for 24.84% of the total agricultural output, dipped by 0.63% in the first three months of the year. Commercial and municipal fisheries posted production declines of 3.5% and 0.15%, respectively, but aquaculture managed to grow by 0.36%.

The impact of the dry spell on agricultural production would have been worse had the DA failed to retool its budget in the previous years to enable Philippine farms to meet the twin challenges of this phenomenon along with increasing global free trade.

It allocated 86% of its P47 billion budget to various support services, such as the provision of flatbed dryers, corn drying centrals, fishports, and storage warehouses for farm produce; market linkages; strengthening of regulatory and disease eradication capabilities; and the establishment of satellite-based remote sensing and geographic information systems.

Moreover, the DA strengthened its statistics and forecasting capabilities; developed and distributed climate-ready crops seeds, which are submergence, drought and disease tolerant; engineered climate-change adapted infrastructure for production and processing; enabled more financing for agriculture through innovative weather-based insurance schemes; and disseminated more information, knowledge and training in crops science and planting techniques. (DA Press Office/PIA)