PIA Dispatch - Thursday, December 18, 2008

Gov’t’s anti-hunger and anti-poverty programs start to pay off – PGMA

ALABEL, Sarangani — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said here today that the reduction in the self-rated poverty appearing in the latest poll survey has demonstrated that the government’s anti-hunger and anti-poverty programs are paying off.

The President, in a radio interview with Bombo Radyo-General Santos City here, said the drop in the self-poverty rating of Filipino families from 59 percent to 52 percent is the lowest since the Marcos regime.

“This is the result of a mixed careful planning, economic reforms and the hard work of many people that enabled us to reduce the self-poverty rating,” she said.

She added that the implementation of harsh but necessary fiscal reforms as well as the intensified poverty alleviation and hunger mitigation program produced positive results for Filipino families despite the current financial crisis.

She said the government has implemented tough economic reforms to raise revenues in order to generate additional resources and invest in human and physical infrastructure that will attract more investments.

“These investments in infrastructure are helping to create jobs and stimulate the economy and provide a social safety net at a time when it is most needed.”

But most importantly, “all of these actions were taken before there was a hint of global crisis and they are serving us so well now. We are fortunate because we have a cushion in place to help the poor,” the President said.

Aside from increasing revenues, the government is also focused on building up new industries to generate employment and initiate the expansion of trade relations “to diversify our economic bridges and spread our economic risk and open up new business opportunities,” the Chief Executive said.

She added that the Philippines is also benefitting from expanded trade partnerships like the one with China that supports economic resilience.

“These efforts are working to improve the overall quality of life of the people,” the President stressed even as she cited the need to continue on a path of fiscal discipline, targeted investment and programmed relief to the poor in order to weather the global storm.


OFW employment abroad remains strong – PGMA

ALABEL, Sarangani -- The overseas employment of Filipino workers remains steady and strong despite the worldwide economic meltdown.

Thus stressed President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in a radio interview this morning (Dec. 18, Thursday) over Bombo Radyo-General Santos City here.

“It is important to underscore that, thus far, employment abroad remains strong and very few of our Filipino expatriates have lost their jobs,” the President said, adding that despite the collapse of world financial markets in some countries, the number of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) continues to increase, and so with their remittances.

The Chief Executive pointed out that although some jobs have been lost, new jobs are being created, like the 37,000 available jobs in Qatar and 6,000 in Dubai.

She underscored the importance of closely monitoring the impact of the global economic situation on OFWs as “we never want even one of our hard-working Filipinos to lose a job.”

The President – who had earlier ordered the setting up of a P1-billion expatriates livelihood fund for displaced OFWs – stressed that the government will not hesitate to take any action required to help the OFWs wherever they might be.

President Arroyo added that the government is developing retraining programs and bringing these to selected international locations where large expat worker populations are based “so that they can prepare for employment in the Philippines should they need to do so or should they wish to do so.”

The President said there are a number of industries in the country that can offer employment to returning expat workers like the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector.

“Expat workers with good English who have experienced interacting with people from other countries can be very strong candidates for employment in these sectors if they have the right training,” she said.

Some 8.5 million Filipinos presently live or work abroad.

As of October this year, the OFWs remitted to their families in the Philippines some $15 billion, an amount equivalent to 10 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).


PGMA rejects discussions on 2010 presidential polls for being premature
ALABEL, Sarangani -- “I am always supportive on all efforts to strengthen democracy and to make our elections free and fair.”

This was the reaction of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo when asked to comment in a radio interview here about the planned Task Force 2010 organized by the Catholic church and other civic groups to disseminate information about the coming 2010 elections.

“I am not focused on the next election and I will not be drawn into discussions on the race,” the President added as she stressed that at this time, the nation’s leadership must give all its attention to managing the impact of the global financial crisis on the economy and “not on events that are many months down the road.”

The President added to her interviewers from Bombo Radyo-General Santos City that the global spike in the price of rice, food and fuel has put a tremendous strain on Filipinos even as the government had been able to respond to this global challenge in a swift, measured and targeted manner.

“The fact that we have avoided the crisis that is plaguing the rest of the world is a testament to the tough choices we made several years ago,” President Arroyo said, pointing out that economic reform is the central pillar of her presidency.

It is because “we took the politically unpopular move to raise new revenue that we have been able to generate additional resources and invest in physical and human infrastructure such as roads, bridges, ports and expanded access to healthcare, improved education and expanded social services,” the President explained.

She reiterated that she is not paying attention to the political noise generated by her critics as she is focused on the implementation of pro-poor programs and economic reforms to provide a better future for the Filipino people.

“My priority is implementing the pro-poor and economic reform agendas that have given our country the strongest and most resilient economy in decades,” she said.


MILF’s insistence on MOA-AD as the only way to achieve peace in Mindanao draws retort from PGMA

SARANGGANI – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today cited the importance of commitment and sincerity on the part of both the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to achieve peace and order in Mindanao.

This was the reaction of the President on the stand of the MILF that the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain or MOA-AD is the only way to maintain peace and order in Mindanao.

“Commitment and sincerity of both sides is the key to resolve peace and order,” the President said in an interview with Bombo Radyo at the residence of Saranggani Gov. Miguel Dominguez in Alabel here.

“We must all be willing to put ourselves in each other’s shoes and understand various points of views and be willing to compromise to bring permanent peace to the region,” the President added.

The President said war can never be the answer to the three-decade-long conflict that had caused the loss of tens of thousands lives and damage to infrastructure and properties in the region.

“Peace is the only path for Mindanao and I’m committed fully to peace and restarting the peace process,” she said.

As to the statement of MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal that the MILF should be given the freedom to pick the negotiators from the government’s side, the President said she will leave it to Presidential Adviser on Peace Process Hermogenes Esperon Jr.President Arroyo also underscored the need to bring stability to Mindanao through job creation, more infrastructures and pro-poor economic programs.

“We must first bring stability to the region, regain order and be able to trust the MILF leaders before we can effectively reactivate the peace process again in earnest,” she said.

“I believe we are assembling the pieces to get the peace process started again in a way that upholds our commitment to peace, the Constitution and the rule of law,” the President added.


MILF’s insistence on MOA-AD as the only way to achieve peace in Mindanao draws retort from PGMA

SARANGGANI – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today cited the importance of commitment and sincerity on the part of both the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to achieve peace and order in Mindanao.

This was the reaction of the President on the stand of the MILF that the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain or MOA-AD is the only way to maintain peace and order in Mindanao.

“Commitment and sincerity of both sides is the key to resolve peace and order,” the President said in an interview with Bombo Radyo at the residence of Saranggani Gov. Miguel Dominguez in Alabel here.

“We must all be willing to put ourselves in each other’s shoes and understand various points of views and be willing to compromise to bring permanent peace to the region,” the President added.

The President said war can never be the answer to the three-decade-long conflict that had caused the loss of tens of thousands lives and damage to infrastructure and properties in the region.

“Peace is the only path for Mindanao and I’m committed fully to peace and restarting the peace process,” she said.

As to the statement of MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal that the MILF should be given the freedom to pick the negotiators from the government’s side, the President said she will leave it to Presidential Adviser on Peace Process Hermogenes Esperon Jr.President Arroyo also underscored the need to bring stability to Mindanao through job creation, more infrastructures and pro-poor economic programs.

“We must first bring stability to the region, regain order and be able to trust the MILF leaders before we can effectively reactivate the peace process again in earnest,” she said.

“I believe we are assembling the pieces to get the peace process started again in a way that upholds our commitment to peace, the Constitution and the rule of law,” the President added.


PGMA rejects discussions on 2010 presidential polls for being premature

ALABEL, Sarangani -- “I am always supportive on all efforts to strengthen democracy and to make our elections free and fair.”

This was the reaction of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo when asked to comment in a radio interview here about the planned Task Force 2010 organized by the Catholic church and other civic groups to disseminate information about the coming 2010 elections.

“I am not focused on the next election and I will not be drawn into discussions on the race,” the President added as she stressed that at this time, the nation’s leadership must give all its attention to managing the impact of the global financial crisis on the economy and “not on events that are many months down the road.”

The President added to her interviewers from Bombo Radyo-General Santos City that the global spike in the price of rice, food and fuel has put a tremendous strain on Filipinos even as the government had been able to respond to this global challenge in a swift, measured and targeted manner.

“The fact that we have avoided the crisis that is plaguing the rest of the world is a testament to the tough choices we made several years ago,” President Arroyo said, pointing out that economic reform is the central pillar of her presidency.

It is because “we took the politically unpopular move to raise new revenue that we have been able to generate additional resources and invest in physical and human infrastructure such as roads, bridges, ports and expanded access to healthcare, improved education and expanded social services,” the President explained.

She reiterated that she is not paying attention to the political noise generated by her critics as she is focused on the implementation of pro-poor programs and economic reforms to provide a better future for the Filipino people.

“My priority is implementing the pro-poor and economic reform agendas that have given our country the strongest and most resilient economy in decades,” she said.


Cheap food in Agri-Pasko sites is D.A.'s Xmas gift to consumers

Cheap foodstuff such as rice, fish and vegetables during “Agri-Pasko” day in selected municipalities in Metro Manila is the gift of the Department of Agriculture (DA), along with various food producers and suppliers, to consumers this Christmas season.

This developed as Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap started visiting Metro Manila markets yesterday (Thursday) to check on the supply and prices of basic commodities in the metropolis ahead of the Christmas season.

Yap made his first market visit at the Mutya ng Pasig market, accompanied by market administrator Catherine Tech, Assistant Secretary Salvador Salacup, Director Davinio Catbagan of the Bureau of Animal Industry and Atty. Jane Bacayo of the National Meat Inspection Service.

The DA secretary had been meeting with leaders of the various agricultural subsectors since two months ago in a bid to ensure the adequate supply at affordable prices of basic goods during the yuletide.

Salacup said that the first Agri-Pasko sa Bagsakan at Munisipyo, in which suppliers sold their goods at low prices like in Christmas “tiangges”, was held in Cainta, Rizal last Dec. 5.

In a report to Yap , Salacup said that at least 18 suppliers participated in the Cainta event, where the biggest crowd drawer was the bangus that was sold at only P106 per kilo, or 24% lower than the prevailing price of P130 to P140 a kilo in the area.

Other food items that were sold at the Cainta event were cabbages which cost only P28 a kilo; potato, P40 a kilo; pechay, P25 a kilo; Sinandomeng regular milled rice at P28 a kilo; Sinandomeng premium rice, P33 a kilo; and dressed chicken, P110 a kilo.

This series of Agri-Pasko is being conducted by the DA in tandem with local government units and private sector partners such as AgriNurture Inc., (which supplies fresh vegetables and veggie budget meals); Fresh Market Inc. (seafoods); Shekinah Haven Inc. (bangus, tamban and other fish); Gemsun Marketing Inc. (pork, chicken eggs); and Bagsakan Center locator suppliers like Tinakday MPC and Benguet Farmers MPC (highland vegetables); Island Forest MPC (rice) and Bulacan suppliers (processed food products).

Besides selling food items at low prices, Agri-Pasko events also include a cooking demonstration informing the public about the options available to them in eating cheap but nutritious meals. Winning recipes in the recently held Agrilink/Foodlink cooking contest will be featured on these occasions.

An Agri-Pasko day was also held last Dec. 15 at Las Pinas City Hall; at the Marikina Freedom Park, Dec. 12; Quezon City Circle in cooperation with Agri-Aqua Network Inc. (AANI), Dec 13-14; and Barangay Bagsakan in Ramon Magsaysay, Quezon City, Dec. 16.

Salacup said that DA in collaboration with the LGUs is planning to continue this activity in these municipalities and other municipalities by next year, at least once a month.

Aside from organizing these consumer-friendly events, the DA has also facilitated the opening of bagsakan or drop-off centers for farm produce and barangay bagsakan centers (BBs)—formerly known as Barangay Food Terminals or BFTs—in Mega Manila that sell basic food items at prices lower by up to 10% than those sold in regular retail outlets.

As of December 15, 2008, 16 bagsakan centers and 159 BBs are also operating outside Mega Manila.

The 20 Bagsakan centers operating in Metro Manila are located in Oriental Wet and Dry Market, Mega Q-Mart, Commonwealth Market and New CI Market in Quezon City ; Mutya ng Pasig and Viajero Bagsakan Center in Pasig City ; South Station and Muntinlupa Public Market in Muntinlupa City ; and the Marikina Market Zone and Marikina Public Market in Marikina City , he said.

The other bagsakan centers in the metropolis are located at the Kadiwa Center in Valenzuela; Pritil Public Market in the City of Manila; Maypajo Public Market in Caloocan City; Smokey Mountain Food Depot in Manila; Carmona and Bacoor Public Markets in Cavite; Antipolo Public Market in Antipolo City; Roblou Market Place in Cainta, Rizal; and Meycauayan Bagsakan and San Jose del Monte Bagsakan in Bulacan, he added.

Mega Manila covers the National Capital Region plus Bulacan, Cavite and Rizal.

Salacup said that outside Mega Manila, bagsakan centers are also operating in Alaminos, Pangasinan; Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya; San Jose City, Nueva Ecija; Balanga, Bataan; Sariaya, Quezon; Calauan, Laguna; Victoria, Oriental Mindoro; Tagbilaran, Bohol; Ormoc City in Leyte; Talavera, Nueva Ecija; Aliaga, Nueva Ecija; Tarlac City; Botolan, Zambales; Española, Palawan; and Magsaysay and Bansalan in Davao del Sur.

The 40 operational BBs in Metro Manila are directly serving a total of 162,280 families, while barangay bagsakans in the regions are benefiting 235,403 families.

Government-subsidized rice from the National Food Authority (NFA) is sold at P 25.00 per kilo and white sugar at P36 a kilo in these BBs.

Whole chicken is sold for as low as P115 a kilo; pork liempo as low as P140; and pork kasim for P135 in these outlets, Salacup said.

A kilo of ampalaya costs only P50 in BBs cabbage for as low as P35 a kilo; tomatoes, P40 per kilo; red onion, P60 a kilo; potatoes, P40 a kilo; and eggplant for as low as P35 a kilo, he said.

During his first time at the helm of the DA, Secretary Arthur Yap had come up with the BBs forerunner, the Huwarang Palengke concept, which was meant to ensure the sufficient supply and stable prices of wage goods by slashing the number of trade layers that pad the cost of transporting products from the farmgate to their final distribution points in Metro Manila markets and elsewhere. (DA-PRESS OFFICE)


DA teams up with FFFF to promote organic structure

The Department of Agriculture has forged a partnership with a national organization of small farmers to promote organic agriculture in 21 priority provinces as part of its ongoing initiatives to encourage the extensive use of non-chemical fertilizers and other environment-friendly farming practices.

In a report to DA Secretary Arthur Yap, Director Silvino Tejada of the Bureau of Soils and Water Management said the BSWM is now implementing the Promotion and Development of Organic Rice Production Project in tandem with the Federation of Free Farmers (FFF), with an initial funding of P1 million.

Tejada said this BWSM-FFF project is in step with President Arroyo’s Executive Order No. 481, which aims to foster organic agriculture and the production of safe and healthy food crops.

“Headed by former DA Secretary Leonardo Montemayor, the FFF is carrying out the first phase of the project with the BSWM in 21 provinces, where 5 techno-demo organic farms per province will be established,” Tejada said.

“The second phase involves the training of farmer-technicians in the preparation of organic fertilizers and botanical pesticides,” he said.

He said this project also aims to commercially sell organic rice produced in these techno-demo farms under the FREEFARM brand.

“A total of 20 techno-demo organic farms in 12 provinces have so far been set up since August this year with the participation of 416 farmers,” Tejada said.

The remaining 85 targeted farms will be established during the November-December planting period, he added.

“The creation of these techno-demo farms involves the orientation and training of famers at the village level on organic farming technologies which emphasizes the use of farmer-produced non-chemical inputs and indigenous rice seeds,” Tejada said.

He said the project’s second phase has already been completed with the participation of 88 farmer-technicians from the 21 priority provinces across the country on hands-on courses and seminars that include Soil Testing, Soil and Fertilizer Management, and Bionutrients Extraction and other essential information on organic farming practices.

The graduates of these courses, Tejada said, have agreed to conduct similar seminars and train their fellow farmers on organic farming practices, Tejada noted.

In preparation for the commercial sale of organic rice under the FREEFARM brand, Tejada said the BSWM and FFF are also planning to train farmers on setting up internal quality control systems and basic marketing procedures for organic farm products.

The participants in the courses also cited the need for shredder/chopper machines to speed up the production of compost from indigenous farm materials and biowastes, he said.

Earlier, the DA and BWSM forged a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM), La Liga Policy Institute (LLPI) and Mayor Hernani Braganza of Alaminos City in Pangasinan on the launching of the Organic FIELDS Support Program (OFSP) in an initial six cities and municipalities in Luzon.

Launched by President Arroyo during the DA-hosted National Food Summit last April, FIELDS stands for Fertilizers, Irrigation and other rural infrastructure, Education and extension work, Loans, Dryers and other postharvest facilities, and Seeds.

Under the MOA, the DA and BWSM will give financial and technical support to OFSP to carry out the program’s first phase in three cities and three municipalities for the benefit of at least 600 farmers combined who will get hands-on training over a four-month period (November 2008-March 2009) on the methods involved in the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) production, Organic Fertilizer Production and Nature Fertilizer.

The DA has committed P20 million for the implementation of OFSP-Phase 1 this dry crop while the BWSM will provide technology package for composting facilities in keeping with its “Tamang Abono” program. This BWSM project is a balance fertilization initiative using the Modified Rapid Composting Technology in recycling rice straws and other farm wastes into organic fertilizer.

PRRM, LLPI and Braganza, on the other hand, have committed under the MOA to oversee the implementation of Phase 1 of the OFSP in the six pilot sites this dry or summer crop, and take charge of the education and information component of this project via trainings, seminars and consultative meetings on organic fertilizer and organic fertilizer manufacturing, plus the production of TV and radio plugs and other promotional materials.

These pilot sites are Alaminos City, Tabaco City in Albay, Science City of Muñoz in Nueva Ecija, Naujan in Mindoro Oriental, and Dinalupihan and Samal in Bataan.

One-hectare palay fields either owned by the local government units or farmer initiators will be developed in each of the pilot areas into learning farms where at least 100 farmer-participants per site will be given “hands-on exposure and experiential learning” on organic fertilizer techniques like conventional composting and vermi-composting, conversion of rice husk and hull into organic fertilizer, distance planting and SRI methodology, integrated pest management and zero-tillage fertilizer. (DA-PRESS OFFICE)