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Politics

INTER-CROP CACAO AS THE DEMAND FOR IT IS ON THE RISE – VILLAR

In an effort to increase the income of coconut farmers, Senator Cynthia Villar encouraged Boholano farmers to inter-crop cacao as the demand for it is on the rise. Villar, who chairs the Senate Committee on Agriculture, made the appeal during a brief talk with Bohol media on the sidelines of the 115th anniversary celebration of […]

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Politics

PROTECT AGRICULTURE, EXPAND CROP INSURANCE – PIMENTEL

Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship Chairperson Koko Pimentel III said on Sunday that he was planning to convene insurance stakeholders to discuss and propose measures that would give added protection to Filipino farmers, particularly from the damaging effects of typhoons and natural calamities. The move was meant to enhance the food security situation […]

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Politics

HOUSE DECLARES CATANDUANES AS ABACA CAPITAL OF THE PHILIPPINES – SARMIENTO

The House of Representatives approved on second reading a bill conferring to the province of Catanduanes the official “Abaca Capital of the Philippines” designation. House Bill 7369, principally authored by Catanduanes representative and concurrent Committee on Transportation chairman Cesar Sarmiento, seeks to acknowledge the vital contribution of the province in making the Philippines the largest […]

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Politics

COME DOWN HARD ON PREDATORY MERCHANTS – PIMENTEL

With government set to impose suggested retail prices for rice and chicken soon, Senate Trade and Commerce Committee Chair Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III is urging authorities to come down hard on predatory merchants who will continue to sell overpriced goods. The National Food Authority (NFA) Council, along with the departments of agriculture, trade and industry, […]

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Politics

COCO LEVY FUND BILL ISSUES COULD BE RESOLVED SOON – PANGANIBAN

House Agriculture Committee Chair and ANAC-IP Rep. Jose Panganiban, Jr. expressed hope on Thursday that the issues found by the Executive Branch in the coco levy fund bill will be resolved soon, adding that he welcomes a “second chance” to further improve the measure. The bill is set to be signed by President Rodrigo Duterte […]

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Politics

SENATE APPROVES STRENGTHENED PCA LAW ON SECOND READING – VILLAR

Senator Cynthia Villar has welcomed the approval on second reading of the bill giving greater representation to coconut farmers in the body tasked to manage the P105 billion coconut levy funds. Villar, chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture and Food, authored Senate Bill 1976 or the Strengthened Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) Law. The bill amends […]

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Politics

RETURN OF NFA TO DA WILL ENSURE BETTER COORDINATION ON RICE ISSUES – AGRI PARTY-LIST

The AGRI Party-list has welcomed the decision of President Rodrigo Duterte to bring the National Food Authority (NFA) under the supervision of the Department of Agriculture (DA), saying this would ensure better coordination in tackling perennial issues on rice. The President issued Executive Order 62, which transfers the NFA, Philippine Coconut Authority, and Fertilizer and […]

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Politics

BUY PALAY FROM LOCAL FARMERS BEFORE TYPHOON HITS – NOGRALES

With Typhoon Mangkhut expected to bring heavy rains and winds as strong as 160 kph, House Appropriations Chairperson Rep. Karlo “Ang Probinsyano” on Monday called on the National Food Authority (NFA) to intensify rice procurement operations so that it could buy palay from farmers before the supertyphoon hits the country. “The NFA has not had […]

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Politics

NFA SHOULD BE PROACTIVE IN APPROACH TO COUNTRY’S RICE ISSUES – NOGRALES

House Appropriations Committee Chairperson Karlo “Ang Probinsyano” Nograles on Thursday welcomed the decision of the National Food Authority (NFA) Council’s decision to approve the importation of 132,000 MT of rice to stabilize rice prices, but lamented that action could have been taken sooner to prevent the rice prices from getting out of hand. “As the […]

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Politics

IRRIGATION IS KEY TO RICE SECURITY – NOGRALES

With reports of rice prices surging in Zamboanga and threats of similar developments elsewhere, House Appropriations Committee Chairman Rep. Karlo “Ang Probinsyano” Nograles urged the Department of Agriculture (DA) to work with the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) to improve the coverage of the National Irrigation System (NIS) and ensure “rice security” in the country. “In […]