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  • New NFA warehouses ready to serve more farmers in Nueva Ecija

    New NFA warehouses ready to serve more farmers in Nueva Ecija

    Two new warehouses of the Department of Agriculture-National Food Authority (DA-NFA) are now ready to serve the farmers in the country’s top rice-producing province in time for the harvest season.

    Agriculture Secretary William Dar, NFA Administrator Judy Carol Dansal, and DA Central Luzon Regional Director Crispulo Bautista led the inauguration of the warehouses located in the Science City of Muñoz and in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija on July 28, 2021.

    Secretary Dar said the event is important and historic for NFA as it starts to modernize with a line-up of infrastructure development projects that will contribute to the competitiveness of the local rice industry.

    “In the future, after the consolidation of farms, we will provide more post-harvest facilities such as farm machineries to realize our vision of modernizing the country’s rice industry in the country,” the agri chief said.

    He added that DA is targeting additional one million metric tons of palay production this year and increase the country’s rice sufficiency level up to 95 percent. This will also contribute to more rice supply as the Covid-19 pandemic is still affecting the country.

    According to the agri chief, the government is pouring resources to enable Filipino farmers to be more productive.

    “We will use every possible means, including modern technologies and innovations, so that collectively our farmers can be globally competitive,” Secretary Dar added.

    Each warehouse has a capacity of 100,000 sacks and is expected to help intensify NFA’s palay procurement and buffer stocking.

    The Muñoz warehouse covers the Science City of Muñoz, San Jose City, Talavera, Lupao, and Caranglan, while the Cabanatuan warehouse covers Cabanatuan City, Sta. Rosa, Palayan City, Zaragoza, Peñaranda, and Laur.

    Administrator Dansal thanked Secretary Dar for supporting the infrastructure development projects of NFA, adding that 18 warehouses strategically located nationwide have been funded in 2020 and 2021.

    “With this new storage facility, we are happy that NFA will have an additional rice depot to serve our farmers here and buy their produce at a fair government price,” she said.

    Through the Rice Tariffication Law, NFA now serves as a buffer stocking agency, mandated to maintain and sustain the level of rice supply that can be tapped during natural calamities and other unforeseen events.

    “These warehouses can now serve the farmers this coming harvest season starting August and September. Hopefully, we will be able to procure more so that we will be having more buffer stock available for the residents of Region 3,” NFA Regional Director Elvira Obaña said. (DA-AFID)

  • SSS urges employers to use online platform to file sickness, maternity benefit reimbursement claims

    SSS urges employers to use online platform to file sickness, maternity benefit reimbursement claims

    The Social Security System (SSS) reminds covered employers that Sickness Benefit Reimbursement Applications (SBRAs) and Maternity Benefit Reimbursement Applications (MBRAs) can now be submitted online through the My.SSS Portal at www.sss.gov.ph.

    The online filing of SBRAs and MBRAs, which were introduced in July 2020 and May 2021, respectively, can be accessed through the E-Services tab of the employers’ My.SSS accounts.

    The online submission of SBRA is mandatory for new or initial claims with approved sickness notifications, but not for those that need adjustment or are re-filed claims, which must be physically filed at the SSS branch.

    The online submission of MBRA applies to new or initial claims and the following cases for adjustment:
    Member is qualified as Solo Parent;
    Correction of type of claim, such as from normal to caesarian delivery, or from miscarriage to ectopic pregnancy with operation;
    SSS computation is higher than employer’s computation;
    Additional posted contributions will increase the amount of maternity benefit;
    Correction of approved number of days from 60 (normal delivery) or 78 (caesarian section delivery) days to 105 days; and
    Allocated leave credits not used due to separation from employment of the child’s father or qualified alternate caregiver.

    The filing of MBRA through SSS branches is still allowed until 31 August 2021. Mandatory online filing will be implemented on 01 September 2021. However, the employer must choose only one method as the simultaneous filing of MBRA through SSS branches and online is not allowed.

    The SSS urges those who would transact in its branches and offices to follow the servicing guidelines such as the number coding system, appointment system, and dropbox system, if applicable; as well as to abide by the minimum public health protocols set by the government.

    “As our partners in providing meaningful and timely social security benefits to employees, one of the legal obligations of employers under the Social Security Act of 2018 is to pay in advance the social security sickness and maternity benefits of qualified employees. Through these online facilities, they will also be assured that they will receive their corresponding reimbursements in a faster, safer, and more convenient way,” SSS President and CEO Aurora C. Ignacio said.

    Under Section 14 and 14-A of Republic Act 11199 or the Social Security Act of 2018, employers are required to pay in advance the sickness benefit of qualified employees every regular payday or on the 15th and last day of each month; and maternity benefit of qualified employees, which must be paid in full within 30 days from the date of filing of the maternity leave application.

    Failure or refusal to advance the said benefits will be subject to penalties provided under Section 28 (e) of RA 11199, consisting of a fine of not less than P5,000 nor more than P20,000, and/or imprisonment for not less than six years and one day nor more than 12 years, or both, at the discretion of the court.

    The filing of a criminal action against erring employers may likewise include corresponding civil liabilities consisting of actual or compensatory damages, among others.

    Step-by-step guides on how to use the online SBRA and MBRA can be followed through https://bit.ly/ERSBRA and https://bit.ly/SSSMBRA. For more information, visit the SSS’ accounts on Facebook and YouTube at “Philippine Social Security System,” Instagram at “mysssph,” Twitter at “PHLSSS,” or join its Viber Community at “MYSSSPH Updates.” (SSS)

  • Briones appeals to institutionalize policies for a smoke-free country

    Briones appeals to institutionalize policies for a smoke-free country

    Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones on Wednesday appealed to legislators and policymakers to institutionalize strong and comprehensive tobacco control policies in support of the promotion of healthy choices among Filipinos learners.

    “We are using all available platforms to appeal to our legislators, decision-makers, and influencers to help us in protecting the welfare of our learners by institutionalizing policies and creating an environment that is supportive of their health-promoting choices,” Secretary Briones said during the Philippine Smoke-free Movement Champions’ Conference.

    The education chief mentioned that such policies are needed to complement DepEd’s ongoing efforts to keep schools smoke-free and to educate learners about the ill effects of tobacco use.

    “Our schools have always been smoke-free. And we do this not only to protect our learners from second-hand smoke, but also from situations that normalize tobacco use to make it appealing to them,” she said. “But schools can only do so much. Which environments our learners are exposed to when they are not in school also have a great influence on their decisions as to whether to give in to or to reject the temptation to get into smoking,” she added.

    With the theme “Building and Celebrating Tobacco Control Champions: Promoting, Defending, and Institutionalizing Smoke-Free Environment Policies,” the conference was organized to campaign for the passage of a comprehensive smoke-free environments law in the 18th Congress.

    “We are in a very strategic time to have this legislative measure passed, especially now that we have a President who has repeatedly and publicly expressed support for tobacco control,” she emphasized.

    Sec. Briones who said she was representing the millions of Filipino learners in her message noted that the future of the youth is at stake as they are targeted by the tobacco industry to be its consumers.

    “As repeatedly mentioned by the World Health Organization, the youth are being targeted by the tobacco industry to be their next generation of consumers. Through strong and comprehensive tobacco control policies such as the measures we are advocating today, we can win this battle,” Briones shared.

    “What we are really talking about are the dreams of our youth that can only be achieved if they grow up healthy and free from the harms of tobacco use,” she added.

    Meanwhile, Angela Tibay, President of the Regional Federation of Supreme Student Governments-Cordillera Administrative Region, encouraged the youth not to partake in smoking activities.

    “I encourage the youth to stop smoking because of its bad effects. ‘Wag magpapaniwala sa mapanlinlang na tobacco industries, dahil wala silang magandang dulot at wala silang pakialam sa ating kalusugan,” Tibay said.

    The conference was organized by the Social Watch Philippines (SWP) in partnership with DepEd and the Department of Health (DOH), together with the rest of the Philippine Smoke-Free Movement (PSFM).

    SWP is a non-government organization dedicated to advancing pro-health advocacies such as the Universal Health Care and tax increases on tobacco products and campaigning for tobacco-control policies. The Department recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement with SWP to become an institutional partner of the PSFM.

  • Suspected NPA rebels burn construction equipment in Northern Samar

    Suspected NPA rebels burn construction equipment in Northern Samar

    In a desperate move to derail the efforts of the Northern Samar Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, the Communist NPA Terrorists (CNTs) burned several construction equipment around 4 a.m. on Thursday, July 29, in Brgy. San Francisco, Las Navas, Northern Samar.

    Burned equipment includes a 10-wheeler dump truck, two backhoes, crane, one self-loading vehicle (prime mover), soil compactor, grader, two loaders, and generator set.

    The said equipment are owned by MDU Construction with more than a hundred employed construction workers in the completion of the road project in barangays Quirino and San Francisco, both of Las Navas. The project which is targeted to be completed by end of December this year, shall connect the Northern Samar and Eastern Samar provinces in Eastern Visayas.

    The information received disclosed that more or less 20 fully-armed CNTs arrived in the area and simultaneously burned the above-mentioned equipment.

    Accordingly, the CNTs burned the equipment due to the refusal of the construction company’s owner to their extortion demand.

    Major General Pio Q. Diñoso III, commander of the 8th Infantry Division in his statement said that the recent burning of construction equipment used for road projects in Las Navas clearly showed that the NPA is anti-development, anti-people, and anti-Samarnons.

    “This terroristic action has derailed the completion of this vital road project that will connect the Eastern towns of Samar to the rest of the island and make the lives of the people in the area much easier. There could only be one reason for this arson, their demand for money or more money has not been met as contractors have had enough of these terrorists’ extortion. Nonetheless, the contractors will not be cowed and have pledged to not give in to terrorists’ demands,” Major General Diñoso said.

    Diñoso also assured the people of Eastern Visayas that the Philippine Army will work closely wCancelith these project proponents to ensure that projects of the government will be finished and be delivered to the people at all costs.

    “While this setback has been costly, projects will continue and no terrorist will be able to stop us if we will act together against them,” Diñoso added. (8ID, PA)

  • PH, Israel strengthen pandemic response cooperation

    PH, Israel strengthen pandemic response cooperation

    The second batch of health experts from Israel’s Ministry of Health kicked off their weeklong visit here in the Philippines with a meeting on Tuesday with the country’s top COVID-19 task force officials.

    The Israeli delegation was invited to look into the national government’s COVID-19 response and mitigation efforts and offer recommendations on how these methods can be further improved to address the challenges of the highly-transmissible coronavirus Delta variant.

    The Israeli delegation was led by Dr. Guy Choshen, an infectious diseases and COVID-19 specialist from the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center.

    Other members of the delegation included Shira Peleg, head nurse and nursing manager of Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center Emergency Department; Eyad Jeries, a trauma coordinator from the Galilee Medical Center; and Chaim Markos Rafalowski, a disaster management coordinator from Magen David Adom.

    Read full story: PH, Israel strengthen pandemic response cooperation

  • BOC Cebu-Subport of Mactan clears 51,480 Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine doses

    BOC Cebu-Subport of Mactan clears 51,480 Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine doses

    Bureau of Customs (BOC) Port of Cebu-Subport of Mactan cleared last Monday, July 26, another 51,480 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine from Belgium.

    Prior to their arrival at Mactan-Cebu International Airport, the vaccines underwent advance clearance process to facilitate their immediate release.

    After ramp release, the vaccines were underguarded by the BOC CoVax Special Handling Team and DOH VII Convoy Team to the designated storage facility in Cebu City.Last week, the Subport also cleared 51,480 doses of Pfizer-Bio NTech COVID-19 vaccine. A total of 313,560 doses have been cleared by the Subport since June of this year.

    Read Full Story: BOC Cebu-Subport of Mactan clears 51,480 Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine doses

  • PSALM demands payment of P15.01 B arrears from 2 electric coops,1 private firm

    PSALM demands payment of P15.01 B arrears from 2 electric coops,1 private firm

    The Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM) has sent final demand letters to two electric cooperatives and a private corporation to compel them to pay over P15.01 billion-worth of combined overdue electricity bills and other charges that remain unpaid despite repeated collection notices sent to them.

    PSALM president-CEO Irene Besido Garcia said the bulk of these unpaid obligations was incurred by the Lanao del Sur Electric Cooperative, Inc. (LASURECO), which, as of May 31, 2021 owed P11.98 billion in overdue power bills and another P10.37 million in unremitted universal charge (UC) collections, excluding late remittance of interest charges, or a total of P 11.99 billion.

    Garcia has also sent a final demand letter to the Albay Electric Cooperative (ALECO) to settle its obligations amounting to P3.01 billion, of which P2.99 billion are unpaid electricity bills and P25.67 million are unremitted UC collections.

    Waterfront Airport Hotel and Casino (WAHC) also received a final demand letter for its unpaid power bills amounting to P24.99 million, as of April 2021.

    “These are long overdue accounts, some dating back more than 10 years ago. Fairness and equity dictate that these firms pay for the electricity that they had consumed just like other consumers who pay their electricity bills on time,” Garcia said.

    Several demand letters were previously sent to these delinquent firms by PSALM to inform them of their unpaid dues and the legal consequences that they face for their continued failure to settle them.

  • Ifugao farmers’ cooperative gets P13.98M-worth coffee enterprise from DA-PRDP

    Ifugao farmers’ cooperative gets P13.98M-worth coffee enterprise from DA-PRDP

    The Hojap Multi-Purpose Cooperative (HMPC) moved one step closer to expanding its coffee business following the inauguration and turnover of the improved P4.49 million-worth coffee consolidation and processing center on July 23.

    The existing building of HMPC located at barangay Haliap, which was originally constructed under the Department of Agriculture -High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) in 2015, was improved by the Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP), to support its enterprise subproject on coffee processing and marketing. Two floors were added to the existing building that will be used for coffee processing and marketing activities.

    As part of the enterprise subproject, two satellite buying stations with a total cost of P3.55 million were also established at barangay Pula and Camandag. These buying stations will facilitate easier consolidation of coffee especially from the distant barangays of Asipulo.

    The HMPC also received two hauling trucks and several coffee making tools and equipment from PRDP amounting to P5.88M.

    Shared by the World Bank (60% Loan Proceeds), the DA (20%), and the Provincial Government of Ifugao (20%), the total investment cost for the Ifugao Coffee Processing and Marketing Enterprise is around P13.98 million excluding the additional equity shouldered by the HMPC as the proponent group of the enterprise subproject.

  • TOPS, one of Cebu’s top attractions, now open to tourists

    TOPS, one of Cebu’s top attractions, now open to tourists

    CEBU CITY – Tops Lookout, one of the top destinations in Cebu, is now open to tourists. However, only those 15 years old and above will be allowed in due to the strict health protocols of the Cebu City government.

    TOPS offers a 180-degree view of Metro Cebu, which includes the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, and Talisay as well as the island of Mactan where Lapu-Lapu City and the town of Cordova are situated. On the left side, one can also view a portion of Consolacion town.

    https://youtu.be/tlukJ6w-BHQ

    The area is top choice for lovers who want to get away from the hustle of the city but do not want to travel too far. In fact, Tops is in Cebu City!

    Located in one of the highest peaks in barangay Busay, Tops is less than 30 minutes away from the busy city traffic and crowd. One can go to the place via private vehicles, motorcycles, or taxis.

    Entrance fee is currently at P100. Food stalls are also operating inside for those who want to dine while enjoying the beautiful scenery.

    Visiting Tops at night is perfect as one gets to see the glimmering city lights and the beautiful Cebu-Cordova Bridge.

    (As of July 27, only those how are 16 years old and above are allowed to get inside TOPS).

  • World Bank top exec cites PH ‘good’ vaccination program

    World Bank top exec cites PH ‘good’ vaccination program

    With the Philippines’ COVID-19 vaccination program “picking up” pace this quarter, the country is now in a “good place” compared to certain other economies in the region struggling to ramp up their capacities to inoculate their populations against the deadly virus, a World Bank (WB) official has said.

    In a recent meeting with Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, Victoria Kwakwa, the WB Regional Vice President for East Asia and the Pacific, expressed the hope that the pace of the Philippines’ vaccination rollout continues to enable it to achieve its target of immunizing 100 percent of its adult population this year.

    “I think you are in a good place with your vaccination program and I hope it continues,” said Vice President Kwakwa during her virtual meeting with Secretary Dominguez.

    Vice President Kwakwa expressed concern that with the deadlier COVID-19 Delta variant spreading across the globe, other countries in Asia may experience surges as they have either been late in procuring the vaccines or are slow in vaccinating their citizens.

    Secretary Dominguez said that from a low of less than 3 million vaccine doses received by the Philippines in the first quarter of this year, this volume has since increased to some 25 million doses in the April-June period.

    He informed Vice President Kwakwa that the much bigger delivery of about 70 million vaccine doses is expected this third quarter, and over 50 million doses in the last quarter of 2021.

    All these procured vaccines are enough to inoculate more than 100 percent of the country’s population, he told the WB executive.

    Secretary Dominguez also said the Philippines has been fast and efficient in vaccinating its citizens.

    During the meeting, Vice President Kwakwa also thanked Secretary Dominguez, and other senior officials of the Department of Finance (DOF) for their strong collaboration with the WB, which has resulted in the Bank’s largest program this year for the Philippines, amounting to about US$3.1 billion.

    Secretary Dominguez, in turn, thanked Vice President Kwakwa for leading WB’s initiatives to enhance its engagement with, and strengthen its support, for the Philippines. (DOF)