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Government

DA SETS 3% HIGHER RICE PRODUCTION FOR 2020 – DAR

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is targeting to produce 19.6 million metric tons (MMT) of palay (unhusked rice) in 2020. Agriculture Secretary William Dar said the projected palay harvest for this year would be 3 percent more than the estimated 2019 palay output of 19 MMT. Dar attributed the potential increase in output to the initial […]

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Government

AGRI-INDUSTRIALIZATION TO BE INCLUDED IN DA STRATEGY – DAR

Department of Agriculture Secretary William Dar has issued an administrative order (AO) which sets the policy framework for inclusive agri-industrialization and his “new thinking for agriculture” strategy. Dar said the first AO for 2020 will operationalize the department’s vision of a “food-secure Philippines with prosperous farmers and fisherfolk.” “Our ultimate goal is to double the […]

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Government

DA TO PRIORITIZE BUILDING OF FARM TO MARKET ROADS IN ‘RED’ AREAS – DAR

Department of Agriculture Secretary William Dar said they will prioritize the construction of farm-to-market roads (FMRs) in communist-held areas as part of the government’s initiative to fight insurgency. In a press conference, Dar described the move as a “double-purpose intervention” as it aims to encourage peace and development in the countryside. The agriculture chief said […]

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Government

DUTERTE APPOINTS WILLIAM DAR AS NEW AGRI CHIEF – MEDIALDEA

William Dar will be returning as Acting Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA), a Palace official said. Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said Dar will be replacing Emmanuel “Manny” Piñol who will be transferred to the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDa). “Yes,” Medialdea said when asked to confirm Dar’s appointment. “The Office of the President has […]

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Politics

RELEASE FINANCIAL AID FOR FARMERS HIT BY EL NIÑO – ANAC-IP PARTYLIST

With crop damage caused by El Niño now reaching almost P8 billion, ANAC-IP Rep. Jose T. Panganiban who also chairs the House of Representatives’ agriculture committee is urging government to release needed financial aid to the 247,610 affected farmers and help offset their losses. According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, the […]

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Politics

INCLUDE IP GROUPS IN WATER SECURITY POLICY – PANGANIBAN

While government is finalizing an executive order that seeks to address the country’s water security, a solon representing Indigenous Peoples on Wednesday reminded policy-makers that a national water policy should be inclusive and leave no one behind––especially Indigenous Peoples (IP) groups. The access of Indigenous Peoples to clean water should be prioritized alongside efforts to […]

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Government

DA TO UNVEIL NATIONAL FERTILIZER SUPPORT PROGRAM – PIÑOL

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is unveiling a national fertilizer program in a roll-over system, among other initiatives, to make Filipino farmers competitive as being pushed for by President Rodrigo Duterte. Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol made the disclosure in an interview on the sidelines of his meeting with farmer leaders at the National Food Authority […]

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Politics

DOUBLE EFFORTS TO ENSURE INCLUSION OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES IN UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE LAW– PANGANIBAN

With the passage of the Universal Health Care law, a solon representing indigenous peoples (IPs) has called for “doubled efforts” to ensure the inclusion of IPs in the landmark measure. “I hope we double our efforts to make sure IPs benefit from this law,” said ANAC-IP Rep. Jose Panganiban, Jr., one of the principal authors […]

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Government

DA’S QUARANTINE GROUP AT NAIA SACKED – PIÑOL

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol relieved the whole quarantine group of the Department of Agriculture at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) for failure to implement measures to block the entry of pork products coming from countries affected by the African Swine Fever or ASF. “I will issue the order even as I am here in […]

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Government

AGRICULTURE AMONG TOP CONCERNS OF DUTERTE ADMIN – DOMINGUEZ

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said agriculture will remain among the top concerns of the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte to fulfill its goal of raising farm productivity and rural incomes. Dominguez said that improving agricultural output and raising farmers’ incomes through education and the use of new farm technologies emerged as the No. 1 […]