The Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDRP) in the Cordillera region has recently turned over a PHP4.1 million greenhouse and storage facility for potato planting materials to a farmer’s cooperative in Benguet. Elvy Taquio-Estacio of the PRDP-CAR Information, Advocacy, Communication, and Education Unit, in a text message on Thursday, said the facility was turned over to the SRT La Trinidad Cooperative of Benguet on January 11. This completes the PHP12.28 million assistance of the DA-PRDP to the cooperative. Aside from the greenhouse structure, several farm equipment, supplies, a delivery truck, and working capital were earlier turned over to the

The Philippine Geothermal Production Company, Inc. (PGPC) has handed over a rescued eagle to the Albay Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO). Erwin M. Vargas, PGPC public affairs supervisor, in an interview on Wednesday, said the eagle was rescued by a local farmer within the geothermal firm’s 5,087-hectare operation reserved area. “The Philippine Geothermal is very happy because it indicates that there is habitant here when a farmer was able to rescue an eagle. The eagle, named ‘Tima’ for Tiwi-Malinao was in a good condition and soon be identified what kind of species is it,” Vargas said. Lorenzo Consulta

Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Silvestre Bello III fulfilled his promise to return to Tarlac province on Wednesday to distribute more government assistance to informal workers displaced by the pandemic. A media statement on Thursday said Bello led the awarding of PHP3.528 million worth of payouts from the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa ating Disadvantaged/Displaced workers (TUPAD) program to 880 farmers, tricycle drivers, and vendors who were severely affected by the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic. Bello was in the province last year to extend government aid via TUPAD, the cash-for-work program of DOLE. Tarlac officials led by Governor Susan Yap

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Western Visayas is banking on the Malinis at Masaganang Karagatan (MMK) program to boost the efforts of local government units on sustainable fishery. MMK is the banner program of BFAR that gives recognition and incentives to outstanding coastal communities for their efforts on sustainable resources and fisheries management since 2016. This first quarter of 2022, BFAR is expected to transfer funds to three coastal LGUs in the region chosen as regional winners in 2021 since they decided to forego the ceremonial awarding amid the health pandemic, said BFAR Regional Director Remia

The confiscated and forfeited partially dehusked mature coconuts contained in 42 container vans bound in the Port of Cebu are now in the possession of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA). In a statement on Thursday, the PCA said Central Visayas Acting Regional Manager Brendan Trasmonte signed the turn-over documents of the confiscated goods contained in 42 40-footer container vans from the Cebu District Collection Office in the Port of Cebu. After the ceremony, the group went to the Cebu Port Authority compound to inspect and turn over the confiscated items. The shipment was discovered by the Bureau of Customs (BOC)

The Court of Appeals (CA) has dismissed a petition filed by a casino operator against its workers’ union over a dispute on the coverage of their Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). In a seven-page resolution written by Associate Justice Myra V. Garcia Fernandez dated December 28 and recently published online, the appellate court’s Eleventh division said it “finds no reason to deviate from the findings” of the labor arbiter which had ruled against Melco Resorts Leisure (Phils.) Corp. which operates the City of Dreams Manila resort and casino. On March 10, 2021, Labor Arbiter Renato Q. Bello ordered the company to