The Board of Investments (BOI) has approved the PHP61.8-million hog production project of Zashi Hog Farm, Inc. in San Ildefonso, Magalang, Pampanga, the investment promotion agency said Monday. The BOI gave green light to the project as it supports the government’s programs to stabilize pork supply in the local market amid the African swine fever (ASF). Zashi’s new project is adjacent to its existing hog raising facility. The new project involves establishment of a gestating building and farrowing facility, particularly for breeding, growing, and raising of piglets. Each piglet has a standard weight of nine kilograms. “With its own in-house

Regular flights at the Surigao City Airport have resumed Monday after the facility was damaged due to the onslaught of Typhoon “Odette” in December last year. “Commercial flight operations are back,” Junelito Abrazado, the city airport’s Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines manager, said in a Facebook post. Abrazado said the airport has initially welcomed the arrival of a Cebu Pacific flight on Monday from Cebu City. The flight carried 66 passengers from Cebu and arrived at 9:45 a.m. at the airport. Abrazado also reported the completion of the rehabilitation of the departure area of the airport’s passenger terminal building.

UniTeam senatorial candidate Harry Roque vowed to consider measures that would alleviate the plight of Filipino rice farmers and shield them from the disadvantageous provisions of the rice tariffication law. If elected in the Senate, Roque said he would look into the graft-prone provisions of the rice tariffication law (Republic Act 11203), which has liberalized the country’s rice trading, importation, and exportation. Under the law, an annual PHP10-billion Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund will be allocated to farm machinery and equipment, rice seed development, expanded rice credit assistance, and extension services to increase farmers’ income. “The government should investigate whether the

Another multimillion investment has received the green light from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) government, the regional Bangsamoro Board of Investments (BBOI) said Monday. Lawyer Ishak Mastura, BBOI chair, said the board approved the PHP278 million investment of the Usman Banana Farm (UBF), a Cardava banana exporter, based in Matanog, Maguindanao. UBF will employ 215 Bangsamoro workers, Mastura said, adding the project is seen to contribute to the economic development of Matanog and provide jobs for residents. “The banana company is the first of its kind since its main product is Cardava banana, unlike other banana businesses

The Philippine Post Office (PHLPost) on Monday reaffirmed its commitment to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s development blueprint as he marked his 77th birthday. In a Facebook post, the PHLPost expressed support for the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2017-2022 which will “lay down a solid foundation for a more inclusive growth, a high-trust society, and a globally competitive knowledge economy”. The PDP 2017-2022 is geared towards the country’s long-term vision adopted in Executive Order No. 5 s. 2016, Ambisyon Natin 2040, which includes the eradication of poverty by 2040. “It is guided by the Duterte Administration’s 10-point Socioeconomic Agenda. Anchored on

At least 106 flights are scheduled to depart and arrive at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 4 on Monday as it officially reopened almost two years since its closure due to the pandemic. Carriers CebGo, AirAsia Philippines, AirSWIFT are now back to mounting domestic flights at Terminal 4. The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) has used Terminal 3 for domestic operations since June 2020 to reduce the operations cost, as there were many flight cancellations and restrictions amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Flights of Philippine Airlines, however, remained at Terminal 2. Since last year, Terminal 4 has been used