Senator Richard Gordon on Saturday joined colleagues in calling for the strengthening of the sugar industry amid an alleged new proposal of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) to import a huge supply of sugar. “Maraming sugar sa Negros pero wala akong nakikitang candy factory. Dapat iyong ating sugar products, nagagamit natin para magkaroon ng value-added iyong mga sugar planter natin (There are plenty of sugar in Negros but I can’t find a candy factory. We should make use of our sugar products to provide value added in our sugar planters),” Gordon said in a statement. He added that the plan
President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Saturday hailed the heroism of medical front-liners and ordinary Filipinos who faithfully observe health protocols in the country’s ongoing fight against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. In a speech read by Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, the Chief Executive underscored that heroism is also demonstrated by the doctors, nurses, medical personnel, and professionals who willingly stepped up to the frontlines to treat those who were sick and infected with Covid-19. Guevarra represented Duterte as the guest of honor and speaker in the 80th Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) rites held at the Dambana ng Kagitingan
The Philippine and Japanese governments deplored on Saturday the civilian deaths in Bucha, scores of which were uncovered following the Russian forces’ retreat from the Ukrainian city. Manila and Tokyo’s foreign and defense ministers made the remarks during their inaugural 2+2 talks in Tokyo but did not explicitly condemn any party over what had been described by Ukraine as a massacre. Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa, and Japanese Defense Minister Kishi Nobuo underscored that aggression against a United Nations Member State “constitutes a serious violation of international law prohibiting the use
The Bisaya Gyud (BG) party-list joins the country’s commemoration on Saturday of the gallantry of soldiers who fought for freedom during World War II and urged Filipinos to demonstrate heroism in whatever way they can during this challenging time of the Covid-19 pandemic. First nominee Alelee Aguilar-Andanar said BG honors the patriotism of the country’s fallen heroes. “Kinikilala po namin ang kanilang kabayanihan at sakripisyo para tayo ay mapalaya sa isa sa pinakadilim na yugto ng ating kasaysayan (We recognize their heroism and sacrifices to free us from the darkest period of our history),” Andanar said in a news release.
Due to the decline in volcanic activity, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) on Saturday lowered Taal Volcano’s alert status from Level 3 (magmatic unrest) to Level 2 (decreased unrest). In an advisory, Phivolcs said 86 small-magnitude and imperceptible volcanic earthquakes have been recorded since the volcano’s eruption last March 26. Most of the recorded earthquakes were generated by volcanic degassing from the shallow magma and hydrothermal region beneath the Taal Volcano Island (TVI) edifice. Volcanic earthquakes are caused by movement or eruptions of magma from the volcano, compared to tectonic quakes which are caused by fault movements.
The Philippines and Japan are seeking to further strengthen their overall defense relations following the inaugural 2+2 talks held in Tokyo on Saturday. The two nations’ foreign and defense ministers agreed to increase engagements through capacity and capability building, transfer of more defense equipment and technology, and continuous cooperation on previously-transferred defense equipment, among others. According to the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two nations are likewise poised to “start considering” frameworks to facilitate reciprocal visits as well as reciprocal provision of supplies and services to boost Japan Self-Defense Forces and the Armed Forces of the Philippines’s partnership. “Going
