Day: August 21, 2024

MANILA: The Department of Agriculture (DA) reported Wednesday the opening of a new quarantine office of the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) at the Subic Freeport Zone, which is expected to enhance the country’s agricultural biosecurity and address potential risks posed by plant pests and diseases. ‘The establishment of this new office holds significant importance due to its position as a prominent center for trade and logistics,” DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said in a statement, referring to the completion of the BPI’s PHP2-million project. He said the Subic Freeport office is also crucial to achieving the administration’s food

GENEVA: The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended “targeted vaccination” instead of mass jab to fight mpox in areas where the virus has been detected. ‘It’s not recommended for mass vaccination; that’s very important. It really needs to be targeted vaccination where the virus is transmitting,’ WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris said, adding that the virus is easier to deal with than Covid-19. Noting that the rapid spread of the virus has captured global attention, she said the mpox virus has two genetic types: Clade 1 and Clade 2. Harris expressed concern over the new strain of the virus, Clade 1b,

MANILA: The local stock market closed mid-week lower, snapping its three-day rally on profit-taking, while the Philippine peso ended almost unchanged. The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) fell 0.64 percent to 6,900.62, with All Shares also declining by 0.13 percent to 3,724.38 level. Among sectoral indices, only the Industrial counter finished with gains, up by 0.14 percent to 9,207.97. Losers were led by Property, down by 1.53 percent; followed by Financials, down by 1.04 percent; Mining and Oil, down by 0.91 percent; Services, down by 0.23 percent; and Holding Firms, down by 0.20 percent. ‘Investors booked gains after three consecutive

LEGAZPI CITY: At least 500 farmers assisted by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) in Bicol have been included and provided with additional livelihood through the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers or TUPAD, a program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). In an interview on Wednesday, NIA-Bicol spokesperson Ma. Cleofe Baraera said the initiative is part of the convergence program of the NIA with other national government agencies. “Through this program, we look for interventions that can be done to assist our irrigators’ associations (IAs) in the six provinces to at least provide additional income,” Baraera said. The

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY: Camiguin Governor Xavier Jesus Romualdo said the island’s Quick Response (QR) registration policy is part of the island province’s measure to improve tourism services. In a radio interview on Wednesday, Romualdo said the QR system empowers registered to have streamlined access to different services and accredited accommodations. “We wanted data-driven governance in planning and promotion. How will you promote Camiguin when you don’t know your demographics?” he asked. The QR code registration system started during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic as a tool for contact tracing. In March 2023, it was relaunched to register tourists as

MANILA: The new procurement law is key to stopping corrupt practices in the government, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said Wednesday. During the Kapihan sa Manila Bay, Pangandaman said the New Government Procurement Act (NGPA) or Republic Act (RA) 12009 would enhance government efficiency and ensure high-quality outcomes. Pangandaman also guaranteed that there would be no repeat of the so-called Pharmally scandal or the controversial awarding of the multi-billion-peso contracts to the Pharmally Pharmaceuticals Corp. by the past administration. ‘While we made it a little flexible in doing the procurement process, there are still safeguards,’ she said, noting that development partners