Day: April 1, 2025

Rome: Department of Agriculture (DA) Assistant Secretary for Policy and Planning Paz Benavidez II has been elected chairperson of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA), making history as the first Filipino to hold the position. According to Philippines News Agency, the Commission is the only permanent intergovernmental body of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) dedicated to biological diversity for food and agriculture, and focuses on policies for the sustainable use, conservation, and equitable sharing of these essential resources. In a news release on Tuesday, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said Benavidez’s election

Baguio City: Former senator and 2025 senatorial candidate Panfilo “Ping” Lacson has proposed shifting the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) directly under the Office of the President to enhance the country’s disaster response framework. Speaking at the ‘Konsultahang Bayan: A Caucus for Good Governance Beyond Elections’ event at Citylight Hotel in Baguio City, Lacson advocated for this structural change to facilitate more efficient coordination with various government departments and agencies. According to Philippines News Agency, Lacson emphasized that having the OCD under the President’s direct control would remove bureaucratic delays, especially in the approval of rehabilitation plans and the timely