Category: General

MANILA: The Department of Agriculture (DA) and hog raisers industry allayed concerns over the safety and quality of retail pork products amid the resurgence of African swine fever (ASF). In a press conference, DA Assistant Secretary for Swine and Poultry Constante Palabrica said the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) has increased its checkpoints to 12 areas in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and Calabarzon to prevent the spread of ASF. ‘Napaka-effective nitong checkpoints na ito, ayaw naming magping-pong iyong mga baboy mula sa infected areas sa (These checkpoints are very effective, we don’t want to pass on swine from infected areas

ILOILO CITY: The distribution utility in this city has released PHP2.8 million in refunds to 685 eligible customers since it started returning bill deposits in May 2023. ‘As of the latest count, 685 customers have successfully processed and received their bill deposit refunds,’ the More Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power) said in a statement on Wednesday. It said that between May 2023 and August 2024, the power utility accounted for 1,307 customer accounts, reaching the 36-month mark since their connection with MORE Power, making them potentially eligible for the refund. However, only 996 met the criteria of consistently paying

BACOLOD CITY: The Negros Occidental provincial government is establishing a common sanitary landfill worth PHP30 million for nine local government units (LGUs) in La Castellana town. This is among the initiatives pursued by the province through the Provincial Environment Management Office, as its 10-year Solid Waste Management (SWM) Plan got the approval of the National SWM Commission. As of Wednesday, the selected clustered LGU beneficiaries are Pulupandan, Valladolid, San Enrique, Pontevedra, Hinigaran, Binalbagan, Moises Padilla, and Isabela, aside from the host-municipality of La Castellana, which do not have waste disposal facility. ‘The construction is expected to be completed by November

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

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