DA Sec. Alcala bisitahon ang “Hybrid Rice Derby Area” sa Compostela

Compostela Valley Province–-- Gitakdang bisitahon mismo ni DA Secretary Proceso J. Alcala ang Hybrid Rice Derby Area diha sa Brgy. Lagab, Compostela, Comval Province nga mahitabo panahon sa iyang pagtambong sa “1^st Provincial Rice Congress” sa Comval Province nga dumalahon sa probinsiya sulod sa Compostela Municipal Gym karong Oktobre 23,2015.

Ubos sa temang “Accelerating the Adoption of High Value Yielding Rice Varieties in Compostela Valley-A Road to Rice Competitiveness and Self Sufficiency”, magtapok ang mokabat 500 ka mga Rice Farmers sa probinsiya aron hisgotan ang mga maayong himoon aron labi pang modaghan ang ilang ani pinaagi sa pagtanom sa mga Hybrid Rice nga nasayrang adunay taas nga abot human ang malampusong “Hybrid Rice Technology Demonstration” nga mao ang pagpili sa recommended varietries nga nasyrang taas og abot human ang pipila ka bulang Varietal Trials sa mga semilyang girekomendar sa mga iladong seed companies.

Una niini ang usa ka “Hybrid Rice Technology Demonstration” nga gisugdan pinaagi sa gihimong “ Kapehan sa Uma: Hybrid Rice Derby Launching” diha sa Brgy. Lagab, Compostela diin mismo si Senior Board Member Tyron Uy maoy nangulo pagtanom sa mga semilya sa humay kauban sila Mayor Lema Bolo, Region XI Rice Focal Alejandro Yadao, PAGRO Chief Dr. Rolando Simene, ug MAGRO Teudolfo Lora.

Nahitabo kini niadtong Hulyo 29,2015 sa buntag kauban ang mga Rice Farmers nga sila Fructuso Jumalon, Apolonio Obeja, ug Nelson Sebastian nga boluntaryong nagpagamit sa tag 2,500 metro-quadradong luna sa ilang basakan aron himoong technology demonstration farm sa matag variety sa Hybrid Rice nga gisulayan pagpatubo.

Mitambong sad ang mga dagkong opisyal sa PhilRice Agusan ug sa mga iladong Seed Companies nga mao ang SYNGENTA, ang SL Agritech Corporation, ang Bayer Crop Science, ang Pioneer Hybreed Philippines, ug Jardine Distribution nga maoy naghatag sa libreng semilya sa lain-laing variety sa gisulayan ug pagasulayang Hybrid Rice.

Gitumong niini ang pagdasig sa mga mangunguma pagtanom sa Hybrid Rice alang sa mas dakong ani ug kita, ug sa gitinguhang dakong contribution sa Rice Sufficiency Program sa nasud nga kabahin sa Rebuilding and Recovery nga gihingusgan sa lideratro sa probinsiya sa pagpanguna nila ni Gov. Arturo “Chiongkee” Uy, Vice Gov. Manuel “Way Kurat” Zamora, Senior Board Member Tyron Uy, ug SP Members. (Gilbert Cabahug/IDS Comval)

SSS offers calamity assistance for “Lando” affected members

MANILA-The Social Security Commission, the policy-making body of the Social Security System (SSS) has approved the grant of a calamity relief package for SSS members and pensioners affected by Typhoon Lando for calamity areas declared by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

SSS Assistant Vice President for Member Loans Boobie Angela A. Ocay said SSS members and pensioners residing in areas to be declared by the NDRRMC under a state of calamity due to Typhoon Lando can avail themselves of the agency's calamity relief package. The tentative start of the program is on October 26 depending on the NDRRMC declaration.

The SSS calamity relief package consists of the Salary Loan Early Renewal Program (SLERP) which allows members to renew their loans earlier than the prescribed date; the SSS Direct House Repair and Improvement Loan Program, which offers a lower interest rate of only six percent per annum; and three-month advance payment for members receiving pensions under SSS and Employees' Compensation Program.

“This is our way of providing immediate assistance to our members affected by Typhoon Lando. They can renew their loans or advance their pension even before they are due for renewal or payment,” Ocay said, “We hope that through this calamity package assistance, our members would be able to provide for their basic needs like food, shelter and healthcare.”

Ocay said the grant of salary loans under SLERP will be subject to the same eligibility guidelines of regular salary loans. “To further help them in their recovery, we will waive the one-percent service fee charged on proceeds of said loans,” she added.

For the advanced pension payments, Ocay said pensioners, whose present address is different from the address in the SSS database will have to submit a barangay certification to prove that they reside in a declared calamity area.

“To our members whose houses need repair after the typhoon, they may avail of cash assistance through our Direct House Repair and Improvement loan window, which now only carries an interest of six percent per annum,” Ocay said.

Ocay said qualified SSS members and pensioners have until December 31, 2015 to apply for loans and advance pensions while deadline of application for the Direct House Repair and Improvement Loan, is up to one year from issuance of its corresponding circular.

As of October 19, the NDRRMC has not yet declared calamity areas affected by Typhoon Lando which made landfall over Casiguran, Aurora last October 18. Based on the latest NDRRMC report, a total of 4,892 families were evacuated to evacuation centers due to the typhoon. (SSS)

FPIC a must on projects in ancestral domain-NCIP

DAVAO DEL NORTE, October 23 (PIA) - - Any development to be undertaken in the ancestral domain, may it be initiated by the government or private sector, must secure free and prior informed consent (FPIC).

Eric Marteja, community affairs officer of the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) – Compostela Valley, emphasized on Thursday (October 22) during the Pakigasayod sa Kinaiyahan segment of the Serbisyo para sa Masa program of the Sonshine Radio that the consensus of all indigenous cultural communities (ICC) / indigenous people (IP) in an area through an FPIC must be secured first by the developers before the project will be implemented.

Marteja said that the FPIC is stated in the IP’s Rights Act (IPRA) of 1997 and NCIP Administrative Order 3, series of 2012.

He stressed that only the ICCs and IPs have the right to determine and decide on the developments that will happen on the ancestral domain.

“These activities and projects that are covered for FPIC are those that are extractive, intrusive and large scale; non-extractive and small scale activities; and other processes that may affect the lives, beliefs, institutions, spiritual well being and the lands of the IPs,” he said.

Marteja also underscored that the priority development of the IPs are stipulated in the Ancestral Domain Sustainable Development and Protection Plan (ADSDPP).

“We also have areas that are excluded from any activities, which are included also in the ADSDPP. These are sacred grounds and burial sites, identified international and local cultural heritage sites, critical areas or reserved areas for special purposes of the IPs and others identified by the IPs in the ADSDPP.”

Marteja declared that the NCIP can stop and suspend the implementation of any development programs and projects if after due investigation and proof the implementation violates any law, rules and regulations of the IPs. (PIA11, Michael Uy)

DavNor celebrates Press Freedom Month

TAGUM CITY, October 26 (PIA) - - The provincial government of Davao del Norte hosted earlier today (Oct. 26) the Press Freedom Month celebration participated by different local media with a theme ‘Katungod ug Respeto Ipatigbabaw sa Malahutayong Pamahayag.’

 The celebration is pursuant to the proclamation of Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario last 2008 declaring every October as Press Freedom Month.

 To kick off the activity, the Provincial Information Office holds a DavNor Karon, television program episode, during the regular monthly convocation of the provincial government at the Bulwagan ng Lalawigan.

 Gov. Del Rosario said that the celebration being the only in the region showed the respect of the provincial government to the media as an essential factor of good governance.

 “The media is vital in increasing the transparency and accountability in our decision making processes and communicating the principles of good governance to the society,” Del Rosario emphasized.

 During the celebration, Aurora Lozada, consultant of the DXDN Radyo Ukay, received the first ever Gawad Mantala Lifetime Achievement Award for more than three decades of exemplary contribution as a broadcaster.

 In the afternoon, the practitioners from different media outlets participated in the Medialympics at the RDR Gym, Davao del Norte Sports Complex.

 The Medialympics include Basketball, Badminton, Volleyball, Table Tennis, Darts and parlor games. (PIA11, Michael Uy)

APEC calls for implementation of intelligent transport systems by member economies

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) member economies are encouraged to implement the Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of transport infrastructures, especially recognizing the significant safety and environmental benefits that may be realized simultaneously.

The ministers responsible for transportation in the APEC region made the call in their joint statement issued at the conclusion of the 2015 APEC Transportation Ministerial Meeting held here earlier this month.

"The development of ITS is essential to the improvement of the transportation system in the APEC region," the APEC ministers declared.

The ITS are advanced applications that aim to provide innovative services relating to different modes of transport and traffic management and enable various users to be better informed and make safer, more coordinated, and "smarter" use of transport networks.

Such systems vary in technologies applied, from basic management systems such as car navigation; traffic signal control systems; container management systems; variable message signs; automatic number plate recognition or speed cameras to monitor applications, such as security CCTV systems; and to more advanced applications that integrate live data and feedback from a number of other sources.

"We encourage economies to cooperate with the relevant authorities or organizations to ensure data protection and system integration and integrity," the APEC ministers said in their joint statement. "In addition, security measures need to be put in place and actively maintained to support the use of big data in ITS applications."

Consistent with initiatives to promote inclusive, user-friendly mobility, they also recommended that economies explore how ITS can make transportation networks more accessible to persons with disabilities, older people, women, children and students, low-income populations, and other vulnerable groups.

Furthermore, the transportation ministers expressed their support for the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Implementation Team and stress the importance of the application of GNSS technologies in achieving seamless and green intermodal transportation to enhance safety, security and sustainability.

In view of this, they encourage economies to continue to promote and adopt GNSS technologies, especially those that will contribute to the improvement of supply chain connectivity as well as to the enhancement of capabilities for preparedness to natural disasters and emergency response.

The 21-member economies of APEC are also encouraged to support a task force established by the APEC Transportation Working Group (TPTWG) to explore the benefits and challenges of APEC-wide Transport Cards.

Last year, Korean President Park Geun-hye proposed the introduction of a transportation card that could be used anywhere in the member economies of APEC.

The card proposed by the South Korean leader needs a standardized system of public transport fare technology. It would allow people to use any type of public transport, railroad or expressway with one card, anywhere within APEC. This is similar to Korea’s national “One Card All Pass” system.

Park proposed the plan as a measure to enhance regional connectivity and promote the liberalization of trade and investment across APEC countries. Her proposal is reflected in the implementation report of the APEC Connectivity Blueprint. (PNA/PCOO News Release)