 |
||
| 05 JANUARY 2008 | . | |
|
|
||
| 05 JANUARY 2008 | . | |
 |
DA to push 7 farm-friendly bills in Congress |
|
|
PGMA welcomes world body's report on major RP gains in anti-graft drive |
|
|
PGMA's 'Pamaskong Handog' for poor families continues until January 7 |
|
|
| DA to push 7 farm-friendly bills in Congress |
|
The Department of Agriculture (DA) is pushing in Congress this year the
approval of at least seven more farm-friendly measures that aim to increase
incomes for small farmers and fisherfolk, expand access to rural credit and
protect the environment. The DA bared this plan weeks ahead of the resumption of the regular legislative session this month, even as it welcomed the recent approval by Congress of the Malacañang-endorsed extension of the Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ACEF) from end-2007 to 2015. "We welcome the Congress' timely move to extend the life of the ACEF, which will let government funnel more funds into Philippine agriculture and enable this sector to sustain its growth momentum this year," Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap said. "The approval by Congress of the ACEF bill before its traditional yearend recess is testament to the strong commitment of our legislators to agricultural modernization and food security." The Senate and the House of Representatives have ratified the final congressional version of the ACEF bill before going on their Christmas break. Yap said the DA will push in Congress this year the three pending bills on the restructuring of the National Food Authority (NFA); plugging loopholes in the agrarian-reform credit and financing system for agrarian reform beneficiaries through banking institutions; and creating the Magna Carta for agricultural workers. He said the department is also backing four more bills, namely those extending the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP); establishing a land use code; creating a Trade Representative Office to help unify the government's fragmented approach to trade; and promoting a green Philippines. The DA is backing the financial and corporate restructuring of the NFA to help bankroll a multibillion-peso national grains highway that would further boost farm productivity, raise rural incomes and help the government achieve its food sufficiency goals in the medium term, Yap said. He said new funding for this agricultural logistics artery will be used partly to repair and upgrade non-functioning NFA warehouses nationwide to benefit farmers in 2,000 rice-clustered areas and 1,000 corn-clustered areas across the country. Amendments to the Agri-Agra Law, on the other hand, would help ease the rural credit squeeze by plugging loopholes that have allowed commercial banks to buy government securities in lieu of setting aside 10 percent of their loanable funds for agrarian reform as mandated by this law, Yap said. He said that the DA supports amendments to Presidential Decree 717, or the Agri-Agra Law, to free billions of pesos of funds available from commercial banking institutions to develop Philippine agriculture and raise incomes for its small direct stakeholders. The proposed amendments to the Agri-Agra Law seek to remove the provision in PD 717 allowing banks to invest in government securities as alternative compliance to the law, and specify those who may have access to credit to ensure that small farmers and fisherfolk are given priority by financial institutions. |
|
|
| PGMA welcomes world body's report on major RP gains in anti-graft drive |
|
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has welcomed the report that the
Philippines improved its 2008 Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) by gaining
a score above the median in 14 out of 17 indicators. In 2007, it scored above the median in 11 out of 16 indicators. "This shows that our gains versus corruption are being recognized," she pointed out. "I am calling on all government agencies to draw inspiration from this and persevere in the battle against corruption," the President added. According to Philippine Ambassador to the United States Willy Gaa, the Board of Directors of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) met to select countries for MCA funding, with Malawi chosen by the MCC Board as Compact eligible. This was largely due to the strong focus that the MCC has been placing on poverty alleviation in Africa. A country chosen as Compact eligible can begin the process of applying for a large-scale grant or compact, under this innovative foreign aid program to reduce poverty through economic growth. Since its inception in 2004, MCC has approved compacts totaling over $5.5 billion with 16 partner countries. The Philippines is currently a Threshold Country, having been given an MCC grant of US$21 million. Ambassador Gaa pointed out that results of the program have been positive based on the MCC's Threshold Report on the Philippines in November 2007. The MCC's Threshold Program is designed to assist countries that are not yet qualified for the compact grants, but have demonstrated a commitment to enact the reforms necessary to improve policy performance that may eventually help them qualify for compact assistance. According to the MCC report, capacity building activities have been extensive, and that the Ombudsman is meeting conviction and mediation targets. The positive report recognizes the major gains the Philippines has accomplished in fighting corruption. The Philippine Threshold program is focused on enhancing anticorruption efforts by strengthening the Office of the Ombudsman, improving revenue administration, and increasing enforcement capacity within the Department of Finance. Ambassador Gaa said that the Philippines will continue working closely with the MCC to obtain compact status for the country. |
|
|
| PGMA's 'Pamaskong Handog' for poor families continues until January 7 |
|
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s gift-giving for poor families under the
“Pamaskong Handog” project will continue until Monday, Jan. 7, according to
the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). Launched in Masbate last Dec. 13 by the President herself, the project aims to provide Christmas gift packs to at least 835,600 poor families from 30 poorest provinces in the country, including the National Capital Region (NCR0. It is implemented by the DSWD, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), Department of Agriculture (DA), and the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC). DSWD Secretary Esperanza Cabral said that "Pamaskong Handog" is part of the Accelerated Hunger Mitigation Program of the Arroyo administration which aims to reduce hunger among poor families through food distribution and supplemental feeding for children. A budget worth P150 million was released by the government for this project. The funds were drawn from the combined resources of PAGCOR which poured in P100 million and the DSWD which provided P50 million. Beneficiaries of the project come from provinces identified as food-poor provinces by the National Nutrition Council (NNC). Ten provinces, including the NCR, were classified as first priority, while 20 others were classified as second priority. Families residing in first priority provinces received P250 worth of gift packs containing two kilos of rice, one kilo of sugar, two cans of corned beef, coffee, juice, spaghetti noodles and sauce, and instant noodles. Families from the second priority provinces, on the other hand, received P100 worth of gifts packs containing two kilos of rice, two cans of corned beef, and two packs of instant noodles. Secretary Cabral said that different government agencies involved in pro-poor programs were present during the gift-giving wherein the heads of agencies provided on-site services such as microfinance, Botika ng Barangay, medical mission, training programs, cooking demonstrations, and nutrition education. |
|
|