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| 24 MARCH 2008 | . | |
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| 24 MARCH 2008 | . | |
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President urges Nueva Vizcaya farmers to increase rice production |
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DUPAX DEL NORTE, Nueva Vizcaya -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo called
today on the farmers in this province to help ease the world-wide problem of
falling rice supply by increasing their production of the staple crop. The President sounded the call during a visit this morning to a rice field in Barangay Malasin here. It’s harvest season in Nueva Vizcaya, one of the country’s leading rice-producing provinces. She said that given its well-irrigated rice fields, Nueva Vizcaya is a position to further increase its rice output. National Food Authority (NFA) Region 2 Director Danilo Pastrana said Nueva Vizcaya rice farmers produce an average of 90 sacks of palay a hectare per cropping season. Farmers here follow the three-cropping cycle a year. Pastrana, who briefed the President on various aspects of the rice production in the area, said that aside from the 14,200 hectares planted to rice, 6,000 hectares of Nueva Vizcaya’s farmlands were planted to corn. The President also witnessed here the departure for Metro Manila of 15 cargo trucks loaded with 850 sacks of 50-kilogram of rice each. The rice cargo was dispatched to Metro Manila “to make sure that there is rice in all the markets…rice that are government-subsidized or the National Food Authority (NFA) rice… especially for the poor.” To further boost rice production in this province, the President awarded to the farmers some P2.8 million worth of farm implements, including eight units of pressurized irrigation system worth P1.5 million. She also issued a certificate of award for a diversion dam in Barangay Belance worth P500,000; a certificate of award for two multi-purpose drying pavements worth P200,000 for Dupax del Norte, and a certificate of award for one unit of packing house worth P450,000, also for Dupax del Norte. The President also distributed P150,000 worth of assorted vegetable seeds in Barangay Belance to augment farmers’ income from rice production. The Philippines consumes a total of 11.9 million metric tons of rice annually, or an average daily consumption of 33,000 metric tons. Rice prices have gone up in the world market due to the increased demand for the staple in the Middle East and Africa. Earlier, the President released P1.5 billion to boost rice production, especially in the country's 10 poor provinces, for the planting of hybrid seeds that yield 4.5 metric tons or one ton more than the 3.5-metric ton production from good seeds. She has also made the rounds of NFA warehouses to check on the agency’s buffer stocks and ensure no disruptions in the supply of the government-subsidized rice. |
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| PGMA brings cheers to poor farming families of N. Vizcaya |
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DUPAX DEL NORTE, Nueva Vizcaya---Stressing that the Philippines would not
become a modern nation if the lives of the poor is not uplifted and poverty
eradicated, President Gloria Macapagal –Arroyo brought today the fruits of
an improved economy---enhanced social justice and services, to the poor
farmers of this agricultural province. The President, accompanied by First Gentleman Atty. Jose Miguel Arroyo, and Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, first stop was Barangay Malasin where she brought “Easter packs,” scholarship vouchers, livelihood kits, and agricultural support. These included 5,000 food packs, 50 Buntis kits, 25 TESDA scholarship vouchers for the municipalities of Dupax del Norte, Kasibu and Kayapa; 25 Galing Mekaniko Ako and 25 Galing Masahista Ako kits and 500 PhilHealth cards. The President also awarded 69 certificates of landownership for the municipality of Kasibu. “I’m very happy for having the chance to be with you today…We will continue to extend our support to all of you,” the President said. “Dupax is a small town. It is important that we visit small towns so we know what they need,” she added. In Barangay Belance, the President’s second stop, she also distributed some 3,000 grocery packs and 100 sacks of rice for the different indigenous tribes of Nueva Vizcaya that included the Bugkalots and Isinays. She also awarded certificates to operate Botika ng Parokya as a gift to the St. Joseph the Worker Parish, so the parishioners could avail themselves of cheap and quality medicines. Also in Barangay Belance, the President and the First Gentleman attended a concelebrated thanksgiving Mass officiated by Bishop Ramon Villena together with Archbishop Diosdado Talamayan, Bishop Rodolfo Beltran, Bishop Ricardo Baccay and Fr. Florentino Daynos. |
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| PGMA to lead Pacquiao's induction into Elorde Boxing Hall of Fame |
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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will lead the ceremonies during the
induction of Philippine boxing sensation Manny Pacquiao into the prestigious
Gabriel “Flash” Elorde Hall of Fame at the Banquet of Champions Centennial
Hall of the Manila Hotel tomorrow night. Distinguished sports luminaries, government officials and other VIPs will join the President in enshrining the newly crowned World Boxing Council (WBC) superfeatherweight champion in the Elorde Hall of Fame. Pacquiao, who wrested the WBC crown by split decision from Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez on March 16 in Las Vegas, will be the first Elorde Hall of Famer after successfully fulfilling the body’s stringent requirement of being awarded the Boxer of the Year Award for seven years. Elorde reigned as world junior lightweight champion for seven years, from 1960 to 1967. The extraordinary feat, which made Elorde one of the world’s greatest boxers of all time, earned for him a niche in the International Boxing Hall of Fame – the first Filipino to be so honored after pre-war legend Pancho Villa. The other 2007 boxer-of-the-year awardees to be honored are International Boxing Federation (IBF) flyweight champion Nonito Donaire, World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight titleholder Gerry Peñalosa, IBF minimum weight titlist Florante Condes and WBO minimum weight king Donnie Nietes. |
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| Statement of Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye Re: President Aquino |
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We are deeply saddened by the news of President Aquino's illness and wish to
convey our heartfelt prayers and sincerest wishes for her complete healing.
We know that with her strength and total trust in God, as well as the love and support of everyone around her, she will be able to surmount this as she has conquered all the other trials in her life. Our thoughts and prayers are with her and her loved ones. In times such as these, though these difficulties may be hard to face, let us place our faith in God for his continued blessings and complete trust in his mercy and kindness. |
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| 'People's Champ' Manny Pacquiao receives hero's welcome from PGMA |
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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo accorded today a hero’s welcome to the
“People’s Champion” Manny Pacquiao, who paid a courtesy on her in Malacañang
shortly after he arrived from the United States early this morning. Pacquiao, who wrested the 130-pound World Boxing Council (WBC) superfeatherweight championship belt from Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez on March 15 in Las Vegas, arrived in Malacañang with wife Jinky and other members of Team Pacquiao. “Congratulations Manny, congratulations sa lahat,” the President said during the courtesy call this afternoon at the Music Room of Malacanang. Among those present were First Gentleman Atty. Jose Miguel Arroyo, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, former Ilocos Sur Governor Chavit Singson, Environment Secretary Jose Lito Atienza and his son Ali, Pacquiao’s personal manager Wakee Salud, and business manager Eric Pineda. Aside from winning the WBC belt, Pacquiao also secured the prestigious Ring Magazine belt for the 130-pound superfeatherweight division during the hard-fought 12-rounder with Marquez that ended in a split decision. During his Malacañang call, Pacquiao presented to the President his two championship belts, plus his WBC international championship belt. Pacquiao is the only Filipino fighter to win the world title in three weight categories -- the world super-featherweight, flyweight, and junior-featherweight championship belts. Eyeing his fourth world title in the heavier 135-pound division, Manny said negotiations are now ongoing for him to challenge WBC lightweight champ David Diaz on June 28, also at the Mandalay Bay Resort Casino in Las Vegas, the venue of the third Pacquiao-Marquez clash. |
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| Pacquiao appeals for national unity, pays courtesy call on PGMA in Malacañang |
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The people’s champion Manny Pacquiao appealed today for national unity as he
called on politicians to stop indulging too much in politics for the sake of
the country. “Ako ay patuloy na nangangampanya para sa pagkakaisa ng ating bansa. Kung lagi nating ilalagay sa isip ang pulitika, hindi tayo aasenso hindi tayo uunlad,” Pacquiao said during a press conference he called before paying a courtesy call on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo this afternoon in Malacanang. Manny said Filipinos should follow the political traditions of other countries such as the United States which put aside politics after the election. “Sana magkaisa tayo hindi natin kailangang mag-away. Isipin natin ang kinabukasan natin, magkaisa tayo,” he said. Pacquiao said the President stands as the country’s “nanay” (mother), whose decisions should be supported and respected by all. “Ang mahal na Pangulo, kung baga sa isang pamilya, siya ang nanay natin. Dapat nating suportahan at igalang kung anuman ang maging desisyon niya,” Pacquiao said. Many said the President is known to him as a very religious person and he is but one of the many who supports her. “Alam ko si Ma’am ay madasaling tao, nananalig sa mahal na Panginoon. Marami kaming sumusuporta ke Ma’am at sana makayanan niya ang lahat ng pagsubok sa buhay na ito,” he said. |
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