Government should act in long term for Phl imminent food crisis due to Middle East conflict says Angara

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, March 8, 2011-Senator Edgardo J. Angara said that the imminent food crisis in the Philippines seen due to middle east conflict where he called the government to act against it in long-term following the rising price of crude oil would not just trigger but accelerate the increase of food costs worldwide.

Angara urged the Philippine government leaders to work with the private sector to achieve these goals at the soonest time possible where he explained that the increase of gasoline prices would be felt first and foremost by those living in poverty, saying that it is an immediate backlash from the trouble in the oil-producing countries but we must be warned of its lingering effect on food costs in the nation.

The Senator said that to address future problems he fears that emergency food security measures might not be enough explaining that the average Filipino family spends about half of its income on food alone. “If this expense eats up any more of the household budget, Filipinos will have to scrimp on other basic necessities,” he said.

The veteran legislator said that renewable energy sources and a bolstered agriculture industry would address these national issues as a way to avoid these problems by lessening the country’s dependence on oil as a primary source of fuel, perhaps through renewable energy alternatives which are being developed by our scientists, adding that to become more self-sufficient is by boosting our food security by strengthening the agriculture sector so we can stabilize food prices.

The senator reiterated his call to the government leaders to work hand in hand together with the private sectors and public agencies as the problem is coming, adding that the fluctuating price of gasoline is but a factor in the long-term food security in the country. (Jason de Asis)

Kiko calls for a comprehensive contingency measures in all possible scenarios in the midst of Middle East crisis

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, March 8, 2011-To address rising global food prices, Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, who chairs the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food in the committee hearing called in the government to be prepared in the contingency measures and also cautions the public and media to temper the issue and not to panic.

The hearing was conducted to assess the government’s preparedness amidst the prolonged political turmoil in the Middle East and North Africa which at the moment is affecting the price of oil. It was attended by Department of Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Greg Domingo, National Food Authority Director Lito Banayo, and representatives from the United Nation’s World Food Programme and Food and Agriculture Organization, National Economic Development Authority as well as representatives from various agricultural sectors and the academe to ensure that the prices remain stable and that there is enough food supply in the country.

Pangilinan presided over an inquiry in aid of legislation on the government’s ability to address the sudden increase of the prices of foods and other agricultural products where he recommends the government agencies concerned through the Executive Department to look at stockpiling measures the same with the other countries doing to protect their buffer of food.

To prevent unscrupulous traders from taking advantage of the situation, Pangilinan urged the DTI and consumers to aggressively monitor prices of basic commodities in the market nationwide.

The committee gathered that the prices of pork and chicken remain stable, and the price of onion has gone down. NFA reported that the country’s rice supply is still sufficient, however the price of flour, milk and sugar are going up and thereby the price of bread to go up while the oil price increases and obviously affecting the prices of all the commodities.

“These are the reasons why we are conducting this inquiry,” Pangilinan said, saying that he wants to make sure that we are not caught with our pants down in the worst case scenario.

“It is better not to panic and be prepared for the possible scenario. Let us be alarmed so that we may not to be caught unaware of the price increases,” the Senator said. (Jason de Asis)

Cops denied the reported Satanic Cult’s ‘killing spree’ sparks “Reign of Terror” in Nueva Ecija

CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija, March 8, 2011-Senior Supt. Roberto Aliggayu, PNP provincial director quickly dispelled reports of cult’s murder binge where a reign of terror has gripped villagers in this city and several towns in Nueva Ecija where allegedly satanic cult is on the loose in the province, killing children and young students supposedly used as offerings for demonic rituals saying it was a hoax intended to put the Philippine National Police in a bad light.

The Satanic jitters began to spread here after text messages circulated that its members have been making the rounds of this city and in other municipalities and killing people, mostly youngsters.

The text massages spread like wild fire that the cult was responsible for the killing of a nursing student, whose throat was allegedly slit in Barangay Kapitan Pepe Subdivision. A certain Enad reportedly perpetrated the dastardly killing.

Aliggayu said that the cult scare originated in Guimba where seven people were reported stabbed, three of whom reportedly died, by a serial killer who reportedly belonged to the cult. The text messages reached Cuyapo, Gen. Natividad and Gapan.

Aliggayu said that the existence of the serial killer and the cult and its reported killings and abductions were disinformations. He said a certain Ben Tumbling admitted circulating the terror text.

He said that the erroneous report was spread to create a negative impression that the police are not doing anything to preserve the peace and order within the province. He did not say, however, why the PNP in the province was being discredited by certain quarters. (Jason de Asis)

Baler Multi-species fish hatchery to be completed this month

BALER, Aurora, March 8, 2011-A multi-species fish hatchery that was started last February 2010 at barangay   Zabali will  be completed this month where the species cultured in this hatchery are milkfish,   seabass,   tilapia,   pompano   and abalone. The hatchery is accessible to all types of land vehicles and by boat and is located about 100 meters away from Port   Cemento and 10 kilometers from Baler town.  

Mr. Victor San Pedro, chief of the Provincial Fisheries and Aquatic Resources said that the project shall focus mainly on the operation of the fish hatchery to include the management of broodstock and the delivery of the produced fry to available nurseries for growing into fingerlings.

San Pedro said that the hatchery is expected to yield 40 million fries per year    of the various species.   As for the 21 day old milkfish, harvest is expected to be 4 million fries per run or per stocking. He said that the project was through the effort of Senador Edgardo J. Angara, Congressman Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, Governor Bellaflor-Angara Castillo and Mayor Arthur J. Angara. (Jason de Asis)

Agriculture Secretary Proceso J.Alcala (right) holds a blue crab (portunus trituberculatus), which is being propagated by the Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) at its newly-established blue crab hatchery in Baler, Aurora. When fully operational, the hatchery can produce 500,000 to 1 million crablets monthly to be distributed to fishermen for them to culture in four to six months. Excess production of crablets will be stocked in municipal waters for the benefit marginal fisherfolk in Aurora. Sec. Alcala has instructed the DA-BFAR to put up similar hatcheries near coastal areas, where blue crabs are abundant, to provide livelihood and income to small, marginal fisherfolk and their families. Also shown (from left) are Wilfredo Cruz, BFAR Aurora station chief and blue crab project leader, BFAR national director Malcolm Sarmiento, Jr., BFAR-MCS group head Dr. Alma Dickson, and BFAR Region 3 director Remedios Ongtangco.(Jason de Asis)