5.3 million poor to get full health insurance premium, says Drilon

MANILA, September 7, 2012-For some 5.3 million poor families who cannot afford to seek even basic medical care, the proposed P2.006-trillion 2013 national budget has allocated P12.61 billion to give them access to a totally free medical treatment, according to Senate Finance Committee chairman Franklin M. Drilon.

Drilon explained the government will fully subsidize the health insurance premium of 5.3 million indigents identified in the National Household Targeting System being used to identify and reach indigent and informal sector households.

“The 2013 budget provides for P12.61 billion to secure the enrollment of about 5.3 million families in Philhealth at P2,400 per annum per family. The beneficiaries can reach up to 20 million or even more for the Philhealth card can be used by the principals’ spouse and their minor children,” said Drilon.

“The government will fully pay the health premiums of indigent patients to widen their access to proper medication. It is disturbing to know that, in this modern day, there are still a great number of Filipinos who do not have access to immediate health care,” said Drilon.

He added that indigent patients can be freed from the financial worries with the new Philhealth case rates payment scheme already in place which provides for a no-balance billing policy for 23 medical cases which include, among others, dengue, pneumonia, asthma, typhoid fever, and appendectomy.     

Drilon also explained that the Department of Justice opinion in March 2012 authorizing the use of P8.3 billion by the government to fully subsidize the Philhealth premiums of indigent patients for the current year will still be in effect in the 2013 budget.

Under the 2012 General Appropriations Act, the full release of national government full premium subsidy was subjected to the issuance of a DoJ opinion stating that the move to fully subsidize the health premiums of indigent patients will not violate the National Health Insurance Act, noted Drilon.

It can be recalled also that Senator Drilon moved last year to strike out a budgetary provision that sought the passage of an amendment in the said Act before this full NG premium subsidy could be implemented, saying “that Act does not hinder the government to provide full subsidy for premium contributions of indigents and the provision being proposed then was contrary to the primary intent of the law.”

“The provision of a health insurance to the poorest Filipinos is consistent with the government’s goal to implement the Universal Health Care. That is the very reason why I proposed the deletion of a budgetary provision in the 2012 budget saying an amendment to the National Health Insurance Act is necessary before the government can fully subsidize the health premiums of indigent families,” ended Drilon.

SENATE INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE ON SMUGGLING RELEASES RAMIREZ

MANILA, September 6, 2012-The Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food today orders the release of Cesar Ramirez, a resource person in the investigation on smuggling cited for contempt and detained in the Senate.

The committee's Chairman, Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan, says that the members of the investigating committee agreed that Ramirez's profuse apologies as well as his explanation of being rattled at the queries thrown at him during the investigation have caused him to be inconsistent with his statements, are enough for the Senate to grant Ramirez his freedom from detention.

"We considered his supplemental statements very carefully, and after conferring with the Senate President we agreed to grant the motion of Ramirez’s counsel to lift the Senate's citation of contempt. However, we issue a stern warning to Mr. Ramirez: We will not hesitate to cite him again for contempt and detain him should he fail to testify with straightforwardness and truth in the hearings. The penalties could be more severe the next time around."

‘THE PHILIPPINES SHOULD PREPARE FOR ASEAN 2015'

MANILA, September 6, 2012-Senator Edgardo J. Angara said that the recent jump of the Philippines in global competitiveness rankings should spur the country on to prepare for the regional economic integration of Southeast Asian nations by 2015.  

Angara, Chair of the Senate Committee on Education, Arts and Culture, added that while the country may not be entirely prepared for the integration, the improvement in rankings showed that it is headed in the right direction.

“The year 2015 is going to be a milestone because the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is going to become one community—not just an economic community where we trade, bargain and do commerce, but also as an employment and education community,"  Angara said. “I cannot truthfully say that we are completely prepared but I think we are taking steps to be more competitive."

  

The World Economic Forum’s 2012-2013 Global Competitiveness Report showed that the Philippines leaped 10 notches from 75^th to the 65^th spot out of 144 countries in the global competitiveness ranking for the year.

Angara stressed that global competitiveness is crucial for the Philippines since the integration of the ten-members countries of the ASEAN will increase competition for jobs, goods and services. 

He noted that in two years’ time, a Filipino can work without permit in any of the ASEAN countries as well as people of other ASEAN nations can also work and go to school here without restriction.

“There will be a free exchange of people and goods across boundaries of the ASEAN. That’s why we have to be competitive. Competition is no longer just national. Competition for jobs and education is now international, global.

“At present, if a Singaporean and a Filipino apply for the same position, believe me, the Singaporean will get the job because of their very high standards of education. We must be competitive with our peers anywhere in the ASEAN because Filipinos now are the most mobile and migratory people in the world,” said Angara, who is also chair of the Senate Committee on Science and Technology.

Despite the big jump in terms of ranking, the Philippines still fell behind its neighbors in the region, besting only Vietnam and Cambodia who ranked 75th and 85th respectively.  

Angara then urged the government, media and other stakeholders to wage an intensive information campaign to prepare the Filipinos for 2015 and to keep up in competitiveness not just with ASEAN nations but with the rest of world. 

‘THE PHILIPPINES SHOULD PREPARE FOR ASEAN 2015'

MANILA, September 6, 2012-Senator Edgardo J. Angara said that the recent jump of the Philippines in global competitiveness rankings should spur the country on to prepare for the regional economic integration of Southeast Asian nations by 2015.  

Angara, Chair of the Senate Committee on Education, Arts and Culture, added that while the country may not be entirely prepared for the integration, the improvement in rankings showed that it is headed in the right direction.

“The year 2015 is going to be a milestone because the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is going to become one community—not just an economic community where we trade, bargain and do commerce, but also as an employment and education community,"  Angara said. “I cannot truthfully say that we are completely prepared but I think we are taking steps to be more competitive."

  

The World Economic Forum’s 2012-2013 Global Competitiveness Report showed that the Philippines leaped 10 notches from 75^th to the 65^th spot out of 144 countries in the global competitiveness ranking for the year.

Angara stressed that global competitiveness is crucial for the Philippines since the integration of the ten-members countries of the ASEAN will increase competition for jobs, goods and services. 

He noted that in two years’ time, a Filipino can work without permit in any of the ASEAN countries as well as people of other ASEAN nations can also work and go to school here without restriction.

“There will be a free exchange of people and goods across boundaries of the ASEAN. That’s why we have to be competitive. Competition is no longer just national. Competition for jobs and education is now international, global.

“At present, if a Singaporean and a Filipino apply for the same position, believe me, the Singaporean will get the job because of their very high standards of education. We must be competitive with our peers anywhere in the ASEAN because Filipinos now are the most mobile and migratory people in the world,” said Angara, who is also chair of the Senate Committee on Science and Technology.

Despite the big jump in terms of ranking, the Philippines still fell behind its neighbors in the region, besting only Vietnam and Cambodia who ranked 75th and 85th respectively.  

Angara then urged the government, media and other stakeholders to wage an intensive information campaign to prepare the Filipinos for 2015 and to keep up in competitiveness not just with ASEAN nations but with the rest of world. 

5.3 million poor to get full health insurance premium, says Drilon

MANILA, September 7, 2012-For some 5.3 million poor families who cannot afford to seek even basic medical care, the proposed P2.006-trillion 2013 national budget has allocated P12.61 billion to give them access to a totally free medical treatment, according to Senate Finance Committee chairman Franklin M. Drilon.

Drilon explained the government will fully subsidize the health insurance premium of 5.3 million indigents identified in the National Household Targeting System being used to identify and reach indigent and informal sector households.

“The 2013 budget provides for P12.61 billion to secure the enrollment of about 5.3 million families in Philhealth at P2,400 per annum per family. The beneficiaries can reach up to 20 million or even more for the Philhealth card can be used by the principals’ spouse and their minor children,” said Drilon.

“The government will fully pay the health premiums of indigent patients to widen their access to proper medication. It is disturbing to know that, in this modern day, there are still a great number of Filipinos who do not have access to immediate health care,” said Drilon.

He added that indigent patients can be freed from the financial worries with the new Philhealth case rates payment scheme already in place which provides for a no-balance billing policy for 23 medical cases which include, among others, dengue, pneumonia, asthma, typhoid fever, and appendectomy.     

Drilon also explained that the Department of Justice opinion in March 2012 authorizing the use of P8.3 billion by the government to fully subsidize the Philhealth premiums of indigent patients for the current year will still be in effect in the 2013 budget.

Under the 2012 General Appropriations Act, the full release of national government full premium subsidy was subjected to the issuance of a DoJ opinion stating that the move to fully subsidize the health premiums of indigent patients will not violate the National Health Insurance Act, noted Drilon.

It can be recalled also that Senator Drilon moved last year to strike out a budgetary provision that sought the passage of an amendment in the said Act before this full NG premium subsidy could be implemented, saying “that Act does not hinder the government to provide full subsidy for premium contributions of indigents and the provision being proposed then was contrary to the primary intent of the law.”

“The provision of a health insurance to the poorest Filipinos is consistent with the government’s goal to implement the Universal Health Care. That is the very reason why I proposed the deletion of a budgetary provision in the 2012 budget saying an amendment to the National Health Insurance Act is necessary before the government can fully subsidize the health premiums of indigent families,” ended Drilon.

Villar pushes approval of bill allowing the poor to start their own business

MANILA, September 6, 2012-Sen. Manny Villar sponsored yesterday the committee report on the bill seeking to encourage microfinance institutions to provide access to credit and business opportunities to poor Filipinos.

 

Senate Bill 3255 or “An Act Governing the Creation and Accreditation of Microenterprise Development Institutions (MICRODEVs), ” endeavors to support and work in partnership with MICRODEVs, which will implement a microenterprise development strategy in order to provide general and other entrepreneurial services to the poor.

 

Villar, chairman of the Committee on Economic Affairs, said this bill seeks to benefit the more than 23 million poor Filipinos, by providing them seed money to start their own small businesses.

 

 “After years of hard work, microfinance institutions’ (MFI) mission of poverty alleviation has reached a level of maturity and acceptance in the Philippines, and has been shown to be an effective means to help alleviate poverty and spur microenterprise development,” Villar said.

 

It has always been Villar’s advocacy to help people start their own business. He said Filipinos should aspire to become their own bosses and shouldn’t be contented with being an employee.

 

Villar cited the case of Jocelyn de Guzman, who worked previously as a footwear factory worker. She availed of a loan and used it to start a slippers and sandals factory. Corazon Bautista, a former seamstress, borrowed a P5000-capital from Tulay sa Pag-Unlad, Inc. and was able to put up an RTW business in Taytay, Rizal.

 

“These women not only succeeded to cross over to the path of progress from poverty. They also provided employment to a number of people,” Villar added.

According to data collected by the Microfinance Information Exchange, as of 2010, microfinance NGOs have an estimated outreach of more than two million active clients and an approximate total gross loan portfolio of  more than Php 10 billion.

 

Villar said this measure will help the country achieve its Millennium Development Goal by providing the enabling environment that will allow the private sector to take a greater role in the provision of financial services and encourage the poor to engage in viable and sustainable microenterprises.

 

Under the bill, a MICRODEV Accreditation Center will be created to institutionalize a system of accreditation and registration of microfinance entities. The center will monitor the performance of MICRODEVs to ensure their compliance with the provisions of this measure and keep in check their commitment to help the poor and marginalized.

 

MICRODEVS will provide the poor access to reasonable and affordable credit and related services including microfinance, micro-insurance, health care and micro-housing. They will also provide business development opportunities such as leadership training and entrepreneurial skills training and human development services to help the poor achieve a level of sustainability and empowerment.

 

These MICRODEVS will be operated as non-stock and non-profit corporations, governed by Board of Trustees. In lieu of national and local taxes, MICRODEVs will only pay two percent of their gross income.

Legarda Hails House's Approval of Kasambahay Bill

MANILA, September 6, 2012-Senator Loren Legarda today hailed the House of Representatives’ approval of House Bill 6144, or their version of Senate Bill 78, otherwise known as the Kasambahay Bill, which was approved by the Senate last December 2010.

“The House of Representatives approved House Bill 6144 with 176 in favor and none against. This overwhelming support, coupled with the Senate’s recent ratification of the International Labour Organization Convention 189 or the Convention Concerning Decent Work for Domestic Workers, heralds the dawn of better lives for the 1.9 million domestic workers in the country, and the 1.5 million more abroad,” she explained.

Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, noted that the Senate concurred in the ratification of ILO Convention 189 last August 6, and that it has been officially announced that the Philippines is the second country to ratify the convention after Uruguay in June 2012.

“As ILO 189 will come into force 12 months after two ILO member-states have ratified it, the Philippines should be justly proud of playing a significant role in improving the employment conditions of kasambahays worldwide. And now, with the Kasambahay Act approved by both Houses of Congress, we can begin guaranteeing that kasambahays in the Philippines are treated as workers, not servants,” she said.

“Under ILO Convention 189, contracts between the employer and the domestic worker will become a requirement. The contract will state the domestic worker's salary, work hours, day-offs, vacations, and, for those abroad, the duration of the employment. This Convention also ensures that domestic workers are able to keep in their possession their travel and identity documents,” she remarked.

Legarda, a staunch supporter of the establishment of the rights of domestic workers, added that these rights are the foundation of inclusive growth that the Philippines as a nation aspires for. Among the Senator’s first bills filed in the Fifteenth Congress was Senate Bill 7, which sought to increase the minimum wage of household helpers and require all household working arrangements between employers and helpers to be duly documented.

“I am truly glad that we have taken such major steps in according decent working conditions, just compensation, and sufficient benefits to our domestic workers, and with the approval of the proposed Kasambahay Act by both Houses of Congress, I am hopeful that its enactment into law will happen very soon,” Legarda concluded.

Legarda Hails House's Approval of Kasambahay Bill

MANILA, September 6, 2012-Senator Loren Legarda today hailed the House of Representatives’ approval of House Bill 6144, or their version of Senate Bill 78, otherwise known as the Kasambahay Bill, which was approved by the Senate last December 2010.

“The House of Representatives approved House Bill 6144 with 176 in favor and none against. This overwhelming support, coupled with the Senate’s recent ratification of the International Labour Organization Convention 189 or the Convention Concerning Decent Work for Domestic Workers, heralds the dawn of better lives for the 1.9 million domestic workers in the country, and the 1.5 million more abroad,” she explained.

Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, noted that the Senate concurred in the ratification of ILO Convention 189 last August 6, and that it has been officially announced that the Philippines is the second country to ratify the convention after Uruguay in June 2012.

“As ILO 189 will come into force 12 months after two ILO member-states have ratified it, the Philippines should be justly proud of playing a significant role in improving the employment conditions of kasambahays worldwide. And now, with the Kasambahay Act approved by both Houses of Congress, we can begin guaranteeing that kasambahays in the Philippines are treated as workers, not servants,” she said.

“Under ILO Convention 189, contracts between the employer and the domestic worker will become a requirement. The contract will state the domestic worker's salary, work hours, day-offs, vacations, and, for those abroad, the duration of the employment. This Convention also ensures that domestic workers are able to keep in their possession their travel and identity documents,” she remarked.

Legarda, a staunch supporter of the establishment of the rights of domestic workers, added that these rights are the foundation of inclusive growth that the Philippines as a nation aspires for. Among the Senator’s first bills filed in the Fifteenth Congress was Senate Bill 7, which sought to increase the minimum wage of household helpers and require all household working arrangements between employers and helpers to be duly documented.

“I am truly glad that we have taken such major steps in according decent working conditions, just compensation, and sufficient benefits to our domestic workers, and with the approval of the proposed Kasambahay Act by both Houses of Congress, I am hopeful that its enactment into law will happen very soon,” Legarda concluded.

Trillanes, pinuri ang Smart-Gilas

MANILA, Setyembre 6, 2012-Pinuri ni Senador Antonio "Sonny" F. Trillanes IV ang pagkapanalo ng Smart-Gilas Pilipinas sa katatapos na 34th William Jones Cup sa Taiwan.

Sa inihain nitong Senate Resolution 8555 na inaprubahan ng Senado noong ika-4 ng Setyembre, tinawag ni Trillanes na "makabuluhan at makasaysayan" ang nangyari dahil ito ang unang kampeonato ng koponan ng Pilipinas matapos ang 14 na taon.

"Ang husay na ipinakita ng ating Philippine team upang makuha ang tagumpay ay isang makabuluhan at makasaysayang pagkapanalo dahil ibinalik nito ang Philippine basketball sa dati nitong estado – isang dominanteng pwersa sa Asian basketball,” ani Trillanes.

Natalo ng Smart-Gilas ang koponan ng Estados Unidos sa iskor na 76-75 sa William Jones Cup finals na idinaos noong Agosto 26 sa Tapei, Taiwan. Ito ay ika-apat na panalo ng bansa sa nasabing torneo matapos ang Northern Consolidated Cement team noong 1981, San Miguel team noong 1985 at Philippine Centennial team noong 1998.

Binati ni Trillanes ang coaching staff, opisyal at miyembro ng basketball team ng Smart-Gilas.

Ang 2012 Philippine team ay pinamunuan ni coach Chot Reyes at binubuo ng mga propesyunal na manlalarong sina Enrico Villanueva (Barangay Ginebra), Gabe Norwood (Rain or Shine), Gary David (Powerade), Jeff Chan (Rain or Shine), LA Tenorio (dating taga-Alaska na ngayon ay Ginebra na) Larry Fonacier (Talk N’ Text), Mac Baracael (Alaska), Ranidel De Ocampo (Talk N’ Text), Sol Mercado (Meralco), Sonny Thoss (Alaska), Marcus Douthit, Matt Rosser at Garvo Lanete ng San Beda.

KIKO URGES PNOY, SERENO, CONGRESS LEADERS: CONVENE JELACC TO INSTITUTIONALIZE BUDGETARY SUPPORT IN THE JUDICIARY

MANILA, September 6, 2012-Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan today urges the heads of the three branches of government—President Benigno Aquino III, Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, and House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr.—to convene the Judicial Executive Legislative Advisory Consultative Council (JELACC) as a means to institutionalize budgetary support for the Judiciary. 

”With a new Chief Justice in place, it is timely for all branches of government to come together to map out a strategic direction for judicial reforms. Of course, in order to implement the reforms that we have long been waiting for in the judiciary, the JELACC must push for greater budgetary support for the Judiciary. The Judiciary simply cannot be modernized by a measly one percent of the national budget,” Pangilinan points out.

The senator, who first proposed the JELACC in 2007, continues, “Government must be able to address the budgetary woes that have been plaguing our antiquated justice system. Matagal nang humigingi ang taumbayan ng reporma sa hudikatura, e hindi naman napopondohan ang mga repormang ito. We call on the national government to put its money where its mouth is, and invest in urgently needed judicial reforms.”

Pangilinan reiterates that the country cannot expect a first-world justice system with a Judiciary that is given a third-world budgetary allocation.

“It will not do us any good if the Judiciary continues to fall behind as the other branches of government are moving steadily forward. Let all the other branches of government reach out and lift the Judiciary from the quagmire that it finds itself in because of lack of budgetary support and lack of justices. Let us convene JELACC and institute the necessary reforms to modernize our Judiciary.”

Drilon seeks to restore DoH health facilities budget

MANILA, September 6, 2012-In a bid to promote transparency in the budget, Senator Franklin M. Drilon has asked the Department of Budget and Management to return to the Department of Health the P13.56 billion allocation for the construction and repair of health center facilities that is now placed under a new special purpose fund in the proposed P2.006-trillion national expenditures program.

“I am not very comfortable with lump sum special funds. It is very difficult to monitor and it is against the principle of transparency. The committee prefers to avoid these lump sum allocations,” stressed Drilon.

“The construction and maintenance of our rural health units and public hospitals which were left under a sorry state is crucial for us to be able to provide sufficient health care to all Filipinos, especially that we are running out of time to achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (UN MDGs), particularly in improving maternal health and reducing child mortality rates,” he said.

“It is imperative for the government to widen the access to healthcare services by building rural health units and puericulture centers throughout the country for these are frontline services our people in the countryside can avail of in case they have to seek medical attention,” said Drilon, adding that some people living in the far-flung communities cannot even afford to go to provincial and public hospitals to get treatment.   

At the hearing on the DOH’s proposed 55.48 billion budget on Tuesday, Secretary Enrique Ona told Drilon that the allocation for the Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP) was put under the Priority Social and Economic Projects Fund.

“The DBM told that there was an incomplete identification of all the health centers to be constructed, but that has been submitted already…since the budget was submitted, it remains under the Priority Social and Economic Projects Fund,” explained Ona.

“If the condition for this health enhancement facilities program has been complied with, it is appropriate to move the budget back into the DOH budget rather than to place it in a special purpose fund,” Drilon told Ona.

HFEP has a current allocation of P5.09 billion which is under the regular budget of the health department, noted Drilon.

“Maybe the DBM can already inform the House so that when they pass the General Appropriations bill, the adjustment may already be made,” said Drilon.

“When I move this P13.5 billion without the authorization from the part of the DBM, it would be considered re-alignment and they will say it is my pork barrel unless covered by a DBM letter,” emphasized Drilon.

DBM Chief Budget and Management Specialist Cleopatra Bernardino confirmed that the DOH has already complied with the requirements last month and added that the suggestion of Drilon can be part of the errata to be submitted by the DBM to Congress.

Philrice to study rice straw as power source

SCIENCE CITY OF MUNOZ, Nueva Ecija, Sept 5, 2012-Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) recently signed an agreement with Enertime, a France-based company, to assess the feasibility of using rice straw for power generation, which could help farmers reduce production cost.

“The cost of petroleum is increasing. So it’s important to develop a new energy system that will serve as an alternative to the non-renewable, highly centralized, and not diversified system. The
exact opposite of that is what we’d like to do. That means utilizing local sources of energy,” Eufemio T. Rasco Jr., PhilRice executive director, said.

The Philippines was cited as producing 15.2 million tons of rice that leave behind 11.3 million tons of rice straw a year. After harvest, farmers usually burn rice straw in the open field, causing air
pollutants such as carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxide, and sulfur dioxide.

To minimize the postharvest waste, the two-year collaboration will explore the possibility of collecting, transporting, and conditioning rice straw to be used as feedstock or raw material in generating electricity.

The initiative, a part of the project," Use of Rice Straw as Fuel to Generate Electricity Using Organic Rankine Cycle Technology in the Philippines," will cover Nueva Ecija and Laguna. About 10,000 tons of rice straw per year is targeted to be acquired from these major rice-producing provinces.

Under the agreement, Enertime, a specialist on energy production using renewable resources, will finance the feasibility study once funds are granted by the French Economic Ministry’s Fund for Studies and Private Sector Support Program.

Enertime will also assess the biomass supply, estimate power plant cost, and help find project investors.

PhilRice, on the other hand, will provide rice production data and technical support in collecting and transporting rice straw, contracting rice straw supply organizing site visits, and validating
sites feasible for biomass energy production.

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and University of the Philippines-Los Baños (UPLB) are also part of this project. IRRI will lead the study on biomass supply organization and greenhouse gas mitigation analysis while UPLB will collect power plant site data and layout for the project.

A 2010 study titled, "Energy and Food System," concluded that “as the inputs needed to support yields increase, agriculture is becoming more dependent on fossil fuels…. Renewable energy will play important role in increasing the energy efficiency of agriculture and reducing its reliance on fossil resources.”

DA-PhilRice is a government-owned and –controlled corporation that aims at developing high-yielding and cost-reducing technologies so farmers can produce enough rice for all Filipinos.

For more information, please visit or contact DA-PhilRice at Maligaya, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija with telephone number (044) 456-0285 loc 512 or any PhilRice station near you. You may also visit their website at www.philrice.gov.ph or text your questions to 0920-911-1398. (Robert M. Baldago)

Philrice to study rice straw as power source

SCIENCE CITY OF MUNOZ, Nueva Ecija, Sept 5, 2012-Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) recently signed an agreement with Enertime, a France-based company, to assess the feasibility of using rice straw for power generation, which could help farmers reduce production cost.

“The cost of petroleum is increasing. So it’s important to develop a new energy system that will serve as an alternative to the non-renewable, highly centralized, and not diversified system. The
exact opposite of that is what we’d like to do. That means utilizing local sources of energy,” Eufemio T. Rasco Jr., PhilRice executive director, said.

The Philippines was cited as producing 15.2 million tons of rice that leave behind 11.3 million tons of rice straw a year. After harvest, farmers usually burn rice straw in the open field, causing air
pollutants such as carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxide, and sulfur dioxide.

To minimize the postharvest waste, the two-year collaboration will explore the possibility of collecting, transporting, and conditioning rice straw to be used as feedstock or raw material in generating electricity.

The initiative, a part of the project," Use of Rice Straw as Fuel to Generate Electricity Using Organic Rankine Cycle Technology in the Philippines," will cover Nueva Ecija and Laguna. About 10,000 tons of rice straw per year is targeted to be acquired from these major rice-producing provinces.

Under the agreement, Enertime, a specialist on energy production using renewable resources, will finance the feasibility study once funds are granted by the French Economic Ministry’s Fund for Studies and Private Sector Support Program.

Enertime will also assess the biomass supply, estimate power plant cost, and help find project investors.

PhilRice, on the other hand, will provide rice production data and technical support in collecting and transporting rice straw, contracting rice straw supply organizing site visits, and validating
sites feasible for biomass energy production.

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and University of the Philippines-Los Baños (UPLB) are also part of this project. IRRI will lead the study on biomass supply organization and greenhouse gas mitigation analysis while UPLB will collect power plant site data and layout for the project.

A 2010 study titled, "Energy and Food System," concluded that “as the inputs needed to support yields increase, agriculture is becoming more dependent on fossil fuels…. Renewable energy will play important role in increasing the energy efficiency of agriculture and reducing its reliance on fossil resources.”

DA-PhilRice is a government-owned and –controlled corporation that aims at developing high-yielding and cost-reducing technologies so farmers can produce enough rice for all Filipinos.

For more information, please visit or contact DA-PhilRice at Maligaya, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija with telephone number (044) 456-0285 loc 512 or any PhilRice station near you. You may also visit their website at www.philrice.gov.ph or text your questions to 0920-911-1398. (Robert M. Baldago)