The Valley Journal

MMSU mentor named US-based global org ambassador

20May

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

Nation, News

MMSU mentor named US-based global org ambassador

BY LENDER C. DOMINGO Peter James Icalia Gann CONTRIBUTED PHOTO ILOCOS NORTE (May 20)—A university mentor here has been selected as ambassador of the American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB), an international professional society devoted to the advancement of plant science research and education. Peter James Icalia Gann, an assistant professor of the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) College of Agriculture, Food and Sustainable Development (CAFSD) will have a term of two years as ASPB ambassador. Founded in 1924, ASPB promotes the growth and development of plant biology, encourages and publishes research in plant biology, and advances the interests, growth and education of plant scientists in general. Over the decades, the ASPB has evolved and expanded to provi...

16May

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

Nation, News

Govt receives P5.7-M in US med supplies

US military personnel with Indo-Pacific Command’s Civil Military Support Element– Philippines and Philippine coastguardsmen work together to unload US COVID-19 PPE donations. US EMBASSY PHOTO MEDICAL clinics, hospitals, rural health units and municipal health offices in four provinces, the National Capital Region (NCR or Metro Manila) and Zamboanga City battling Covid-19 have been allotted P5.7-million worth of personal protective equipment (PPE) and medical supplies by the US military. The supplies included disposable gloves, goggles, face shields, disinfectant sprays and other items to support frontline workers in the provinces of Cagayan, Palawan, Zambales, Sarangani and Zamboanga City and the NCR. “As long-standing allies, we are proud to support the Philippine first responde...

SEARCA OPTIMISTIC ON 2021 AGRI SECTOR GROWTH

13May

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

Features, Nation

SEARCA OPTIMISTIC ON 2021 AGRI SECTOR GROWTH

DR. GLENN GREGORIO BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research (Searca) is optimistic the country’s agriculture sector will register positive growth this year. “While we have noted a contraction in the livestock sector due to the continuing onslaught of the African swine fever, positive growth could also be noted in the fishery and crop sectors,” Searca Director Glenn Gregorio said. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the Philippine agriculture sector contracted by 3.3 percent in the first quarter of 2021. Gregorio said the fishery sector shows promise, but more integrated infrastructure support is needed to support growth of the sector. “We have again noted the positive growth in the fishery sector that could b...

11 state universities join leadership program for academic executives

13May

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

Features, Nation

11 state universities join leadership program for academic executives

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO LEADERS of 11 higher education institutions (HEIs) from the State Universities and Colleges-Association of Colleges of Agriculture in the Philippines (SUC-ACAP) have been undergoing an executive course to hone their skills. The leadership program is led by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca) in collaboration with the Singapore-based The HEAD Foundation (THF). Dubbed “Up Your Game: Leadership Development Program for HEIs in the Philippines,” the executive course kicked off on April 21 and will run until June 7 this year. Participating in the said leadership course are 29 vice presidents, campus executive directors, college deans and other academic executives. The state universities are Cagayan ...

Ilocos university docu makes it to New York film fest

6May

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

Nation

Ilocos university docu makes it to New York film fest

Mariano Marcos State University College of Arts and Sciences instructor Melver Ritz Gomez poses with the poster of his documentary film ‘Iyallatiw,’ which qualified as official entry to the International Film Festival Manhattan Virtual Events in New York City. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO A documentary film produced by an Ilocos Norte university mentor qualified as an official entry to the International Film Festival Manhattan (IFFM) virtual events in New York City. Titled “Iyallatiw,” the Ilokano word for “to transfer,” the documentary film was produced by Melver Ritz Gomez, an instructor at the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) College of Arts and Sciences. In his film, Gomez featured an old oral tradition on prayers for the dead. “This documentary picture...

La Union State U co-investigates remaining forests in SEA

29Apr

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

Nation

La Union State U co-investigates remaining forests in SEA

DMMMSU-North La Union campus. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO SAN FERNANDO CITY (April 29)—La Union province-based Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU) has joined research institutes and universities here and abroad to address the intensifying challenges of global environment, sustainability and biodiversity conservation as well as the monitoring of the world’s remaining forests. A co-investigator in this Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) environmental research, Prof. Lilito Gavina of DMMMSU College of Agroforestry and Forestry, said the university has collaborated in the investigation particularly focusing on the forests in Southeast Asia. DMMMSU collaborators were the National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), the Institute for...

NGCP holds virtual blackout simulation drill

28Apr

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

Nation, Technology

NGCP holds virtual blackout simulation drill

THE VALLEY JOURNAL TO ensure stable and reliable transmission services in the event of a major power disturbance or emergency, NGCP recently conducted its annual blackout simulation drill. As it did last year, the event was organized in a virtual setting as the grid operator fulfils its commitments amidst the social distancing protocols brought about by the current coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. NGCP’s System Operations personnel headed the annual exercise comprised of tabletop presentations and actual blackout simulation drills. Representatives from power generation companies, distribution utilities, and government agencies such as the Department of Energy, National Electrification Administration, and National Transmission Corporation participated in the virtual ...

US Army conduct bilateral training with Philippine Army in NEcija

27Apr

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

Nation

US Army conduct bilateral training with Philippine Army in NEcija

A 5th Security Force Assistance Brigade Soldier from Maneuver Advisor Team 5123 provides instruction and shares best practices on Close Quarter Combat with 1st Brigade Combat Team, Philippine Army, April 2021. The 5th SFAB’s continuous engagements in the Philippines and locations across the Indo-Pacific bolster trust and build upon long-standing partnerships while increasing training readiness. US EMBASSY PHOTO BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO CABANATUAN CITY (April 27)—Nueva Ecija-based Philippine Army’s (PA) Fort Magsaysay will host United States (US) soldiers from the 5th Security Force Assistance Brigade (5th SFAB) in bilateral training events taking place starting this month until June this year. According to the US Embassy, the 5th SFAB arrived in the Philippines last month to conduct...

Searca, Jollibee Foundation team up to boost local onion production

24Apr

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

Features, Nation

Searca, Jollibee Foundation team up to boost local onion production

Forging partnerships for community resilience and self-reliance has been the fulcrum of both #SEARCA and the Jollibee Group Foundation (JGF) in navigating the new normal. BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO UNIVERSITY of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB)-based Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca) and Jollibee Group Foundation (JGF) have teamed up to help boost the production of onion, one of the country’s high-value crops. JGF Executive Director Ma. Gisela Tiongson said farmers need partners who can provide them with access to information and technology to help them improve their productivity, increase the value of their produce, and in the process, build their agro-enterprises. “I believe Searca’s experience and expertise in education, trai...

24Apr

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

Features, Nation

P5-B farm aids up for distribution

MUÑOZ, Nueva Ecija (April 24)—The Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) here is set to distribute a P5 billion worth of farm machinery under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund mechanization program of the Department of Agriculture (DA). The DA said the 5,098 farm machinery consists of 2,574 pieces of farm machines for land preparation like four-wheel tractors and one-hand tractors and attachments like tillers totaling P1.7 billion. It said another 496 farm machinery will be for crop establishment like transplanters and seeders worth P500 million and 2,028 for post-harvest equipment mechanical harvesters, thrashers and milling machines worth P2.8 billion. For 2019 and 2020, there were nearly 680,000 farmer beneficiaries who have benefite...