The Valley Journal

Searca, IIRR partner for rural, agri initiatives

17Apr

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

Searca, IIRR partner for rural, agri initiatives

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO THE Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca) has forged an agreement with the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) as part of its advocacy to champion excellence in agricultural and rural development in Southeast Asia. Glenn Gregorio, Searca director, said a memorandum of understating (MoU) was formally signed between Searca and IIRR represented by Emilita Monville-Oro, IIRR acting regional director for Asia and concurrent country director for the Philippines, in a virtual meeting last April 6. IIRR is a nonprofit organization that has been helping to empower rural communities in Southeast Asia, Eastern Africa and Southern Africa. The signing was witnessed by Joselito Florendo, Searca deputy...

MMSU to offer masters in ecozone administration

17Apr

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

Nation

MMSU to offer masters in ecozone administration

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO A GRADUATE school degree course to develop industry-competitive and professional leaders will soon be offered at Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) in partnership with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) and other state universities and colleges (SUCs). Daniel Tapaoan Jr., MMSU assistant information officer, said the university is stepping up to offer Master in Economic Zone Administration (MEZA) this year. He said this development at MMSU is in collaboration with PEZA and its partner SUCs of which an initial planning and consultation workshop was already conducted in mid-March by the MMSU Special Economic Zone Institute (SEZI). According to Neilbert Gajudo, PEZA executive assistant, the consultation was participated by the SEZI representati...

Hedcor: Let Bakun plant continue operations

17Apr

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

Nation, Technology

Hedcor: Let Bakun plant continue operations

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO Hedcor Inc., a leading run-of-river hydropower company in the Philippines, has appealed to a tribe group in Bakun town in Benguet to support the company in processing their certification precondition for the renewal of the operation of power plants in their locality. In a statement, Hedcor said it would like to continue to be Bakun’s partner for progress over the long term and appealed to Bakun Indigenous Tribe Organization (BITO) leaders for support so it can commence the benefit-sharing as stipulated in its memorandum of agreement (MoA). Hedcor noted it has been in the community for 30 years and was saddened by the turn of events when BITO issued a resolution of nonconsent to operate for their plants in Bakun town. The company explained it went through ...

Searca, ISAAA renew commitment for agri-biotect advocacy in Southeast Asia

14Apr

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

Features, Nation

Searca, ISAAA renew commitment for agri-biotect advocacy in Southeast Asia

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO THE Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca) has entered an agreement with the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) to renew its agri-biotech advocacy in Southeast Asia. Under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) which was formalized on April 13, Searca and ISAAA have committed to create an enabling environment that will unleash the potential of biotechnology for agricultural development. Searca director Glenn Gregorio said they recognize the important role of working with like-minded institutions like ISAAA in supporting Searca’s mission of elevating the lives of small-scale farmers in developing countries through knowledge sharing on different agricultural innovatio...

Searca sees better agri prospects for 2021

7Jan

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

Features, Nation

Searca sees better agri prospects for 2021

DR. GLENN B. GREGORIO BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO THE agriculture sector of the Philippines and Southeast Asia is seen having better prospects for 2021 despite the disruption of agricultural production by several catastrophes and the pandemic that slowed down the pace by which the sector plays as an engine for economic development in Southeast Asia. In his 2020 year-end message, Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca) Director Glenn Gregorio noted that while the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic crippled most of the key economic sectors in the Philippines, the agriculture sector was able to maintain positive growth in 2020. “It must be acknowledged that there were earlier production growth targets that may not have been ach...

NGCP holds annual Christmas outreach, relief ops

28Dec

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

Nation, Technology

NGCP holds annual Christmas outreach, relief ops

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, NGCP continued on with its annual gift-giving tradition to its partner communities through its Christmasaya project, alongside relief operations for areas affected by the recent typhoons. Instead of the usual Christmas party with games, prizes, and entertainment, NGCP turned over Christmas packages to barangays from NGCP’s host communities, which were then distributed to the most indigent families in the area. A total of 7,100 Christmas packages were distributed to around 33 barangays from NGCP’s host communities nationwide. The Christmas packages contain rice, noche buena items, coffee, and canned goods. “Christmas is all about sharing. Times may have changed under the new normal, but this will not stop NGCP from giving back to ...

24Sep

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

Features, Nation

Searca to take lead on swine roadmap

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO LOS BAÑOS, Laguna (September 24)—The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca) will lead the crafting of a roadmap for the pork-based processed products value chain in the Philippines. According to Searca Director Glenn Gregorio, the roadmap would be under the five-year “Agricultural Transformation and Market Integration in the Asean Region: Responding to Food Security and Inclusiveness Concerns” project jointly implemented by the International Food Policy Research Institute and Searca. Asean stands for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. It is made up of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Gregorio said Searca would lead th...

Searca, BPI train farmers amid Covid pandemic

18Sep

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

Features, Nation

Searca, BPI train farmers amid Covid pandemic

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO TO help farmers establish a set of practices in their farming operations for emerging commodities amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Plant Industry (DA-BPI) and the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca) convened a two-day virtual training-workshop. According to Searca Director Glenn Gregorio, the need to help farmers to rethink and redesign their current farming methods was the reason for conducting the “Virtual Training-Workshop on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) For Emerging Agricultural Commodities Amid Covid-19 Pandemic.” “The pandemic has greatly affected agricultural production and food systems. It has also emphasized food supply and its sa...

DILG: 89 village chiefs nationwide suspended over SAP tranche 1 anomalies

12Sep

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

Nation

DILG: 89 village chiefs nationwide suspended over SAP tranche 1 anomalies

SOME 89 Punong Barangays (PBs) across the country have been placed on six-month preventive suspension by the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) following the filing of complaints by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) against the said barangay officials for anomalies and irregularities involving the implementation of the first tranche of the social amelioration program (SAP). Region 1 (Ilocos Region), National Capital Region, Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) tops list of suspended PBs. DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año directed the respective Municipal/City Mayors of these PBs to immediately implement the order of the Office of the Ombudsman upon receipt while the DILG Regional and field officers were directed to ensure the orderly implementation of the said mass suspension.&...

Imee to Meralco: No more bill shocks, please

28Aug

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

Nation, News

Imee to Meralco: No more bill shocks, please

SENATOR Imee Marcos has lauded the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) for slapping a Php19-million fine on Meralco and demanding a discount on behalf of the power distributor’s smaller customers consuming up to 100 kilowatt hours per month. Marcos, who chairs the Senate committee on economic affairs, said the penalties imposed by ERC chairperson Agnes Devanadera were “absolutely justified for Meralco’s bill shock on its customers.” “Meralco boomeranged on its own mess. Its condescending attitude toward customers reaped its karma, after causing confusion, anxiety and inconvenience in the middle of a health and economic crisis,” Marcos added. Meralco provoked an outcry among its customers after overcharging them during the first three months of lockdown in May to March, without con...