The Valley Journal

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...

‘HEIs can spark agri food systems transformation’

27Aug

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

Features, Nation

‘HEIs can spark agri food systems transformation’

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO EXPERTS of a regional think tank hosted by the Philippine government said it sees that higher education institutions (HEIs) can further reorient their research and development from a business perspective toward a systemic change of the agriculture sector. Dr. Glenn Gregorio and Dr. Rico Ancog of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca) said the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic has underscored the connections between supply chains and consumption patterns, and the urgent need to redefine agricultural systems as food systems. They said a systemic view of agricultural food systems is imperative for the needed transformation, which should stem right from the hallowed halls of universities and college...

CHEd picks Searca head for HEIs agri curriculum reforms

20Aug

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

Features, Nation

CHEd picks Searca head for HEIs agri curriculum reforms

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO LOS BAÑOS, Laguna (August 20)—Director Glenn Gregorio of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca) was appointed by the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) as chairman of its Technical Panel for Agriculture (TPA) to lead reforms in the agriculture curriculum. Gregorio said he welcomes the challenge to lead efforts in reforming the agriculture curriculum in the country’s higher education institutions (HEIs) to make it more relevant to the present and future job markets in the Philippines and abroad. “As agriculture remains a major engine of economic development in most Southeast Asian countries, HEIs are in a strategic position to pursue projects and initiatives related to food and nutrition security and the...

SEARCA kicks off youth program for agri innovation

15Aug

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

Features, Nation

SEARCA kicks off youth program for agri innovation

THE VALLEY JOURNAL LOS BAÑOS, Laguna—The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) on Wednesday kicked off its special program on youth called “Young Forces for Agricultural Innovation” or #Y4AGRI on International Youth Day to bring more youth in agricultural and rural development. Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio, SEARCA Director has introduced the #Y4AGRI program during the SEARCA Online Learning and Virtual Engagement webinar on “SOLVE Youth Disengagement in Agriculture: Empowering Future Leaders in Southeast Asia” which featured youth leaders from the Philippines, Latin America and Africa. Gregorio said to show their commitment for the younger generations, their strategic plan for the next five years puts value on youth engagement in agricul...

15Aug

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

Covid-19, Health, Nation, Nueva Vizcaya

‘Exempt frontliners from taxes’

By LEANDER C. DOMINGO BAMBANG, Nueva Vizcaya (August 15)—A bill has been filed in Congress seeking to exempt from taxation all medical and non-medical frontliners as relief for putting themselves at risk of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) infection. Its author, Nueva Vizcaya Rep. Luisa Lloren Cuaresma (Lone District), said once approved, House Bill 7351, which shall be known as “Handog sa mga Bayaning Lumalaban Kontra Covid-19 Act,” will exempt health care workers and various frontliners from paying taxes for the taxable year 2020. FILE PHOTO. REP. LUISA LLOREN CUARESMA IN CONGRESS “There has been a considerable number of doctors and health workers who have succumbed to this dreadful disease and yet frontliners continue to provide the health care services the people n...

78 Filipino students prepare for US study

13Aug

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

Nation

78 Filipino students prepare for US study

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO MANILA (August 13)—Through a virtual pre-departure orientation (PDO), EducationUSA prepared 78 Filipino students to begin their studies in United States (US) universities. During the orientation on August 6, US Ambassador Sung Yong Kim welcomed the students and thanked them for the contributions they will make to US classrooms and campuses. Kim said each student they assist to realize their educational or professional development dreams through US education represents another powerful, enduring and positive link between the US and the Philippines. EducationUSA said that nearly half of the PDO participants received financial aid offers from their respective schools totaling almost $500,000. Joining the event was US Embassy’s Consular Section to answer q...

Searca launches youth program for agricultural innovation

12Aug

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

Features, Nation

Searca launches youth program for agricultural innovation

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO LOS BAÑOS, Laguna—To bring more young people to agricultural and rural development, the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca) launched a special program called Young Forces for Agricultural Innovation or #Y4AGRI on International Youth Day, August 12. The #Y4AGRI program was introduced by Searca Director Glenn Gregorio during the Searca Online Learning and Virtual Engagement (SOLVE) webinar called “SOLVE Youth Disengagement in Agriculture: Empowering Future Leaders in Southeast Asia” that featured youth leaders from the Philippines, Latin America and Africa. “To show our commitment [to] the younger generations, our strategic plan for the next five years puts value on youth engagement in agricultural and rural ...

9Aug

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

Features, Nation

Searca supports Quezon coconut industry

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO LOS BAÑOS, Laguna (August 9)—The Philippine government-hosted Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca) is set to support the coconut industry development plan of Quezon Province in the areas of value addition to coconut products, linkages of farmers to the market and farmers’ organization. Searca Director Glenn Gregorio said the group is collaborating with the Quezon provincial government to achieve its vision of “a market-driven coconut industry with empowered and resilient farmers, engaging in profitable coconut-based enterprises, contributing to inclusive and sustainable agricultural development.” Pedcris Orencio, Searca program head for Research and Thought Leadership, said the Office of the Provincial Agric...