Nation

Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture Training for Development Unit head Dr. Nova Ramos (second from left) meets Sarawak Ministry of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Deputy Minister Martin Ben (center) at the Sarawak Agrotourism Conference and Expo held at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching, Malaysia from Aug. 28 to 30, 2023. Together with them are Vicky Tan (left) and Nor Azmi Sulong (second from right), project director and project consultant, respectively, of Derrisen Sdn Bhd and Boniface Alin Anak Tanung (right), special administrative officer to the Deputy Minister. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO LAGUNA (September 14, 2023)—The capacity-building initiatives on agrotourism of the Southeast Asian Regional Center...

MANILA (September 14, 2023)—The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has condemned the recent series of violence against barangay (village) electoral candidates in various parts of the country. The CHR noted that the campaign season for the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) has yet to commence, yet acts of assault and violence have already been recorded. It mentioned the first case, which involved the killing of Alex Repato, an incumbent chairman of Barangay San Jose in Libon, Albay. Repato was gunned down on August 28 in front of his house by an unidentified gunman shortly after submitting his certificate of candidacy (CoC) at the Commission on Elections. Repato was the fourth barangay official in Libon town to be attacked recently. The list includes Kagawad...

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his ‘Bagong Pilipinas’ governance slogan are the featured paddy art by the Mariano Marcos State University and the Philippine Rice Research Institute this year, which was launched on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023, with the President himself (back row, center in sunglasses) gracing the affair. PHOTO FROM HTTPS://MMSU.EDU.PH BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO BATAC CITY (September 14, 2023)—The Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) and Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) launched the Rice Paddy Art 2023 at the MMSU Extension Demonstration Area in the Batac main campus in Ilocos Norte on Monday, with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as guest. The event coincided with the 106th birth anniversary celebration of his father, President Ferdinand E. Marcos, founder...

ILOCOS NORTE (September 12, 2023)—Sen. Maria Imelda Josefa "Imee" Marcos said the revalidation of the identities and certificates of land ownership awards (CLOAs) of farmers before they could receive land titles as promised under Republic Act (RA)11953, or the "New Agrarian Emancipation Act" is "redundant." Marcos, who chairs the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development, voiced her firm position against a "redundant revalidation" ahead of the President's signing of the new law's implementing rules and regulations (IRR) on Tuesday. "We would like to emphasize the spirit of the law to facilitate the awarding of lands to agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs). There should be no unnecessary revalidation for farmers to avail of the emancipation program," she added...

LAOAG CITY (August 24, 2023)—The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has entered into a momentous Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Association of Ilocos Norte Information Officers Inc. (AINIO), solidifying their commitment to promote financial literacy. This strategic partnership aims to enhance the dissemination of vital information to the public, ultimately empowering individuals to make informed financial decisions. The signing ceremony took place in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte on August 16, 2023. Under the newly signed MO) signed by the SEC Baguio Extension Office Director lawyer Regina May Cajucom-De Guzman, and the AINIO President lawyer Charito Malicad, and Edmar Ines, AINIO treasurer, the SEC and the AINIO will engage in a range of activities aimed at raising awaren...

Experts said that the decline of the population of bees can have serious consequences on food production. FLINDERS UNIVERSITY PHOTO BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO SCIENTISTS working in Asian countries have warned of declines in Asia's pollinators that could affect food production and food security in the region. A report released by the Australia-based Flinders University affirmed that bee pollinators are a crucial link to food production and food security for more than half the world's population living in Asia. However, the report noted that few species have been closely studied or assessed for their range, numbers and conservation status. The report said the warning comes as 74 scientists working in 13 Asian and other countries said that the region's bees could be under threat du...

Ifugao State University continues its streak of global recognition by participating in the three-day Kuminwani Flair 2.0 Masterclass dubbed 'Cordillera's Fierce Leaders Achieving International Recognition' at the Cordillera Career Development Center in La Trinidad, Benguet from Aug. 2 to 4, 2023. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO IN continuing its streak of global recognition, Ifugao State University (IFSU) has participated in the three-day Kuminwani Flair 2.0 Masterclass dubbed "Cordillera's Fierce Leaders Achieving International Recognition." Held at the Cordillera Career Development Center in La Trinidad, Benguet from Aug. 2 to 4, 2023, the Kuminwani Flair 2.0 Masterclass is organized by the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) in the Cordillera Administrative Region (C...

The Insiklo bioconversion facility rears black soldier fly larvae that transform organic waste into animal feed and compost for crop production. CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO FOUNDED by Joseph Navasero, Insiklo is a startup venture that is turning market and household wastes into feed and fertilizer with the aid of the insect called black soldier fly (BSF). According to the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca), about 500 kilograms of market waste from Los Baños municipality in Laguna province are sent every week to the Insiklo facility. Then the larvae of BSF devour food scrap, agricultural debris and manure, reducing the waste volume and odor into a nutrient-rich compost for use as organic fertilizer on crops. The ...

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO DAKOTA, a digital tool that can bolster sustainable production of food export commodities in Indonesia, is a demonstration of the power of agricultural technology, the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca) said. Searca Director Glenn Gregorio said Dakota is a digital platform that will soon reach the okra farmers of Grobogan in Central Java, Indonesia. He said the tool helps farmers achieve international market standards and fair prices through transparent records of the quality control and agricultural practices applied to their commodities. "Searca Grants for Research towards Agricultural Innovative Solutions (Grains) supports digital innovations that reward sustainable practices, making a difference in ...