Nation

MANILA (December 2)—President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday emphasized that the “Kadiwa ng Pasko” project is the “best Christmas gift” that the government can extend to the public amid the rising cost of some goods brought about by inflation. “It (Kadiwa) is the gift that keeps on giving,” Pres. Marcos said as he led the launch of the nationwide caravan in Quezon City. He is joined by Mayor Joy Belmonte, Vice-Mayor Gian Sotto, and other local and national government officials. The Kadiwa caravan rollout seeks to provide a market for local agricultural producers, while at the same time, giving the public access to affordable and high quality products. In his remarks, the President said he also wants the Kadiwa ng Pasko project to become a national program through tie-ups...

HEALTHY RELATIONS US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson (middle, left) hands over Point-of-Car HIV Viral Load Cartridges to Dr. Louisito Chua, Manila Councilor for Health, on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022. Also present during the ceremony were Sen. Ana Theresia ‘Risa’ Hontiveros, Michelle Lang-Alli, Ma. Carolina Vidal-Taino, Barangay 435 chairman Linensky Bacud, and other officials and representatives of the US government and the Department of Health. PHOTO BY RENE H. DILAN BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO MANILA (December 2)—The United States government donated HIV viral load testing cartridges valued at P85 million ($1.5 million) in a turnover ceremony hosted by the Manila City government on December 1, also to commemorate World AIDS Day. According to the US Embassy in the Philippines...

Thailand-based Asian Institute of Technology and Mariano Marcos State University conducted a lecture workshop on remote sensing and geographical information systems on November 24, 2022 attended by representatives from local government units and agencies in Ilocos Norte, including MMSU personnel and students. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO BATAC CITY (December 1)—Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) in collaboration with Thailand-based Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) conducted a lecture -workshop on remote sensing and geographical information systems (RSGIS) to enable local sectors to mobilize data-based action. Held at MMSU University Review Center on Nov. 24, AIT Program Officer Ranadheer Mandadi discussed the application of remote sensing technology in agricultu...

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture project team interviews farm managers, trainers and farmer-beneficiaries in selected farm schools in various regions in the country for the conduct of an operational assessment of the country's Program on Accelerating Farm School Establishments. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO LOS BAÑOS, Laguna (December 1)—To come up with a basis for policy recommendations and development of possible innovations toward the improvement of the Program on Accelerating Farm School Establishments (Pafse), an intergovernment-treaty organization was tapped to conduct an assessment of farm schools across the country. According to Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searc...

Headquartered on the University ot he Philippines Los Baños in Laguna province, the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture is one of the oldest among 26 specialist institutions of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization. BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO LOS BAÑOS, Laguna (November 29)—A competition for photography enthusiasts by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca) has set a November 30 deadline for submission of entries. Searca director Dr. Glenn Gregorio said the photo contest themed "Emerging Agricultural Innovations for the Next Generation" is open to Filipinos and nationals of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste...

The plenary speakers and delegates of the 2022 Future Science Leaders’ Forum, led by Searca Director Dr. Glenn Gregorio, on Nov. 11, 2022 at the Crimson Hotel in Alabang, Muntinlupa. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO LOS BAÑOS (November 26)—The Philippine government-hosted Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca) has empowered young scientists in a recently held forum titled "2022 Future Science Leaders' Forum" (FSLF). During the FSLF, Searca Director Glenn Gregorio spoke on building a culture of agricultural innovation for sustainable impact through new ways of working and thinking, participatory governance, adoption of ideas, strategies, and innovating sources of funding and financing. Consisting of plenary sessions on bui...

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO BATAC, Ilocos Norte (November 25)—Aiming to promote the use of space data for development, the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) this week brought its Philippine Space Agency Integrated Network for Space-enabled Actions toward Sustainability or "Pinas" project to the province of Ilocos Norte. Under the Office of the President, PhilSA is the central government agency addressing national issues and activities related to space science and technology applications under Republic Act 11363. A workshop on the Pinas project at the Mariano Marcos State University-Teatro Ilocandia that ended on Thursday, November 24, was attended by about 100 delegates, including MMSU personnel and college students, government agencies and representatives from local government units (L...

Prof. Khin Mar Cho (center) receives her certificates of recognition from Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture Director Dr. Glenn Gregorio (left) as a resource person at the Searca Online Learning and Virtual Engagement webinar and Southeast Asian Youth Fest held in May and October 2022 respectively. Also in photo is Searca Deputy Director for Administration Assoc. Prof. Joselito Florendo. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO LOS BAÑOS (November 24)—A New York-based Cornell University Food Systems specialist visiting Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca) has encouraged Filipino youth to go into agriculture, especially in the agri-food system. Prof. Khin Mar Cho, International Agricultur...

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, in their bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 29th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, expressed commitment to strengthen their collaboration on trade and security efforts. MANILA (November 19)President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern expressed commitment to strengthen their collaboration on trade and security efforts. The two leaders made this commitment after concluding their bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 29th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Bangkok, Thailand. Both President Marcos and PM Ardern said they are keen on collaborating with Filipino farmers on new innovations in farming to increase sustainability and productivity. ...