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Villar invokes importance of marine hatcheries
By Macon Ramos-Araneta
SENATOR Cynthia Villar has underscored the importance of establishing local marine hatcheries in towns and rural areas to produce fingerlings to be given to small fishermen.
“It is also necessary for the propagation of certain marine species to address the country’s dependence on imported fingerlings, like bangus, tilapia, mangrove crabs, pampano, shrimp, lapulapu, danggit and other high-value marine species,” Villar said.
“It will provide seeds to be utilized for aquaculture,” she added. Villa is chairperson of the Senate agriculture and food committee.
In yesterday’s hearing on bills establishing local hatcheries, Villar noted that the aquaculture sector plays a vital role in ensuring the country’s food security, generating employment opportunities, and contributing to foreign exchange earnings. In recent times, she said aquaculture has experienced substantial growth, surpassing the captured fisheries. “By providing support to the aquaculture industry, will lead to the development of our fisheries industry in general.”
She cited the latest report of the Philippines Statistics Authority, in 2022, which shows that aquaculture contributed 2.246 million metric tons (MT) out of 4.248M MT total fishery production or 54.15 percent. For the first quarter of 2023, the contribution of aquaculture further increased to 55 percent, or 545,640 MT out of the 991,140 MT total fishery production. Due to this, Villar said it was critical for the government to give importance to the industry of aquaculture farming.
Sen. Padilla quits PDP-Laban post, vows to remain active member
By Macon Ramos-Araneta
SAYING he would like to focus on his job in the Senate, Senator Robin Padilla has resigned as executive vice president (EVP) of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) bloc led by former Energy Sec. Alfonso Cusi.
Padilla submitted his resignation to Cusi but said that he intends to remain a member of the party and continue to participate actively in its advocacies.
“Today, May 29, I tender my irrevocable resignation as EVP of PDP-Laban. That said, I intend to remain a member of the party),” Padilla said. “I believe my decision is for the good of the party and its members – and more importantly, for the Filipino people.”
In his resignation, Padilla noted the PDP-Laban has much to achieve, and thus needs an EVP who can devote more time to the party’s affairs.
He emphasized that because he has “heavy responsibilities” as an elected official, it would be better if someone else fills his shoes.
As an incumbent senator with a mandate, Padilla said he is aware that other duties-including his position as EVP of the party–must give way to his ability to fulfill his sworn duty to the people.
Padilla is the chairperson of the Senate committee on constitutional amendments and revision of codes. He had conducted Senate hearings on bills to amend the economic provisions of the Constitution.
He also filed his own proposed measure which seeks to make changes in seven provisions of the 1987 Constitution.
However, the neophyte senator conceded in his ultimate goal to amend economic provisions and instead shifted to make amendments in its political provisions.
Teves: ‘Powerless’ vs. House leaders’ bid for his ouster
NEGROS Oriental Representative Arnolfo Teves Jr. said he is “powerless” over officials who may push for his expulsion from the House of Representatives.
“It’s not that I am ready or I am considering.
It’s that I am powerless over these people, right?
Who am I to fight back against the Speaker and the Chairman,” Teves said, in an interview with CNN Philippines.
Teves was apparently referring to House Speaker Martin Romualdez and House ethics panel chairperson Felimon Espares, GMA News reported.
“If it’s another kind of fight, I will fight back. But if the fight only involves rules that they made up, how can I fight back?” Teves, in the said interview, also said.
On Monday, the House ethics panel unanimously recommended stiffer disciplinary action against Teves due to his continued absence amid expired travel authority in violation of House rules.
Reports also said House ethics panel vice chairperson Raul Bongalon said stiffer sanctions would include expulsion and any other penalty that the committee may determine.
In the same interview, Teves’ lawyer Atty. Ferdinand Topacio said some lawmakers were being pressured to vote according to the will of the House leadership.
The lawyer also expressed alarm over the presence of Commission on Elections chairperson George Garcia during a House hearing.
DOJ prosecutors appeal de Lima case acquittal
THE Department of Justice (DOJ) said a prosecution panel is asking a Muntinlupa court to reconsider its ruling earlier this month acquitting former Sen. Leila de Lima in one of her drug cases.
In a 91-page motion for reconsideration, DOJ prosecutors led by Provincial Prosecutor Ramoncito Bienvenido Ocampo, Jr. urged Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 204 to instead render a new ruling declaring De Lima and co-accused Ronnie Dayan “guilty” of conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading.
Muntinlupa Judge Abraham Joseph Alcantara acquitted the former lawmaker on the basis of the recantation of former Bureau of Corrections OIC Rafael Ragos.
Ragos initially claimed he personally delivered 2 tranches of P5 million in drug money to De Lima’s house in Parañaque in November and December 2012, supposedly to aid De Lima’s senatorial bid.
But De Lima did not run in the 2013 elections.
Ragos, in April 2022, would execute an affidavit recanting all his allegations against De Lima, accusing instead former Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aquirre II of coercing him to testify against her. Aguirre denied the allegations. Rey E. Requejo
DOH warns public of illnesses due to El Niño season
THE Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday warned the public against certain illnesses that may arise due to the El Niño season.
The DOH reminded the public to take precautionary measures, saying that extreme weather heat, scarcity of clean water, and frequent rains could cause diseases like asthma, cholera, dengue, diarrhea, fatigue, food poisoning, heat cramp, heat stroke, nausea, sunburn, typhoid fever, and other diseases due to consumption of food affected by red tide.
