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IN MET R MANILAO
VOL. XXXVII • NO. 229 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES OCTOBER 1, 2023
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MARCOS SETS P12.7B AID FOR 2.3M RICE FARMERS DSWD ALSO SAYS P15,000 EL NINO SUBSIDY STILL IN PLAY By Charles Dantes and Maricel V. Cruz
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RESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has approved the release of P12.7 billion worth of assistance to rice farmers to help keep their productivity despite the ongoing agricultural challenges in the country. Under the Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RFFA) program, the government selected 2.3 million small rice farmers beneficiaries who are in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) also said Saturday the Marcos administration has not ruled out granting P15,000 in cash subsidy to farmers who will be severely affected by the El Niño phenomenon.
RFFA recipients are those listed in the farm cooperatives associations, irrigators associations, agrarian reform beneficiaries organizations, small water impounding systems associations, and other farm groups. “This would help them cope with the increasing cost of production and sustain their productivity even in the face of challenges like the coming El Niño [phenomenon],” said Mr. Marcos, who is also the concurrent Agricultural chief. According to the Palace, beneficiaries would receive P5,000 worth of financial assistance, which was
sourced from the excess tariff collection from rice importations in 2022. Moreover, the President approved the use of P700 million in collected excess tariff for the “Palayaman Plus,” a conditional cash transfer under the Household Crop Diversification Program. Around 78,0000 beneficiaries of Palayaman Plus are expected to receive P10,000 each in cash assistance from the program. These proposed cash aid packages support the Masagana Rice Industry Development Programs (MRIDP), the Palace said.
GOLDEN LEAP. Ernest John Obiena wins the Philippines’ first gold medal in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China by clearing 5.90 meters on his second attempt to set a new event record. AFP
OBIENA CLAIMS FIRST PH GOLD IN ASIAN GAMES HANGZHOU, China—Ernest John Obiena claimed the Philippines’ first gold medal in the 19th Asian Games on Saturday, clearing 5.90 meters to set a new event record in the pole vault and bringing life back to the Filipinos’ faltering campaign so far. Elsewhere, boxer Carlo Paalam remained on track for an Olympic return and a gold medal as he outclassed a game Uulu Munarbek Seiitbek of Kyrgyzstan. Paalam, the Tokyo Olympic silver medal winner, hacked out a 4-1 decision against Seiitbek in an action-packed bout at 57kg to book a berth in the quarterfinals. In basketball, Gilas Pilipinas lost to Jordan, 87-62, no thanks to Philippine Basketball Association import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, who ironically will return to the country to don the colors of TNT. The loss has Gilas playing an extra game to clinch a quarterfinal berth, instead of a direct ticket to the Final 8 had it won against the Hollis-Jefferson-led Jordanians (see full story on manilastandard.net)
PETRON RAISING LPG TANK PRICE BY P3.75/KL ON OCT. 1 By Alena Mae S. Flores
UAAP SEASON 86 OPENS. The University Athletic Association of the Philippines celebrated its return to a pre-pandemic setup with a glamorous Season 86 live opening ceremony at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Saturday. Dancers from season host University of the East interpret the league’s theme for this year, ‘Fueling the Future.’ UAAP Photo
‘CHINESE ACTIVITIES DESTROYED 500 HECTARES OF WPS CORALS’ SATELLITE imagery shows that between 2012 to 2016, more than 500 hectares of the Scarborough Shoal had been destroyed by Chinese activities in the West Philippine Sea, a state university professor said in a forum organized by the Stratbase ADR Institute. “Massive coral destruction in the West Philippine Sea has been ongoing for quite some time,” University of the Philippines Institute for Mari-
time Affairs and Law of the Sea Director Dr. Jay Batongbacal said. “The thing is, due to the arbitration having come out under a ‘friendly’ administration in 2016, China has never really been called to account for the destruction it caused with this massive islandbuilding spree and then all subsequent destructive fishing activities that it allowed to continue thereafter,” he explained.
Batongbacal said there is a need to quantify and valuate the total amount of losses due to these coral destructions. Meanwhile, working with other countries on “calibrated” economic sanctions on China could be a better option than realigning confidential and intelligence funds to agencies focused on the West Philippine Sea, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said on Saturday.
Earlier, the Philippine Coast Guard vowed to “do whatever it takes” to remove any more floating barriers installed by China at disputed reefs in the West Philippine Sea. “Another reason for coral destruction is the maritime militia anchoring on pristine reefs. You do not anchor on coral reefs in massive numbers without causing some kind of destruction,” Batongbacal added. AFP
GIBO PLANS RESERVE FORCES REVAMP
A DAY FOR ANIMALS. Malabon Zoo owner Manny Tangco (with snake, center) and pet owners gather for a blessing by Father Seelan on Saturday as they celebrate in advance World Animal Day and the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals, marked annually on October 4 to promote animal rights and welfare around the world. Andrew Rabulan
DEFENSE Secretary Gilbert Teodoro on Saturday expressed his intention to revise the current reserve forces paradigm structure of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). In a radio dzBB report, Teodoro said the AFP’s current design might not be able to withstand the looming threats against the country. With the ongoing tension in the Philippines’ territorial waters, citizens might need to take up arms to protect the country from unknown incoming threats, Teodoro added.
AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. welcomed Teodoro’s plan to revise the armed forces’ structure. “Well, we welcome that revision because we see that the problems our country is facing now are really different from the problems we faced before,” said Brawner at the sidelines of the 44th National Reservist Week Culminating Activity in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City. Brawner explained that the country’s current challenges are more “global in nature” compared to what it faced before. Charles Dantes
PETRON Corp. is raising the price of its liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) by P3.75 per kilo, equivalent to P41.25 per 11-kilo tank, effective October 1. “Petron will implement a P3.75/kg (VAT-inclusive) increase in LPG prices effective 0001H Oct 1,” the company said Saturday. AutoLPG prices will likewise increase by P2.09 per liter to reflect the international contract price of LPG for the month of October, the oil refiner said. An 11-kilo tank of LPG currently sells from P841 to P985 in the National Capital Region, government data showed. Prices vary depending on the brand, location of the station, and market forces. Meanwhile, Unioil Petroleum Philippines said in its price forecast that gasoline should go down by P1.80 to P2 per liter but diesel will increase by P0.20 to P0.40 per liter. This developed after the Department of Energy said oil prices may have a “mixed movement” next week with a possible rollback in gasoline while diesel prices may increase by up to P0.20 per liter or will not have any movement. “Prices are still volatile and we need to manage our expectations,” DOE director for the oil industry management bureau Rodela Romero said. Romero said world oil prices softened in the first few days of the week due to the elevated interest rates, higher US Dollar, and the relaxation of Russia’s fuel import ban.