MANILA, Philippines – Based on the study of the Philippine Institute for Development Studies or PDIS, there are four reasons why Filipino farmers and fishermen are not competitive as compared to those in other countries.

These include their lack of skills and knowledge in technology, mechanization, financial literacy and having no ability to access credit.

“If you have no capital, you’ll really have to borrow money from investors,” farmer Ramil Ventenilia said.

“Until now, we still have no irrigation. We are just depending on rainfall. If we will not pump the machine, we will have no water,” farmer Perdro Distor said.

To help farmers address such problems, the Senate is pushing for the creation of the rice competitiveness enhancement fund.

The money for the fund will come from tariffs the government collects from imported rice.

It will then be allocated to the Phil Mech, Phil Rice, Philippine Insurance and government-run banks like the Landbank of the Philippines and the DBP so it could directly be accessed by farmers.

“Towards the long run, our farmers will become competitive. When they become competitive, they can produce rice like what is being done in Vietnam. When they become competitive, it will also help end smuggling and cartels,” Senator Cynthia Villar said.

The world is facing the possibility of a food shortage by 2050 as the population continues to grow.

This is why Philippine officials believe the creation of a fund for individuals in the agriculture sector could help improve the rice production of Filipino farmers.

The Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food continues to visit provinces to check on the condition of farmers and fishermen. – Aiko Miguel | UNTV News & Rescue

Tags: DBP, Landbank of the Philippines, Phil Mech, Phil Rice, Philippine Insurance, Senator Cynthia Villar

FILE PHOTO: A fish vendor in Dalahican Fish Port in Infanta, Quezon Province. (Rogz Necessito / Photoville International)

MANILA, Philippines — “I don’t know what shortage they are talking about. There is an abundance of tamban (sardine) in Zamboanga del Norte.”

This is the statement of Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol regarding the alleged fish shortage in the country.

According to him, what seems to be the problem is the lack of storage facilities to store the abundance of fish being caught.

The Department of Agriculture has also imposed a fishing ban in certain areas to give time for fish to reproduce, which the Secretary said, they are strictly implementing.

“Yung buong fishing vessels kapag nahuli sila hundred thousand na kaagad yun,” Usec. Eduardo Gongona said.

Meanwhile, Senator Cynthia Villar said aquaculture or fish farming is a key to seafood sufficiency in the country.

“Since our oceans will not be able to keep up with the rising demand for fish, we need to do fish farming or aquaculture kaya po pinagbubuti natin ang pag-encourage ng ( that is why we are encouraging) aquaculture sa ating bansa (in the country),” Villar said.

The senator also stressed that irresponsible waste disposal, particularly of plastic into the ocean, is one of the main reasons for the death of some marine species and depletion of the supply of aquatic resources. – Rajel Adora | UNTV News & Rescue

Tags: Agriculture secretary Emmanuel Piñol, Senator Cynthia Villar, Usec. Eduardo Gongona

FILE PHOTO: Sandiganbayan Facade (UNTV News)

MANILA, Philippines – Sinentensyahan ng Sandiganbayan ng apat na buwan at isang araw na pagkakakulong si dating deputy Ombudsman Margarito Gervacio Jr. dahil sa kasong perjury.

Kaugnay ito ng hindi pagdedeklara ni Gervacio sa kanyang Statement of Assets Liabilities and Networth (SALN) noong 2003 ng kanyang ari-arian sa Davao, na nagkakahalaga ng mahigit apat na milyong piso.

Paglabag ito sa Republic Act 6713 o Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

Nanilbihan si Gervacio bilang deputy Ombudsman mula 1999 hanggang 2006. (UNTV News)

Tags: Margarito Gervacio, SALN, Sandiganbayan, Statement of Assets Liabilities and Networth