28 Enero, 2025 Martes

election campaign period, gun ban in effect

3 days to love month

Happy 21st anniversary, Servants of God in Jesus Christ Christian Ministries Incorporated, Rev. Nestor Sadim, Rev. Manuel Soliman, Director Jorge Lopez

No to Divorce!!!

Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez, Happy 91st birthday Nanay  

No to SOGIE bill

supports National Bible Month 2025

supports Marked Men for Christ Philippines Seminar, January 30,31,February 1,2025, Kabaleyan Cove, San Carlos City, Pangasinan 

supports National Autism Prevention Week, January 2o-25 2025

PM for any hospital discharge problem

ABS 2025

FMJ appoints new BFAR director

By Nidz Godino

“If we have more cold storage facilities, local farmers can compete… no need to import as cold storage facilities are full,” Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (Sinag). executive director Jayson Cainglet said with cold storage facilities, farmers can negotiate better prices without fear of vegetables possibly rotting.

 President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.has appointed Elizer Salilig as permanent director of  Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) after  ombudsman upheld  former chief’s dismissal.

Salilig replaced Demosthenes Escoto, dismissed over alleged irregularities in awarding  P2.1-billion contract for vessel monitoring system (VMS) transceivers to  British company in 2018.

The new BFAR director is  career official serving  fisheries sector for over 34 years.

Starting as  fishery technician in Soccsksargen, Salilig had advanced to aquaculturist I and planning and budget officer overseeing  development and evaluation of key fisheries programs.

Salilig contributed to  implementation of  Fisheries Scholarship Program.

In 2016, Salilig was appointed regional director of  BFAR in Mimaropa.

During his tenure, he spearheaded the Tilapia Intensive Hatchery Production program to strengthen aquaculture production. Salilig also established the country’s first shrimp hatchery in Oriental Mindoro.

Salilig led the modernization of the regional office facility.

In an eight-page order, Ombudsman Samuel Martires dismissed  motions for reconsideration filed by Escoto, former agriculture undersecretary and BFAR national director Eduardo Gongona and British national Simon Tucker of SRT Marine Systems Solutions.

Defendants  moved to reverse their graft indictment over alleged anomalies in  VMS project.

Escoto’s involvement in  scheme to favor SRT-France and SRT-UK – despite  former’s ineligibility to participate in  bidding process  established his probable guilt and liability,  ombudsman said.

French embassy in the Philippines had declared SRT-France’s lack of qualifications due to  absence of manufacturing records or engineering facilities in France.

James Mier Victoriano had filed  complaint after  contract for BFAR’s Integrated Marine Environment Monitoring System Project Phase II was awarded to SRT-UK.

Meanwhile, constructing 99 cold storage facilities nationwide will lessen imported farm products as farmers can store their produce, according to peasants’ Sinag.

Citing onion farmers’ experience last year, the group said red onions were not imported as the government saw there were stocks, with bulbs lasting until December.

A P3-billion initiative to construct 99 cold storage facilities nationwide will be rolled out by  Department of Agriculture.

“Middlemen cannot dictate prices as farmers would have  option to store their products until  better price is offered,” he said.

Facilities  should be free and operated by farmers’ cooperatives, Cainglet said.

Farmers spend at least P300 per bag to avail themselves of cold storage facilities for six months, Cainglet noted.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said  facilities would feature sustainable, cost-efficient designs powered by renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, alongside electricity from  grid.

President Marcos should create  national council to address rice smuggling, hoarding and profiteering in the country, a lawmaker said.

Despite tariff cuts and lower prices in  world market, rice has remained costly for Filipinos, Agricultural Sector Alliance of the Philippines party-list Rep. Nicanor Briones pointed out.

The proposed council, he said, would be comprised of the trade, finance and agriculture departments, as well as the National Economic and Development Authority.

The council shall formulate policies and form  law enforcement group against smugglers, hoarders and profiteers, he noted.

Despite  passage of  Anti-Economic Sabotage Act, no one has been punished yet, Briones said.

Under the law, he noted that agricultural smuggling, hoarding, profiteering and engaging in a cartel are classified as economic sabotage,  non-bailable crime with  penalty of life imprisonment.

Twenty-one containers of smuggled frozen mackerel from China were seized last year by Customs officials at the Manila International Container Port, Briones recalled.

Charges were filed against importer Pacific Sealand Food Corp.  Hold  departure order must be issued against owners, Briones said.