By Louise Maureen Simeon (The Philippine Star), March 16, 2017
MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Agriculture (DA) has once again pushed back its rice self-sufficiency goal by another year to 2020 due to lack of available budget and as it buys more time to implement strategies to improve the sector.
“We have to make adjustments due to non-availability of funds. I’m still struggling,” Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol told reporters in a chance interview.
While he moved his target, Pinol is banking on strategies to achieve the goal including promotion of hybrid seeds, access to credit and loans, access to right marketing, and provision of post-harvest facilities.
To provide easy access to credit and financial assistance, the DA has proposed to Congress the enactment of a Quick Credit Facility (QCF) that will help farmers and fisherfolks.
The Agricultural Credit and Policy Council also launched the Survival and Recovery (SURE) Assistance Program for calamity-stricken farmers.
The DA will organize rice farmers into highly-functioning organizations and assist them in setting-up farmer-owned rice outlets in key areas to give producers access to market.
Through this strategy, the DA aims to eliminate unnecessary layers in the market system.
The DA will likewise prioritize the distribution of efficient post-harvest facilities.
It is seeking a P20-billion budget next year for the distribution of solar irrigation system, which forms part of the rice expansion program for 2017.
September 18 –
International Equal Pay Day
“Increase wages now,
more than other cost items.
For widespread, practical equality!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the recommendations of the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry
against serious violations of protocols of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association.
Accept the National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
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October –
Monthly Observances:
Industry and Commerce Safety Month
National Statistics Month
Local Government Month
Consumer Welfare Month
Cooperative Month
National Quality and Productivity Improvement Month
National Health and Wellness Tourism Month
National Indigenous Peoples Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 1: Elderly Filipino Week
Week 2: National Health Education Week
Local Government Week
National Mental Health Week
October 17-23:
National Week for Overcoming Extreme Poverty
October 18 – 24:
United Nations Week
Last Week:
Nurses’ Week
Consumers’ Protection Week
Week of the 4th Sunday:
Barrio Farmers’ Week
Daily Observances:
First Monday (Oct 4): Universal Children’s Day i
n the Philippines
Oct 5: National Teachers’ Day
Oct 10: Local Government Day
Third Thursday (Oct 14): Conflict Resolution Day
Oct 21: Tenants’ Emancipation day
Oct 24: United Nations Day
Oct 29: National Indigenous People’s Thanksgiving Day
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