Diokno: Maharlika-financed projects less prone to delay
By Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson, Reporter PROJECTS financed by the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) will be at reduced risk of administrative and legal challenges, with official development assistance (ODA) also becoming harder to access, Finance Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno said. “Financing through the GAA (General Appropriations Act, or the national budget) is lengthier and […]
Read More →Adjusted milling season seen imposing hardships on sugar farm workers
THE proposed delay of the start of sugar milling season to October could result in lower yields and lower income for farm laborers, a planters’ association official said. “Canes need to be harvested when they are ripe, which means when they reach their maximum level of sugar content. When canes are overripe, they have less […]
Read More →NEA wants finances to play bigger role in power cooperative ratings
THE National Electrification Administration (NEA) said it is seeking to amend the classification system for electric cooperatives (ECs) to better reflect their technical and financial capacity. “I want (the categories to reflect) the true state of operations both on the technical and financial management aspects,” Antonio Mariano C. Almeda, NEA administrator, said in a briefing […]
Read More →ADB flags cancer treatment shortcomings as case count rises in Asia
ASIAN GOVERNMENTS must innovate in how they support cancer care, which is underfunded even while the incidence of cancer rises, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said. “Compared to COVID-19, cancer is a long-term challenge for healthcare systems. No lockdowns can stop or slow the emergence of cancer incidences,” the ADB said in a blog. “There […]
Read More →DENR’s Loyzaga signals ‘balanced’ mining oversight regime
ENVIRONMENT Secretary Maria Antonia Y. Loyzaga said mining must be regulated in a “balanced” way to both protect the environment and raise revenue for the government to support the economic recovery. “We need minerals. How we balance that really depends our understanding of the complexities of the different contexts that we are actually faced with. […]
Read More →Understanding the implications of the EPR Law
(First of two parts) With the signing of Republic Act No. 11898, also known as the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Act of 2022, obliged enterprises are now engaged in establishing their own EPR programs to meet the deadline for EPR registration on Feb. 13. The Philippines is considered one of the top plastic polluters globally. […]
Read More →NEDA approves 7 ‘high-impact’ projects
The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) has approved seven “high-impact” projects, ranging from agriculture to transportation, the agency’s top official announced on Friday. Three of the seven projects, namely the New Dumaguete Airport Development, Mindanao Inclusive Agriculture Development, and the first phase of the Integrated Flood Resilience and Adaptation, will be funded by official […]
Read More →DENR budget, manpower not enough to save environment
By Revin Mikhael D. Ochave, Reporter THE head of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Thursday said the agency lacks the budget and manpower needed to mitigate the impact of climate change and boost environmental protection efforts across the country. “Unfortunately, the way we are set up is that the fiscal space […]
Read More →P29B needed for total electrification target
A P29-billion budget is needed to deliver electricity in all households nationwide in the next five years, the National Electrification Administration (NEA) said on Thursday. NEA Administrator Antonio Mariano C. Almeda said in a media briefing that to date, 600,000 households in the main grid are still without power supply and another 23,000 households in […]
Read More →ADB, gov’t give training grants to 66 enterprises
THE Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the National Government on Thursday awarded service-training grants to five networks of enterprises through the SkillsUpNet Philippines (SUNPh) program. A total of 66 enterprises and 600 workers in the Bicol and Davao regions and Cebu province will benefit from the SUNPh program, which aims to enhance skills and competitiveness, […]
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