Dateline Kamuning:  The Department of Agriculture (DA) allayed public fears on Friday on the possible effects of a looming El Nino phenomenon on rice production, stressing the necessary preparations were made to counter the impact of the dry spell. In a press briefing at Malacañang, Agriculture Undersecretary Leocadio Sebastian said measures have been put into place to mitigate the effects of the dry spell on food production. During the Palace briefing, reporters raised the concern of some farmers of possible crisis in rice production and agriculture as a result of El Niño phenomenon. “Naghahanda naman kami sa Department of Agriculture kaya lang ako I had experience several El Niño and I’ve also found solutions to El Niño. Mayroon positive and negative na effect ang El Niño,” Sebastian told the reporters. He explained the DA is conducting an assessment of areas that could be negatively or positively affected by the dry spell. According to Sebastian, there are areas in the...

Dateline Kamuning: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has directed the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to speed up the distribution of Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs) to qualified farmer-beneficiaries. Marcos issued the order during the Cabinet meeting when DAR presented its accomplishment report for 2022 and targets for 2023. DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III assured the chief executive they will bring government programs to farmer-beneficiaries, according to a news release of the Presidential Communications Office. “For 2023, DAR will deliver as expected and we will continue to bring government closer to the people,” Estrella said.     During his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) in July 2022, Marcos vowed to provide support services, implement land distribution and improve the living conditions of agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs). Among the targets of DAR this year is the complete subdivision of about 34,500 collective CLOA involving 34...

Dateline Kamuning:   President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said Monday he hasn’t appointed a permanent secretary for the Department of Agriculture (DA) because he wants to carry out reforms more quickly. During an interview with the press, the President was asked about the calls of some legislators for him to appoint a permanent secretary of the DA who can focus on the agriculture sector. “For me sa DA, there really are things that I can do if there was a secretary and he or she did it… magagawa pero matagal, madaming diskusyon,” said the President, who concurrently holds the DA portfolio.     “The President they cannot say no to. And ‘pag hindi nila ginawa ‘yung utos ko, puwede kong sitahin. Iyong secretary… may pakiusap pa,” Marcos pointed out. According to the chief executive, what he brings to the position is that when he makes a decision or plan, everyone needs to follow, and if not, he can chastise officials or move them to other positions. “But generally ...

Dateline Kamuning:     Bernie Ferrer Cruz officially took the reins of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), an attached corporation of the Department of Agriculture (DA), as its Administrator and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) on December 12, 2022. Cruz was formally sworn into office by DA Senior Undersecretary Domingo F. Panganiban in the presence of other members of the PCA Board.     As PCA Administrator and CEO, Cruz automatically becomes a member of the PCA Board, which is currently chaired by President and Agriculture Secretary Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and vice-chaired by Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno. Cruz was also granted authority to approve and sign agreements and partnerships with national government agencies, local government units, civil society organizations, and members of the private sector in order to not hamper PCA projects that are being implemented for the benefit of the country’s coconut farmers. (DA)  ...