Support for PH food, beverage industries sought

By Wilnard Bacelonia

MANILA – A lawmaker on Thursday urged various sectors of the country to support the food and beverage industry.

In a news release, Senator Cynthia Villar said the food and beverage industry has become highly diversified, covering a wide spectrum of manufacturing practices.

She cited the small-scale, traditional, family-run operations that are highly laborintensive to large-scale, and capital-intensive enterprises employing advanced mechanized industrial processes.

She said the food system operates as a complex network interconnecting farmers with various industries, noting that “numerous food industries rely on local agriculture, produce, or fishing, while others rely

FOODS AND BEVERAGE EXPO. The 17th Manila Foods and Beverages Expo (MAFBEX) opens at the World Trade Center in Pasay City on Wednesday (June 14, 2023). It is the country’s biggest gathering of the iconic pillars and outstanding newcomers of the food trade. It will run until June 18. In photo are Mayor Imelda Calixto-Rubiano (3rd from right) Senator Cynthia Villar (2nd from left) and WSI founding chair Jospeh Ang (right), who led the ceremonial opening of the MAFBEX Expo. (PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan)

Go reiterates call to pass DDR bill amid various calamities

By Wilnard Bacelonia

MANILA – The recent calamities that occurred in the country call for the establishment of the Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR), Senator Christopher Lawrence Go said.

In an interview during his distribution of aid for poor families in Payatas, Quezon City on Thursday, Go said the proposed DDR aims to centralize efforts, streamline coordination, and ensure more swift and effective response to emergencies.

He said the proposed measure, Senate Bill No. 188, is aimed at ensuring that coordination among the various government agencies and the local government units (LGUs) will be made even before a calamity hit.

"Pag-alis nung bagyo, restoration of normalcy at rehabilitation efforts. Huwag puro task force. Panibagong task force tuwing bagong administrasyon at panibago na naman ang kakausapin mo (When the typhoon leaves, there will be restoration of normalcy and rehabilitation efforts. Let us not keep on creating task forces which changes everytime a new administration comes in)," he said.

Go said his proposal, Senate Bill No. (SBN) 188, is currently under the hands of Senate Committee on National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification and Reconciliation, which is chaired by Senator Jinggoy Estrada.

He also mentioned another proposed measure, SBN 193 which would require every LGU to establish its own evacuation center.