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Volume XII, No. 58
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Agri imports drop THE VALUE of agricultural imports in 2020 fell 11% to P623.98 billion due to the lower imports of commodities such as rice, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). The PSA said that notwithstanding the decline, the value of agriculture imports as a share of all imports rose 14%. According to the PSA, the volume of rice imports in 2020 fell 28.7% to 2.23 million metric tons (MT). They fell 22.1% by value to P43.56 billion. Rice accounted for 7% of the overall value of farm imports. The volume of tobacco imports declined 12.5% to 46,503.7 MT. By value, imports of the commodity dropped 1.7% to P10.06 billion, and accounted for 1.6% of all agricultural import expenditures.
Railway target date THE Transportation department said it restored its original target of achieving partial operations at the China-funded Mindanao Railway Project to March 2022 from the recently-revised target of October 2022. “Sa March 2022 meron tayong partial operability (We will have partial operability by March 2022),” Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade said during the ceremonial signing of the project management consultancy contract Wednesday. Transportation Assistant Secretary for Project Implementation-Mindanao Cluster Eymard D. Eje, who committed to keep the project free of corruption, said: “This project will push through and will deliver what we have promised, what President Rodrigo R. Duterte promised, and what Secretary Arthur Tugade promised.”
Insurance for hogs THE Department of Agriculture (DA) 10 (Northern Mindanao) on Wednesday encouraged raisers and farmers to get their hogs insured with the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC). In an interview, DA-10 Director Carlene Collado pointed out that should hog raisers get affected again by African swine fever (ASF), the indemnification pay would be higher. "In case (their hogs) getting hit (again) by ASF, each hog (culled) will be paid PHP10,000. For now, only PHP5,000 (per hog) of assistance is given by the DA," he said.
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Airport upgrade a boost to Camiguin eco: Tugade Thank you for trusting us!
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HE op ening of the upg r ad e d P132.2-million airport in Camiguin province could signal better postpandemic economic impact, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade said during a live-streamed event Friday in the island province.
During the inauguration of the new airport, Tugade said even when it was still undergoing construction, hiring laborers in the process already started the "economic impact" for the province. "Before it (the airport) can only accommodate 60 passengers, with the new one, it's now 220, there will be an impact in tourism with that," he said. Tugade and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Director General, Captain Jim Sydiongco,
led the inauguration of the completed development projects for the Camiguin Airport. The completed projects include the expansion of the passenger terminal building amounting to P29.2 million; construction of the administration building (P4.6-M); one bay f ire station building (P3.2-M); c onst r u c t i on of C A A P Security and Intelligence Ser vice (CSIS) Office P2.04-M); as well as the UPGRADE/PAGE 7
BUMP FIST. Camiguin Gov. Jurdin Jesus Romualdo (left) bumps fist with Transportation Sec. Arthur Tugade during his visit to the island-province for the inauguration of the newly renovated Camiguin Airport on Friday, Oct. 22. photo by gerry lee gorit
Lanzones Fest kicks off revival of Camiguin's tourism industry By ERCEL MAANDIG, Reporter
TOURIST BAN LIFTED. A tourist boat is silhoeutted by the setting sun off the shore of Mambajao, Camiguin Province. The island's stalled tourism industry comes alive again starting today, Oct. 25, following the lifting of the executive order barring the entry of tourists due to the erstwhile rise in Covid cases. photo by gerry gorit
Fuel prices in Zamboanga City remain higher than in other areas of Mindanao By FRENCIE CARREON, MindaNews
ZAMBOANGA City — Prices of fuel here have remained higher than in other areas of Mindanao even after some Cabinet officials assured Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco that they would attend to the matter. At least three Cabinet secretaries have responded to Climaco’s request for them to intervene. Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi promised his department “will look into it.”
Social Welfare Secretary Rolando Joselito Bautista said he will bring the request to the attention of the National Inter-Agency Task Force and other secretaries. Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles also responded to the mayor’s request. Climaco cited that gasoline prices in Zamboanga City currently range from P61 to P67 per liter. “We currently have the highest surge [of COVID-19
and sadly highest gas price. We need your SOS to lower it to help our people,” her message said. Delivery services and local public transport operators said they could not increase the cost of fare on their own, as it needs the approval of the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board. “This has become an emotional subject for everyone in the city, but the increase in fuel prices also FUEL/PAGE 7
MAMBAJAO, Camiguin – Despite the threat of the pandemic and lanzones scarcity, the island province will still celebrate the annual Lanzones Festival although virtually, Governor Jurdin Jesus Romualdo said Friday. Romualdo said they would still hold festival-related events despite a smaller volume of lanzones. Due to erratic weather patterns, they expect an abundant har vest in December or January next year, way beyond the festival season. C amiguin’s lanzones
are considered the sweetest b ecause of the island’s volcanic soil. “We will still celebrate it to show the people of Camiguin that there is still hope amid the pandemic and low harvest. Even if we have a scant lanzones yield, the spirit of the Lanzones Festival will still be there to keep the morale of the Camiguinons,” he told reporters on the sidelines of the inauguration of the newly rehabilitated Camiguin Airport. In its 42nd year, the L anzones Festival 2021 LANZONES/PAGE 7
Fuel prices in Zamboanga City as of 12 October 2021. mindanews photo by frencie carreion
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