Risa seeks docs on DA’s sugar import

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

SENATOR Risa Hontiveros has called on the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) to submit the documents needed for the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee to begin its investigation on the alleged sugar smuggling last February.

“We need to act with urgency, preferably after Holy Week or before all sugar in the markets will be gone,” she said.

The senator noted there were crimes that have taken place and continue to

House launches book on water resource laws

THE House of Representatives on Wednesday launched its latest publication entitled “Laws, Executive Issuances and Jurisprudence on Water Resources (1901-2022),” to serve as reference for policy researches on water.

Tingog party-list Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez, in a message read by Davao de Oro Rep. Maria Carmen Zamora, described the book launching as “a crucial step towards fully implementing our laws and allowing our people to take part in our efforts for the preservation of our country’s water resources.” unfold “and exposing these crimes may allow us to unravel the bigger crimes of economic sabotage and possibly plunder.”

“It is our hope that this collaboration spearheaded by the Legislative Information Resource Management Department (LRIMD) and the Legal Affairs Department (LAD) will open up more discussions and interests in the topic and therefore promote public participation,” Romualdez said.

Romualdez was principal author of House Bill 21 calling for the “National Framework for Water Resource Management and Creating the Department of Water Resources and the Water Regulatory Commission,” along with Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and Tingog party-list Rep. Jude Acidre.

She also expressed hopes on the commitment of Blue Ribbon Committee chairman Sen. Francis Tolentino to investigate the sugar fiasco.

“And I have full faith that he will be as zealous as he was during the first sugar hearings,” Hontiveros said.

In case documents from the SRA are not yet available, Hontiveros said Tolentino can commence the hearing and issued subpoena duces tecum for the needed documents to be presented in the Senate hearing.

Earlier, Tolentino said he cannot start the hearing as he was still awaiting pertinent documents from the SRA.

According to Tolentino, he has only a copy of Sugar Order No. 6 which was sent to him by the SRA.

Hontiveros has filed a resolution seeking an investigation on the Department of Agriculture’s importation of what she branded as “governmentsponsored smuggling.” The importation was made even without the required permit from the SRA. She said many crimes were happening after sugar had been smuggled. She expects to unearth bigger crimes like economic sabotage and plunder.

IMEE IN SAN PABLO CITY.

Senator Imee Marcos visits San Pablo City in Laguna in line with the ImeeSolusyon Pregnant Congress and hands out P20 million under the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s

Assistance for Persons in Crisis Situations. With the senator are Laguna Vice Governor Karen Agapay, Rep. Loreto Amben Amante and Mrs. Madette Amante, Mayor Vicente Amante and wife Gem CastilloAmante, and Vice Mayor Justin Collago.

Roy Tomandao

Bataan gov’t draws up 3-year

investment

Plan

THE Bataan provincial government has passed a resolution establishing the Provincial Development Investment Program (PDIP) 2023-2025.

Provincial councilor Manny Beltran, chairman of the Committee of Finance, Budget, Appropriations and Ways and Means, sponsored the resolution in response to an urgent request of Gov. Joet Garcia.

The governor said PDIP 20232025 was a vital document that outlines the roadmap for the province’s economic and social development.

He said the plan was meant to foster a “highly livable and globally competitive environment for every Pamilyang Bataeno.”

The program is focused on four development sectors, which are economic development; social development; infrastructure and utility development; and development administration. Butch Gunio

PCAARRD publishes shrimp culture book

THE Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has published a book on Biofloc technology (BFT) on the viability of raising white-legged shrimps at less cost.

The PCCAARD researchers said shrimp nurseries that are set up in ponds, especially those that co-culture shrimp with milkfish, are prone to viral diseases.

The spread of luminous vibrios and white spot syndrome virus, as well as high production costs, are emerging problems of the shrimp industry that need solutions for its sustainable production, the researchers said. Butch Gunio