MECO to grant farmland to 48 Taiwan trainees

By Rey E. Requejo

THE Manila Economic and Cultural Office is now working with the national government for the grant of agricultural lands to 48 young Filipinos who underwent training in Taiwan on modern agricultural production.

MECO chairperson Silvestre Bello III disclosed that 48 internship completers comprise the second batch of interns under the Filipino Young Farmers Internship Program, a partnership of MECO and the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office which started in 2021.

According to Bello, he has sounded off concerned government agencies for the grant of farmlands to the fresh batch of 48 interns.

"In this manner, our internship graduates will be able to demonstrate model farms utilizing advance technologies in farming, aquaculture, poultry, dairy, and other fields of agricultural and fisheries production, and value chain management," Bello said in a statement.

The program, considered a big boost to the Philippines' agricultural sector, started with the deployment of 29 farmers who composed the first batch. They finished their 11-month program in September 2022.

PAO’s Acosta gains Pamana leadership plum

PUBLIC Attorney’s Office chief Persida Acosta is a recipient of the Metro Excel Leadership Awards-Gintong Pamana ng Lahi 2023 for being among the most trusted and empowered public servants. Artchie Solitano, committee award chairman, and Edzel Eroles, president, personally handed over the trophy and plaque of appreciation to Acosta at the first Crowne Plaza Hotel, Manila Galleria, Ortigas Center in Quezon City. Eroles lauded the PAO chief for her exemplary performance, integrity, and humanitarian conscience.

He also congratulated Acosta for her second anniversary of #PALA (Persida Acosta’s Legal Advice), a free legal consultation and advice online.

“PAO will always be here anywhere to help those in need,” Acosta said. Rio N. Araja

A DISPLACEMENT of Filipino workers is looming amid the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, and the government is preparing for its effects on the labor sector, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said Sunday.

While the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) could not prevent or ban such technological developments, Laguesma said the government is ready to assist the Pinoy workforce amid the changes.

“Every change in the field of work could result in dislocation of workers, but what is important is we prepare for it," he said over radio dzBB.

"What’s important is that we prepare and see what kind of guidance or assistance we could give to our workers, as well as what the investors should do so there will be no heavy displacement or dislocation among the workers." (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

House...

From A1

Power Industry Act, Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act, Budget Modernization, National Defense Act and Unified System of Separation, Retirement and Pension for Uniformed Personnel. LEDAC’s priority bills now number 44, with the addition of the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act and the bill amending the Bank Secrecy Law, which are among the 20 measures the President wants approved before the end of the year.

Before the first regular session of the 19th Congress ended in June, the House approved 33 out of the 42 priority measures identified by LEDAC.

Meanwhile, Romualdez assured the military and uniformed personnel (MUP) that the P120 billion needed for the pension fund of soldiers, policemen, and other uniformed personnel will be resolved this year.

He directed the members of the committees on appropriation, and ways and means to find ways to raise P120 billion for the MUP pension fund.