Latest news with #50thGawadSakaNationalAwardeesandUgnayanwithFarmers
GMA Network
09-07-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Marcos agrees with LWUA probe recommendation on PrimeWater — Palace
President Bongbong Marcos at presentation of the 50th Gawad Saka National Awardees and Ugnayan with Farmers on Monday, June 30, 2025 at the Science City of Muñoz in Nueva Ecija. RTVM screenshot President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. concurs with the recommendation of the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) following its investigation into the operations of water service provider PrimeWater. Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said in a briefing Wednesday that Marcos has studied LWUA's report and already has an opinion on the matter. However, Castro did not disclose LWUA's recommendation as it was not yet the right time. "Ang Pangulo po ay naaral na po ang report mula sa LWUA, siya po mismo ang nag-aral nito at ang rekomendasyon po sa kanya ay kanya naman pong inayunan," Castro said. (The President already studied the LWUA report and he agreed with the agency's recommendation.) Marcos had directed an investigation into the operations of PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp. due to numerous service-related complaints. The water service provider had vowed to be open to any meaningful dialogue that would resolve concerns as it also affirmed it is committed to cooperating with LWUA. Last week, LWUA Administrator Jose Moises Salonga was asked if it included in its list of recommendations the termination of PrimeWater joint venture agreements (JVAs). In response, he answered that the agency would prioritize putting water in people's pipes first. Salonga also noted that the LWUA was previously an attached agency of Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and the possible conflict may be linked to the previous officials of these offices. Castro had said JVAs between PrimeWater and other local water districts increased in 2019, when LWUA was still an attached agency of the DPWH under the leadership of Senator Mark Villar. For his part, Villar on Saturday denied any participation in JVAs entered into by PrimeWater and local water districts through the LWUA during his tenure as DPWH secretary. Castro clarified on Monday that she did not insinuate that Villar had a hand in the PrimeWater deals. PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp. is owned by the Villar family. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
30-06-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
Marcos says PH has had no agricultural policy for a long time
President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. said Monday that the Philippines lacks an agricultural policy as the sector has not been aided for quite some time. Marcos said this during his engagement with the national grand winners of the 50th Gawad Saka: Parangal sa mga Natatanging Magsasaka at Mangingisda in a forum at the Science City of Muñoz in Nueva Ecija. President Bongbong Marcos and Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. at the presentation of the 50th Gawad Saka National Awardees and Ugnayan with Farmers, June 30, 2025 at the Science City of Muñoz in Nueva Ecija. Screenshot from RTVM livestream He said this was the reason why the youth was not engaged in farming activities, adding that they do not see a good career path in the agricultural sector. ''Medyo hindi natulungan ang agrikultura nang matagal eh. Wala tayong agricultural policy, masyado nang napakatagal. Kaya't sasabihin ng mga bata, 'Ba't tayo papasok diyan, walang pupuntahan 'yan, hanggang diyan na lang 'yan.' Kaya't ngayon, babaguhin natin lahat 'yan,'' Marcos said. (It seems that no help was extend in our agricultural sector. We haven't had an agricultural policy for a long time. So, the youth will ask, 'Why will we go into agriculture, there's no future there.' So we will change that.) Marcos cited the need for modern technology to improve the agricultural sector, particularly the country's yields. This will also attract the youth to engage in farming, he said. ''Kailangan natin pumasok sa mga bagong teknolohiya dahil 'yun kailangan talaga natin para 'yung bawat ektarya natin, mas malaki ang yield. Mas malaki ang ani,'' Marcos said. (We need to use modern technology because we really need that to improve our yield from every hectare. The harvest will be greater.) Marcos said the youth would be the ones who will teach the other farmers in utilizing technology. ''Sila ang magtuturo sa atin ng mga bagong teknolohiya at 'yan palagay ko ay magiging interesting na 'yan para sa ating mga kabataan. Makikita nila na may magandang hanapbuhay naman ang magsasaka,'' he said. (They will teach us the modern technology and I think this will be interesting for the youth. They will see that there are job opportunities for farmers.) —KG, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
30-06-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
Marcos says he wants soil laboratories in every region
President Bongbong Marcos at presentation of the 50th Gawad Saka National Awardees and Ugnayan with Farmers, June 30, 2025 at the Science City of Muñoz in Nueva Ecija. RTVM screenshot President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. on Monday said his administration is targeting to establish soil laboratories in every region across the country. Marcos made the remark as he engaged with the national grand winners of the 50th Gawad Saka: Parangal sa mga Natatanging Magsasaka at Mangingisda in a forum at the Science City of Muñoz in Nueva Ecija. The President said he is optimistic that there will come a time where the Philippines will no longer depend on rice importation. ''Mayron at mayroon na tayong nasimulan. Gusto naming maglagay ng permanent na soil laboratories sa bawat regions. Ito'y unang... Phase I pa lang ika nga, Phase I pa lang ito kaya't pagpatuloy lang ang aming... pagpatuloy lang ang aming ginagawa para lahat ng tulong na maibigay natin sa ating mga mangingisda at farmer, gagawin natin,'' Marcos said. (We have already started. We want to place permanent soil laboratories in every region. This is just the Phase I so we will continue to provide help to our fisherfolk and farmers.) ''Dadaring din tayo sa araw na hindi na tayo masyadong umaasa sa importation kaya't yun ang ating habol, 'yun ang magiging sign of success natin kapag talagang nabawasan na ng husto ang ating pagbili ng imported rice,'' Marcos added. (There will come a time that we will no longer depend on importation. That's our goal, that will be the sign of our success if our dependence on importing rice will decrease.) In December of last year, Marcos launched the country's first mobile soil laboratory (MSL) in Malacañang. The MSL is a customized 10-wheeler truck possessing state of the art equipment, facility, resources, and safety features, with the capacity to conduct 44 soil chemical, physical, and microbiological parameters. This will increase the accessibility of soil laboratory services for agricultural stakeholders to guarantee the sustainable use and management of soil resources and strengthen crop productivity. The project is under the National Soil Health Program of the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM). Meanwhile, Gawad Saka is the highest and most prestigious annual recognition of the Department of Agriculture in partnership with local government units. The award honors the exemplary performance, outstanding contributions and innovative ways of Filipino farmers, fisherfolk, institutions, scientists and researchers in coping with the evolving agricultural sector towards attaining food security, sufficiency and sustainability. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
