Ban on Luzon, M’nao poultry extended

By Glenda Tayona, Panay News

ILOILO City – The city government extended its ban on live poultry, poultry products and byproducts from Luzon and Mindanao.

The Avian Influenza or bird flu outbreak there has not abated, according to Mayor Jerry Treñas in Executive Order (EO) No. 043-2022 extending the ban for 30 more days effective immediately.

The ban would protect Iloilo’s poultry industry and shield the Ilonggos from “the unknown risks that this outbreak may cause the consuming public,” the EO read.

Avian Influenza is a highly contagious viral disease caused by any Influenza A virus affecting several species of food-producing birds (chickens, turkeys, quails, guinea row,. etc.). as well as pet birds and wild birds.

The temporary ban is imposed on the following:

* all live birds (poultry and non-poultry) including day-old chicks, pullets, hatching eggs, ready-to-lay pullets, semen, fresh egg, embryonated eggs, manure, ducks and quails and other poultry products and byproducts from Luzon and Mindanao

* pigeons for racing, flying, training, brooding and other related activities originating from Luzon and Mindanao, and those which have traveled thereto and intending to return to Iloilo City

* gamefowls from Luzon and Mindanao and those which have traveled thereto and intending to return to Iloilo City

The EO, however, allows the transshipment of imported day-old chicks, day-old pullets, hatching eggs as well as gamefowls from International airports and seaports to Iloilo City.

The transport of poultry meat from Luzon and Mindanao to Iloilo City shall be allowed only if the shipment is accompanied by a Meat Inspection Certificate (MIC) for domestic meat products or Certificate of Meat Inspection (COMI) for imported meat products.

MIC or COMI will be issued by the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) along with the Shipping Permit issued by the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI).

Strict implementation of quarantine inspections shall also be imposed in all ports of entry – land, sea, or air – in Iloilo City.

Treñas tasked the City Veterinary Office, in coordination with the Department of Agriculture Region 6’s Regulatory Division and the BAI – Regional Veterinary Quarantine Service 6, to inspect the regulatory requirements of all incoming poultry and poultry products.

In May, after more than a month of ban, the city government through a previously issued executive order opened its borders to eggs and day-old chicks from areas not affected by the Avian Influenza or bird flu to help poultry farmers.

But seeing the impending threat again following new confirmed cases of bird flu in the provinces of Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Laguna, Benguet, North Cotabato, South Colabato, Maguindanao, and Isabela from April 30 to June 10, the city government opted to close its border again./PN

DTI DdO recognizes MSMEs as the backbone of Economic recovery

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), in partnership with the Provincial Government of Davao de Oro through the PAO-Investment Division, continues its efforts to support and empower the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) by conducting business trade fairs, pitching, product expos, one-town one-product live selling, financing forums, and the like, as they are the backbone of the gradual economic recovery not only in the province but also in the entire country.

August 8–12, 2022 marks the 2022 MSME Week + Youth Entrepreneurship Program (YEP) Celebration in Davao de Oro with the theme "RISE MSMEs in the Digital Economy: Resilient, Innovative, Sustainable, and Empowered," which underpins MSMEs' resilience to continue their entrepreneurial journey, be innovative enough to cope with the drastic changes brought by the pandemic to sustain their small businesses and become empowered and successful entrepreneurs in the hardest of times.

During the week-long event, the local products of MSMEs, including innovative foods, textiles, arts and crafts, health, beauty, and wellness products of the province, were exhibited through a business trade fair at the Capitol Lobby as an act of support by the government, which allows them to promote their various products and later increase the reach of potential customers for their businesses. 

In addition, a business pitching competition for the young entrepreneurs and students from DDOSC Compostela, DDOSC Montevista, DDOSC New Bataan, DDOSC Maragusan, Monkayo College of Arts, Sciences and Technology, and Assumption College of Nabunturan was also conducted at the Activity Hall, Executive Building, where they showcased their unique and innovative products. Moreover, a one-town one-product live selling on social media platforms such as Facebook was also conducted to further promote their products.

Meanwhile, DTI DdO Provincial Director Atty. Lucky Siegfred M. Balleque presented some facts and figures that show the significant contribution of MSMEs to the growth and development of the economy. He said that it has always been the DTI's priority to assist the MSMEs to visualize and expand their businesses through programs, events, and activities to make the most of their ventures and would help them become large enterprises in the future. 

"According to the 2020 MSME Statistics conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), a total of 957,620 business enterprises are operating in the country. About 99.51% or 952,969 accounts for the MSMEs while the remaining 0.49% or 4,651 accounts for the large enterprises. These MSMEs created a total of 5,380,815 jobs, accounting for 62.66% of total employment in the country." said Balleque.

He also added that "recently the PSMED Council passed a resolution requesting Sangguniang Panlalawigan to enact an ordinance which would entitle eligible MSMEs to 10% of total procurement of goods and services supplied to the government. We will also request our LGUs to allocate the said budget for MSME development."

Furthermore, Governor Dorothy Gonzaga underpinned her support for the said events and reiterated that if we support more of our MSMEs, we could guarantee a positive change in our economy. 

"Sa atong mga leaders diri sa Davao de Oro, we are more than willing to give our all-out support para sa mga programa para kaninyu. After all , kamo ang mu-shape ug muhatag ug hitsura sa unsay hulagway diri sa Davao de Oro. Maningkamot mi ug unsa pa matabang nga mahatag na suporta sa kapitolyo sa inyu," Gov. Gonzaga said. (PAO-IPRD DdO)

PAO- Information and Public Relations Division

4th Flr, Executive Building,

Provincial Capitol Complex

Brgy Cabidianan, Nabunturan

Davao de Oro

Maguindanao flooding displaces 7,000 families

FLOODED SCHOOL. A school in Datu Montawal, Maguindanao, is submerged in floodwaters following heavy rains Tuesday (Aug. 9, 2022). All the town’s 11 barangays were submerged in floodwaters, prompting the local government to distribute relief packs to some 7,000 affected families in the area. Photo courtesy of Datu Montawal MDDRO via Philippine News Agency

By Franz R. Sumangil, Manila Times

MORE than 7,000 families have been displaced by flooding that hit Datu Montawal town in Maguindanao province last Tuesday, August 9.

Balumol Kadiding, municipal disaster officer of Datu Montawal, on Thursday said most of the flood victims have moved to safer grounds.

"However, many of them are home-based and are just waiting for the water to recede," Kadiding also said, adding that no casualty was reported.

All the town's 11 barangay (villages) were flooded after the Kabacan River overflowed because of heavy downpour in Bukidnon and North Cotabato.

Montawal, a town with a population of over 37,300 per 2020 census, is beside the Kabacan River and also near the Malitubog-Maridagao water channels.

Kadiding said flooding has been a recurring problem of Datu Montawal as the town served as a catch basin of river water from upstream or from North Cotabato and Bukidnon.

The water from the river flows toward the Maguindanao marshland.

Kadiding said ongoing relief operations will cushion the impact of the calamity on affected families.

He added that the town disaster council is set to convene anytime to consider recommending the declaration of a state of calamity.

Meanwhile, the provincial government of North Cotabato conducted a series of relief operations over the weekend for flood victims in the towns of Kabacan and Pikit.

In two flood-affected villages in Pikit, 559 families in Silik village were given relief aid while 90 families in Dalingaoen village received food packages and were also visited by Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza.

Sittie Eljori Antao-Balisi, Cotabato first district board member, assured the flood victims that the provincial government will keep on extending public service to residents of the province.

Silik village chairman Benzar Mangansakan expressed his gratitude to Mendoza for the assistance given by the provincial government.

Floods ruin farms in 3 Ifugao villages

Mangansakan said the relief aid greatly helped the residents as their primary source of food is adversely affected by the flooding.

The relief campaign was spearheaded by the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office in cooperation with the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office and Pikit Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office.

Sen. Revilla files bill for movie industry

The Philippine movie industry is indeed one of the industries severely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. It became more difficult to produce and market Filipino movies due to the restrictions in place thereby affecting the film producers, movie theater operators, and patrons. And in spite of the recent reopening of cinemas in the country, many are still hesitant to watch films inside movie theaters due to the long stay inside an enclosed venue.

This challenge is compounded by the existing decline of movie ticket sales in the country due to the various online platforms that evolving technology made available.

Aware of these difficulties, actor and current Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. filed Senate Bill No. 28 which aims to revive the Philippine movie industry by providing fiscal incentives to the proprietors, lessees, and operators of theaters and cinemas.

The bill removes the different national and local taxes imposed on the said industry such as income tax, excise tax, value-added tax, and amusement tax.