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Saturday, February 18, 2023
Philippine Eagle Foundation to benefit MiceCon
By Ruth Palo, Manila Times
DAVAO CITY: The Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) was chosen as the beneficiary of MICE (Meetings, Incentive Travel, Conventions, and Exhibitions) convention set on March 1-3 at the SMX Convention Center in SM Lanang Premier here.
The city is hosting this year's MiceCon after three years of being postponed.
The PEF is a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving the endangered Philippine eagle and its rainforest habitat.
The Philippine eagle, among the four symbolic icons of Davao City, is a strong symbol apt for this year's MiceCon attached in its logo.
Kennedy Kapulong, the former co-chairman of Davao MiceCon 2023, said that the "majestic" Philippine eagle symbolizes the city's "resilience and strength."
Kapulong said that selecting PEF as the beneficiary is in line with the Department of Tourism's (DoT) advocacy for sustainable tourism.
"Likewise, DoT's sustainability efforts and advocacy can be mirrored with the successful initiatives of the PEF to save the national bird. When I was asked for a CSR partner, PEF was the top choice," he said in a statement Friday.
Ann Pelingon, MiceCon Davao's head for corporate social responsibility (CSR), also believes that the foundation matches what MiceCon aims to achieve — resiliency from the ever-changing times.
"Like Davao City, we are known for being resilient. For how many years, the Philippine eagle has been resilient for how many years. It's symbolic and it's just right that the Philippine Eagle Foundation be our beneficiary," she said.
The pandemic, she said, had hugely affected the PEF's operation. Now with the threat of the avian flu, Pelingon said that the center needs financial help.
She said the MiceCon wants to contribute to the foundation's conservation effort of sustaining the population of eagles not only in the city but for the entire country.
"The center really needs funding, especially in ensuring the preservation of the raptor and other endangered animals being sheltered in the center," Pelingon said.
Proceeds from the convention's registration will go to the PEF. In addition, Pelingon said they are also eyeing the delegates to be the center's potential donors.
"At least the delegates, aside from being potential donors, could also help spread the word in the center's conservation efforts," she said.
With MiceCon's goal of having a sustainable tourism industry, Pelingon said the convention is a great avenue for this advocacy.
Pelingon, a former PEF volunteer, believed in the importance of preserving the eagles, which is an indicator of a healthy environment.
She also hoped that many would heed the call for more volunteers in the foundation.
Carla Salvacion, PEF conservation education program team leader, said they are thankful that MiceCon selected the foundation as its beneficiary.
"MiceCon is a huge help not only in raising awareness but also in raising funds for the center to continue its run," she said.
With the theme "MICEConverge: Blaze New Trails," the three-day conference will serve as a gateway to provide more business opportunities and strengthen ties with domestic and international stakeholders.
It is a hybrid event expected to bring in 500 in-person delegates and up to 2,000 online participants from here and abroad.
Highlights of the event include the MICE Youth Challenge and Power Dressing and Glam Makeup Sessions and Workshops where Davao's finest tourism and product services will be on full display with the sub-themes, "Celebrating Nature," "Celebrating Diversity" and "Celebrating Travel and Technology."
LPA seen to cross eastern part of PH landmass, trigger more rains in next 3 days — PAGASA
Published February 18, 2023, 10:03 AM
The low pressure area (LPA) spotted near Mindanao remains less likely to develop into a tropical cyclone, but the state weather bureau’s latest forecast scenario showed that the weather disturbance will cross the eastern section of the Philippine landmass and trigger more rains in the next three days.
Last seen 285 kilometers east southeast of Davao City, the LPA continues to dump rains over Visayas, Caraga, Davao Region, northern Mindanao, Bicol Region, Romblon, Marinduque, and Quezon.
“[On Saturday, Feb. 18], the LPA will be closest to Caraga Region and eastern Visayas. By [Sunday, Feb. 19] it is expected to be in the Bicol Region, while on [Monday, Feb. 20] it will be in the eastern section of northern or central Luzon, and by that time another surge of the northeast monsoon will begin,” said Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) Weather Specialist Benison Estareja in Filipino on Saturday, Feb. 18.
By Tuesday, Feb. 21 PAGASA expects the weather disturbance to dissipate while crossing the northern Luzon area.
Along with the LPA, the northeast monsoon, also called “amihan,” will bring light rains and cold winds in Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon. The lowest air temperature recorded on Saturday was logged in Baguio City: 13.0°C at 4:50 a.m.
Due to the strong to gale force winds associated with the northeast monsoon, a gale warning remained hoisted in the eastern seaboards of southern Luzon and Visayas and the northern and eastern Seaboards of Mindanao; the central and western seaboards of Visayas; the western and southern seaboards of southern Luzon; as well as the seaboards of northern Luzon and the eastern seaboard of central Luzon.
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Fishermen with small sea vessels were advised not to venture out into the sea due to rough sea conditions.
PBBM pushes rice yield increase thru hybrid seeds
by Argyll Cyrus Geducos, MB
Malacañang said that the Department of Agriculture (DA) has started developing a “strategy plan” to promote planting hybrid seeds on 1.5 million hectares of rice land during the dry season.
The Palace said this in a statement on Friday, Feb. 17, after President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. approved the adoption of hybrid rice varieties that will help local farmers enhance their crop production.
In its statement, Malacañang, citing Agriculture Assistant Secretary for Operations Arnel De Mesa, said Marcos has ordered to ensure that rice farmers have enough support.
The DA will also launch a financial and credit program to persuade farmers to shift to hybrid rice.
“Sapat na suporta kagaya ng patubig, fertilizer at iba pang ayuda katulad ng (Enough support like water, fertilizer, and other help like) Rice Farmers Financial Assistance,” Mesa said.
“Ang mga ito ay nararapat na maibigay sa tamang panahon (These assistance should be provided to them at the right time),” he added.
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According to Malacañang, the President, also the DA Secretary, is optimistic that the country will attain its rice self-sufficiency target within two years using hybrid seeds.
The DA is looking at expanding production in Regions 6, 8, 12, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). The Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, and Central Luzon regions have already adopted the hybrid rice technology.
Apart from expanding financial support to local farmers through the loan financing program, President Marcos committed to bringing the best farming practices used by Central Luzon farmers to the rest of the country.
Based on a joint study by the DA and local government units (LGUs), the hybrid system has produced a 41-percent higher yield than conventional inbred seeds for the past two years.
In 2023, the DA earmarked P30 billion in funds under the National Rice Program to provide hybrid and inbred or certified seeds, production-related and post-harvest machinery, small-scale irrigation, and extension and training activities.
This is on top of the P10B-Rice Enhancement Competitiveness Fund sourced from the excess tariff collected under the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL), which aims to improve farmers’ competitiveness.
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