EDITORIAL: Ang kartel ng bawang sa Pilipinas

 Tila namamatay na ang industriya ng bawang sa ating bansa. Maraming magsasaka ng bawang ang tumigil sa pagtatanim dahil sa paglipana ng mga inaangkat na bawang sa ibang bansa lalo na sa China. Malalaki ang mga bawang na inaangkat, subalit kulang sa bango dahil ang mga ito ay ” genetically modified”. Ang produktong bawang sa Pilipinas ay naiiba. Maliit man ang mga ito ay mabango pag ginagamit sa pagluluto.

 Dahil sa malawakang paglipana ng mga inaangkat na bawang sa pamilihan, nabahala ang Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (Sinag) sa pamumuno ni Engr. Rosendo So na Chairman din ng Abono Partylist. Ang Sinag ay nananawagan sa mga mamimiling Filipino na tangkilikin ang mga lokal na produksyon ng bawang upang mapanatili ito bilang industriya sa sakahan at makatulong din sa  pangkabuhayan ng mga magsasaka.

 Noong 2014, nagkaroon na ng pandinig sa Senado ang kartel ng bawang. Sa pandinig na yaon, natukoy ang may hawak sa kartel. Ito ay ang Phil. Vieva Group of Companies na pagmamay-ari ni Lilia Cruz o Leah Cruz. Nakapag-angkat ng bawang ang nasabing kumpanya na walang kaukulang akreditasyon mula sa pamahalaan. Dahil dito nakikita ng Sinag ang sabwatan ng Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) at ni Cruz. Matatandaan na ang presyo ng bawang noong 2014 ay pumalo sa P287 kada kilo.

 Bakit nga ba hindi matigil ang kartel ng bawang? Sino ang mga nagtatamasa nito? Bakit hindi masawata ng BPI at iba pang ahensiya ng pamahalaan? Hanggang ngayon, nandiyan pa rin ang kartel na ikinadismaya ni Senador Cynthia Villar, ang Chairman ng Senate Committee on Agrikulture. Sabi ni Villar na hindi pa rin tayo natuto pagkaraan ng masusing imbestigasyon sa Senado noong 2014. Sabi pa niya, kailangan ng matigil ang kartel ng bawang dahil kung hindi ito matugunan, masisira na ang industriyang ito at mamamayagpag ang mga kumpanyang nagtatamasa ng milyong kita dito.

MAGANES: Duterte bars use of ‘honorables.’ display of government portraits

 

Last week, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered government officials to stop calling themselves “honorables” and the hanging of their photos in government offices.

 These two orders, if we take them seriously, will give more respect to our officials. They are supposed to serve the public and not to be looked up to as special persons in our communities.

 In his speech during the oath-taking of new government officials last July 17 in Malacañang, Duterte opined that politicians and government officials should be addressed simply as “mister” or “miss”. He said, ” Sa aking panahon, wala yong honorable, honorable. Hindi ka naman nanalo ng eleksyon  kung hindi kita kinarga. Napaka-corny ninyo.”

President Duterte when he was a mayor of Davao City never allowed himself to be addressed as “honorable.” Now that he’s President, he also requested that he will not be addressed as ” His Excellency.”

SM City Rosales celebrates National Children’s Book Reading Day

By Virgilio Sar. Maganes

 ROSALES-  Make reading a habit.

This was the message conveyed  during  the National Children’s Book Reading Day held at the Event Center of SM City Rosales last July 18 in coordination with the National Book Store.

The ” Book Reading Day,” held every 3rd Tuesday of July, is part of of SM Cares Program for Children, the National Book Development Board, Department of Education, Vibal Publishing House, and Calidad Humana.

 It is an advocacy of promoting literacy and encouraging children to develop their love for reading at an early age.

Alaminos receives 2017 BSP Kapit Bisig award

 By Virgilio Sar. Maganes

ALAMINOS CITY- This city added another feather on its cap after the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) awarded the Kapit Bisig award ( city level) during the 14th Awards Ceremony held at BSP Assembly Hall, BSP Complex in Manila on July 11.

The award was received in behalf of Mayor Arthur F. Celeste by City Budget Officer Rowena Ruiz, City Treasurer Shirley Dela Cruz, and City Accountant Emelyn Acosta from BSP Governor Monetary Board Chairman Nestor Espenilla, Jr. and Chairman of the Board of Judges Juan De Zuñiga, Jr.

 The BSP awarding ceremony is being held annually to recognize outstanding partner institutions for their strong support and contribution to the statistical initiatives, information requirements, and advocacy programs of the BSP.

 This year’s theme is “Transforming Shared Visions into Dynamic Partnership.”

 The LGU Coordination- Advocacy Support Category award is given to the city for it significant role  in the efficient implementation of the Memoranda of Agreement on Information Sharing Agreements, entered into by the BSP and DILG to ensure the integrity of the BSP Registry of Pawnshops, Foreign Exchange Dealers/Money Changers and/or Remittance Agents.

 This aims to have effective conduct of BSP and DILG mutual campaign for anti-money laundering activities and consumer protection.

Along with this city, the other two awardees are the Provincial Government of Isabela and Municipal Government of Aurora, for the provincial level and municipal level, respectively.

Urdaneta City hosts 41st Milo Marathon

By Virgilio Sar. Maganes

URDANETA CITY- This city hosted for the first time a leg of the prestigious running spectacle in the country last July 15 for the 41st Milo Marathon.

More than 12,000 runners participated in 21K, 10K, 5K and 3K running events.

City Mayor Amadeo Gregorio “Bobom” Perez IV  thanked the organizers for selecting the city as the host of this year’s marathon.

He also welcomed all participants and urged them to observe sportsmanship and enjoy the various events they participated in.

 Mayor Perez fired the starting gun for the said events after which the race routes were flooded with running enthusiasts coming from northern Luzon and other regions in the country.

 After the marathon, Southeast Asian Games gold medalists Julius Sermona and Christabel Martes ruled the 21K event for men’s and women’s division, respectively.

 Raymond Torio and Jelsie Sabado topped the 10K event while Team Urdaneta’s medalists  in the Region I Athletic Association Meet emerged as winners for the 5K event.

James Bryle Ballester and Jennielyn Bacalando topped the 3K event.

 In the cheer dance competition, which was a side event of the marathon, Urdaneta City Natonal High School won in the secondary division while Urdaneta I Central School copped the fist place in the elementary division.

 Pangasinan State University’s Urdaneta Campus emerged as winner in the tertiary division.

Lingayen execs rebuff critics on ghost worker raps

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

 LINGAYEN – High officials of this Capital town rebutted critics who accused the mayor of violating the law when she created a position of  mechanic but without filling the position.

.

CRITIC. Lingayen Mayor Josefina “Iday” Castaneda (Left)  and 
critic Councilor Judy “Juday” Vargas.

Mayor Josefina “Iday” Castaneda explained that position was included in this year’s annual appropriation budget but could not fill the position because the town has no motor poll yet.

 “Wala pang motorpool kaya iyong pang suweldo sa mechanic nilagay sa savings. Tapos iyong savings iyon inilagay sa supplemental (budget),” she stressed.

Human Resources Officer Dindo Ungson said despite the funding and creation of the position by the executive department and legislature, the post is not yet final. The appropriation for the post would become savings of the town, he said.

 Municipal Accountant Nelson Gumapos said Councilor Judy “Juday” Vargas may have brought the issue to the media was because she wanted to get back at the mayor.

Duterte to announce decision on barangay polls– Bataoil

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

LINGAYEN –  Will there be a barangay election on October?

Pangasinan second district Representative Leopoldo Bataoil said Filipinos should wait for the pronouncement of President Rodrigo Duterte during the State of the Nation Address on July 24, on whether the elections will push through or not.

“Whatever is the stand of the chief executive, whether the elections will push through or will be postponed, will be the (cause of action),” Bataoil said.

When asked for a law to empower the President to postpone the election on October and if the Congress can expedite the passage of the bill to back up the extension, the solon said  Congress can fast tract it.

 But he said he was not aware if the Senate can do it.