PIA-Bukidnon

MALAYBALAY CITY (PIA)-- T he Republic of Korea Ambassador to the Philippines Inchul Kim visited the Department of Agriculture’s Smart Greenhouse project on March 22 at Northern Mindanao Agricultural Crops and Livestock Research Complex (NMACLRC) this city.   After being formally inaugurated in April last year, the Ambassador inspected the project to ensure its implementation and utilization.   DA-10 is now using the 100 million Korean-Philippine-funded project as a Smart Farming demonstration and research facility to showcase strawberry, cherry tomato, and white potato production in a fully automated greenhouse.   Cora A. Dumayaca, DA-10 Regional Field Office Technical Director for Research and Regulations, reported in a brief discussion with the Ambassador's delegates that the agency has been hosting trainings for numerous farmers and agricultural extensionists in an effort to promote Korean Smart farming technology in the region.   She also explained that the agency is currently

MALAYBALAY CITY (PIA)--Through Project ProtecTEEN, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has started the emotional and psychological restoration for teenage mothers in Malaybalay City.   Based on the latest data, Malaybalay City is among the top five cities with the highest teenage pregnancy cases--showing 591 girls gave birth at a young age.   ProtecTEEN Project Team Leader Jelie Barceta of DSWD Central Office told Field Office-10 Assistant Regional Director for Operations Ronald Ryan Cui that her team will provide psychosocial support to the city’s 21 teenage moms.    “ProtecTEEN Project serves as a platform that provides an enabling environment by increasing young mothers' parenting and responsibilities awareness to help them attain developmental tasks, cope with the demands of parenting, and perform their social roles,” Barceta said.    The first batch of adolescent mothers, aged 10 to 19, will undergo the process for five days in close coordination with the D

MALAYBALAY CITY (PIA) -- Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri  f iled the Across-the-Board Wage Increase Act of 2023 or Senate Bill No. 2002, which  seek s to raise wages of private sector employees in all regions by P150  a day .   "A decent life costs a decent wage. If workers put in long hours of work daily and still cannot afford to pay their rent, bills, and necessities, there is a problem,"  Zubiri  said.   The proposed wage hike applies to agricultural and non-agricultural private sector workers, regardless of the capitalization and number of employees.   He  acknowledged that the Regional Wages and Productivity Boards are responsible for prescribing minimum wages in the private sector but are only allowed to issue one wage order per year unless supervening conditions are declared.   The National Capital Region currently has the highest daily nominal wage rate, at P570 (non-agriculture), while the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao has the lowest rate at P3

MALAYBALAY CITY (PIA)—The Senate recently passed a resolution expressing sympathy and condolences to the people of Turkey and Syria in the aftermath of the massive February earthquakes that have claimed over 50,000 lives. Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri led the ceremonial turnover of the P2.5 million donation to the earthquake victims in Türkiye. Turkish Ambassador Niyazi Evren Akyol, was in the Senate to receive the resolution and the check. Philippine Red Cross Chairperson Richard Gordon was also present at the turnover.  "I thank all of my colleagues in the Senate for pooling P2.5 million at P100,000 each for a donation to the Turkish Red Crescent, through the Philippine Red Cross. And we thank Sen. Richard Gordon for facilitating the donation," Zubiri said. All 24 senators gave money out of their pockets to pay for the donation, which was entirely paid for with private funds. "The Philippines—being a disaster-prone country—have some idea of the tragedy that Türki

MALAYBALAY CITY (PIA)--Senator Cynthia Villar has left a lasting impression of inspiration as she spoke to thousands of women from various groups joining in the 18th Provincial Summit, March 9, in celebration of the National Women’s Month with the theme ‘WE for Gender Equality and Inclusive Society.' Villar, a staunch advocate of women's rights and welfare, describes how hard work and perseverance, which are innate in every woman's values, work. "It is my privilege to be here and be allowed to speak to you as I have always been a staunch advocate of women empowerment. It is also refreshing to see that your governor actively advances women’s causes, like gender equality, women empowerment, and the initiatives towards creating an inclusive society," she said. Villar cited and explained existing laws that promote the rights and welfare of women, including RA 11313 (Safe Spaces Act or Bawal Bastos Law); RA 9710 (Magna Carta of Women); RA 11210 (Expanded Maternity Leav

MALAYBALAY CITY (PIA)--To stabilize market prices of basic needs and prime commodities (BNPCs), Bukidnon Governor Rogelio Neil P. Roque, chairperson of the Provincial Price Coordinating Council (PPCC), recently convened the Council members to discuss the roles of Local Price Coordinating Councils (LPCCs). Supported by the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 7581 (Price Act) and Memorandum Order No. 2005-130 issued by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Price Act protects consumers by stabilizing the prices of basic needs and prime commodities, as well as prescribing safeguards against unjustified price increases in emergencies and similar circumstances.  Price stabilization is a usual government concern, as prices can be volatile due to various factors such as weather conditions, supply and demand, and market competition. The PPCC is a council composed of representatives from different government agencies and stakeholders tasked to coordinate

MALAYBALAY CITY (PIA)--The Department of Agriculture-Regional Crop Protection Center in Northern Mindanao (DA-RCPC-10) recently extended training on the mass production for Trichogramma sp. to its DA-RCPC counterpart in region 11 (Davao Region) personnel. Four technical staff were housed in the center in Bangcud, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon, and trained in proper practices and methods for mass production of Trichogramma sp. and its laboratory hosts, Sitotroga cereallela and Corcyra cephalonica. Trichogramma is a genus of parasitic wasps used as biological control agents to manage insect pests that damage crops. The wasps lay their eggs inside the eggs of the insect pest, which eventually kill the pest's eggs and prevent them from hatching into larvae that can damage crops. Sitotroga cereallela and Corcyra cephalonica are two species of moths used as laboratory hosts for the mass production of Trichogramma sp. Laboratory hosts such as Sitotroga cereallela and Corcyra cephalonica are u

MALAYBALAY CITY (PIA) - -As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact the world, many people are struggling to make ends meet, including Gina Selitona, a 50-year-old resident of Casisang in Malaybalay City. She is one of the millions of Filipinos whose financial  woes  resulted in stress and sleepless nights.   Physically, emotionally and mentally tired ,  but still need to face everyday life. Gina wished to become a beneficiary of a livelihood project, and her dream came true when she received assistance from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). Before the pandemic, Gina worked as a cook in a  K arinderya, which helped augment her husband's meager income to support their family's needs. However, when the pandemic hit, their income stream was disrupted .  They were forced to find ways for daily sustenance. Gina and her family used their savings to open a small store in front of their home to sell assorted goods. DOLE responded to the current issue by providing livelih

PANGANTUCAN, Bukidnon (PIA)--Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go led the groundbreaking ceremony for the Super Health Center facility in far-off barangay Bacusanon, Pangantucan, Bukidnon, March 3. Go said the center would provide vital health services with specialized health facilities at the local level, such as an outpatient department, laboratory, X-ray, ultrasound, birthing services, diagnostics, pharmacy, and emergency services. Asked about the distinction between Malasakit Center and Super Health Center, the Senator explained that the Super Health Center is a medium-sized polyclinic larger than a rural health center but not as big as a hospital. “I express great bliss that the Department of Health (DOH) chose a strategic location here in town. The government will build additional 20 Super Health Centers in Northern Mindanao this year, with six in Bukidnon, four in Cagayan de Oro, three in Lanao del Norte, two in Misamis Occidental, and five in Misamis Oriental,” Go s

MALAYBALAY CITY (PIA)--Sixty-nine interns in the province went through an orientation on their roles and responsibilities as beneficiaries of the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE-10) Government Internship Program (GIP) in a series of sessions from February 13 to 17. Raul Valmores, chief of the DOLE-10 Bukidnon Provincial Field Office (Buk PFO), clarified that the beneficiaries signed the Internship Agreement as their official commitment to the six-month program. As the second batch of interns, they will be assigned to various government offices in the province to gain work experience from March 1 to August 31 this year. Valmores clarified that most interns would be assigned to various Public Employment Service Offices (PESOs) to assist in implementing and monitoring DOLE programs and services on social protection and job facilitation. These efforts contribute to inclusive growth through substantial poverty reduction and massive employment generation. Aisha Nicole Magpulong, a