MARCOS: HUGE TASK AHEAD AS PH'S AGRI SYSTEM STILL NEEDS FIXING

MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., who has been handling the agriculture portfolio for more than a year, said Wednesday that a lot of work still needs to be done to fix agriculture in the Philippines.

He said that the country's agriculture sector had been neglected for decades as he referenced his father and namesake's agrarian reform program in the 1970s.

During his speech at the 70th anniversary of the Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) in Quezon City, Marcos Jr said that while boosting productivity is important, the welfare of farmers and fisherfolk must not be forgotten.

Farm output declined by 1.3 percent in the second quarter of 2023, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority, which said productivity was pulled down by a 14.2-percent decline in production in the fisheries sector.

The minimum wage for agricultural workers in the Philippines ranges from P306 in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao to P573 in the National Capital Region. Wages, which are set by tripartite boards, vary per region.

"Huwag nating kakalimutan na dapat naman na ang hanapbuhay ng ating mga magsasaka at ating mga mangingisda ay mapangalagaan at mapaganda dahil 'yan ang hangarin nating lahat sa ating mga magsasaka at ating mangingisda." he said.

He also said that government will need the farming sector's help to do that.

"Ito ay napakalaking trabaho kaya kailangan natin — hindi kaya ng pamahalaan na nag-iisa na gagawin lahat ito — Kaya kailangan natin ng tulong ninyo. Kailangan namin ng sipag niyo, kailangan namin ng advice ninyo. "

Marcos said his government is drumming up the growth of the agricultural sector "with great urgency," with over P92 billion earmarked next year to implement projects for agri-fisheries.

The Department of Agriculture has also allocated P4.73 billion as investments for large-scale agriculture and fishery mechanization and modernization, he said.

This will help, he said, reduce post-harvest losses and maximize farmers' yields "at an affordable cost."

But these projects alone will not help the government to address agricultural issues, which was why Marcos urged the farmers' organization to give them feedback on what more they could do.

"Asahan niyo, ang inyong gobyerno ay nandito upang gawin ang lahat upang tulungan ang ating magsasaka na makapag-produce ng magandang ani, makapangisda ng sapat para sa ating mga kababayan, at maipagbili naman ito sa presyo na abot kaya ng ating mga mamamayan," he said.

THREE FILIPINOS REMAIN IN GAZA, SAYS DFA

MANILA — Three Filipinos remain in Gaza, including a father and child who are in a hospital, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Wednesday, after the Hamas-controlled territory faced 18 days of withering Israeli air strikes and a near-total blockade.

While the father and child could not be easily evacuated, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said authorities were "trying to make humanitarian aid reach them in Gaza

"Hopefully every resident of Gaza including foreign nationals could be given protection and assistance," he told ANC.

He said he hoped the three remaining Filipinos in Gaza could join other Pinoys waiting to cross Egypt for repatriation "by the weekend."

Of the 136 Filipinos reported to be in Gaza when the conflict broke out, half are from the Philippines and the rest are their children with their Palestinian spouses, De Vega noted.

Meanwhile, two other Filipinos in Israel are still missing after the unprecedented Oct. 7 cross-border attack by Hamas militants, the DFA said.

De Vega said one of the missing Filipinos is a woman with an Israeli passport while the other was "most likely" taken hostage.

"We hope that eventually they will be released as well," he said.

So far Hamas has only released four hostages, including an 85-year-old Israeli.

UN CHIEF ALLEGES VIOLATIONS OF LAW IN GAZA, ANGERING ISRAEL

UNITED NATIONS -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday alleged violations of international law in Gaza and urged an immediate ceasefire as Israel pounds the Palestinian territory in response to Hamas attacks, with the crisis deeply dividing the Security Council.

Israel voiced anger over the UN chief's plea before a high-level session of the Security Council, where the Palestinian foreign minister in turn denounced what he described as inaction in the conflict that has killed thousands on both sides, mostly civilians.

Opening the session, Guterres said there was no excuse for the "appalling" violence by Hamas militants on October 7 but also warned against "collective punishment" of the Palestinians.

"I am deeply concerned about the clear violations of international humanitarian law that we are witnessing in Gaza. Let me be clear: No party to an armed conflict is above international humanitarian law," Guterres told a Security Council session, without explicitly naming Israel.

Guterres said that the Palestinians had been "subjected to 56 years of suffocating occupation," telling the Security Council: "It is important to also recognize the attacks by Hamas did not happen in a vacuum."

His remarks infuriated Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen who, pointing his finger at Guterres and raising his voice, recounted graphic accounts of civilians killed on October 7 in the deadliest single attack in Israeli history.

"Mr Secretary-General, in what world do you live?" Cohen said.

Pointing out that Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005, Cohen said, "We gave the Palestinians Gaza till the last millimeter. There is no dispute in regards to the land of Gaza."

Israel shortly afterward imposed a blockade of the impoverished territory in place ever since after Hamas took power.

Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, called on Guterres to resign, writing on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the UN chief has "expressed an understanding for terrorism and murder."

CZECH REPUBLIC EYES DEFENSE DEALS, INVESTMENTS IN PH

MANILA — The Czech Republic will send a trade mission to the Philippines to drum up investments and defense cooperation, its new envoy has said.

Ambassador Karel Hejc? said the Czech Republic sees opportunities in the Philippines and they "just need to grab them."

This includes, Hejc? said, possible partnership on defense and security as well as other investments. Some officials and businessmen from the European nation may also visit the country in 2024, he added.

"I’m pleased to mention that just in the next year, we will start here with the visit of the foreign committee of our parliament on so much important defense and security issues of the regional geopolitics,” Hejc? told President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. in Malacañang during his credentials presentation Tuesday.

"But later on in the year, we plan on bringing our minister of agriculture to Manila and to the Philippines... our ministers travel accompanied with business delegations. So, carefully selected companies that are interested in doing business with the Philippines, with the Filipino companies, and investing in Philippines," he added.

Hejc? said aside from war instruments, arms, and ammunition, they also offer small tractors, fighter jets, maintenance and upgrades.

Czech industries are also interested to work with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Coast Guard, he said.

PUBLIC SERVANTS 'SHOULD NOT BE ONION-SKINNED,' DUTERTE SON SAYS AFTER FELLOW LAWMAKER SUES DAD

MANILA — Public servants "should not be onion-skinned" and must refrain from filing complaints to gag critics, Davao City First District Rep. Paolo Duterte said Wednesday after a fellow lawmaker sued his father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, for grave threat.

"We all have the right to file a complaint against anyone in court. But public servants should not be onion-skinned and should not make use of this right as a tool to silence critics," Rep. Duterte said in a statement.

"As public servants, we all are under scrutiny by the Filipino people," he added.

ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro on Tuesday filed a criminal complaint against the former president over his alleged threats against her life, which were aired on national television and livestreamed online.

The younger Duterte said his father "has received much harsher and humiliating criticism in the past but never filed a case against anyone."

In an Oct. 11 episode of his TV program Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa on the SMNI News Channel, a clip of which was shown to the media by Castro, the Duterte patriarch shared his advice to his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, on how to use her confidential and intelligence funds.

“Pero ang una mong target d’yan [sa] intelligence fund mo, kayo, ikaw France, kayong mga Komunista ang gusto kong patayin,” he was seen saying.

While the statement only mentioned “France,” Castro said she felt alluded to because her full name was mentioned earlier in the interview.

Castro and 2 other Makabayan bloc representatives have been critical of Vice President Duterte’s confidential and intelligence funds.

The 78-year-old former president often threatened to kill people, including drug dealers and rights activists, during his incumbency.

He also frequently labelled critics as communist sympathizers -- a practice known as "red-tagging", which can result in the arrest, detention or even death of the person targeted.

Duterte's former executive secretary Salvador Medialdea said Tuesday the former president had not yet received the complaint.

His former chief presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo said the complaint had “no legal basis” and was filed “for propaganda purposes.”

 “It’s not a threat. Because a threat is ‘I will kill you.’ But when you say ‘I want to kill you,’ that’s only expressing a desire,” Panelo said in an interview with ANC’s Dateline Philippines on Tuesday.

OCTOBER 31 NOT A HOLIDAY — PALACE

MANILA — Malacañang has no intentions of proclaiming Oct. 31, 2023 as a non-working holiday, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Cheloy Garafil said on Tuesday.

Citing Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Garafil said that there are no plans to declare it as a non-working day.

Last year, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared October 31 as a special non-working holiday.

The said date is also not considered as a non-working day in 2024.

For the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections, Marcos declared October 30 as a special non-working day.

People typically begin visiting cemeteries on October 31, the day before All Saints' Day, to avoid the larger crowds that gather during the first two days of November.

November 1 is a special non-working day for All Saints' Day, and an additional special non-working day is declared for November 2.

THE REST

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RICE RETAIL PRICES RISE BY P2 PER KILO

Retail rice prices have gone up by P2 per kilo due to the increasing farmgate palay prices, states the Grains Retailers Confederation of the Philippines (GRECON). James Magbanua, GRECON's national president, explains that in the Visayas, the price of fresh palay per kilo rose from P17 to P19, while dry palay is now being bought between P24 and P25. The price of palay at the farmgate has increased, impacting retail rice prices. A kilo of rice still costs P45 or more. The buying price for palay is even higher in Luzon, where it has reached P27 per kilo. Magbanua disagrees with the suggestion to impose a P45 per kilo price ceiling on rice, emphasizing that it would be detrimental to the economy. Instead, he proposes that the government subsidizes the retail price of rice. This, in his view, would encourage farmers to plant more due to the higher palay buying price. He stresses the need for long-term solutions to enhance farmers' yields and lower production costs, including technology transfer and modernization, and addressing the high cost of farm inputs. Despite the rise in farmgate prices, Magbanua assures that there will be an adequate rice supply during the peak harvest season.

GLOBE EXPANDS ROAMING OFFERS FOR PINOYS TRAVELING OVERSEAS

MANILA - Globe Telecom said it is expanding its roam-like-a-local offer to Malaysia after earlier rolling it out in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Thailand.

The company said that with its GoRoam service, subscribers traveling to Malaysia can avail of 5GB of data roaming valid for 10 days for just P800.

Globe also launched GoRoam in the following destinations earlier this year:

Taiwan: P600 for 2.4GBs, valid for 10 days

Thailand: P800 for 15GBs, valid for 8 days

Hong Kong: P600 for 3GBs, valid for 5 days

"With GoRoam, there's no longer a need to juggle between SIM cards when traveling abroad since Globe has effectively bridged the gap in terms of convenience and compelling value," said Coco Domingo, Vice President of Postpaid and International Business at Globe.

The service allows subscribers to retain their original SIM, sidestepping the fuss of configuring a new one.

Postpaid and Prepaid travelers can easily register for GoRoam via the GlobeOne app, the company said.

BARANGAY, SK ELECTIONS: HOW TO FIND YOUR PRECINCT NUMBER

MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday announced that it has activated its precinct finder for the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).

Registered voters can now find their precincts on the website provided by the election regulating body.

Users will need to input Comelec-registered personal information such as name, place of birth and place of registration.

The precinct finder can be accessed through this link: Precinct Finder Version 1.0.10.1 : Commission on Elections (comelec.gov.ph).

After inputting the details, the voting information will display the location, precinct number and voter status.

The polls for the BSKE will start at 7 a.m. on October 30.

Based on the latest data from Comelec, there are 67.8 million registered voters.

3 BSKE BETS KILLED IN COTABATO, DAVAO DE ORO

Four individuals, including three candidates for the upcoming barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, were killed in separate shootings in Davao de Oro and Cotabato on Monday. In Montevista, Alvin Garcia, a barangay councilman running for village chief, was fatally shot. His motive was suspected to be a grudge stemming from an alleged affair with a married woman. In Cotabato, candidates Nur Butucan and Alfar Ayunan, along with Faisal Abas, were shot while putting up campaign posters. The city government suspended classes in public schools following the incident, and several suspects, including a candidate for barangay chairman, were arrested in follow-up operations. Hand-held two-way radios and various firearms were confiscated from the suspects.

WEATHER ‘GENERALLY OKAY’ AHEAD OF BSKE, UNDAS BREAK: PAGASA

MANILA — The Philippines will experience “generally okay” weather ahead of Undas or All Saints’ Day and the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, when thousands are expected to travel to their provinces, PAGASA said on Wednesday.

The state weather bureau has not monitored any potential tropical cyclone in the next 3 to 5 days, PAGASA weather forecaster Obet Badrina said.

“At least by Friday, kasi Friday malamang maraming uuwi, generally okay pa naman ang weather natin, wala pang nagbabantang bagyong maaaring mag-disrupt,” Badrina told TeleRadyo Serbisyo.

“Although again, bigyang-diin pa rin natin, posible ang mga thunderstorms. Pero gaya nang naranasan natin kahapon, matagal na yung isa o dalawang oras,” he added.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

JOHN LLOYD CRUZ CONFIRMS RELATIONSHIP WITH ARTIST ISABEL SANTOS

MANILA -- Actor John Lloyd Cruz confirmed his romantic relationship with artist-illustrator Isabel Santos during an interview with Boy Abunda. Cruz described Santos as his girlfriend and emphasized that they're both private individuals. He recounted their long-standing connection and how she's a significant part of his life.

Cruz also expressed his belief in marriage and its consideration in their relationship. Santos, an illustrator with a rich artistic background, has held multiple exhibits and residencies.

Cruz discussed the importance of his son, Elias, with former girlfriend Ellen Adarna, who is now married to actor Derek Ramsay. He described Elias as transformative and discussed their co-parenting dynamics, expressing gratitude for the understanding among all parties.

Overall, Cruz's interview touched on his relationship with Santos and co-parenting arrangement, highlighting the influence of his son Elias.

SPORTS

MANNY PACQUIAO WAITS FOR GREEN LIGHT ON OLYMPIC BID, KEEPS MUM ABOUT MAYWEATHER REMATCH

MANILA — Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao on Tuesday said he was waiting for the International Olympic Committee's green light for him to compete in the Paris 2024 Games.

“Bale sumulat na yung Olympic Committee natin dito sa Pilipinas kung pwede mag-participate tayo sa Olympics sa Paris,” Pacquiao said at the sidelines of the South Division quarterfinals match between the GenSan Warriors and the Muntinlupa Cagers.

“Naghintay lang tayo ng go signal ng Olympics Committee na ok na tayo, pero nag-training tayo for next year,” he continued.

The former 8-division world champion also addressed his supposed rematch with former rival Floyd “Money” Mayweather, saying, “Nagti-training ako everyday... Abangan niyo na lang yung mga susunod na mga updates sa Pacquiao-Mayweather.”

“Baka this week or next week, abangan niyo lang po,” the 44-year-old added.

In the meantime, he thanked fans of the 6-year-old Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League.

“Malaki pa ang plano natin para sa MPBL... para palawakin pa sa buong kapuluan, sa buong bansa kaya patindi nang patindi yung bakbakan sa MPBL. At meron din tayong mag-iistart na rin yung MPBL inter-barangay para yung mga grassroots ma-develop natin at maipakita yung talent nila sa larangan ng basketball,” Pacquiao said.

“So maraming salamat sa inyong pagsuporta, mga media, sa sambayanang Pilipino,” he added.

The GenSan Warriors defeated the Muntinlupa Cagers 85-78 to move on to the South Division semifinals and face Batangas on Saturday.

GAWILAN DELIVERS PH'S FIRST GOLD OF ASIAN PARA GAMES

Ernie Gawilan clinched the Philippines' first gold at the 4th Asian Para Games in the men's 400m freestyle-S7, with a time of 4:58.29, leading Singapore's Toh Wei Soong and China's Huang Xianquan. This victory follows his bronze in the men's 200m IM-SM7, a comeback he's thrilled about. His coach, Tony Ong, emphasized the strategic approach to secure gold, not just break records. Gawilan looks forward to another gold opportunity in the men's 100m backstroke on Thursday's swimming championships, aiming to bolster his collection.

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 56.76

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right. - Henry Ford