THE Department of Agriculture (DA) revealed it is now procuring seeds for distribution to palay farmers who were ravaged by Typhoon Frank.

Agriculture Undersecretary for Operations Jesus Emmanuel Paras said the department would use its own funds in the meantime while it awaits the release of the P601-million aid it requested from the national government.

Paras also hinted at the possibility that the size of the aid the department is requesting could still go up as the DA has not yet concluded its survey of farm areas damaged by the typhoon.

“It’s possible that we will request for more funds. It depends [on the magnitude of the damage],” he said in an interview.

Currently, Paras said the damage caused by the typhoon on the sector stands at P4.08 billion.

Based on reports from the DA’s field officers, Western Visayas was hit the hardest as total damage to the region’s farm sector exceeded P3 billion. The region’s fisheries sector sustained the biggest damage at P2.25 billion.

Damage to the crops subsector, meanwhile, has already reached P1 billion. In palay alone, the losses reached more than P600 million.

The DA is asking the government for funds to provide production support to farmers tilling a combined 127,356 hectares where standing palay, corn and high-value commercial crops were totally damaged or beyond recovery.

Big tourism fair opens in Mandaue City with 100 foreign tour buyers.

THE 2nd Philippine International Tourism Fair (PITF) opened at the Cebu International Convention Center in Mandaue City Thursday with a promise that the government will soon have a national framework to fully back the growth of the industry.

Tourist arrivals from January to May up 7.4% to 1.37M

THE tourism industry continues to enjoy solid growth this year as foreign arrivals increased by 7.4 percent to 1.37 million individuals from January to May compared with the same period last year.

LOCAL airlines can now mount flights to Hong Kong from Clark and other points in the country, the Philippine air panel announced Thursday.

Medical tourism on the uptrend worldwide

MEDICAL tourism is on the upswing and is predicted to be a growth industry in the years to come. It is already a big business and is certain to get bigger, according to international health experts.

Apec trade officials express concern over EU’s latest policy

TRADE officials of the member-countries of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) have expressed concerns over the European Union’s (EU) latest policy on chemical regulations for exporters, saying it should not serve as barrier for entry of products coming from members of the regional bloc.

Purchase of palay seeds starts DA rehab program

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) revealed it is now procuring seeds for distribution to palay farmers who were ravaged by Typhoon Frank.

ERC, COA sitting on SC order for audit of Meralco, says Nasecore

THE National Association of Electricity Consumers for Reforms (Nasecore) questioned Thursday whether the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) and the Commission on Audit (COA) are implementing a 2006 Supreme Court order for the audit commission to audit the financial books and accounts of the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco).