Maniolas

Key infrastructure projects of the Duterte administration will get a boost from Japan funds, after the Japanese government has pledged to close to Php 60 billion worth of loans during President Rodrigo Duterte’s two day visit to Japan. The loan will cover three projects, and will amount to about an equivalent of 129.857 billion yen or $1.143 billion. The financial assistance is part of the 1 trilloin yen financial package meant for Philippine development projects pledged by Japan last year, Philstar.com reports. The three infrastructure projects that will receive the loan is the long-planned Manila subway project, the third phase of the arterial road bypass project in Bulacan, as well as the Cavite Industrial Area Flood Risk Project. Around 104.53 billion yen may be allocated to support the first phase of the Metro Manila Subway Project, which has been eyed to help address the traffic congestion in the metropolis, as well as ease the atmospheric pollution in the area. The interest rate for the loan is 0.1 percent per annum, while the repayment period is 28 years after a 12-year grace period. Incoming presidential spokesman Harry Roque has said that Japan might extend an additional 600 billion yen loan for the subway project. “There is a commitment from Prime Minister Abe himself about a $6 billion investment in a subway in the Philippines. This will be a tremendous help to the traffic problem in the country. A subway is long delayed. I’m very glad to announce that in this trip, Read More …

The war in Marawi City finally ended October 16 when Philippine government forces killed terrorist leaders Omar Maute and Isnilon Hapilon. But as the surviving troops returned to their families, PO1 Alexis Tagapulot had another “battle” in mind to conquer. PO1 Tagapulot was among the brave cops and soldiers who fought terrorists for the liberation of Marawi. While all of them are heroes, his story stood out. During their official welcome, he took on his biggest personal challenge: He bent down on one knee and proposed to his girlfriend of 3 years, Angely Lowao. She answered with a resounding “yes.” Photo from Angely Lowao During the 5 months that Tagapulot was away for the war, Lowao, a social worker, confessed that he was constantly on her mind. “Palagi akong nag-iisip kung okay lang ba siya. Kumain na ba siya? Kamusta na siya? Or minsan nga napapasok na din sa utak ko kung buhay pa ba siya.” (I always wonder if he is okay. Has he eaten? How is he doing? Sometimes, I think if he’s still alive.) “Masaya rin ako at ramdam ko na isa ako sa pinagpala ng masayang love story sa mundo dahil binigay ng Diyos sa akin ang lalaki na tapat sa serbisyo niya at labis niyang pagmamahal.” (I feel happy and blessed to have this kind of love story because God gave me a man who is devoted to service and loves me so much.) “I felt so blessed and lucky that time because proposals like Read More …

The Philippines’ self sufficiency ratio when it comes to rice supply has risen to 95.01 percent in 2016, which means the country’s rice supply is almost entirely made up of local production. That’s up from 88.93 percent from the previous year, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed. Inquirer.net reports this also means that only 4.99 percent of our total supply of rice in 2016 is imported, which is a big improvement over the 11.07 percent back in 2015. Because of this development, the Department of Agriculture’s rice self-sufficiency target could be achieved in 2019, a year earlier than the department’s deadline according to Secretary Emmanuel Pinol. The DA is looking to achieve an average of 6 metric tons (MT) per hectare production or about 19 million MT of unmilled rice or palay per year. Production is currently pegged at of 4.38 MT per hectare per harvest. It’s not all good news though, as the PSA said that despite the higher SSR ratio, the country’s annual per capita production in 2016 fell by 3.12 percent to 111.66 kilograms from the 2006 record of 115.35 kg which serves as the basis for the index. Simply put, the farm sector is currently not able to produce enough rice to keep pace with the country’s population growth. To address this, Pinol has been pushing for the use of more hybrid seeds in rice fields to boost yields, and the DA is expecting to cover one million hectares for the program at an Read More …