Aug 072013
 

MANILA, Aug 6 (Mabuhay) — Oral debates on the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health continued at the Supreme Court on Tuesday, with a lawyer insisting the law should not be implemented in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. In his speech, lawyer Luis Gana said they went to the court not to contest the constitutionality […]

Jun 152013
 
Fertilizer prices fall in May

MANILA, Philippines – The average dealers’ price of four fertilizer grades fell month-on-month and year-on-year in May, the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) reported. Data released by BAS late Friday showed that this was caused by the reduction of prices in most regions. The monthly average dealers’ price of Urea in May was placed at P1,194.51 per sack, down 0.54 percent  from the previous month’s price level and 8.68 percent from the price in the same period last year. In most regions, Urea prices were lower than the previous month’s levels.  The biggest price cuts were recorded in Zamboanga Peninsula and SOCCSKSARGEN with respective price reductions of 3.54 percent and 3.22 percent. Urea prices in Davao Region and ARMM remained at the previous month’s price levels. The average dealers’ price of Complete in May was P1,238.16 per sack.  Prices slid by 0.21 percentand 2.56 percent month-on-month and year-on-year respectively. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 In most regions, prices went down by 2.0 percent from the previous month’s records. The biggest markdown was noted in Zamboanga Peninsula at 1.13 percent.   Prices of Complete in ARMM remained at last month’s price levels. The monthly average dealers’ price of Ammosul was placed at 750.86 per sack in May,  down by  0.44 percent  and 2.27 percent against month-on-month and year-on-year. Month-on-month, prices in most regions fell – by 0.09 percent in Cagayan Valley and by as much as 2.08 percent in Zamboanga Peninsula. In ARMM,  Ammosul retained April’s price of Read More …

Jun 152013
 
Weather disturbance hovers near Surigao; flash floods, landslides threaten parts of Mindanao

State weather forecasters warned of possible flash floods and landslides over parts of Mindanao in the next 24 hours as a potential cyclone — a low-pressure area — hovered over Surigao del Sur Saturday afternoon. In its 5 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA said the LPA was estimated at 390 km east of Hinatuan City in Surigao del Sur province as of 4 p.m. “The regions of Caraga, Davao, Socckssargen, ARMM, and Northern Mindanao will experience cloudy skies with moderate to occasionally heavy rain showers and thunderstorms which may trigger flash floods and landslides,” the state weather forecaster said. The Visayas region, Zamboanga Peninsula in Mindanao and Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan) will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms, it added. Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will experience partly cloudy skies with thunderstorms mostly during the afternoon or evening, it said. Luzon’s coastal waster will be moderate to rough due to southwest monsoon, while slight to moderate seas will prevail in Visayas and Mindanao, PAGASA said. — with a report from Rouchelle R. Dinglasan /LBG, GMA News

Jun 052013
 
Public spending in infra surges 45% in Jan-April

MANILA, Philippines – Public spending on infrastructure and other capital outlays (CO) surged by nearly 45 percent in the first four months of the year to P75.2 billion, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) reported yesterday. During the period under review, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) spent around P40 billion for key infrastructure projects while other funds were allocated for the construction of irrigation systems, classrooms and other education facilities as well as hospitals and health centers across the country. Spending on maintenance and other operating expenditures (MOOE) grew 30.4 percent to P97.9 billion largely due to the government’s spending on preparatory activities for the 2013 national, local and ARMM elections as well as increased provisions to cover the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s conditional cash transfer program and the National Statistics Office’s conduct of Census of Agriculture and Fisheries. “Through our budget reforms and, consequently, the improved quality of public spending, we were able to fill out crucial resource and supply gaps that may have affected the country’s fast-growing industries. Our disbursement performance proves that the Aquino administration is on track in fulfilling its goal of strengthening the country’s infrastructure base,” said Budget Secretary Florencio Abad. Personal services rose 11.6 percent to P177.7 billion due largely to the salary adjustments of the last tranche of the Salary Standardization Law III, higher retirement and gratuity leave benefits, and payment for employees involved in the preparation activities for the just-concluded national elections. Operational subsidies to GOCCs Read More …