PRES. DUTERTE PLEDGES P500-M FOR BICOL AGRI, FISHERIES REHAB

Pili, Camarines Sur - Just as soon as Christmas Day typhoon Nina left the Philippine territory and even before local residents could clear the streets of fallen trees and blown roofs, President Rody Duterte flew to two of the most devastated provinces in the Bicol Region - Catanduanes and Camarines Sur - and vowed immediate rehabilitation efforts with an initial commitment of P500-million for agriculture and fisheries.

The President arrived in Virac, Catanduanes at past 2 p.m. straight from Davao City and was joined by five Cabinet secretaries - Agriculture, Social Welfare, Energy, Education and Defense - and several undersecretaries in a short ceremony in the provincial capitol of Catanduanes in Virac town.

In Virac, President Duterte approved the allocation by the Dept. of Agriculture of P55-M for the immediate rehabilitation of the Abaca industry of Catanduanes, the release of rice seeds and fertilisers for about 5,000 hectares and the repair of fisheries instrastructure.

Typhoon Nina damaged 85% of the standing Abaca of Catanduanes which at 33,000 hectares is the biggest single producer of the natural fibre in the world today.

From Virac, President Duterte flew by helicopter to Pili, Camarines Sur where local officials led by Governor Miguel Villafuerte met him at the provincial capitol for a short ceremony.

The President initially committed P50-M in rehabilitation funds and seeds and fertilisers for the estimated 21,000 hectares of damaged rice farms.

But after his speech, when I showed him the updated report which was submitted to me while he was already speaking which indicated that the damage to agriculture and fisheries alone could reach P3-B, President Duterte said he was increasing his commitment to P500-M.

Of the amount, P300-M will come from the President's funds while the remaining P200-M will be sourced from the funds of the Dept. of Agriculture.

"I hope you could recover your bearing," the President told the crowd which gathered in front of the Camarines Sur Provincial Capitol even as he urged local officials to be conscious of the threats of climate change.

The President suggested that since the Bicol Region faces threats of typhoons being the country's first window facing the Pacific Ocean, people must learn to adapt.

He suggested that houses must have sturdy designs to withstand strong winds adding that "This is a reality which we must accept."

"Do not despair. Government will help. Life must go on. Recover your bearings," he told the crowd.

The President flew back to Davao City just before dark while the members of the Cabinet took an Air Force plane back to Metro Manila.

Today will be another working day.

By Manny Piñol

"They were lucky! I'd have killed them if I were there!" - Duterte to San Juan Drug Bust

"Talagang papatayin kita, mga p— ina ninyo, kayo ang ano ha... kagaya nu'ng sa shabu sa San Juan, masuwerte sila wala ako sa Maynila. Kung ganun karami isang bahay ng shabu, talagang papatayin kita. Huwag na tayong magdrama. Ako mismo, ako ang babaril kung walang ibang babaril." — President Rody Duterte

TYPHOON NINA DESTROYS CATANDUANES ABACA FARMS

Virac, Catanduanes - From the air, the extent of damage of Typhoon Nina which ravaged the Southern Luzon and Bicol Regions was evident in the hundreds of coconut trees whose tops were blow off by the strong wind.

Typhoon Nina, the strongest to hit Catanduanes in 10 years, hit the agriculture sector hardest virtually wiping out the thriving Abaca industry.

Governor Joseph Cua reported that of the 33,130 hectares of Abaca, a total of 27,936 hectares was heavily damaged.

Catanduanes is the world's biggest producer of Abaca finer, a natural fiber which is endemic to the Philippines.

It is estimated that Catanduanes earns P100-M from its Abaca industry.

Rice farms were also affected but provincial officials still have gather the extent of the damage.

Damage to fisheries is also still being validated.

President Rody Duterte is expected to arrive in Virac, Catanduanes at 2 p.m. today.

From Virac, he will proceed to Pili, Camarines Sur for another meeting with local officials.

Camarines Sur, home province of Vice President Leni Robredo, is one of the hardest provinces by Typhoon Nina.

By Manny Piñol

PRES. DUTERTE COMFORTS MIDSAYAP BOMBING VICTIMS

On Christmas Day, when most people, especially those who hold power and lofty positions in government, hide in vacation places, President Rody Duterte visited victims of a bombing attack in front of a Catholic Church in Midsayap, North Cotabato.

"I just want to give them comfort and boost their spirits," he told me as he entered the Pesante Community Hospital in Midsayap yesterday where most of the victims, including those who suffered minor injuries, received cash assistance personally from the President.

Three other victims who were seriously wounded, including a female Overseas Worker whose leg was amputated, were in major hospitals in Davao City.

The President's visit to a bombing scene was not expected but it did not come as a surprise.

This was vintage Duterte.

The day before, Dec. 24, he spent long hours with children suffering from Cancer in the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) in Davao City.

Children suffering from cancer have been recipients of Duterte's support when he was Mayor of Davao City.

In fact, in 2014, the City Government of Davao turned over to the House of Hope, a halfway house for children from all over Mindanao stricken with cancer, over P3-M representing fines collected from violators of the city's strict Anti-Smoking Ordinance.

The information that he would visit Midsayap actually reached me before lunch time yesterday while I was in my farm in Kidapawan City for my much-needed Christmas Day break.

I served as Governor of North Cotabato for nine years, from 1998 to 2007, and I felt that I had to be in Midsayap, one of the 18 local government units of the province, as part of protocol and also to show my support for my own people.

Arriving a lot earlier than the President who came at about 4 p.m., I was able to gather some information which I shared with him.

I was told that many more churchgoers who attended the Christmas Eve mass would have been injured or maimed were it not for the very long homily of the assistant parish priest of the Sto. Niño Church.

Churchgoers I talked with said that the priest's homily focused mainly on the issue of the alleged "Extra-Judicial Killings" which the Catholic hierarchy is blaming on President Duterte.

"Gusto na naming lumabas kasi mahaba ang sermon nya na ina-atake si President Duterte. Pero nahiya lang kami,' said one churchgoer I talked with.

The long sermon prevented churchgoers from leaving the church earlier where they would be passing through the very place where the grenade was lobbed and exploded.

"Kung napa-aga ang uwian ng mga tao, marami siguro ang nadisgrasya," said provincial board member Rollyboy Sacdalan.

President Duterte laughed when I told him the story and said: "So, this is a drug-related bombing."

President Duterte did not stay long but on the way in and out of the hospital, he met with a huge group of local people who waited for him for four hours.

The crowd went wild as the President posed for selfies and groupies.

In spite of the scare of the terror attack, the crowd dispersed happily after the President left.

Ater all, it is not always that the President visits a town which has just been bombed and most of all, not on Christmas Day.

NO POLITICAL PLANS, AGENDA; I SIMPLY LOVE WHAT I'M DOING!

Damn if you do, damn if you don't!

I guess this is what I am going through right now.

As I seriously move fast to address issues and problems in agriculture and fisheries in the country and in finding solutions to the problems and poverty in the countryside, some people are starting to suspect that I am harbouring political ambitions and agenda.

"My next President!," "My Vice President" and "Future Senator" are among the comments I read in reaction to my Facebook posts on what I have been doing as Secretary of Agriculture.

I find these comments disturbing and I decided to address these issues once and for all.

I must admit that some people have openly suggested to me that I consider a Senate seat in 2022.

But let me set everything straight.

No, I have no political agenda. I have no ambitions to vie for a national political position.

I have personally told President Rody Duterte months ago that I will retire from government service at the end of his term in 2022.

So, why am I working hard and moving fast as Secretary of Agriculture?

It is because I was given a task or a mission if people would call it as such. I am passionate about the things that I am assigned to do.

Those who have worked with me are familiar with my working habits as a public official. I really do things fast. In fact, I must admit that I even cut corners sometimes.

When I was Governor, I packed a tent in my pick-up truck and I spent nights in remote villages just talking to people.

These rural sojourns gave me the opportunity to assess situations up close and helped me find appropriate and effective interventions.

Those who expressed amazement at the speed with which I do things and implement programs are even in for bigger surprises.

I'm just warming up. You have to understand that the budget and programs I am implementing now were crafted by the previous officials of the DA.

Even the 2017 Budget and Programs are results of the planning of the former DA leaders.

When the budgeting for 2018 comes along sometime early next year, I will already be able to lay down the programs and projects which would be reflective of the directions for agriculture and fisheries as set by President Duterte.

These programs and projects would be more focused on Food Production, Poverty Alleviation and greater contribution by the agriculture and fisheries sectors to national growth.

So, let me again set things straight:

I have NO political agenda and I am appealing to people to stop suggesting that I should consider higher political positions. That is not in my Bucket List.

I WORK HARD AND I DO THINGS FAST BECAUSE I LOVE WHAT I AM DOING AND BECAUSE I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES.

Please allow me to do my job and work hard without being suspected of harbouring a political agenda.

Suggesting that I do things the way they are done - fast and quick - because I have political ambitions would be very unfair to me and it would affect my work.

Remember that the political arena is a dog-eats-dog territory.

There are those who crave for very high political positions and I will be placed in the crosshair of political character assassination if they feel that I would be a threat.

Ibigay na natin ang pulitika sa kanila.

Happiness is not about power or lofty positions.

Happiness is all about being able to do what you love to do and of realising your dreams.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all!

T'WAS PRESIDENT DUTERTE'S RESOLVE WHICH GAVE FARMERS FREE IRRIGATION

Watch the Video Footage

"Victory has many fathers but defeat is an orphan."

Yesterday, I came across an article which quoted the head of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) as saying that the "Free Irrigation Policy" recently implemented by government is an "initial victory" of the Filipino farmers.

In a self-congratulatory statement, KMP Secretary General Antonio Flores said "We claim this as an initial victory for farmers. Farmers and irrigators associations have launched a nationwide campaign for free irrigation and formed the Pambansang Ugnayan para sa Libreng Irigasyon at Patubig or PATUBIG to assert free irrigation services."

There was never any mention of how government was able to implement "Free Irrigation" for 2017 in the KMP statement, not even a word of thanks for President Rody Duterte whose resolve actually made this farmers' dream a reality.

Well, let me just set the record straight.

It was actually in M'lang, North Cotabato in August of 2014, when then Davao City Mayor Rody Duterte publicly shared his thoughts on "Free Irrigation."

"Why ask the farmers to pay for something which is their's? Water is national patrimony. Water should be provided free to our farmers just as we allow the traders to use the public highways for free," was what Duterte essentially said during the farmers' week celebration in M'lang where he was guest of honour.

It was a commitment which Duterte kept on repeating during the whole Presidential campaign and which he did not forget when he became President.

It was also a promise which I kept reminding him about when I became Secretary of Agriculture.

Free Irrigation did not come easy. I should know because President Duterte tasked me to work on it even if the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) is not under the Dept. of Agriculture.

First, there was resistance from some members of the government economic team which viewed Free Irrigation as a "subsidy."

Second, even officials of NIA were averse to the idea of Free Irrigation. In fact, even with the public pronouncements of President Duterte on Free Irrigation, NIA under former administrator Florencio Padernal did not include an additional amount in the agency's budget proposal for 2017 to cover the Irrigation Service Fee (ISF).

In Nueva Ecija, I was told that farmers who wanted to hold a forum on Free Irrigation were not allowed to use the NIA facility by regional officials of NIA in Region III.

Honestly, I was deathly worried that President Duterte's commitment of "Free Irrigation" would not be fulfilled.

With the explicit instructions of President Duterte, however, I relayed to the key members of Congress and the Senate his wish for the realisation of his commitment of "Free Irrigation."

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, Cong. Karlo Nograles, Congresswoman Megan Antonino and members of the House Committee on Agriculture headed by Cong. Jose "Bentot" Panganiban, Jr., including opposition leaders, threw their support to Free Irrigation.

It was a unanimous position among Congressmen to support Free Irrigation. In fact, some even proposed that the old accounts of the farmers be condoned.

It was in the Senate, however, where I was really assured that "Free Irrigation" for Filipino rice farmers would be realised when Senator Loren Legarda, head of the powerful Finance Committee committed that she would work on providing additional funding for NIA to cover the ISF for 2017.

The support in the Senate was unanimous as almost all members, including those critical of President Duterte, pushed for Free Irrigation.

Senators Cynthia Villar, Francis Pangilinan, Ralph Recto, Risa Hontiveros, Miguel Zubiri, Manny Pacquiao, Koko Pimentel and Franklin Drilon were among the strongest supporters of Free Irrigation.

It was Cynthia Villar who actually confronted the hard-headed former NIA officials and asked them how much was needed to cover the ISF collections for 2017 and ensure the fulfilment of President Duterte's commitment of Free Irrigation.

This is the true and real story behind the realisation of that age-old dream of the Filipino rice farmers for Free Irrigation.

I am not belittling the efforts of farmers' groups like KMP who batted for Free Irrigation but the fact remains that had it not been for the resolve of President Duterte, it would just have remained a dream.

Looking back at what went through, I ask myself: "What would have happened if the Free Irrigation commitment was not realised?"

I would have resigned as Secretary of Agriculture because I had no face to show to the farmers who believed me when I assured them that the Duterte Presidency meant Free Irrigation.

If President Duterte failed to deliver on his promise of Free Irrigation, the KMP and the other radical groups now claiming victory would certainly be in the streets denouncing the President and attacking him as a liar.

They would have publicly crucified him for reneging on a promise and betraying the farmers.

President Duterte does not relish gratification neither does he want to be glorified for serving the people.

But I believe that in the interest of fairness, the KMP should have at least acknowledged that without President Duterte's strong resolve to fulfil his promises, there would be no "Free Irrigation Victory" to celebrate today.

Free Irrigation has come true because there is a President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

By Manny Piñol

SOLAR-POWERED IRRIGATION SYSTEM A PRODUCT OF TRIPS TO COUNTRYSIDE

The idea to build the first prototype of a Solar-Powered Irrigation System was actually a result of the many trips I made to the countryside which I called "Biyaheng Bukid."

As early as May of 2016, I started travelling all over the country even before I could assume the post of Secretary of Agriculture on June 30.

It was during my trip to Aparri, Cagayan Valley when I saw the great irony of so much water in the huge Cagayan River but rice fields just beside the massive body of flowing water were dry and unproductive during the summer months.

The reason was very simple: The river banks were so deep that to bring water to the vast rice fields, farmers have to use diesel powered centrifugal water pumps which is actually a very expensive operation.

It was in Aparri when I remembered what I saw earlier in Thermal City, Southern California where my friend, Filipino-American Rocky French, operated a Tiliapia fish farm in the middle of the Coachella Valley Desert.

Rocky French used huge solar panels to power three big water pumps which drew water from underground, up to a depth of about 1,200 feet and these supplied water to about 25 acres of fishponds.

In the last week of June, I made a quick trip to California to visit French in his farm in Thermal City and that was when I asked him to design for the country of his birth a small solar-powered system which could be established in a short time with low cost in the many upland and rain-fed rice fields of the Philippines.

Rocky introduced me to Moses Khuu, a young American solar-power engineer who helped him perfect his own system in Coachella Valley.

When the area to build the first solar-powered irrigation system was found in Barangay New Janiuay, M'lang, North Cotabato, Moses Khuu started working on the project initially with his brother-in-law, Gabriel Gonzales, and lately with Korean-American Kyu Whang.

Moses had to travel back to the US several times to procure the needed gadgets to build a No-Inverter Solar-Powered Irrigation System which would run the water pumps even when the sunlight was weak.

The absence of the Solar Inverters in the system that Rocky French and Moses Khuu designed is critical in the viability of the project because without the inverters, the cost of the project would be greatly reduced and there would be no need to buy the expensive batteries.

Frinally, yesterday, I switched on the first No-Inverter Solar-Powered Irrigation System in the presence of officials of Barangay New Janiuay led by Barangay Chairman Godofredo Constantinopla and the landowner, an old farmer named Antonio Jugos.

Pumping out water from a pond just beside the 5-hectare property of old man Jugos using a 10 horsepower water pump, the System is capable of submerging 3 to 4 hectares of rice fields in a day. It could provide water to a contiguous area of between 50 to 100 hectares using a pipe distribution system.

What is amazing with the system is the speed with which it could be assembled in the field.

Moses Khuu told me yesterday that if all the materials are available, he and his team could build the system in two weeks.

Aside from that the cost of providing water is estimated at P120,000 per hectare if the area is only 50 hectares and P60,000 if the coverage is 100 hectares.

President Rody Duterte will be invited to formally switch on the first No-Inverter Solar-Powered Irrigation System early next year and that would signal the start of the Solar-Powered Irrigation Revolution in the country.

With this innovation, water will now be available to farmers in the upland and rain-fed rice fields.

All that would be needed would be a source of water like a small water impounding, a lake or even deep wells and, of course, plenty of sunlight.

By Manny Piñol

CHINA CONFIRMS END TO SHOAL BLOCKADE

China has confirmed it is no longer driving away Filipino fishermen from Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal.

Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters in Beijing her government made “proper arrangements” after President Duterte expressed concern about access to the shoal.

Hua said the issue had been handled “based on the friendship between China and the Philippines.”

Last week, Filipino fishermen began returning from the shoal with plenty of catch.

The Chinese relaxing of their hold on Panatag came days after Duterte’s return from his state visit to Beijing last Oct. 21.

During the visit, Duterte said he discussed with Chinese President Xi Jinping the maritime dispute. Duterte had also announced during his visit his foreign policy pivot to China.

In Manila, the development at the shoal remains a puzzle to Philippine officials.

National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said they welcomed the development but stressed there was no agreement between the Philippines and China that prompted the latter to cease its blockade of the shoal to Filipino fishermen.

“There was no expressed agreement but it seems like the traditional rights of our fishermen are being respected. There is no talk of the territorial rights. There is no talk on assertion of rights but they respect our traditional rights,” Esperon said.

The Chinese seized the shoal – also called Bajo de Masinloc – in 2012 after a standoff with the Philippine Navy, which tried to arrest Chinese poachers in the area. The Chinese have not left the shoal since then.

A UN-backed international tribunal based in The Hague declared in July that Panatag Shoal is a common fishing ground.

The tribunal, in the same ruling, invalidated China’s massive nine-dash line claim in the South China Sea and West Philippine Sea.

Located 124 nautical miles from Zambales, Panatag Shoal is well within the country’s 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

As of yesterday, Esperon said there were no more Chinese naval ships around the shoal and what remained were only coast guard ships.

Esperon also maintained that despite the development, the Philippines is not surrendering its sovereignty over the area to China, which was invoking its “historical rights” to assert its claim.

“Maybe not now but when we go to another round of talks, we’ll again assert it,” he said. – Jaime Laude

By Jaime Laude, Associated Press

Duterte's Idea to Turn Postal Bank into OFW Bank Planned!

Philippine Postal Corp. (PHLPost) assistant postmaster general for marketing Luis Carlos is backing President Duterte’s idea to turn the Philippine Postal Savings Bank (Postal Bank) into a bank for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

Source: PhilStar

Japanese News Anchor: "HE IS A GOOD LEADER INDEED!"

Our President is in Japan News, at isa sa mga anchor said, na napakatalino ng Presidente ng Pinas. He knows what he have to do. Imagine daw the fact na mainit ang sigalot ng teritoryo ng China at Pinas pero nagawa daw nyang maging smooth ang paguusap at nauwi pa sa magandang resulta. Sabi pa ng ibang anchor news HE IS A GOOD LEADER INDEED. maliban nga lang sa pagnguya ng gum at pagmumura nya ✌😂 pero indi naging issue iyon kasi he is just HONEST person daw. 

GOOD NEWS! Because of DUTERTE, No More Chinese Coast Guard in Scarborough!

NOW. THIS IS A DIPLOMATIC TRIUMPH!

"There are no longer any China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels in the disputed Scarborough Shoal and Filipino fishermen are now able to freely access the area, Malacañang said Friday, October 28."

"Some Filipino fishermen from Subic, Zambales are now able to fish atScarborough Shoal (Panatag Shoal), a report said on Friday.
"A "News To Go" report quoted a fisherman as saying that his comrades who ventured off waters have reported via radio that Chinese vessels no longer sent them away. "Fishermen there consider this good news, after more than four years of being unable to enter the territory due to the presence of the Chinese Coast Guard"

"Fishermen there consider this good news, after more than four years of being unable to enter the territory due to the presence of the Chinese Coast Guard, the report said.

"The fishermen are also hoping to continue being free to catch fish in the area.

"While Malacañang maintained that the territorial dispute between the Philippines and China will not be discussed in depth, President Rodrigo Duterte said he spoke to Chinese President Xi Jinping about Panatag Shoal issues in a closed-door meeting during his state visit in China.
"
Duterte refused to give details on the conversation but hinted that something may happen after it.

BREAKING NEWS! Ampatuan, Patay sa Operatiba ng Anti-Illegal Drugs!

Datu Saudi Ampatuan Mayor and 9 bodyguards killed in a shootout with government troops.

Mayor Samsudin Dimaukon of the municipality of Datu Saudi Ampatuan and his nine bodyguards were killed in a shootout with operatives from Anti-Illegal Drugs Unit early this morning, October 27, in Bulatukan, Makilala, North Cotabato.

Maj. Jovit Culaway of Anti-Illegal Drugs Unit Mindanao said the conduicted a checkpoint “based on information that the group will transport illegal drugs to Maguindanao and Cotabato area, instead of stopping at the chekcpoint, the Grandia van opened fire at the police which prompted them to scamper for safety and the encounter followed.

Culaway said "pinahinto namin pero, bumukas ang pintuan at pinaputukan kami, , doon nag start ang shootout."

Dimaukom's convoy was en route to his town in Maguindanao.

Dimaukom was one of the local officials on the drug list of President Rodrigo Duterte, which he released to the public in August.

Only last September 27, the police raided his compound in Datu Saudi town but did not find illegal drugs.

Dimaukom was pronounced dead upon arrival at the Makilala Midway Hospital.

DUTERTE'S CHINA & JAPAN VISITS MAY MODERNIZE PHILIPPINE AGRICULTURE!

President Rody Duterte's State Visits to two of the country's biggest trading partners in Asia in a span of two weeks may yet result in the dramatic reshaping and modernisation of Philippine agriculture.

For me, the fruits of the President's rigorous travels are now the proving to be the realisation of the wish I shared with him during our recent travel to the island-province of Basilan on Oct. 10.

Apparently impressed and happy with the tractors, fishing boats, seeds and fertilisers which we readily gave to the farmers of Basilan whose coconut farms were devastated by insects which killed the trees, President Duterte turned to me and asked "What more do you need? How many more tractors?"

I immediately pounced on that opening and told him what needed to be done to lift farmers and fishermen from poverty and help them produce more food for the country.

"Mr. President, if we deliver our interventions to Philippine agriculture and fisheries by piecemeal, we will never be able to change things," I told him.

I also warned him that if he does not deliver all the needed interventions during his Presidency, the country may never have another leader who deeply understands agriculture like him.

That was when I told him that under his Presidency, the following interventions must be delivered:

1. Mechanization and modernisation of the rice and corn industry by acquiring farm tractors, rice cultivators, planters, harvesters, dryers, mills and storage and processing facilities.

These interventions would lower the cost of production and reduce post harvest losses which run up to 16% of the total harvest. It would also empower the farmers to get a better price for their produce.

2. Establishment of fish ports, fish landings, cold storage, ice-making and processing facilities in key fishing grounds and fish production areas of the country.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), almost 40% of the fish catch and harvest of fisher folks and high value marine products farmers are spoiled because of the lack of post harvest facilities.

3. Completion of the construction of the remaining 3,500 kilometres of farm to market roads all over the country to facilitate the transport of products to the market.

I asked him to consider availing of long term loans from either or both China and Japan so that these important agriculture and fisheries infrastructure facilities are established and completed during his Presidency.

The other aspects of Philippine agriculture like support to high value crops, including processing and manufacturing, could be handled by the Department of Agriculture through its annual budget allocation.

The President just nodded after listening to me in that brief moment in Lamitan City, Basilan.

Little did I know that he remembered everything that I shared with him.

In Beijing last week, I received a pleasant surprise when he announced that Philippine agriculture and fisheries would get the biggest share of the estimated $6-B which China would grant to the the Philippine government.

Last night in Tokyo, he once again repeated the same sales pitch emphasising that Japan's support to Philippine agriculture would greatly contribute to the attainment of peace in the country and in lifting Filipinos out of poverty.

During the state dinner with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in the Prime Minister's official residence last night, I was seated beside the agriculture minister of Japan and we talked about the possibility of a Yen Loan for the acquisition of farm equipment including post harvest facilities.

Today, as I leave Japan for two more engagements in Canada and the United States to promote Philippine agriculture products, I feel like I am on Cloud 9.

I am now imagining a Philippine rural scene where concrete roads lead from the farms to the market, where tractors, planters, harvesters and processing mills are humming and working in the countryside and where the bountiful harvest from the country's coastal waters reach the wet markets of the big cities and even the remotes villages in the country.

A dream?

Not anymore. President Duterte is making all of this a reality.

By Manny Piñol

P5-B BANANA SUPPLY CONTRACT for JAPAN, SIGNED!

Tokyo, Japan - In formal ceremonies today at the Prince Tower Tokyo Hotel, President Rody Duterte witnessed the signing of an agreement between a Japanese company and the Department of Agriculture for the supply of 20 million boxes of Cavendish bananas to the Japanese market every year.

The deal, which was made possible with the help of House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, is expected to earn for the country an estimated P5-B every year.

The signing of the agreement will mark the start of the development of about 7,000 hectares of banana farms which the Japanese company, Farmind Corp., would like to be located in former conflict areas in the Southern Philippines.

The project is estimated to result in a direct employment of 14,000 farm workers and many more in direct employment in other ancillary services.

The Farmind Corp. project is really aimed at providing livelihood opportunities for rebel returnees and beneficiaries of the agrarian reform program.

This project was referred to me by House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez right after I assumed office as Secretary of Agriculture.

The deal was among those signed during President Duterte’s three-day visit to Tokyo, where he discussed economic and defense concerns with Japanese leaders.

Speaker Alvarez referred to me the proposed project two months ago and I received a briefing from his staff on the intention of Farmind president Tatstuo Horiuchi to provide livelihood agrarian reform beneficiaries, as well as former rebels, to support the President's peace efforts.

“I asked him if he could help the Philippines, especially the CARP [Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program] beneficiaries, the rebel returnees, if they could commit to buy quite a number of fruits coming from the Philippines at a good price,” Alvarez told reporters in Tokyo.

Philippine bananas dominate the Japanese market supplying as much as 90% of the total requirements but in recent years, bananas from Ecuador have penetrated Japan.

Currently, the Philippines only holds 75% of the banana supply in Japan and this is mainly because the low prices of oil have allowed Ecuador to bring its bananas to Japan at a lower transport cost.

The entry of the Farmind supply contract, however, will once again allow the Philippines to dominate the Japan market.

By Manny Piñol

JAPAN PRIME MINISTER, Halatang Gustong Makipagkaibigan Kay Duterte!

Marami talagang gustong makipagkaibigan kay President Duterte, kahit ang Prime Minister ng Japan. - Duterte Global Warriors

Duterte Helped with JAPANESE Business Leaders!

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is helped to attach an earphone at a luncheon meeting with Japanese business leaders in Tokyo on Wednesday.

DUTERTE is Hard to be Dictated By FOREIGNERS!

We are an independent nation, so our foreign policy should not be dictated by any country or government other than ours.

Duterte, Pinanindigan Ang Dignidad ng mga Pinoy!

Sa talumpati ni Pangulong Duterte sa Tokyo, Japan noong Martes, dinepensahan niya ang dignidad ng mga Pinoy sa kanyang mga kritiko sa America. "You have the evidence, go ahead and file the case. I have no problem with that, I can rot in prison for my country. I am not a Filipino for nothing. Maski ganito lang kami ka-pobre (even if we are poor), do not fuck with our dignity," he said.

Duterte SUPPORTERS in Japan LOVE Him TREMENDOUSLY!

Supporters shout Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's name as they wait for his arrival for an event at the Palace Hotel in Tokyo on Tuesday.

Bagong Packaging ng RELIEF GOODS, Walang PaEPAL!

Ito po ang DSWD Family Foodpack at ang laman nito. Dapat naka-tape po ang kahon pag binigay sa inyo. 6 na kilong bigas, 4 na latang sardinas, 4 na latang carne norte o beef loaf, at 6 na sachet ng kape o cereal energy drink ang nasa loob. Sapat po itong pagkain para sa 2 araw para sa isang pamilyang may 5 na miyembro.

- DSWD Sec. Judy M. Taguiwalo

China Donates PhP 89.8 M to the victims of Super Typhoon Lawin

President Rody Duterte delivers a statement with China’s Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua after the People’s Republic of China donates a total of PhP 89.8 million to the victims of Super Typhoon Lawin, at the Malacañan Palace on October 24, 2016

Here's the video.

Japan, Maingat sa Bunganga ni President Duterte!

TOKYO —

Maingat ang mga Japanese officials kay Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte dahil sa kilalang di makontrol na bunganga ng presidente. "It’s not just his foreign policy toward the U.S., but also his informal style: Will he chew gum in front of the emperor?" pag-alala ng mga Japanese officials.

Tatlong araw si Duterte sa bisita niya sa Tokyo, Japan at magkakaroon ng pakikipag-usap sa Prime Minister na si Shinzo Abe sa Miyerkules. Ayon sa balita na ang Japanese Foreign Minister na si Fumio Kishida ay tatanungin nila kung ano ang tunay na intensyon nito sa pagpunta sa Japan sa kanilang hapunan.

“I think it would be important that we fully communicate through these occasions and directly hear opinions from President Duterte himself,” sabi ni Kishida.

“When (Duterte) will make a courtesy visit to the Emperor, his behavior during the event could have a major impact. I trust he understands the consequences and he would not do such a thing (as chewing gum), but I do hope the Philippine side to remind him of that particular point,” Itsunori Onodera, a senior lawmaker in the conservative ruling Liberal Democratic Party, told a Sunday talk show on Fuji TV.

Longest Bridge in Mindanao sa 2017 na!

The P4.859 billion longest bridge in Mindanao connecting Tangub City, Misamis Occidental and Tubod, Lanao del Norte, which is named Panguil Bay Bridge, will start construction by the third quarter of 2017. This was announced by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Region 10.

Ang Tunay na MALASAKIT, Nakikita na ng mga Pilipino!

Tunay pong kahanga-hanga ang damayang may tatak Pilipino. Kitang kita po kung paano nagtutulungan ang ating mga kababayan para maihatid ang tulong na kailangang kailangan ng mga kababayan natin na apektado ng bagyong Lawin. Kuha po ng DSWD Field Office sa Cordillera Autonomous Region. 
- DSWD Sec. Judy M. Taguiwalo

Smuggled Rice mula China, Nasabat!

JUST IN: P20-M smuggled na bigas mula China, nasabat mula sa 12 container vans sa Port of Manila. Idineklarang leatherette ang mga kargamento. (via Romel Lopez/News5) - News5 Everywhere

Davao Has The Most Grandiose Bridge in Mindanao!

DAVAO CITY- The most grandiose bridge in Mindanao is set to be constructed for P1.19 Billion after the design had been revealed from Filipino design team Budji + Royal Architecture + Design which will connect Davao City and Samal Island. The bridge is DPWH Southern Mindanao's version of Northern Mindanao's Panguil Bay Bridge. The design of the bridge includes a railway which might append to Davao's planned train system or to Mindanao Railway System. While Panguil Bay Bridge will cater millions of passengers who are crossing the Panguil Bay in their everyday lives, this bridge will mostly cater tourist of Samal Island and for the benefit of growing tourism industry in Davao. It can be noted that millions of tourists visit Davao which makes Davao the leading tourist destination in Mindanao. 

Duterte Impressed American Executive of his Leadership!

"Being an American executive living and working in the Philippines, it is safe to say my phone has been ringing off the hook recently, with reams of inquiries about “How is it in the Philippines now?”, or “What do you think?”, or “How is all of this going to play out?” with regard to the new Duterte administration and the war of words that has dominated the global press.

One can debate these questions back and forth for hours, and certainly social media is alive with the debate raging in full view. My answers to these questions have been rooted in what I believe are four fundamental conclusions that are near-irrefutable at this point:

It is far too early to conclude anything regarding the long-term impact. President Duterte has been in office a mere 100 days. We don’t know at this point how any of this is going to play out. Some wonder if the rhetoric is the result of a lack of seasoning as a politician on a global level. Others suspect this may all be part of a far grander strategy. What do I think? My mother grew up on a farm, and she always used to say, “Your mule always notices when you kiss your tractor.” And I suspect President Duterte himself has the same kind of wisdom about him. This very likely could be a clever negotiation play to create more balance with the US and the EU and strike a better deal, i.e. making the “mule” more jealous. And why shouldn’t he fight for a better set of terms from the US and EU? Nothing wrong with this; it is his job as president of his nation to protect the best interests of the Philippines. Only time will tell. Let’s give the president time to run his playbook before any conclusions are drawn.

An important essence of leadership is a bias for action. President Duterte is not a “NATO” kind of leader, meaning “No action, talk only.” Rarely in recent history has the world seen a leader be more decisive in the first 100 days than President Duterte. No matter how one feels about the decisions, this itself must be applauded. He is a man of action. And this is an essential element of great leadership.

. We can argue about what is right for Philippines, but we cannot credibly argue the man’s intentions. He truly wants what is best for his nation and is willing to take flak for it. This selflessness is truly commendable.

And finally, when the president uses the counter-argument of hypocrisy from the West with regard to human rights, he is absolutely right. I personally don’t agree with the use of 100-year-old arguments, as the present must be argued with the present. Dredging up human-rights issues from 100-plus years ago is a slippery slope — under this premise, a country could, for example, remove women’s rights to vote under the argument, “Well, the USA did not allow women to vote prior to 1920.” No, one cannot argue the present with the past, because the past is in the past, but the present can be altered. Yet, this really doesn’t matter, because the present hypocrisy of the West surrounding Syria, ISIS and the refugees proves that the US, EU and NATO, for that matter, have no business lecturing anyone about human rights. Because every day thousands of innocent people are murdered at the hands of an issue created by the West. And, worst of all, there is no willingness to help refugees, to clean up a mess of their own making.

To President Duterte, we say, “Give ’em hell, Rody!” There is an old saying in the Arab world, “The dogs bark, yet the caravan still passes.” Let the dogs bark. And keep doing what you think is right."

- James Michael Lafferty

Korean Star Bae Jong Becomes Dad at 44!

SEOUL - Korean Wave Star is a first-time dad at the age of 44 according to the report of Yonhap News Agency. His wife Park Soo gave birth to a baby boy at maternity clinic in Seoul's Gangnam District. The child was born on October 23, 2016 according to K-pop website Soompi.com.

Aquino Administration Failed 200,000 Yolanda Victims!

DSWD Sec. Judy Taguiwalo did a press briefing in Malacanang. According to her the DSWD did some investigations with Yolanda Donations as requested by the Filipino People. Report will be Submitted to the office of the President on or before November 8, 2016. The secretary said that many farmers and fisherfolks talk to them and ask about the Emergency Shelter Assistance ( ESA) 3 years after Yolanda. The DSWD did some internal assessment with the Donation and the funds given. Money was given to the people but there are irregularities. That Irregularities have been submitted to the President. They have asked the President to Initiate the Investigation.

We have provided more than 1 Million ESA to the victims, there are around 200,000 claimants who complained that they are victims of Yolanda from Region 6 and 8 but they are not given the assistance needed.

There was no relocation for the People who lived in the danger zone. The management of funds was forwarded to LGU and if you are not part of the Political party, you will be excluded.

2 NEW Ferry Boats at Guadalupe Station!

MMDA Chairman Thomas Orbos leads the inauguration of two new ferry boats at Guadalupe Ferry Station - Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa Supporters.

Are You Willing to Become a COMMUNIST Philippine Country?

 

Russia and China are communist countries and dealing with Russia & China as part of President Duterte's political agenda brought some questions in the mind of some Filipinos on why he left America and went to these countries which are what we call communist countries.

There's a question in some Filipinos, what if the Philippines will become a communist country? What will be the disadvantages and advantages of this kind of system?

 

Advantages: 

1. All are equal.
2. There's a job for every citizen.
3. An internally stable economic system
4. Establishment of stronger social communities
5. No competition.
6. Efficient distribution of resources

Disadvantages:

1. The government owns all the businesses and properties (the means of production).
2. There is no freedom of speech.
3. Large or geographically-broad populations tend to be diverse, making it difficult to maintain a common goal or set of rules for shared effort and resources.
4. Central planning is difficult to achieve.
5. Consumers' needs are not taken into consideration.
6. Productivity and efficiency are difficult to achieve without profit motive for the workers.
7. It is difficult to achieve internal balances between supply and demand without a price mechanism.

The government owns all the businesses and properties (the means of production).

There is no freedom of speech.

Large or geographically-broad populations tend to be diverse, making it difficult to maintain a common goal or set of rules for shared effort and resources.

Central planning is difficult to achieve.

Consumers' needs are not taken into consideration.

Productivity and efficiency are difficult to achieve without profit motive for the workers.

It is difficult to achieve internal balances between supply and demand without a price mechanism.

Source: Boundless. “The Disadvantages of Communism.” Boundless Business. Boundless, 20 Sep. 2016. Retrieved 24 Oct. 2016 from https://www.boundless.com/business/textbooks/boundless-business-textbook/economics-and-business-2/businesses-under-communist-systems-31/the-disadvantages-of-communism-167-559/

The government owns all the businesses and properties (the means of production).

There is no freedom of speech.

Large or geographically-broad populations tend to be diverse, making it difficult to maintain a common goal or set of rules for shared effort and resources.

Central planning is difficult to achieve.

Consumers' needs are not taken into consideration.

Productivity and efficiency are difficult to achieve without profit motive for the workers.

It is difficult to achieve internal balances between supply and demand without a price mechanism.

Source: Boundless. “The Disadvantages of Communism.” Boundless Business. Boundless, 20 Sep. 2016. Retrieved 24 Oct. 2016 from https://www.boundless.com/business/textbooks/boundless-business-textbook/economics-and-business-2/businesses-under-communist-systems-31/the-disadvantages-of-communism-167-559/