Russian Navy Willing to Help Philippine Navy!

HAPPENING NOW: Zdravstvuyte Russian Military Ship Capt. is in the Philippines for a 7-day goodwill visit.

Russian Navy says they are willing to help the Philippine Navy in whatever way they can, be it training or equipment.

Russia eyeing joint military exercises with Philippines, China and Malaysia in the controversial West Philippine Sea.

PRES. DUTERTE AWARDS P60-M TO 2016 CLEANEST COASTAL VILLAGES

The campaign to stop illegal fishing and other destructive fishing practices goes to high gear with the award of over P60-million in livelihood support funds for the country's cleanest coastal communities by President Rody Duterte sometime this month.

The "Malinis at Masaganang Karagatan" (MMK) annual Presidential Awards is a program of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources to promote sustainable and responsible fishing in the face of continued illegal fishing activities and dwindling catch by marginal fisher folks.

To qualify, the coastal towns must meet the five criteria set by the national selection committee of the MMK.

First, the coastal town must have no reported cases of illegal fishing.

Second, the town must have a declared and protected marine sanctuary.

Third, there must be a well-managed and protected mangrove area.

Fourth, the town must have a self-imposed closed fishing season which would coincide with the spawning season of the fish species found in its fishing rounds.

Fifth, the coastal waters and fishing grounds must be free of floating garbage and effluence flowing from factories or processing plants.

Regional winners who will receive P2-million each have been selected while the five finalists will be announced during the awards ceremonies expected to be held in Malacañang.

Of the five finalists, the MMK Presidential Awardee will receive P20-million, the first runner up P8-million and the second runner up P5-million.

The prizes will be given to the winning towns and could only be utilised for livelihood programs for fisher folks especially during the closed season for fishing, speed boats for the Bantay Laut members and activities aimed at stopping illegal fishing.

Undersecretary Eduardo Gongona, BFAR national director, said the winning towns will also be supported by the bureau with fiberglass fishing boats, fish landing and ice making facilities.

The top three winners of the MMK for 2016 will no longer be qualified to compete in the future search for winners.

The exact date of the MMK Awards will be announced as soon as Malacañang confirms the availability of President Duterte in view of his very tight schedules.

Here's the VIDEO of the campaign!

By Manny Piñol

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!