KOMBINASYON NG NARCO AT POGO POLITICS, MAITUTURING NA ‘MASAMANG PANGITAIN’ PARA SA ATING BANSA — REP BARBERS

Nananawagang muli si Surigao del Norte Rep Robert Ace Barbers na tuluyan nang ipagbawal ang operasyon sa bansa ng offshore gambling, partikular ang pinamamahalaan o pinatatakbo ng mga Chinese nationals dahil bukod sa mayroon itong seryosong banta sa pambansang seguridad at kaakibat din nito ang iba’t-ibang mabibigat na kasong kriminal.

Dismayado si Rep Barbers dahil na sapul niya nang mag-privilege speech umano siya noong taong 2017 kung saan una niyang isiniwalat ang mga masasamang aktibidad ng Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) at hanggang sa kasuluyan ay walang naging pagbabago at mas lalung lumalala pa ang sitwasyon.

Nilinaw ng Mababatas mula sa Mindanao na bukas siya sa pagpasok sa ating bansa ng China at Chinese para sa lehitimo at legal na pamumuhunan o pagnenegosyo ngunit tahasang sinabi nito na hindi naman maaaring dalhin ng mga ito ang kanilang basura na tila sinasadya pang dito sa ating bansa itapon.

Ani Barbers, walang katuturan at mas lalong napapansin ng Lipunan ang negatibong dala ng POGO sa pagtatangka ng PAGCOR na pabanguhin ang imahe ng POGO, isa na rin ang pagpapalit sa bago tawag dito.

Samantala, hinamon naman ni Barbers ang Filipino-Chinese community na patunayan ang kanilang katapatan sa Pilipinas partikular ang pagiging bukas sa pagkondena at paglaban  sa Chinese nationals na sangkot sa illegal drugs at pambu-bully sa West Philippine Sea (WPS) at iba pang marahas at karumal-dumal na gawain o aktibidad.

MULA SA KAMARA DE REPRESENTANTES, TERENCE MORDENO GRANA, NAG-BABALITA PARA SA ARMED FORCE RADIO, BOSES NG KAWAL PILIPINO

SPEAKER ROMUALDEZ DISTRIBUTES 17 SOLAR PUMPS TO ISABELA FARMERS

Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez early this morning distributed 17 solar pumps that would help hundreds of farmers irrigate their farms in Isabela, one of the country’s major rice- and corn-producing provinces.

The House Speaker made the distribution before he, along with officials of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) and Isabela local government officials led by Gov. Rodito Albano, accompanied President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. In the inauguration of a big solar pump project in the same area. 

The House leader said irrigation is a major component of producing rice, corn and other agricultural products not only in Isabela but in other parts of the country as well.

He said in the case of rice and corn farmers relying on rainwater for irrigation, solar pumps should enable them to plant an extra crop.

The solar pumps were part of NIA's project meant to expand the irrigated areas in the country pursuant to President Marcos, Jr.'s vision to boost agricultural production, particularly of rice.

This is Terence Mordeno Grana, reporting for AFP Community News, One AFP for Stronger Philippines.

Speaker Romualdez pointed out that if farmers could double their produce with solar pumps, that would accelerate the fulfillment of the goal of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for the country to attain food self-sufficiency and security.

“That would also ease rice and food inflation, resulting in lower prices for the staple and other agricultural products for the benefit of all Filipinos,” he stressed.

He said he would propose more funding for solar-powered irrigation pumps in unirrigated farming communities when the House considers the annual national budget.

“That’s the only way we can bring irrigation to these areas,” he said.

According to NIA officials, the Cabaruan solar-powered pump irrigation project “was conceived as a response to the escalating challenges of water scarcity, energy costs and the need for environmental conservation.”

The project consists of a pumping station, 1,056 solar panels that can produce 739,000 watts of electricity, two units of submersible pumps with an output of 2,800 gallons per minute.

The project can irrigate 350 hectares of agricultural land. It will reduce the production cost of 237 farmers, who have been dependent on gasoline or diesel-run water pumps to irrigate their farms.

NIA has completed 17 such projects costing P180.2 million in several towns in Isabela, Quirino and Cagayan. (END)