No Rice Shortage, D.A. concluded!

There will be no rice shortage this year despite the massive damage caused by tropical storm "Ondoy" and typhoon "Pepeng" to rice crops in the country, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Monday.

According to the DA, Ondoy alone damaged P5 billion worth of rice crops. Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap said the loss will most likely bring down this year's rice production growth target from nearly 4 percent to only 1 percent to 2 percent.

But Yap assured that there will be no rice shortage within the year. "The supplies are okay," he said in an interview with reporters during the House hearing on the DA's 2010 budget.

The DA is also prepared to import rice from other countries if necessary, said Yap, although he refused to disclose the volume of rice they may purchase from abroad.

"We will leave that to the NFA (National Food Authority) because we can't announce the volume we are going to buy," Yap said. "We can't announce when we are going to buy because it will affect prices. if it affects prices, the government will have to spend more."

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DA data showed that Ondoy, which carried record rainfall in Luzon last September 26, caused P5.5 billion worth of damage to various crops and P821 million to agricultural facilities.

The P821-million damage to infrastructure consisted of P817 million to irrigation facilities, P2.7 million to the fisheries sector, and P1.3 million to the livestock sector.

Typhoon Pepeng, which wreaked havoc in Northern Luzon last Saturday, caused about P550 million in damages to agriculture, Yap said.

The Agriculture chief, however, said the loss figures could still go up because the department will still assess the total damage once the floods have subsided.

Yap said a "typhoon mitigation fund" must be included in the yearly budget of the department to enable it to swiftly address production losses should natural disasters strike. Aside from relief, the DA plans to immediately provide seeds to farmers affected by the cyclones, he said

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Hottie Of the Month,

 

  

Name: Angelo Roy Victoria

Age: 19 Years Old

School:  Philippine Christian University - Manila,

Occupation: Student, Choreographer, Member of PCU Dance Crew, Lead Dancer of FNC Dance Crew

Location: Bangkal, Makati City

Hobbies: Dancing, Texting & Bar Hopping

For More Information About Angelo Roy, 
Simply Drop your comments Below.

Ofw's Help is on it's way!

Filipinos in San Francisco, California, have contributed $5,000 in financial assistance for victims of tropical storm “Ondoy,” according to the Philippine Consul General in San Francisco.

Philippine Consul General to San Francisco Marciano Paynor Jr. said the amount came from individual contributions by consulate officers and staff.

“This donation is our small contribution to the ongoing relief effort for the flood victims. It is a voluntary gesture that was agreed upon by all consulate personnel in response to the devastation brought by the heavy rains and floods that hit Metro Manila and other parts of the Philippines during the weekend,” Paynor said in a statement released by the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Paynor said he met with leaders of the Filipino-American community in Bay Area to discuss relief efforts for the victims. In the meeting, he pushed for the establishment of an organization “that will coordinate relief efforts during times of crisis and natural disasters.”

“Since such calamities have been recurring in the Philippines, it is necessary for our community in San Francisco and the Bay Area to create an organization that will coordinate relief efforts during times of crisis and natural disasters,” he said.

Paynor, for his part, offered to serve as the organization’s secretariat, adding that he has already reserved several rooms at the Philippine Center where members can meet on a regular basis.

“The personnel of the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco are ready to help our community in coordinating efforts for the relief drive. We will utilize several rooms at the Philippine Center to serve as drop off points for the collection, packing, and sending of donated items for the benefit of the flood victims,” the official said.

Eagles Draw First Blood.

Ateneo moved an inch closer to scoring back-to-back titles as it trashed a dangerous University of the East squad, 78-71, to clinch Game One of the best-of-three finals of the 72nd UAAP men’s basketball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City today (Oct. 1).

The Eagles threatened to blow the game apart as early as the first quarter, uncorking a 13-point barrage to gain a comfortable margin. 

But the Warriors proved to be a tough nut to crack, responding with a 19-1 run to end the first half with the lead, 35-34.

However, it was Ateneo's deadly outside sniping that spelled the difference, with Jai Reyes unleashing at least four triples to steer his squad ahead.

Rabeh Al-Hussaini, the 2008 Most Valuable Player, churned out a virtuoso performance with 28 points and 14 boards to lead the Katipunan-based cagers.

Super Typhoon " Pepeng" in the Philippines

 

 'Pepeng' moves closer to Aurora-Isabela area

MANILA - Typhoon Pepeng (international code name Parma) remained strong Friday morning as it moved towards the area of Aurora and Isabela provinces in northern Luzon.
Weather bureau Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services (PAGASA) hoisted Signal No. 2 over Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, northern Quezon, Aurora and Polillo Islands.
Signal No. 1 was placed over 27 areas in Luzon and Visayas, including Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra, Apayao, Kalinga, Cagayan, Babuyan Islands, Isabela, Mt. Province, Ifugao, Benguet, La Union, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Zambales, Pampanga, Bulacan, Rizal, southern Quezon, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Burias Island, and Northern Samar.
PAGASA said Pepeng was located 270 kilometers east of Virac town, Catanduanes province. It was moving west northwest at 19 kph, packing maximum sustained winds of 195 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 230 kph.
The typhoon was expected to make landfall in the Aurora-Isabela area by Saturday noon and exit through Laoag City by Sunday morning.
The regional disaster coordinating council in Central Luzon has ordered units in Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Bataan, Zambales, Pampanga and Bulacan to closely monitor the storm and prepare for preemptive evacuations.
The Bicol regional disaster coordinating council has also convened and plot areas that can be used as evacuation sites in case Pepeng turns into a supertyphoon.
The Philippine Coast Guard has banned small seacrafts from sailing, particularly in Bicol and other areas affected by the typhoon.
Officials in Bicol said a total of 1,071 stranded passengers have been stranded in ports.
Classes at all levels in Albay province has also been suspended in anticipation of the typhoon.

Kim Bum Goes to Philippines.

It was reported by ABS-CBN that Kim Bum had already arrived in Manila, Philippines on 30th September for a CF filming. The CF filming is reportedly to be for RC Cola (Royal Crown Cola), where Kim Bum will work with one of the country's prime young actress, Maja Salvador (current model for RC Cola).

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In addition as said before, besides filming for the CF, Kim Bum will also be doing some voluntary charity work, which will go towards helping needy orphans in the Philippines.

And just to point out something for trivia purposes, Kim Joon is once again the odd one out among the Korean F4, as Lee Minho endorses Pepsi, Kim Hyun Joong does Dynamic Kin (Coca-Cola) while Kim Bum will be doing RC Cola.

With the Philippines still feeling the effects from Typhoon Ketsana a few days ago, Kim Bum's visit will bring some joy to his fans in the country.