In a groundbreaking move, the municipality of San Mateo has passed an ordinance aimed at ensuring the availability of safer, higher-quality rice for its residents. The ordinance, approved by the local government and supported by the Department of Agriculture through the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), sets a precedent for the country in rice quality assurance.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) will implement a maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) for pork in wet markets across the National Capital Region starting 10 March. The new price cap will set pork liempo at P380 per kilogram, kasim and pigue at P350 per kilogram, and "sabit ulo" (the price traders pass to retailers) at P300 per kilogram.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has lifted the importation ban on poultry products from France while imposing a temporary ban on imports from the US states of Indiana, New York, and Pennsylvania.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has declared Camarines Norte free from avian influenza (AI), following effective containment measures and surveillance. DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. confirmed the resolution of the outbreak, which began last December when the H5N2 strain of AI was detected on a backyard duck farm in Talisay.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. led an inspection on Monday of one-and-a-half dozen container vans suspected of being loaded with hundreds of tons of frozen fish, but was declared by importers as processed plant-based commodities. A earlier spot check conducted by the Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Plant Industry and the Bureau of Customs on two of the 19 40-foot container vans revealed boxes of frozen mackerels locally known as tamban, and frozen round scad-locally known as galunggong rather than the frozen fried taro sticks, sweet potato balls, and assorted food products from China, as declared in the shipping manifest.
AppleOne Medical Group is expanding its hospital network across the Visayas and Mindanao to improve access to quality healthcare, especially in underserved areas.
The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) could finish the year at around 7,100 points, supported by solid corporate earnings and improving economic conditions, according to Philstocks Financials Inc. If reached, this level would signal renewed confidence in the stock market after recent volatility and reflect better prospects for listed companies.
The House of Representatives’ justice committee on Wednesday, February 4, junked two impeachment complaints against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., saying the petitions failed to sufficiently establish impeachable offenses. The dismissal effectively grants Marcos a one-year immunity from impeachment, as the Constitution allows only one proceeding against an official per year. The complaints, separately endorsed by Pusong Pinoy Rep. Jett Nisay and the Makabayan bloc, faulted the President for flood control failures and budgetary problems. The Makabayan-backed petition went further, alleging systemic corruption through a “BBM parametric formula,” abuse of unprogrammed funds, and Marcos’ alleged direct role in kickbacks.
Japan and the Philippines have agreed in principle to replace their existing tax treaty, marking the first major update to the agreement in nearly 20 years.