Stephanie Sevillano

PNA file photoThe Department of Education (DepEd) on Sunday, June 15, said everything is in place for the return of around 27 million students nationwide to schools on Monday.“All systems go, everything for the opening of our classes tomorrow (Monday), June 16,” DepEd Media Relations chief Dennis Legaspi said.Under DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara’s watch, the DepEd has reverted to the original June to March school calendar, in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to prevent learning loss due to successive missed school days caused by various weather disturbances.The DepEd has delivered 33,539 laptops for teachers and 5,360 for non-teaching staff under the computerization program. It also purchased almost 26,000 smart TV packages with external hard drives to he...

Red-striped soft-scale insects (RSSI)-infested sugarcane in a farm in Negros Occidental*SRA photoThe Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) on Thursday, May 29, assured close monitoring to contain the red-striped soft-scale insects (RSSI) infestation in Negros Occidental.The RSSI, which was initially recorded in Luzon in 2023, poses a potential reduction of sugar content by almost 50 percent.In an interview, SRA Administrator Luis Pablo Azcona said there are “favorable” responses from the Department of Agriculture (DA) to help mitigate the situation.“The DA is helping the SRA, we are also working with the DA-NIR. So, we have a fast reaction,” he said.He, however, noted that there’s a containment challenge amid the harvest season.“So, the sugarcane, trucks, and the pe...

The ash-hit roads after the eruption on Tuesday* Bol Golvio photoThe Department of Tourism (DOT) on Wednesday, April 9, said tourism activities in areas near Mt. Kanlaon in Negros Occidental are suspended to ensure the safety of both residents and tourists.In an advisory, the DOT said it is now closely coordinating with involved local government units (LGUs) to “prioritize” the safety and well-being of individuals affected by the April 8 explosive eruption of Mt. Kanlaon through monitoring and immediate response.“All tourism activities near Mt. Kanlaon, including treks and visits to nearby destinations such as La Carlota City, Bago City, La Castellana, and other surrounding areas in Negros Occidental, have been temporarily suspended,” it said.Other areas experiencing ashfa...

The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) said on Thursday, Sept. 26, that sugar farmers and stakeholders are delighted following the import clearance fee hike for high fructose corn syrup (HFCS).This came after the SRA acted on the low import charge for HFCS set at P1.50 per 50-kilogram equivalent, following a sugar stakeholders meeting with Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. on Aug. 6."The farmers and the millers are all happy because if you notice, for the last five years sugar demand is not increasing which is unexplainable because the population in the Philippines is increasing," SRA Administrator Pablo Azcona said during the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing.Sugar usage is not increasing due to the rising demand for HFCS as an alternative, which was deemed “les...

Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia*PNA file photoThe Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday, August 30, said it will conduct the special polls in the third legislative district of Negros Oriental by the second week of December.In a Viber message, Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia confirmed the schedule following the call of the House of Representatives to fill the vacant seat of former Rep. Arnolfo "Arnie" Teves Jr."Special election in the 3rd District of Negros Oriental is on December 9, 2023," he said.Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco told the Philippine News Agency that they will allot around P75 million for the special polls.According to Comelec Resolution No. 10945, aspiring candidates for the seat have three days to file their certificate...

Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio (left) signs the deed of donation and acceptance with Agriculture Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban (right) for 4,000 metric tons of Thailand white sugar on Tuesday.*BOC photoThe Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Tuesday, August 1, donated 4,000 metric tons of seized Thailand white sugar to the Department of Agriculture (DA) to benefit local consumers.BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio said “We firmly believe that, through DA, this donation will reach various local communities and enable our fellow Filipinos to conveniently access sugar".Rubio made the remark following the signing of the deed of donation and acceptance alongside DA Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban.The donation is comprised of 80,000 bags of Thailand white sugar w...

The SRA is urging block farming in the sugar industry.*Andrew Altarejos photoThe Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) on Thursday, May 18, urged farmers to form cooperatives to pursue block farming for the sugar industry.SRA Acting Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona said this strategy would help local producers increase their yield by 5 tons to 10 tons per hectare, referring to 30 hectares to 50 hectares of block farming.“To make it more efficient, we need to group the beneficiaries into farms, a minimum of 30 hectares… The efficiency of a tractor is about 90-95 horsepower. That’s why if their group is that big, we can give them a tractor. We can also help them with technology because they will be able to plan the planting and harvesting into one farm,” Azcona said.“We also e...