Davao farmers earn P4.8-M in ‘Kadiwa on Wheels

Davao farmers earn P4.8-M in ‘Kadiwa on Wheels’ incentives had run out. “Today, with the announced support of President Rody Duterte to the program, MinDA staff will start working on a rural reintegration and income generation program to support the “Balik Probinsya” Program,” he said. Piñol said that depopulating the urban centers of informal settlers who troop to the big cities to find jobs and income opportunities will “definitely resolve so many social and poverty issues.” “On the other hand, informal urban dwellers who will agree to go back to their home provinces will definitely result in sufficient manpower requirements to undertake food production and rural development activities,” he said. (PNA)

Mindanao News

By Che Palicte

DAVAO CITY – The Department of Agriculture’s (DA) mobile market initiative has generated some PHP4.8 million since it started here early this month.

KADIWA ON WHEELS. Residents in Brgy. Dumoy, Davao City observe social distancing as they buy agricultural and marine products at a ‘Kadiwa on Wheels’ mobile market. The initiative is managed by the Department of Agriculture and has since generated some PHP4.8 million since it started on April 3 in Davao City. (Photo courtesy of DA-RAFIS 11) DA-11 market specialist Juvy Pregon said the agency’s “Kadiwa on Wheels” has been beneficial to those who are employed in “no work, no pay” setup as well as families whose sources of income have been disrupted by the enhanced community quarantine. “Some stores are forced to send their workers home because of the mobility | APRIL 25-May 1, 2020 36

restrictions, limiting the number of their personnel to observe social distancing,” Pregon told the Philippine News Agency on Saturday. The farmers and fishermen, Pregon said, would have had difficulty selling their products because of the quarantine restrictions.

“We are so happy that now, instead of sending them home, these stores sent these workers to participate in the Kadiwa and manage their stalls,” she added. DA-11 information officer Noel Provido said the agency will also extend the “Kadiwa on Wheels” until the public health emergency is lifted.

Pregon said the initiative has been successful in addressing food supply problems that some barangays are now emulating it. “Like what Secretary William Dar said, DA will make the food available and accessible to the consumers,” Provido said.

In a press release on Friday, DA-11 said the “Kadiwa on Wheels” program has sold agricultural and fishery products worth PHP4.8 million of 16 farmers and fisherfolk associations with about 600 members.

Provido said that even when the quarantine is lifted, agricultural commodities will still be available to the public through the agency’s online purchasing platform dubbed as “E-Kadiwa.” (PNA) APRIL 25-May 1, 2020 | 37

NATIONAL NEWS

SEC. MARTIN ANDANAR

PCOO

NEWS CORNER

PCOO chief lauds media workers reporting on Covid-19

MANILA – Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar lauded media workers for working tirelessly to provide news to make better sense of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.

Andanar made this remark as he led the distribution of sacks of rice to families of media workers in Central Visayas who are affected by the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in some parts of the region on “Our colleagues in the media are just as important as everyone else in the front lines against Covid-19. While most of us are battling the disease by staying at home, they continue to deliver transparent news and promote the right information to the people,” Andanar said.

He said the distribution of assistance is his way of appreciating the efforts of media workers who continue to work hard to deliver news and information, even under challenging conditions.

The first batch of emergency assistance in the region was given to media workers in Cebu and the next recipients would be workers in Bohol, Dumaguete and Siquijor, Andanar said.

Last week, he initiated the same relief efforts for media workers in Northern Mindanao and Caraga Region.

Caraga Region includes the provinces of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur.

Media workers are exempted from the ECQ since they are classified as part of the essential services to the public.

Andanar currently heads the Laging Handa communications crisis center which provides Covid-19- related updates, news and information.

MEDIA LAUDED. Reporter Dicee May Padilla and cameraman Leofil Labastida of Cebu Catholic TV Network receive their relief rice assistance from Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar on Monday (April 27, 2020). Andanar lauded the media for working tirelessly to provide news to make better sense of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic. (PCOO photo)

He also hosts the Laging Handa Network Briefing and Public Briefing, along with special Covid-19 coverage programs such as the Cabinet Report, Mediaman’s Mancave Podcast, and PTV’s Alerto. Roque said ECQ in Metro Manila; Central Luzon, except Aurora; Calabarzon; Pangasinan; Benguet; Baguio City; Iloilo; Cebu; Cebu City; and Davao City will still be imposed until May 15.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Tuesday announced that the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) has approved revisions to the list of areas that will be placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) until May 15.

“Ang ibang mga lugar na hindi ko po kasama sa aking mga binasa, sila po ay mapapasailalim sa general community quarantine (Other areas that were not mentioned will now be under a general community quarantine),” he said in a virtual presser. (Azer Parrocha/PNA)

Duterte wants faster aid distribution amid health crisis National News

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos

MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte is aware that Filipinos are struggling to survive amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic in the country, Malacañang said on Wednesday.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Duterte wants the speedy distribution of emergency relief to families to help them cope with the health crisis and the implementation of enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

“Well, syempre po, naiintindihan ng ating Presidente na napakahirap talaga ng buhay habang tayo ay nasa ECQ (Of course the President understands how difficult life is while there is ECQ),” Roque said in an interview with ANC, when asked if APRIL 25-May 1, 2020 | 41

The national government has released PHP275 billion as an emergency fund to address the Covid-19 outbreak in the country.

Some PHP200 billion of the PHP275 billion have been allocated for the implementation of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP), which provides for the distribution of emergency subsidies ranging from PHP5,000 to PHP8,000 to 18 million poor families.

Roque said Duterte was elated by Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año’s recent move to impose a deadline on the distribution of emergency relief to low-income households.

He said the national government will impose disciplinary action on local government units (LGUs) that will fail to distribute the cash assistance on or before Thursday.

“All LGUs must disburse to the intended beneficiaries yung ating (our) SAP. Otherwise, they will be issued the show cause letter and subject to disciplinary action,” Roque said.

“I think that reflects the President’s general predicament. Money is there to be given to those in need. It should have been given yesterday (Tuesday) and today (Wednesday),” he added.

LGUs that they only have until April 30 to complete the distribution of government subsidy under SAP to the qualified beneficiaries.

A memorandum of agreement was signed between LGUs and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in a bid to fasttrack the distribution of emergency subsidies to poor families.

Around 8.7 million of the 18 million beneficiaries have so far received the cash aid, based on DSWD’s SAP Monitoring Dash Board for Emergency Subsidy.

Some PHP80.75 billion have already been given to LGUs for the payout of financial assistance to 18 million low-income households.

However, LGUs have only disbursed PHP29.52 billion out of the PHP80.75 billion downloaded to them. (PNA)

Gov’t to study calls to pay indigents’ electric bills National News

By Azer Parrocha

MANILA – The government will study calls to shoulder the electricity bills of low-income families affected by the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Luzon and parts of Visayas and Mindanao, Malacañang said on Tuesday.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said while some electric cooperatives have already voluntarily absorbed the electricity bill for consumers who used 50 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity and below and others are given discounts, suggestions for the government to pay for the

“Yung suhestiyon po nila ay pagaaralan pero sa ngayon po walang ganyang suhestiyon (The suggestion will be studied but at present, there is no such suggestion that has been raised),” he said. Pantawid Liwanag, a corporate social responsibility program led by the Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association Inc. (PHILRECA), targets poor electricity consumers affected by the health crisis.

Roque, meanwhile, assured that there is enough power supply during the two month-long quarantine due to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19). He said the Palace will also ask the Department of Energy (DOE) to look into complaints of brownouts in Oriental Mindoro. “Kakalampagin po namin ang DOE (We will promptly ask the DOE to address this),” he said. The DOE earlier assured that there was a stable power supply, allaying fears of another power shortage which would cause brownouts. Last April 15, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles announced that all lifeline consumers nationwide will enjoy free consumption of electricity to ease their plight amid the Covid-19 health crisis. The National Electrification Administration (NEA) said electric cooperatives are working on a program of subsidizing the electricity needs of lifeline consumers. More than 90 electric cooperatives in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao have provided a 30-day grace period for consumers to settle their electricity bills, on top of the cancelation of surcharges and power disconnections for late payments. On April 23, Duterte approved the IATF-EID’s recommendation to place Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Pangasinan, Benguet, Albay, Catanduanes, Davao del Norte, Davao City, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Antique, Iloilo, Cebu, and Cebu City under ECQ until May 15 since these are considered as high-risk areas.

In a virtual presser aired on staterun PTV-4, Nograles said customers who consumed not more than 50 kilowatthours will be provided free electricity for the month of March to April.

Three million poor Filipino consumers would benefit from the electricity subsidy program dubbed as The GCQ, which is less stringent than ECQ, will be implemented in lowrisk and moderate-risk areas from May 1 to 15.

On the other hand, the GCQ in low-risk areas may be lifted after May 15, should the rate of infection slow down. (PNA)